Laser Welding Prong Repairs

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Home Learning Center Jewelry Making Fabrication Fusing and WeldingLaser Welding Prong Repairs

This article provides a step by step procedure on how to do laser welding prong repairs on a ring.

Laser Welding Prong Repairs Project
	Use a separating disk to grind the prong flat. Place a redi-prong on a metal surface and tap gently to remove any flashing on bottom. Lay the redi-prong on the prong and check for tight fit.
	To tack redi-prong in place hold it with fine tweezers and shoot with a laser at the joint between the bottom of the redi-prong and the old prong.
	Side view ofprong tacked in place. Check to make sure the prong is tight against stone and tighten if necessary.
	Turn the ring around and shoot the laser down from the top to finish the seam between the new prong tip and the old prong.
	Place 30ga wire on welded joint and fill several passes with laser shooting from the side, until you achieve the original contour of the prong.
	Turn the ring until the top of the prong faces you. Shooting down toward the base of the prong with the laser, widen the beam and smear the metal down the back of the prong towards the base. Continue this until the back of the prong is smooth.
	No pumice wheel should be needed to finish the back of the prong. I used a 6-inch knife edge wheel to concentrate the polishing on the prong only and then put it right into the cleaner.
	Finished product for new prongs took less then ten minutes from start to finish.

By Steve Satow – © Bench Magazine

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BENCH Magazine is devoted to the Bench Jeweler in retail jewelry stores and small trade shops.

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Steve Satow is owner of Gem Services & Imaging and Senior Goldsmith at Saxon Jewelers & Engraving. Steve graduated from Bowman Technical School in Lancaster, PA in Aug. 1976, with additional GIA training in bench tricks, setting, wax, casting in place, and platinum, and received digital imaging training from GemVision Digital Goldsmith.

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