Quick Clips

Using a pulse-arc welder to convert post earrings to clip-ons

By Sessin Durgham

For certain jobs, pulse-arc welders offer a convenient alternative to both torches and lasers. That’s particularly true for projects involving findings that contain steel springs, which when heated will loose their tension: Welding with a pulse-arc welder will not overheat and temper the steel, so it will not affect the spring action.

1. For this project, I will use a plug weld and an overlap weld to attach a clip-on joint to a turquoise and sterling earring, without damaging the stones. (Pulse-arc machines don’t have the same reflectivity issues as lasers do when welding silver, nor do they have the potentially damaging heat of a flame.) I used an Orion 150s, but other pulse-arc welders can be used.

 

2. To begin, drill two 1 mm holes in the base of the clip-on joint and slightly countersink the holes using a setting bur. The countersink will give you room to angle the electrode into the hole...