[Jewelry making - Article 00901] - Re: [Orchid] Laser repairs to antique jewellery

[David L. Huffman]

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>        .. and I'd love to hear of any personal experiences using laser
>     welding on antique pieces. 

    Hello Jack; I specialize in estate jewelry restoration.  I have, in
    my collection of jobs requiring more R&D than can allow them prompt
    turnaround, a pair of scissors from an Etio.  Some hack with a laser,
    in an attempt to repair them, blew holes through the metal in several
    places.  Some other hack, possibly the same hack, also melted holes
    in other places attempting to solder them.  Which wrong headed
    attempt came first, the torch or the laser? My point is, a tool is
    only as good as the intelligence and experience of the operator. 
    Lasers are not a magic bullet to turn any ham-handed idiot into a
    skilled craftsman.  I'm not sure how to approach this job yet.  It's
    always harder to correct a bad repair than to do it right the first
    time. Possibly some wax work under high magnification and subsequent
    electroforming, but tests will be done first. 

David L. Huffman


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