Electrode re-conditioning tool and method of using the same

A method of reconditioning an upper electrode or a lower electrode, the method comprising:

• shaping the upper electrode to expose an upper electrode tip surface;
• shaping the lower electrode to expose a lower electrode tip surface;
• placing a tool between the upper electrode tip surface and the lower electrode tip surface, the tool having an upper tool surface and a lower tool surface, a textured surface that is harder than the upper electrode tip surface and the lower electrode tip surface, wherein the tool has a substantially uniform thickness;
• squeezing the tool between the upper electrode and the lower electrode such that the upper electrode tip surface is pressed against the textured surface of the upper tool surface and the lower electrode tip surface is pressed against the textured surface of the lower tool surface;
• and
• displacing material on the upper electrode tip surface or the lower electrode tip surface to form a texture thereon that corresponds to the textured surface,
• wherein the upper and lower electrode tip surfaces are flat weld surfaces, and the tool is a plate, with the textured surface thereof being provided at portions of the tool having geometries corresponding with the flat weld surfaces.

A method of reconditioning a tip surface of a first electrode, the method comprising:

• removing the tip surface of the first electrode to expose a new tip surface of the first electrode;
• placing a tool proximate to the new tip surface of the first electrode, the tool having at least a first tool surface that includes a textured surface that is harder than the new tip surface, wherein the tool has a substantially uniform thickness;
• squeezing the new tip surface against the textured surface;
• and
• squeezing a texture of the textured surface into the new tip surface of the first electrode,
• wherein the new tip surface is a flat weld surface, and the tool is a plate, with the textured surface thereof being provided at portions of the tool having geometries corresponding with the flat weld surface.