Hand held powder-fed laser fusion welding torch

A method for treating a surface of a workpiece by using a hand manipulated powder-fed laser fusion welding torch, the steps comprising:

• providing a hand held powder-fed laser fusion welding torch having a body, a nozzle assembly mounted on the body, the nozzle assembly defining a central nozzle aperture through which gas and light, including laser light, may pass, wherein the nozzle defines first and second powder flow channels aligned with a working focal point adjacent the central nozzle aperture, whereby fusion powder may be transmitted through the first and second powder flow channels for fusing by laser light transmitted through the central nozzle aperture;
• providing a source of fusion powder coupled to the first and second powder flow channels;
• transmitting the fusion powder to the first and second powder flow channels;
• providing a source of laser light coupled to the nozzle assembly;
• and
• transmitting the laser light to the nozzle;
• whereby
• the workpiece and the fusion powder may be welded and fused by the laser light in a manner susceptible to manual articulation to accommodate a wide variety of workpiece positions relative to the nozzle.