By WeldWorthy Editorial, published by Kindred Works LLCLast updated: October 6, 2026
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The chart covers jump ring welds on these three machines and nothing else. It has no settings for other welders (thewelder roundup covers the wider field), none for chain-to-chain welds, and none for metals beyond the six it lists. Each cell is either a joule figure, a range, or a word note such as MAX POWER. We have kept every cell exactly as Sunstone printed it, including the metal names, so you can match a row to the chart in your own Sunstone materials.
Two labels need care. The middle column is headed Zapp Plus, and the chart predates the Zapp Plus® 2 that Sunstone sells today, so we label that column “Zapp Plus (as labeled on Sunstone’s chart)” and do not assume its numbers carry over to the newer machine. The last column is the mPulse 2.0; the chart does not cover other Orion models.
Source: Sunstone jump ring weld settings chart (October 2024). All settings in joules.
The weld settings chart, by gauge
One table per jump ring gauge, with the metals as rows in the order the chart prints them and the three machines as columns. Jump to 20 gauge, 22 gauge, 24 gauge or 26 gauge.
20 gauge jump rings
| Metal (20 ga) | Zapp | Zapp Plusas labeled on Sunstone’s chart | mPulse 2.0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14/20 gold filled yellow | MAX POWER(MULTIPLE WELDS) | 12(MULTIPLE WELDS) | 8 |
| 14/20 rose gold | MAX POWER(MULTIPLE WELDS) | 15(MULTIPLE WELDS) | 9 |
| 14K gold yellow | 8(MULTIPLE WELDS) | 8(MULTIPLE WELDS) | 7 |
| 14K rose gold | 8(MULTIPLE WELDS) | 12(MULTIPLE WELDS) | 7.5 |
| 14K white gold | MAX POWER(MULTIPLE WELDS) | 10(MULTIPLE WELDS) | 6.5 |
| Silver | MAX POWER(MULTIPLE WELDS) | 11(MULTIPLE WELDS) | 7 |
Joules. Source: Sunstone jump ring weld settings chart (October 2024). Metal labels as printed on the chart.
22 gauge jump rings
| Metal (22 ga) | Zapp | Zapp Plusas labeled on Sunstone’s chart | mPulse 2.0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver | 7(MULTIPLE WELDS) | 7 | 6.5 |
| 14/20 gold filled yellow | 8 - MAX POWER(MULTIPLE WELDS) | 8 - 10(MULTIPLE WELDS) | 7 |
| 14/20 gold filled rose | 8 - MAX POWER(MULTIPLE WELDS) | 9 - 10(MULTIPLE WELDS) | 8 |
| 14K gold yellow | 7 | 7 | 5 |
| 14K rose gold | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| 14K white gold | 7 | 6 | 5.5 |
Joules. Source: Sunstone jump ring weld settings chart (October 2024). Metal labels as printed on the chart.
24 gauge jump rings
| Metal (24 ga) | Zapp | Zapp Plusas labeled on Sunstone’s chart | mPulse 2.0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14/20 gold filled yellow | 5 | 5 | 4.5 |
| 14/20 gold filled rose | 5 | 7 | 5.5 |
| Silver | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 14K rose gold | 8(MULTIPLE WELDS) | 7 | 6 |
| 14K white gold | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| 14K gold yellow | 5 | 5 | 4 |
Joules. Source: Sunstone jump ring weld settings chart (October 2024). Metal labels as printed on the chart.
26 gauge jump rings
| Metal (26 ga) | Zapp | Zapp Plusas labeled on Sunstone’s chart | mPulse 2.0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14/20 gold filled yellow | LOWEST POWER | 4 | 3 |
| 14/20 gold filled rose | LOWEST POWER | 4 | 3.5 |
| Silver | LOWEST POWER | 3 | 2.5 |
| 14K white gold | LOWEST POWER | 3 | 3 |
| 14K gold yellow | LOWEST POWER | 2 | 2 |
| 14K rose gold | LOWEST POWER | 4 | 2.5 |
Joules. Source: Sunstone jump ring weld settings chart (October 2024). Metal labels as printed on the chart.
How to read the chart
Most cells are a single joule figure. The rest use four notes, and the chart does not define any of them, so here is what it marks and where, without reading more into it.
- MAX POWER. The chart marks this in the Zapp column on four of the six 20 gauge rows (14/20 gold filled yellow, 14/20 rose gold, 14K white gold and silver) instead of a number.
- 8 - MAX POWER. A range the chart marks for the Zapp on the two 22 gauge 14/20 gold filled rows: it starts at 8 and ends at MAX POWER. The Zapp Plus column has the only numeric ranges on the chart, 8 - 10 and 9 - 10, on the same two rows.
- LOWEST POWER. The chart marks every 26 gauge row in the Zapp column this way.
- (MULTIPLE WELDS). The chart adds this under every 20 gauge setting for the Zapp and the Zapp Plus, under five 22 gauge settings (the Zapp on silver, and both machines on the two 14/20 gold filled rows), and under the Zapp’s 24 gauge 14K rose gold setting. No mPulse 2.0 cell carries it. The chart does not say how many welds or how to space them.
Where a note leaves you unsure, Sunstone’s instructions for your machine are the authority, not this page.
Which welder covers which metals on the chart
All three columns carry a setting for every one of the 24 gauge and metal rows, so on this chart no machine is left out of a metal. Where they differ is how often the Zapp column hits a word note instead of a number: MAX POWER on four 20 gauge rows, 8 - MAX POWER on two 22 gauge rows, and LOWEST POWER on all six 26 gauge rows. The Zapp Plus and mPulse 2.0 columns give a number or a numeric range in every cell, and the mPulse 2.0 column is the only one with half-joule values (for example 7.5 and 2.5).
The chart stops there. It says nothing about platinum, heavier wire, chain links or welders from other makers, so this page does not either. For the machine decision itself, the welder roundup compares the field, the Zapp vs Zapp Plus 2 comparison covers the two entry Sunstones on sale today, and the Orion mPulse review covers the flagship.
The three Sunstone welders on sale today
We earn a commission if you buy through these Sunstone links, which does not change what we recommend.
All three are sold direct by Sunstone. The Zapp Plus 2 on sale today is not the Zapp Plus in the chart’s middle column, so its settings are not on this chart. Prices are Sunstone’s, checked October 2026: Zapp $1,249, Zapp Plus 2 from $1,699, Orion mPulse from $3,199. Confirm on the linked pages before you buy.
Sunstone's entry machine: a 3–10 joule pulse-arc welder made and supported in the USA, argon-ready, and backed by a 3-year manufacturer warranty. The lowest-cost way onto a name-brand platform with real phone support.
- 3–10 joules in single-joule steps, enough for fine gold-filled and silver chain
- Argon-ready; connects to an argon source in seconds for cleaner welds
- US-based phone support and tungsten electrode supply
The step up from the Zapp: a digital energy dial and the full 1–30 joule range for operators who want headroom for heavier rings but do not need a full touchscreen studio unit. At 1.9 lbs it is the most portable Sunstone. This is the current Zapp Plus 2 sold direct by Sunstone.
- Full 1–30 J range across 30 settings, the same span as the mPulse, with a dial instead of a touchscreen
- Digital energy dial with a lock-in-place tap so settings hold across a long event
- Ultra-portable at 1.9 lbs and a 13.3 × 15.5 × 6.9 cm footprint; 3-year warranty
Sunstone's most advanced permanent-jewelry welder and, by the manufacturer's account, the pulse-arc machine most PJ artists choose. A touchscreen system with Tru-Fire Technology®, a 1–30 joule range and 0.5-joule increments from 1–15 joules, and a built-in power supply, built for high-volume studios and events.
- 1–30 joule range with 0.5-joule fine steps between 1–15 joules
- Touchscreen interface and Tru-Fire pulse-arc technology
- Built-in power supply; horizontal or vertical orientation for tight booths
Sunstone code: WeldWorthy. It applies automatically when you buy through our Sunstone links, or you can enter it at checkout.
If a weld does not hold
Start from the chart, then change one thing at a time on scrap or practice chain, never on a customer’s piece. Re-read Sunstone’s instructions for your machine before you move far from its numbers, and check that you are reading the right row: the chart separates gauge and metal, and rose, yellow and white golds have their own settings.
Technique matters as much as the dial. Our permanent jewelry training guide covers learning the weld itself, the what is permanent jewelry explainer shows how a pulse-arc weld fuses the ring, and the supplies guide covers argon and the consumables you restock. For Sunstone’s own guidance on safety questions, see its Safety Concerns page.
Settings are the small decision; the welder is the big one. Our calculator turns a machine’s price and your own chain cost into a break-even count, in bracelets and bookings.
Run your payback numbers →Weld settings FAQ
What joule setting does Sunstone list for 20 gauge silver jump rings?
Sunstone's chart lists MAX POWER (MULTIPLE WELDS) on the Zapp, 11 joules (multiple welds) on the Zapp Plus, and 7 joules on the mPulse 2.0. The chart labels the metal "silver" and does not say sterling. Treat these as starting points: test on scrap or practice chain first and follow Sunstone's instructions for your machine.
What setting does the chart give for 22 gauge 14/20 gold filled yellow jump rings?
8 - MAX POWER (MULTIPLE WELDS) on the Zapp, 8 - 10 (MULTIPLE WELDS) on the Zapp Plus, and 7 joules on the mPulse 2.0. The ranges are printed on the chart exactly that way; it does not say where in the range to start.
What settings does Sunstone list for 26 gauge jump rings?
For all six metals at 26 gauge, the chart marks the Zapp as LOWEST POWER. The Zapp Plus column runs 2 to 4 joules and the mPulse 2.0 column 2 to 3.5 joules, depending on the metal. These are the lowest numbers anywhere on the chart.
What does MAX POWER (MULTIPLE WELDS) mean on the chart?
The chart prints MAX POWER in some Zapp cells instead of a joule number, and adds (MULTIPLE WELDS) under many 20 and 22 gauge settings. It does not explain either note further, so we do not guess at a weld count or sequence. Follow Sunstone's instructions for your machine, and practice on scrap chain before a customer's piece.
Do these settings apply to the Zapp Plus 2?
Not as far as the chart says. Its middle column is labeled Zapp Plus, and the chart dates from October 2024. It does not mention the Zapp Plus 2, so we do not assume the numbers carry over. The same goes for the mPulse 2.0 column and other Orion models. Check Sunstone's own guidance for the machine you own.