[Jewelry making - Article 00275] - Re: [Orchid] Using a laser 14k White gold

[Tim Goldstein]

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    Aaron, You are not the first one I have read a post from that is
    having difficulty with white gold. From my experience with our
    Zahntech laser welder I don't understand what is causing everyone to
    have such a hard time with white gold. I weld it without using any
    shielding gas and have never had a problem with porosity or
    brittleness that is often described. What I do find is that white
    gold is very prone to cratering if you try to use too high a power
    and/or small a spot. I definitely would not consider it the most
    difficult metal to weld. Silver holds that distinction in my book due
    to it's tendency to become an almost perfect mirror after the first
    shot in an area. 

    My default starting settings for white gold is 2 kw power, 1 ms
    time, 1 mm spot all with an old fashion square pulse. These setting
    are about 2/3 the power, same spot, and 90% the time that I use as a
    starting point for yellow gold. For something like a prong rebuild I
    will occasionally use a pulse shape that tapers off in the last 25%
    of the time to "anneal" it a little, but generally do not find it is
    necessary. 

Tim 
A2Z Metalsmith Supply Inc 
5151 S Federal Blvd Unit I-9 
Littleton CO 80123 
720 283-7200 


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