>>>McLELLAN Alexander, DED/1 said:
> How about renting a welder?
Although I've not actually tackled welding yet, it's been my experience
that with this *kind* of tool -- one that's not really expensive, but
still you can't quite bring yourself to buy -- that when I rent it I
wind up either hurrying through thr job and doing a half-assed job of
it, or paying for extra days and winding up with a rental bill equal to
three-quarters what I'd have paid to buy the thing in the first place.
Only a few things have actually been worth renting; those where I'm sure I'll
never use it again (like the floor sander I used to refinish the hardwood
floors in our house) or I'm sure I'll be done in a day or two (the pro-level
airless paint sprayer I used to paint the previous house before we sold it.)
I suspect that if one is going to restore a car and do the welding oneself,
buying would be better than renting. You'll want to take your time and do it
right, and not rush through because if you keep it past 6PM it's another $50.
Often these rentals are geared to the pro who needs something NOW, for the
next two hours, and then not at all for a while. You'll need the welder for a
few minutes at a time for MONTHS.
Besides, when you're done you can sell it to the next restorer, and probably
wind up out-of-pocket less than if you'd rented.
Hmm. Anyone finishing up a restoration and no longer need the welder? I've
got this Sprite with too much bondo...
--berry
Berry Kercheval :: kerch@parc.xerox.com :: Xerox Palo Alto Research Center
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