Welding Tips and Tricks

What is the bellmouthed hose in this picture, laying on the welding table, pointing towards the weld area:



(The picture was taken from here; and originally from a video linked within, that has more shots of the hose thing:
http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/mot ... lding.html )

Is it some sort of fume extractor?

that is exactly what you think it is fume extractor