gas flow 24 to the area where focused laser beam 10 contacts region 16 argon gas is used in order to reduce the likelihood of oxides forming in joint 30 in order to form joint 30 tapes 12 14 are overlapped such that region 16 is approximately equal to twice the width w of tapes 12 14 filler 18 is then placed by conventional techniques between the sides of tapes 12 14 where tapes 12 14 contact over region 16 fig2 tapes 12 14 are soldered together with solder joints 20 by conventional soldering techniques to mechanically secure tapes 12 14 together with filler plates 15 17 are then placed over region 16 which has been soldered together and held in place over region 16 by a conventional holding device not shown at this point region 16 is ready to be laser treated in operation laser 4 creates a laser beam which preferably is a 20 40 watt beam beam 6 is then focused by lens 8 to create focused laser beam 10 lens 8 preferably is a conventional 50 mm focal length lens gas source 22 is activated such that gas flow 24 moves across region 16 focused beam 10 impinges upon a small portion of.