Abstract: An aluminum electrolytic capacitor is housed in an aluminum can having one open end. A standard glass-to-metal seal having an outer tantalum ring is seated snugly within the mouth of the can. With the edge of the tantalum ring positioned flush with, or slightly below, the lip of the aluminum can, the beam of a pulsing infra red laser is directed at the interface between the tantalum ring of the seal and the aluminum lip of the can causing the lip of the can to melt, to flow over and to form a continuous annular Al-Ta weld with the tantalum ring and to hermetically seal the ring to the can continuously and completely at a peripheral edge of the tantalum ring.