An arc welding apparatus, comprising - a conductor tube defining an internal passageway, a distal end portion defining an internal tapered surface, an external shoulder and a contact surface proximate the external shoulder, - a contact tip (24, 122) comprising: a body defining an internal cavity extending from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion of the body; an exit orifice extending through the distal end portion of the body; and an external contact surface disposed around the proximal end portion of the body, the contact surface defining an external shoulder 52 and an external tapered contact surface profiled to abut a corresponding profile on the conductor tube, the corresponding profile being the internal tapered surface, intended to contact an angled surface 106 of the internal distal flange 96 of the inner body 94 of the nozzle. - at least one aperture disposed proximate the distal end portion of the conductor tube, wherein a gas flowing through the internal passageway is at least partially dispersed through the at least one aperture, the at least one aperture extending outward from the internal passageway proximate the distal end portion of the conductor tube, and - a nozzle comprising an inner body defining a cavity of which the inner body has an intermediate flange configured to contact the external shoulder of the conductor tube betwenn a proximal end portion and a distal end portion of the inner body, and an internal distal flange at the distal end portion and comprising a peripheral angled surface configured to contact the external shoulder of the contact tip in order to secure the conductor tube the contact tip and the nozzle. - a conductor tube defining an internal passageway, a distal end portion defining an internal tapered surface, an external shoulder and a contact surface proximate the external shoulder, - a contact tip (24, 122) comprising: a body defining an internal cavity extending from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion of the body; an exit orifice extending through the distal end portion of the body; and an external contact surface disposed around the proximal end portion of the body, the contact surface defining an external shoulder 52 and an external tapered contact surface profiled to abut a corresponding profile on the conductor tube, the corresponding profile being the internal tapered surface, intended to contact an angled surface 106 of the internal distal flange 96 of the inner body 94 of the nozzle. a body defining an internal cavity extending from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion of the body; an exit orifice extending through the distal end portion of the body; and an external contact surface disposed around the proximal end portion of the body, the contact surface defining an external shoulder 52 and an external tapered contact surface profiled to abut a corresponding profile on the conductor tube, the corresponding profile being the internal tapered surface, intended to contact an angled surface 106 of the internal distal flange 96 of the inner body 94 of the nozzle. - at least one aperture disposed proximate the distal end portion of the conductor tube, wherein a gas flowing through the internal passageway is at least partially dispersed through the at least one aperture, the at least one aperture extending outward from the internal passageway proximate the distal end portion of the conductor tube, and - a nozzle comprising an inner body defining a cavity of which the inner body has an intermediate flange configured to contact the external shoulder of the conductor tube betwenn a proximal end portion and a distal end portion of the inner body, and an internal distal flange at the distal end portion and comprising a peripheral angled surface configured to contact the external shoulder of the contact tip in order to secure the conductor tube the contact tip and the nozzle.