A method of removing hydrogen from a filler wire that is utilized in a welding operation, the method comprising: providing a welding torch ; and passing the wire through a pre-treatment chamber which comprises a gas inlet and a gas outlet , within the pre-treatment chamber , i. treating the wire to release hydrogen, and ii. creating a turbulent flow of pre-treatment gas through the pre-treatment chamber , such that the pre-treatment gas transports the released hydrogen away from the wire ; characterised in that : the method further comprises isolating the pre-treatment gas flowing through the gas outlet of the pre-treatment chamber from a shielding gas of a welding operation; in that the step of creating a turbulent flow of pre-treatment gas through the pre-treatment chamber comprises impinging the flow of pre-treatment gas at or near the gas inlet , in that an outlet of a shielding gas chamber for the shielding gas is at a distal end of the welding torch , and in that the pre-treatment chamber is positioned within the welding torch , and the gas outlet of the pre-treatment chamber is positioned at a distance from the distal end of the welding torch and directs the pre-treatment gas away from the distal end of the welding torch . providing a welding torch ; and passing the wire through a pre-treatment chamber which comprises a gas inlet and a gas outlet , within the pre-treatment chamber , i. treating the wire to release hydrogen, and ii. creating a turbulent flow of pre-treatment gas through the pre-treatment chamber , such that the pre-treatment gas transports the released hydrogen away from the wire ; i. treating the wire to release hydrogen, and ii. creating a turbulent flow of pre-treatment gas through the pre-treatment chamber , such that the pre-treatment gas transports the released hydrogen away from the wire ; characterised in that : the method further comprises isolating the pre-treatment gas flowing through the gas outlet of the pre-treatment chamber from a shielding gas of a welding operation; in that the step of creating a turbulent flow of pre-treatment gas through the pre-treatment chamber comprises impinging the flow of pre-treatment gas at or near the gas inlet , in that an outlet of a shielding gas chamber for the shielding gas is at a distal end of the welding torch , and in that the pre-treatment chamber is positioned within the welding torch , and the gas outlet of the pre-treatment chamber is positioned at a distance from the distal end of the welding torch and directs the pre-treatment gas away from the distal end of the welding torch . the method further comprises isolating the pre-treatment gas flowing through the gas outlet of the pre-treatment chamber from a shielding gas of a welding operation; in that the step of creating a turbulent flow of pre-treatment gas through the pre-treatment chamber comprises impinging the flow of pre-treatment gas at or near the gas inlet , in that an outlet of a shielding gas chamber for the shielding gas is at a distal end of the welding torch , and in that the pre-treatment chamber is positioned within the welding torch , and the gas outlet of the pre-treatment chamber is positioned at a distance from the distal end of the welding torch and directs the pre-treatment gas away from the distal end of the welding torch . <EOS>