Warning: Check your acetylene hoses before every shift

Last month my buddy's hose blew out on a gig near the Gary refineries, and the flashback almost took his hand off. Anyone else find older hoses getting brittle even if they look fine on the outside?

3 comments

3 Comments

corap211mo ago

Old hoses get scary fast once the rubber starts going. Little cracks you can't even see from outside hide the danger. Always do the full check, not just a quick glance.

shanef341mo ago

Man, you're totally right about that. Had a hose blow on me last summer and it was just a tiny crack I'd missed.

finleyl391mo ago

Yeah that little crack got me too. Was driving home from work last August and heard this weird hissing sound. Popped the hood and sure enough there was this tiny split right where the hose curved near the firewall. Couldn't see it unless you were really looking. Spent like 20 minutes trying to find the leak with the engine running and a spray bottle. Ended up costing me a tow and a mechanic bill that was way more than a new hose would have been. Now I just replace them every three years no matter what they look like.