Laser Welding with Steve Satow

Laser Welding Sterling Silver 7

This is a continuation of the different choices we have for filler material to laser weld Sterling Silver.

 

30 gauge Palladium Sterling - A Sterling alloy with 5 % Palladium has all the attributes of the Platinum Sterling with out the cost. It’s Approximately $75.00 an Oz. It is my personal favorite for laser welding Sterling Silver. If you get this wire in 26Ga it is also an excellent gap filler on sizing and fabrication with no downside because it is all solid metal. Got to love the laser.

   ~Steve

Laser Welding Sterling Silver 6

This is a continuation of the different choices we have for filler material to laser weld Sterling Silver.

30 gauge Plat Sterling - A Sterling alloy with 5% Platinum was the first alloy that welds perfect. It needs high power also but is predictable and can be pushed deep down into a joint. No Argon or pulse shaping is necessary. When Platinum which is somewhere around 48% reflective is added to Silver it lowers the reflective characteristics of Silver from 90% the highest of any metal to something weldable.  Platinum is also a poor conductor of heat and cold.  Some of this characteristic is transferred to the sterling. This seems to help impart the characteristic of not spattering. This means less porosity. The joints are very tarnish resistant and very flexible so they don't crack during sizing. The down side is it is very pricey for Sterling.  I have seen it as high as $229.00 an Oz.
  ~Steve

Laser Welding Sterling Silver 5

This is a continuation of the different choices we have for filler material to laser weld Sterling Silver.

30 gauge Hard Solder Wire - It welds at slightly higher settings than the medium solder. It fills sizing joints easily and isn't brittle when used for sizing. It is about 80 % silver and doesn't tarnish as bad as the Medium solder wire. So it is a better choice for sizing.
  ~Steve

Laser Welding Sterling Silver 4

This is a continuation of the different choices we have for filler material to laser weld Sterling Silver.

30 gauge Medium Sterling Solder Wire - It welds nice at lower settings than all the other wires. It fills sizing joints easily and isn't brittle when used for sizing. The down side is its only 60% silver so it tarnishes. When we do a standard V joint it will show a lot after it tarnishes.
  ~Steve

Laser Welding Sterling Silver 3

This is a continuation of the different choices we have for filler material to laser weld Sterling Silver.

30 gauge Argentium Sterling - It welds nice at high power. The welds look nice, very little porosity. Then when you round up a sizing they break. You need Argon and pulse shaping to size with this wire and not have a brittle joint. So it's not an option for many lasers.
  ~Steve

Laser Welding Sterling Silver 2

This is a continuation of the different choices we have for filler material to laser weld Sterling Silver.

30 gauge Sterling Wire - The 7.5% copper added to make it sterling is almost as hard to laser weld as pure silver. It is just slightly easier to weld than pure silver. The joints are often filled with porosity even when Argon is used. A magic marker is needed between each shot to help initiate the melt. The joints are usually pliable enough to use for sizing.
  ~Steve

Laser Welding Sterling Silver

Over the next few weeks we will take a look at the different choices we have for filler material to laser weld Sterling Silver.

30 gauge Pure Silver - It takes all the power most lasers have to weld. A magic marker is usually needed for every shot to help initiate the melt. The joints are very pliable and not brittle after being worked. It polishes out of a sizing joint like low carat solder because it is so soft it is not a good choice for sizing.
  ~Steve

 

Protect Sensitive Areas

Use a highly polished sterling silver protective template to shield sensitive areas when laser welding.

Laser Welding Jewelry,Laser Jewelry Repairs

New Laser Welding Book

Bench Magazine’s
Guide to Laser Welding Jewelry

The most complete book on Laser Welding Jewelry EVER ASSEMBLED! 

31 articles compiled into 4 categories

A total of 144 pages!

Lasers are fast becoming an essential piece of equipment in the jewelry shop, and this book will show you why.  Repairing jewelry is a breeze using a Laser if you know the proper techniques.  This downloadable eBook contains all the Laser Welding Articles & Pictures that has appeared in Bench Magazine.  From simple prong retipping to advance jewelry repairs everything you need to know about using a Laser is here.

Topics Covered:

• Laser Jewelry Repairs

• Laser Fabrication

• Repairing Silver Hollowware

• Laser Welding Basics

Available as a downloadable PDF file for ONLY $19.95

You can read this eBook on your computer or other portable eBook reader,
PLUS you can print out the entire eBook or just the articles you want.

To purchase this eBook go to: http://benchtelevision.com/store/laserwelding

Laser Welding Jewelry

Laser Welded Silver Dish Repair Part 4

10.  The reinforcement bars are now flush on the host material and ready to finish welding.

11.  The bars are welded in place and ready to be cleaned up with a small abrasive wheel.

12.  This is a picture of the joint on the other side of the handle.  With one side all reinforced all the flexing will be transmitted to this side.  I expect this joint to fail soon.  The customer was made aware and knows this will happen.  She chose to spread the cost over two separate repairs.

13.  The finished underside of the joint is a trade off between ugly and the functionality of keeping the top pretty and not breaking again.  I hate to leave a job like this but sometimes there are trade offs the customer will accept.

14.  The finished repair from the top looks like it never happened.  The customer was very happy with the repair.

Laser Welding Dish,Silver Repair,Laser Welder