Gas Fittings FAQs
Union nuts, tails, couplers, adaptors and clips for gas welding hose: how to choose them and fit them safely.
Do I need tape or paste on a hose union nut?
No. Gas welding hose unions generally seal on a face or washer, not on the thread. Parallel threads are made to hold the parts together, and the seal is made where two faces are pulled together with a seal between them. Tape or paste on the thread does not help the seal and can get into the gas path.
An equipment manufacturer's instructions also say not to use any jointing paste or tape between a regulator and the cylinder. Keep threads and seating faces clean and undamaged, and replace a washer or seat that is worn or marked, following the maker's instructions for your fitting.
How do I fit a hose tail and ferrule or clip properly?
Cut the hose square and clean, push it fully onto the tail, then secure it with a ferrule or clip of the correct size for the hose, using the crimping tool or pliers made for that clip. Choose a ferrule that matches the outside diameter of the hose, because a ferrule that is too large will not grip properly. A badly fitted fitting can leak, which can lead to fire or flashback.
After fitting, check that the hose cannot be pulled off the tail by hand and leak test the joint with the hose pressurised. Follow the maker's instructions for the clip or ferrule you are using.
Can I use ordinary worm-drive hose clips on gas welding hose?
No. HSE guidance says screw-tightened clips such as jubilee clips are not recommended for gas welding hose, because of the risk of leaks from over-tightening or under-tightening them. Hose tails should be refitted using crimp clips or ferrules designed for the task.
Use the type of clip or ferrule that the hose and fitting makers recommend, fitted with the correct tool, and follow your site rules. Replace a clip that has been removed rather than refitting it, unless the maker says it can be reused.
What is the difference between a hose coupler and a hose splicer?
A coupler has a thread or connection at each end, such as two union nuts, and is used to join two threaded hose ends or to join a hose to a threaded component. A splicer is a straight tail-to-tail joiner that goes inside two hose ends. Choose the one that matches the ends you are joining.
Both add a joint, and every joint is a possible leak point and a point where the hose can be strained. Where possible, use a single length of hose of the right size rather than several short lengths joined together, and use only parts that are made for gas welding hose and suit the gas and the bore.