Soudage manuel
Rolex fixed by welding
5 mars 2019
A Norwegian Rolex owner saved a fine sum of money when the wristband of his valuable timepiece was fixed by welding. The owner tried to take the watch to various watchmakers in Oslo to have it repaired. Several attempts were made to fix the wristband by, for instance gluing, but they all failed. One of these craftsmen suggested welding to fix the wristband but did not want to try it himself, in case the heat was to cause even more damage.
Welding Value
The new wristband for the valuable watch would have cost 1 500 euros. A less expensive option was to find a professional with sufficiently high-quality welding equipment. The watch owner contacted Øivind Myhre at Svinndal Gjerde & Sveiseverksted, who was attracted by the unusual challenge. He asked to have pictures of the wristband and set out to look for practical solutions for repairing it. After doing some research on the subject, Myhre discovered that the Kemppi MasterTig MLS ACDC and its MicroTack function in combination with the ACS control panel offered a solution for fixing the Rolex wristband.
Perfect connection
The wristband and its fastener were dismantled and the components cleaned of old glue and dirt. Myhre also practiced with his colleagues in advance by performing welding tests on stainless steel wire with a diameter of 1 mm.
"In the first welding test we used sunglasses and a lamp equipped with a magnifying glass," explained Myhre. "After a few spot welds, we understood that the materials of the wristband and lock behaved slightly differently from those that you normally handle by tack welding. By increasing the welding current to 135 amperes and adjusting the distance to the welding piece to 0.5 mm, the desired result was attained. The pieces were perfectly connected."
Myhre finds the result astonishing and sees limitless possibilities for performing similar special tasks with an array of Kemppi’s machines. Understandably, the happy Rolex owner praises the professional skill and flexibility he encountered at Svinndal Gjerde & Sveiseverksted.
Originally published in Kemppi ProNews 2011
Welding Value
Welding Value is a corporate blog hosted by Kemppi Oy. Its main purpose is to evoke discussion on the transformation of modern welding, and bring you the latest stories from within the global welding industry told by true experts in their respective fields.
Produits connexes
Famille de produits
MasterTig, le nouveau maître du soudage TIG AC et DC, définit de nouvelles normes en matière de qualité de soudage, de facilité d'utilisation et de rendement électrique. Sa conception modulaire garantit que votre machine répond exactement à vos besoins.
Plus d'articles de blog
50 years of partnership between a man and a welding machine
In the 1960s, there was a huge shortage of professional welders in Finnish growth centers. That is why Keijo Olkoniemi, whose career as a welder has lasted for almost 50 years, trained to become a welder, a profession which has offered him challenges throughout his career. ”I remember when they said at the dockyard in Hietaniemi, Helsinki that you can bring a train full of skillful employees, and we will hire them all,” Olkoniemi says, laughing.
Les personnes
The diversity of welding
Joonas Innanen, 27, is one of the newer generation of welders. Although he studied traditional methods of welding from MIG to TIG, he has also adopted new technologies during his career.
Les personnes
The making of 'Laulupuut' welded sculpture
A 13-meter high giant pike singing with its mouth wide open now occupies a prime location at the square in front of the Helsinki Music Centre in Helsinki, Finland. The Laulupuut ('Song Trees') artwork, designed by sculptor Reijo Hukkanen, also extends around the pike. The sculpture made of aluminum and steel has proven exceptionally popular. However, both its makers and Hukkanen himself let out a sigh of relief when it was erected in August 2012.
Les personnes
Eila Hiltunen – The Poetry of Material
Eila Hiltunen (1922–2003) was one of the most internationally renowned Finnish sculptors of her time. She extensively used welding in her artworks, a technique she mastered in the late 1950s.
Les personnes
Expert insights: Choosing welding helmets and respiratory protection – prioritizing safety over cost
Selecting the right welding helmet and respiratory protection system is crucial for protecting welders in high-risk environments. While cost may factor into decisions, the need for effective, high-quality protection should always come first.
Sécurité, Les personnes
How does steel welding benefit from special processes?
Welding mild steels may often be considered a simple task. However, welding these steels has specific characteristics that can make the welding process challenging.
Soudage manuel, L'ABC du soudage
