Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) Welding process enables a wide variety of welding processes to be carried out easily and reproducibly. It enables you to weld noticeably better and faster, freeing up more time for you to be able to dedicate to creative design ideas.
Here’s how investing and using a TIG welder could help improve your jewellery manufacturing processes.
What is a TIG welder?
TIG stands for Tungsten Inert Gas. This type of welder uses a sharpened electrode tip that is gently placed on the seam that requires soldering. When the tip is placed on the metal you’re working with it will produce an electric pulse of argon gas that joins the metal seam securely.
What is TIG welding used for?
TIG welding can be used for a number of jewellery making processes such as:
- Seam welding
- Ring resizing
- Prong setting repairs
- Creating bezels
- Fixing jump rings and chains
- Filling porosity
- Adding earring posts
- Permanent jewellery
How to use a TIG welder
Before working with any TIG welding machinery, you should always read the instructions provided, ensuring that you follow all setup procedures and safety guidelines. Once you’ve managed to set up your machine correctly and have attached the electrode, you’ll be ready to practise your jewellery welding technique.
- To trigger the welder, all you have to do is gently touch the area you would like to weld with the tip of the electrode. Only light pressure is required to trigger the welder and create a clean seam.
- The TIG welder will turn on the supply of argon gas.
- The electrode will automatically retract, sending a short burst of electrical energy to the area you touched with the tip of the electrode – this burst of energy forms the plasma arc.
- The weld is only made as the electrode retracts from the surface of the metal, so it’s important to remember that only a small amount of pressure is required. If too much pressure is used, this could damage your electrode.
What are the advantages of using a TIG welder for jewellery making?
The main benefit of using a TIG welder is the sheer speed at which repairs can be made and seams can be joined. There’s no need to worry about matching up solder strip to the metal you’re working with, nor is there any need to remove stones from the piece you’re working on as you weld. Working on a micro scale means that you have absolute control over your work, helping you to produce high quality pieces at speed.
There are other key advantages to consider too such as:
- Higher precision and accuracy
- Produces a strong and durable weld which are ideal for jewellery that will be subject to wear and tear
- Can be used to weld a wide range of metals and alloys together.
Buying a TIG welder is an investment, but if you primarily work with precious metals where soldering usually takes up the majority of the manufacturing time, buying a TIG welder is a smart investment to make.
At Cooksongold, we aim to bring the best in jewellery making technology, which is why we stock high quality jewellery welders. Take a look at our range and stock up on all your essential jewellery tools before you leave
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