From: lfiskgr@gmail.invalid   
      
   On Thu, 11 Dec 2025 12:44:48 -0700   
   Bob La Londe  wrote:   
      
   >Its pretty easy to make a short very light duty chain with an   
   >appropriate bender.  I have a few.  Purchased and shop made.  Its   
   >adequate for decorative work, or even something like a light fixture,   
   >but I'd like to be able to weld the links.  I've seen a process (don't   
   >recall where) that looks like they get the ends hot and stick them   
   >together, but the logistics don't make sense to me.  Electricity don't   
   >flow the right way for that to happen in my mind.   
      
   Commercial chain making uses kick-butt resistance welders (like spot   
   welders).   
      
   Each side of the open link gets clamped down and then oodles of current   
   are applied at low voltage. The ends glow red and when they melt the   
   clamped ends slightly nudge together. Current is shut off and they're   
   left to cool. The bulge or collar formed is knocked or ground off.   
   Lots of youtube vids show the process:   
      
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ-iD7NVaIQ   
      
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ma9XnaK7NEQ   
      
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0j21LBq3OVs   
      
   In the past I've oxy-acy brazed cut chain ends back together after   
   cutting them while making horseshoe and ring puzzles. Welding   
   the links isn't really necessary for this other than to show the links   
   weren't spread open to solve the puzzle.   
      
   I think oxy-acy or tig with little to no filler would be the way to go.   
   I made a few with MIG but the added filler necessary for welding is a   
   pain to grind off afterwards...   
      
   --   
   Leon Fisk   
   Grand Rapids  MI   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)