Welding system having welding gun with hand/wrench tightened retaining nut

An arc welding system, comprising:

• a power source;
• a wire feeder for feeding electrode wire, the wire feeder being electrically coupled to the power source;
• a welding gun operable to receive the electrode wire from the wire feeder;
• comprising:
• a neck operable to direct the electrode wire;
• and
• a retaining nut adapted to secure the neck to the welding gun, the retaining nut consisting essentially of a polymeric material.

A method of securing a neck of a welding gun to a welding cable of the welding gun, comprising the acts of:

• disposing the neck proximate to the welding cable;
• threading a retaining nut consisting essentially of a polymeric material onto a corresponding threaded piece secured to the welding cable;
• and
• tightening the retaining nut onto the corresponding threaded piece with a wrench.

A welding gun, comprising:

• a welding cable having a first end and a second end, the first end being couplable to an electrode wire feeder;
• a neck having a hollow inner portion adapted to receive an electrode wire from the second end of the welding cable therethrough;
• and
• a retaining nut adapted to secure the neck to the welding cable, the retaining nut consisting essentially of a polymeric material.

A welding gun, comprising:

• a welding cable having a threaded connector;
• a neck having a receiving end, the receiving end adapted to mate with the welding cable;
• and
• a retaining nut having a polymeric threaded portion adapted for mating engagement with the threaded connector, wherein the retaining nut mates to the threaded connector under a wrench applied torque.