I went to the Jefferson car show and swap meet yesterday. This had been on the agenda since last year, when a saw a seller of custom aluminum coolant tanks, one of which I need.
He wasn't there this year, so I'll figure out something else - probably eBay.
But what I did score was this cute little Hobart wire feed spitfire welder in need of some repair.
I'll be working on engine mounts this week, and while there is no way I'll trust my own welding to holding the engine in place, I have no issue in forming up the parts and tacking them up, and then getting them to somebody with real welding skills.
I had checked around into renting a welder for this end of the project. Two days, $150.00.
Conversely, the Hobart had a kink in the feed line about 2 feet in, and I got to thinking, heck, that leaves 6 foot of usable feed cable.
Trimmed it back, cleaned it up, ran some tests - and I now own a functioning welder again. Feeds a lot smoother than the Lincoln I used to own, I've got $100.00 and 4 hours in it, and the generator will power it in an emergency.
Now, to develop some skills . . .