[dsraven]

don't forget to clean both sides of the metal to be welded. contaminants can be drawn up from the back side into the weld so the weld becomes harder to do due to contaminants and may be porous when done as well. that is another bonus of sandblasting. it takes everything down to bare metal. if you have a good enouigh compressor you could get a small blaster and clan the weld areas yourself, just be carefull not to warp the metal.