Tack welder [was: POP!]

Terry:

I read your latest post with great interest. Not so much for
your info on the origional question (it was very interesting
though) as much as your comment about the tack welder. I do many
repairs as well as fabrications and would like to know more about
your uses for the tack welder. I think I can see several
advantages to it. Any advice you might offer would be very much
appreciated.

Reguards;
Steve

I was introduced to the tack welder 10 years ago and it is still
by far my favorite piece of (not necessary) equipment. I am not
familiar with the tack welder Terry is using but I am using a
machine made by Joyal located in Linden NJ. They are expensive
but in my opinion very well worth the cost. Unless they have
changed their design the basic unit I found was not very
versatile, but a little bit of creativity made the machine very
useful.

The basic premise of the tacking machine is to tack items in
place and then solder them, it does not weld. When I used to
remount dias on large freeform ring I could tack all the settings
in place decide if I liked the placement and then solder all of
them at the same time. I don’t know about you guys but I never
got a 6 prong setting straight the first time I would solder it
on a wide band. Using the tacking machine it’s always straight.

The adapted tool that has made the machine the most useful is a
tip that allows me to tack in place small balls of solder. I use
a small fish pump which draws a suction through a copper tube
which holds the solder. This almost guarantees a good solder
joint since the solder is attached to both pieces. You almost
have to see the maching in action to appreciate it’s ability. By
the way it does not work on silver.

I could fill two pages so I hate to go on if you would like more
info my email is bill@wismargallery.com.

Bill Wismar

Hi Steve, The Tack II welder I bought from Aelectronic Bonding
Inc. in Cranston Rhode Island Phone 1-888-494-BOND . expensive at
$1400 dollars. They have a smaller one and a larger one. With
attachments `you can purchase separately, ring clamp ( I made my
own) weld pliers,(I made my own), double pole tweezer assembly,
weld pencil , and fusion collets for earing posts, tie tack nail,
joint or hinge pin and earring clip. I bought mine about a year
and half ago.

I have never used the fusion capabilities of this machine so I
cannot speak of this function. I can tell you that I use it for
tacking on heads for stones before soldering, for attaching chain
ends, earring posts, a tongue on a box lock today, almost
anything that is awkward to hold. The company indicates the
operator should wear rubber gloves and I concur. The tack two has
two power levels which are variable. The smaller version would
probably have been OK for me.

This equipment is not necessary but I like the ability to move
stuff around to try ideas. I loved the tip from Bill Wismer about
tacking solder…neat idea Bill…I also use it to repair costume
jewelry…but you have to be careful as this will really fuse
pieces together.

Another tip from experience you have to be clean…even oil from
fingertips can foul up the weld…and sometimes I turn up the
power too much and blow a hole in something, which reminds you of
the power of voltage. Too keep down the carbon flash which
sometimes occurs you put a little drop of distilled water on both
sides + & - , and no flash ! I like mine just fine but it is
similar to the AUR 92 lenses, dont really need them but what a
pleasure…

Terry Parresol