But, honey... It was such a deal...

[Gary_in_Indiana]

I'm looking for some support here. I took more than a little teasing from my counterpart tonight about a recent purchase. I, of course, thought it made perfect sense but she apparently feels there is a flaw in my thinking. I'll let you be the judge.

Last week I had a customer come in who'd just been served divorce papers and informed that his home wasn't any longer his. This was timed in such a manner as his bi-weekly check had just been direct deposited into his formerly joint account and withdrawn immediately. You can imagine the rest.

While he was desperately short of cash, he did have a new-in-the-box welder that he'd just bought the night before still setting in his truck. I suggested he just return it. He showed me his receipt and he'd put it on a now-cancelled credit card so he couldn't return it for cash. He then offered it to me at a substantial discount just to get some cash to get by. It was a deal so I bought it.

So far, so good, right? Well, there is one little flaw. I don't know how to weld. I've never welded anything in my life. I don't even think I've ever seen it done. I did consult Wrought-N-Harv so I knew I was getting a decent brand (Hobart) and a good type for a beginner (Mig).

At first I was /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif then /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif but then I thought it'd be /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif. After checking with Harv, I knew it was even /w3tcompact/icons/clever.gif to buy it so I was /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif, even /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif. When I shared the good news about my new welder at home /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif, she was /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif. Then it was more /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif until I told her of my welding skills. It then went to /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif and /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif. She didn't really get /w3tcompact/icons/mad.gif or even /w3tcompact/icons/sad.gif. Her look said she thought I was /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif but she /w3tcompact/icons/love.gif me anyway, so I was /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif. I still felt like a /w3tcompact/icons/king.gif. She thinks I should be /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif at doing this. I need your help. If you think I'm right then I can show her and go /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif at her. She'll just /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif and /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif at me, but I'll feel /w3tcompact/icons/clever.gif anyhow. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[MikePA]

I don't think it's a coincidence that recently there's been all the posts on TBN about welding and then a great welder at a great price, falls into your lap. It was your destiny, plain and simple. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif I predict you will have several projects at home that will require the use of a welder in the very near future. /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif

 

[oombala]

weld her up a yard sculpture from scrap parts. she'll love ya for it

 

[s1120]

Don't feel bad. I get /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif from my wife all the time./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[RobS]

Hey, no problem Gary I have your answer. Just sell the welder to me for the same money and your troubles are gone /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Start staying home in the evenings and just playing in the garage with the welder. She'll come to the conclusion it's the best investment she ever made, well, second best......

 

[EdKing]

Gary, with a decent MIG, such as a Hobart, you should be able to make a passable weld with just a little practice. I never welded, and I got a Lincoln Mig, and after playing with it for a while, I was welding. Even at full price, I think you would have made a good investment, at a discount, it was a great deal. Have fun and post some pics of your welding projects.

 

[rdln]

My wife loves silver stuff. It doesn't matter what - silver, stainless, chrome, PLATINUM anything, so if it was me I would start fabricating a bunch of staynless: jewerly boxes, wine racks, shelves, bookends, picture frames, ya know get all artsy fartsy and stuff.

 

[dmccarty]

Gary,

I think the welder was a great buying opportunity that fell into your
lap. But one thing is for sure, if you can learn to use the Hobart the
way you used the TBN icons to weld together your story then
Wrought-N-Harv has some competition! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I think you might have won the Most Number Of Icons In A Post
Award. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Made me laugh this morning,
Dan McCarty

 

[Anonymous Poster]

1. Get that welder home as soon as possible.
2. Weld just long enough to figure out how to make a bead stick to something.
3. Go find the heaviest implement you have.
4. Lay a big fat bead on it anywhere. Just anywhere. About 6 inches long.
5. Run screaming to your wife that you just fixed the thing-a-majig on the doo-hickey that you thought was gonna cost you $400 to have done at the dealer./w3tcompact/icons/clever.gif
6. You are forgiven!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

There is no need to feel guilty about this because you are going to find out that a welder is one of the handiest things there is and you will find plenty of real projects for it.