Ol’ Lincoln post

Managed to get my trailer brakes (actually a surge brake set-up) finagled out today.  Years of sitting out did a number on the cables, but nothing some PB blaster, a little time, and some judicially applied heat couldn’t cure.  I looked around and did find a supplier for such parts, and actually quite reasonable.  A new cable for this trailer will run me around $50 not including shipping costs.   A new set of p-brake cables for my S-10 would set me back around the same, so reasonable. I don’t need it yet, but whats on there will need replaced, sooner more likely than later.  I realized after getting it all together that backing up my be a problem, so I made a pin to drop in for that.  Drilling the hole for it was the harder part: namely drilling through 2 pieces of 1/4″ steel where one has some wiggle to it. That’s now on a small chain so it doesn’t become FOD on the road.  This weekend will consist of testing it(by taking it to the gas station and giving it a fill up.  Likely its first in only God knows how long.) And fitting trailer lights.  I had a set, or so I thought,  but when I retrieved them out of my shed, found the packrats had decided trailer wires make for good chew toys/nesting material.  Life in the woods, you can’t get away from ’em, and they are damned tricky to trap. (And I have NEVER personally seen one, but the evidence they are here is undeniable.  That, and Voo n Jack are always trying to root them out of the woodpile when I am loading up wood.) 
I still need to decide which bottles I am going to use for my torches.   I have the smaller 80cuft bottles as well as the larger 200’s (? I think thats how big they are, not certain though.)  I only have the one torch head currently and really no need for two. That may change, but until I can justify the expense of a second set,,, 
The smaller bottles would make for an easier cage to build (read as ‘less steel to weld up, therefore cheaper.’)  But the cost of filling them, while less per bottle, is almost double by total volume compared to the big bottles.  Yeah, I am weighing all my costs, mostly so I have an idea what to charge for services.  Don’t want to screw myself, but at the same time, want to keep things in reason.  (Without underselling ME.)
I know I’ve heard several complaints about 2 particular local welders.  Not about their skills,  but about their cost.   Granted,  a full rig duelly with a topshelf Miller set up,  and all the bells n whistles costs mad money, so the guys are going to charge accordingly.  I’m not after their clients. (Not yet anyways)
And there are people that would complain if you gave them shit for free, so I listen but take it with a grain of salt.
In a way, this karmic blessing couldn’t have came at a better time.  I was at the shop working a week before I picked the Lincoln up, and had to tell a guy I couldn’t weld for him unless he was able to bring the part in. This wasn’t the first time either.  I have one or two a month, sometimes more sometimes less.  Only once was I able to help, and that was because they had the gear on the truck with them. (And my boss made that profit,,,   that’ll change soon enough.)
Now, I have other options.😎
And those options are almost road ready. (And the first thing this rig will “pay for” is a new set of tires for itself. They aren’t horrible, but they aren’t great either.)

Granted, I still have to add storage, maybe the larger vise (I have a Rigid pipe vise on it right now) a rack for the torch hoses; but with the bottles caged, I can work the rest out of the truck for a time. 

And the weather is shifting to nicer, so ‘Yak season is approaching😜.  Wouldn’t that be a sight: a couple of kayaks atop the truck hauling a big honkin’ Lincoln SA200 welding rig.  LOL