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A shielding gas filter assembly for a welding apparatus. The filter assembly includes a filter housing having a filter disposed therein. The filter assembly also includes a filter guard coupled to the filter housing and configured to receive shielding gas. The filter guard includes a tamper resistan

A shielding gas filter assembly for a welding apparatus. The filter assembly includes a filter housing having a filter disposed therein. The filter assembly also includes a filter guard coupled to the filter housing and configured to receive shielding gas. The filter guard includes a tamper resistant portion configured to inhibit an object from contacting the filter when the object is inserted into the filter guard.

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1. A shielding gas filter assembly for a metal inert gas welding apparatus comprising: a filter housing configured to be coupled between first and second shielding gas conduits and having a filter disposed across an entire diameter of the filter transverse to an axial direction of the filter housing

1. A shielding gas filter assembly for a metal inert gas welding apparatus comprising: a filter housing configured to be coupled between first and second shielding gas conduits and having a filter disposed across an entire diameter of the filter transverse to an axial direction of the filter housing therein to block contaminants from flowing in the axial direction throughout the entire diameter of the filter from the first shielding gas conduit to the second shielding gas conduit through the filter housing; anda removable filter guard disposed in the filter housing and configured to receive shielding gas from the first shielding gas conduit while the first shielding gas conduit is coupled to the filter housing, the removable filter guard comprising a locking nut on a first end of the removable filter guard, a nozzle portion, and a tamper resistant portion on a second end of the removable filter guard, wherein the second end of the removable filter guard is opposite the first end of the removable filter guard, wherein the tamper resistant portion is configured to inhibit an object from contacting the filter when the object is inserted into the removable filter guard in the axial direction while the first shielding gas conduit is removed and to enable flow of shielding gas from the first shielding gas conduit through the removable filter guard and into the second shielding gas conduit while the first shielding gas conduit is coupled to the filter housing, wherein the locking nut of the removable filter guard is configured to secure the second end of the removable filter guard within an interior of the filter housing, and wherein an interior of the removable filter guard is configured to couple to a connector of the first shielding gas conduit through the first end of the removable filter guard to enable flow of shielding gas from the first shielding gas conduit into the first end of the removable filter guard. 2. The shielding gas filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the filter housing comprises an output port configured to be fluidly coupled to the second shielding gas conduit and to direct the shielding gas into the second shielding gas conduit. 3. The shielding gas filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the removable filter guard comprises an inlet port configured to be fluidly coupled to the first shielding gas conduit on the interior of the removable filter guard and to receive the shielding gas from the first shielding gas conduit. 4. The shielding gas filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the tamper resistant portion of the removable filter guard comprises an axial gas entry portion configured to receive shielding gas into the tamper resistant portion and radial gas exit portions configured to direct shielding gas out of the tamper resistant portion. 5. The shielding gas filter assembly of claim 1, comprising a mounting bracket disposed around the filter housing and configured to secure the filter housing to the metal inert gas welding apparatus. 6. The shielding gas filter assembly of claim 5, comprising a locking device secured to the filter housing for holding the filter housing within the mounting bracket. 7. The shielding gas filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the filter comprises an outer diameter greater than an inner diameter of the filter housing. 8. The shielding gas filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the filter is disposed within the filter housing adjacent to a filter wall. 9. The shielding gas filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the filter comprises a concave shape when installed within the filter housing. 10. A shielding gas filter assembly for a metal inert gas welding apparatus comprising: a first shielding gas conduit having a first connector;a second shielding gas conduit having a second connector on a first end of the second shielding gas conduit and a valve on a second end of the second shielding gas conduit;a filter housing configured to be coupled between the first and second shielding gas conduits and having a filter disposed across an entire diameter of the filter transverse to an axial direction of the filter housing therein to block contaminants from flowing in the axial direction throughout the entire diameter of the filter from the first shielding gas conduit to the second shielding gas conduit through the filter housing into the valve; anda removable filter guard disposed in the filter housing and configured to receive shielding gas from the first shielding gas conduit while the first shielding gas conduit is coupled to the filter housing, the removable filter guard comprising a locking nut on a first end of the removable filter guard, a nozzle portion, and a tamper resistant portion on a second end of the removable filter guard, wherein the second end of the removable filter guard is opposite the first end of the removable filter guard, wherein the tamper resistant portion is configured to inhibit an object from contacting the filter when the object is inserted into the removable filter guard in the axial direction while the first shielding gas conduit is removed and to enable flow of shielding gas from the first shielding gas conduit through the removable filter guard and into the second shielding gas conduit while the first shielding gas conduit is coupled to the filter housing, wherein the tamper resistant portion of the removable filter guard comprises an axial gas entry portion configured to receive shielding gas into the tamper resistant portion and radial gas exit portions configured to direct shielding gas out of the tamper resistant portion, wherein the locking nut is configured to secure the second end of the removable filter guard within an interior of the filter housing, and wherein an interior of the nozzle portion of the removable filter guard is configured to couple to the first connector through the locking nut to enable flow of shielding gas from the first shielding gas conduit into the first end of the removable filter guard. 11. The shielding gas filter assembly of claim 10, wherein the filter housing comprises an output port configured to be fluidly coupled to the second shielding gas conduit and to direct the shielding gas into the second shielding gas conduit. 12. The shielding gas filter assembly of claim 10, wherein the removable filter guard comprises an inlet port configured to be fluidly coupled to the first shielding gas conduit on the interior of the removable filter guard and to receive the shielding gas from the first shielding gas conduit. 13. The shielding gas filter assembly of claim 10, comprising a mounting bracket disposed around the filter housing and configured to secure the filter housing to the metal inert gas welding apparatus. 14. The shielding gas filter assembly of claim 13, comprising a locking device secured to the filter housing for holding the filter housing within the mounting bracket. 15. The shielding gas filter assembly of claim 10, wherein the filter comprises an outer diameter greater than an inner diameter of the filter housing. 16. The shielding gas filter assembly of claim 10, wherein the filter is disposed within the filter housing adjacent to a filter wall. 17. The shielding gas filter assembly of claim 10, wherein the filter comprises a concave shape when installed within the filter housing. 18. A shielding gas filter assembly for a metal inert gas welding apparatus comprising: a filter housing configured to be coupled between first and second welding shielding gas conduits and having a filter disposed across an entire diameter of the filter transverse to an axial direction of the filter housing therein to block contaminants from flowing in the axial direction throughout the entire diameter of the filter from the first welding shielding gas conduit to the second welding shielding gas conduit through the filter housing; anda removable filter guard coupled to the filter housing and configured to receive shielding gas from the first welding shielding gas conduit while the first welding shielding gas conduit is coupled to the filter housing, the removable filter guard comprising a locking nut on a first end of the removable filter guard, a generally tube-like extension having an axial gas entry portion configured to receive shielding gas and radial gas exit portions configured to direct shielding gas out of the generally tube-like extension, and a blind end on a second end of the removable filter guard, wherein the second end of the removable filter guard is opposite the first end of the removable filter guard, wherein the blind end is configured to inhibit an object inserted into the removable filter guard from contacting the filter in the axial direction while the first welding shielding gas conduit is removed and to enable flow of shielding gas from the first welding shielding gas conduit through the removable filter guard and into the second welding shielding gas conduit while the first welding shielding gas conduit is coupled to the filter housing, wherein the locking nut of the removable filter guard is configured to secure the second end of the removable filter guard within an interior of the filter housing, and wherein an interior of the removable filter guard is configured to couple to a connector of the first welding shielding gas conduit through the first end of the removable filter guard to enable flow of shielding gas from the first welding shielding gas conduit into the first end the removable filter guard. 19. The shielding gas filter assembly of claim 18, wherein the filter housing comprises an output port configured to be fluidly coupled to the second welding shielding gas conduit and to direct the shielding gas into the second welding shielding gas conduit. 20. The shielding gas filter assembly of claim 18, wherein the removable filter guard comprises an inlet port configured to be fluidly coupled to the first welding shielding gas conduit on the interior of the removable filter guard and to receive the shielding gas from the first welding shielding gas conduit.