A recent review of welding instruction is resulting in a change of proper gas cylinder operation.
- High pressure inert gas bottles like those used for argon, CO2 or O2 should be fully opened. They need to back seat which prevents leakage.
- Open the cylinder valve slowly a fraction of a turn.
- When the cylinder pressure gauge pointer stops moving, open the valve fully.
- Close the valve fully when finished welding.
It’s why those yellow caps are on them and why they require the handle to be turned all the way on or off in order to properly indicate red when open and all yellow when closed.
