MK Products Sidewinder - Manual (Page 6)

Sidewinder ® MiniSpool™ Gun Owner's Manual - Page ii
the regulator from overpressure; it is not intended
to protect any downstream equipment. Provide
such protection with one or more relief devices.
Never connect a regulator to a cylinder containing
gas other than that for which the regulator was
designed.
Remove faulty regulator from service immediately
for repair (first close cylinder valve). The
following symptoms indicate a faulty regulator:
Leaks - if gas leaks externally.
Excessive Creep - if delivery pressure continues
to rise with downstream valve closed.
Faulty Gauge - if gauge pointer does not move
off stop pin when pressurized, nor returns to stop
pin after pressure release.
Repair. Do NOT attempt repair. Send faulty
regulators for repair to manufacturer’s designated
repair center, where special techniques and tools
are used by trained personnel.
2. Cylinders
Cylinders must be handled carefully to prevent
leaks and damage to their walls, valves, or safety
devices:
Avoid electrical circuit contact with cylinders
including third rails, electrical wires, or welding
circuits. They can produced short circuit arcs
that may lead to a serious accident. (See 1-3C)
ICC or DOT marking must be on each cylinder.
It is an assurance of safety when the cylinder is
properly handled.
Identifying gas content. Use only cylinders with
name of gas marked on them; do not rely on
color to identify gas content. Notify supplier if
unmarked. NEVER DEFACE or alter name,
number, or other markings on a cylinder. It is
illegal and hazardous.
Empties: Keep valves closed, replace caps
securely; mark MT; keep them separate from
FULLS, and return promptly.
Prohibited use. Never use a cylinder or its
contents for other than its intended use, NEVER
as a support or roller.
Locate or secure cylinders so they cannot be
knocked over.
Passageways and work areas. Keep cylinders
clear of areas where they may be stuck.
Transporting cylinders. With a crane, use a
secure support such as a platform or cradle. Do
NOT lift cylinders off the ground by their valves or
caps, or by chains, slings, or magnets.
Do NOT expose cylinders to excessive heat,
sparks, slag, and flame, etc. that may cause
rupture. Do not allow contents to exceed 55
degrees C (130 degrees F.) Cool with water
spray where such exposure exists.
Protect cylinders, particularly valves from bumps,
falls, falling objects, and weather. Replace caps
securely when moving cylinders.
Stuck valve. Do NOT use a hammer or wrench to
open a cylinder valve that cannot be opened by
hand. Notify your supplier.
Mixing gases. NEVER try to mix any gases in
a cylinder.
NEVER refill any cylinder.
Cylinder fittings should never be modified or
exchanged.
3. Hose
Prohibited use. Never use hose other than that
designed for the specified gas. A general hose
identification rule is: red for fuel gas, green for
oxygen, and black for inert gases.
Use ferrules or clamps designed for the hose (not
ordinary wire or other substitute) as a binding to
connect hoses to fittings.
No copper tubing splices. Use only standard brass
fittings to splice hose.
Avoid long runs to prevent kinks and abuse.
Suspend hose off ground to keep it from being run
over, stepped on, or otherwise damaged.
Coil excess hose to prevent kinks and tangles.
Protect hose from damage by sharp edges, and by
sparks, slag, and open flame.
Examine hose regularly for leaks, wear, and loose
connections. Immerse pressured hose in water;
bubbles indicate leaks
Repair leaky or worn hose by cutting area out and
splicing. Do NOT use tape.
4. Proper Connections
Clean cylinder valve outlet of impurities that may
clog orifices and damage seats before connecting
regulator. Except for hydrogen, crack valve
momentarily, pointing outlet away from people and
sources of ignition. Wipe with a clean, lintless cloth.
Match regulator to cylinder. Before connecting,
check that the regulator label and cylinder marking
agree, and that the regulator inlet and cylinder outlet
match. NEVER Connect a regulator designed for a
particular gas or gases to a cylinder containing any
other gas.
Tighten connections. When assembling
threaded connections, clean and smooth seats
where necessary. Tighten. If connection leaks,
disassemble, clean, and retighten, using properly
fitting wrench.
Adapters. Use a CGA adapter (available from your
supplier) between cylinder and regulator, if one is
required. Use two wrenches to tighten adapter
marked RIGHT and LEFT HAND threads.
Regulator outlet (or hose) connections may be
identified by right hand threads for oxygen and left
hand threads (with grooved hex on nut or shank) for
fuel gas.
5. Pressurizing Steps:
Drain regulator of residual gas through suitable vent
before opening cylinder (or manifold valve) by turning
adjusting screw in (clockwise). Draining prevents
excessive compression heat at high pressure seat
by allowing seat to open on pressurization. Leave
adjusting screw engaged slightly on single-stage
regulators.
Stand to side of regulator while opening cylinder
valve.
Open cylinder valve slowly so that regulator pressure
increases slowly. When gauge is pressurized
(gauge reaches regulator maximum) leave cylinder
valve in following position: for oxygen and inert
gases, open fully to seal stem against possible leak;
for fuel gas, open to less than one turn to permit
quick emergency shut-off.
Use pressure charts (available from your supplier)
for safe and efficient recommended pressure
settings on regulators.
Check for leaks on first pressurization and regularly
thereafter. Brush with soap solution. Bubbles
indicate leaks. Clean off soapy water after test;
dried soap is combustible.
E. User Responsibilities
Follow all Safety Rules.
Remove leaky or defective equipment from
service immediately for repair. Read and follow
user manual instructions.
F. Leaving Equipment
Unattended
Close gas supply at source and drain gas.
G. Rope Staging-Support
Rope staging-support should not be used for
welding or cutting operation; rope may burn.
1-3 ARC WELDING
Comply with precautions in 1-1, 1-2, and this
section. Arc Welding, properly done, is a safe
process, but a careless operator invites trouble.
The equipment carries high currents at significant
voltages. The arc is very bright and hot. Sparks
fly, fumes rise, ultraviolet and infrared energy
radiates, weldments are hot, and compressed
gases may be used. The wise operator avoids
unnecessary risks and protects himself and
others from accidents.
A. Burn Protection
Comply with precautions in 1-2.
The welding arc is intense and visibly bright. Its
radiation can damage eyes, penetrate lightweight
clothing, reflect from light-colored surfaces, and
burn the skin and eyes. Skin burns resemble
acute sunburn; those from gas-shielded arcs are
more severe and painful. DON’T GET BURNED;
COMPLY WITH PRECAUTIONS.
1. Protective Clothing
Wear long-sleeve clothing in addition to gloves,
hat, and shoes. As necessary, use additional
protective clothing such as leather jacket or
sleeves, flameproof apron, and fire-resistant
leggings. Avoid outer garments of untreated
cotton.
Bare skin protection. Wear dark, substantial
clothing. Button collar to protect chest and neck,
and button pockets to prevent entry of sparks.
2. Eye and Head Protection
Protect eyes from exposure to arc. Eyes may
be damaged by radiant energy when exposed
to the electric arc, even when not looking in the
direction of the arc. Never look at an electric arc
without protection.
Welding helmet or shield containing a filter plate
shade no. 12 or denser must be used when
welding. Place over face before striking arc.
Protect filter plate with a clear cover plate.
Cracked or broken helmet or shield should NOT
be worn; radiation can be passed through to
cause burns.
Cracked, broken, or loose filter plates must be
replaced IMMEDIATELY. Replace clear cover
plate when broken, pitted, or spattered.
Flash goggles with side shields MUST be worn
under the helmet to give some protection to the
eyes should the helmet not be lowered over the
face before an arc is struck. Looking at an arc
momentarily with unprotected eyes (particularly
a high intensity gas-shielded arc) can cause a