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Permanent Jewelry and the Unbranded Machine: Everything You Need to Know
New permanent jewelry artists ask about the "Unbranded machine" as a welding solution for permanent jewelry. In short, Established artists already know this industry secret, that the Unbranded machine, for permanent jewelry, is not a good choice. As a welding engineer, I know some things you must be aware of before making a purchase decision.
A simple comparison between the Unbranded machine and the Zapp Plus® 2 permanent jewelry welder™ makes clear this one point: Don’t invest your dollars in the Unbranded machine.
I organized my comparison into categories that truly matter, like quality, safety, weld consistency, warranty, among others. Here’s what you must know:
Design Purpose
- Unbranded. Designed decades ago specifically for dental and ortho labs.
- Zapp Plus 2. Designed specifically for permanent jewelry.
Fine Chain Welding Performance
- Unbranded. Inconsistent arc control often burns or under welds fine jump rings.
- Zapp Plus 2. Optimized for small chains and jump rings.
Power Range
- Unbranded. Unsure. Lower power capabilities are missing.
- Zapp Plus 2. 1 to 30 joules.
Footprint (WxHxD)
- Unbranded. Requires 66 square inches of space on your pop-up (6x9.125x11 inches).
- Zapp Plus 2. Requires 33 square inches of space on your pop-up (6x2.5x5.5 inches).
Mobility
- Unbranded. Weighs in at 11.75 pounds. Not so mobile.
- Zapp Plus 2. Weighs in at only 2 pounds. Very mobile.
Safety
- Unbranded. Poor grounding has resulted in real reports of electric shock.
- Zapp Plus 2. Fully grounded, shielded, tested, and certified for operator and client safety.
Eye Protection and Optics
- Unbranded. None.
- Zapp Plus 2. Connects to five different auto darkening lenses and/or optics to protect your eyes from harmful UV radiation.
Quality
- Unbranded. Inconsistency in components; fragile solder points; not built for mobility.
- Zapp Plus 2. Manufactured in an ISO-certified facility with quality control, certified components; designed for durability and transport from one venue to another.
Weld Consistency
- Unbranded. Variable performance; the machine can fail unpredictably.
- Zapp Plus 2. Clean, repeatable welds across metal and chain types.
Warranty
- Unbranded. Varies by seller.
- Zapp Plus 2. 3-year manufacturer's warranty with option to extend indefinitely.
User Interface
- Unbranded. Confusing buttons; no clarity; hit-and-miss operator instructions.
- Zapp Plus 2. Single dial: Easy-to-learn digital dial with one number to know; comprehensive operator instructions shipped with every welder and available online.
Settings Responsiveness
- Unbranded. Weld power/time controls are confusing resulting in unresponsive or over-reactive welding results.
- Zapp Plus 2. One number setting results in exactness and consistency.
Easy of Use
- Unbranded. Operators with prior industrial welding will find this machine familiar. Often ships without operator instructions or only ships with third-party instructions.
- Zapp Plus 2. No prior welding experience necessary. Ships with operator instructions, settings guide, and manufacturer-level customer service available by text or phone.
Price
- Unbranded. Cheap to purchase at $300 to $500 USD depending on the seller.
- Zapp Plus 2. $1,699 USD price reflects the value the welder will deliver to your business. Try the Zapp® permanent jewelry welder™ at $1,199 USD if you're on a tighter budget.
Operating Costs
- Unbranded. Expensive to own due to: Short lifespan, limited or no warranty, limited access to customer support, inconsistent welding results that lead re-welds and more time to complete a weld as well as unsatisfied customers.
- Zapp Plus 2. Cheap to own due to: 3-year warranty, proven durability, easy access to customer service by text or phone (even on the weekends), and consistent welding results that lead to happy customers and reviews.
Repairability
- Unbranded. Not serviceable.
- Zapp Plus 2. Serviced by Sunstone using factory parts and trained staff.
Safety Certifications
- Unbranded. Unknown or suspect.
- Zapp Plus 2. UL listed and CE certified. Manufactured in an ISO-certified facility with highest quality standards and operating procedures.
Training Access
- Unbranded. Differs by seller—may or may not be available.
- Zapp Plus 2. When purchased as part of a starter kit, training, onboarding, and certification are included. When purchased by itself, training is available at any time.
Community and Eco System
- Unbranded. Differs by seller.
- Zapp Plus 2. Access to professional tools, training, business resources, starter kits, online groups, and the Permanent Jewelry Expo.
Brand Credibility
- Unbranded. Unknown.
- Zapp Plus 2. Sunstone welding technology is trusted by NASA, Space-X, and leading medical device manufacturers.
Business Impact
- Unbranded. This machine will be the weakest link in your business plan, sure to fail in front of a customer and weaken your brand and reputation.
- Zapp Plus 2. Build your world with confidence as this welder contributes to your brand by providing consistency, dependability, safety, and a professional appearance.
Professional Image
- Unbranded. Undermines your perceived professionalism.
- Zapp Plus 2. Contributes to your perceived professionalism as a safe permanent jewelry artists due to its appearance and safety certifications.
Country of Orgin
- Unbranded. Outside the USA.
- Zapp Plus 2. Designed, engineered, manufactured, serviced, and supported in the USA.
A Pig with Lipstick is Still a Pig
The Unbranded machine is sold by at least a dozen different sellers. Some of these sellers have placed their logo on the Unbranded machine, changed the case colors, or relabeled the dental lab buttons.
Putting lipstick on the Unbranded machine doesn’t improve performance. The Unbranded machine will perform like the decades-old dental and ortho lab machine it is—regardless of what logo you may or may not find on the front or sides.
The Bottomline
Every experienced permanent jewelry artist will agree: The Unbranded machine is not a good solution for permanent jewelry. Avoid that path and save yourself time, frustration, disgruntled customers, and money.
The most important investment you’ll make in your permanent jewellery business is your welder, the foundation of your business. If you pinch pennies on your foundation, don’t be surprised if your business takes a tumble. An investment in the Zapp Plus 2 is clearly the better choice than the unbranded machine.