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Categories: Instruction and information; Jewelry

Word count/read time: 420 words; 2 minutes

Every industry cycles through buzzwords. Welding is one in chainmaille. Advanced joining techniques like welding, soldering, and brazing are the only way to transform chains or maille into full-fledged jewelry.

Jewelry starts with superior joins that are neither visible nor detectable through sight or touch. It requires quality materials (no damaged, pinch-cut, nipper-cut, or machine-sheared rings) and exemplary construction techniques (no gaps or misaligned edges).

Chainmaille that ignores these fundamental chainmaking principles should be avoided. Children can get perfect closures. You're at least that old if you understand this. That's all I'm sayin'.

While "possible" to solder, braze, or weld a pinch-cut ring, it is not jewelry. Otherwise, welding ensures any misaligned ring will look ugly and remain in that unsavory position eternally. Welding doesn't improve quality on its own.

Cheap tabletop spot welders are a bargain at ~$200. They work but they are a joke. I own one, serious drawbacks indeed. Consider another solution. For the sake of saying it's welded, it's true, but in spirit, it isn't. Buttering the marketing campaign is a sneaky maneuver.

Shielding gas is rarely used on cheapo machines. Expensive, it requires obscene amounts of practice and adjustments to do it better than good enough. It's jewelry, not poser stuff, so respect it if you call it that. Using inferior tools on a substandard assembly will always make junk.

Chain manufacturers with these unfashionable welds have the privilege of saying they weld. It's a placebo because it didn't meet jewelry's fundamental purpose: pleasing aesthetics. Domesticated barbed wire that's now welded is unpraiseworthy.

Aside from some fusion welds, which are amazing and somewhat challenging, proper welding techniques usually use shielding gas and a filler metal. They require more skill than all but the most dedicated artisans are willing to do.

Precious metal chains are weak and worth little more than scrap value without properly welded or soldered links. An expensive and over-priced novelty, yes, not bonafide jewelry. It's what separates real jewelry and honest, skilled artists from everyone and everything else.

Many will disagree with the facts stated above because getting your money is a high priority. Hey, just know what you're buying, no? Is any price fair if you're 100% deceived? Captain Obvious says look elsewhere.

A discriminating buyer will quickly discover there are no buzzwords here. I've been welding my chains since the beginning. There is a difference and I invite you to see for yourself. Better yet, close your eyes and feel it.

Posted by M: November 17, 2021

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