I’m Married To A Welder
My husband is teaching himself to weld (with a little help from YouTube and Google). It’s something he’s wanted to do for a long time, but now that we’ve moved, he has more space to do it, and lots of things to weld. He found a welder on Craigs List, and a welding mask on eBay. He got all of the other supplies at various places around town, and found some metal shops that let him take their scraps for free. There’s one place just a half mile or so from our house that has a dumpster out back where they toss their scrap metal, and they told him he can dumpster-dive anytime he wants. It’s all mostly small stuff, but it’s been perfect for practicing.
He made his first project last week. We had bought an umbrella for our patio, but had skipped the $50 umbrella stand, because my husband decided that would be a good place to try out his welding skills. He welded together a chunk of old I-beam and a metal pipe, and they make a great umbrella stand:
I love it. It’s unique, very effective, a great example of recycling, and very frugal.
The next project is window well covers. Our basement windows don’t have well covers, and with a toddler, those are a must. We were shocked to discover how expensive they are if you hire someone else to weld them for you. We were finding prices of $300 – $400 per window (we have two). My husband went to a metal supply shop last week and got all the supplies he needs to make both well covers for about $70 (angle iron and heavy duty grating). By the time he’s finished with the window well covers, the welder and all its accessories will have more than paid for themselves. And there are many more projects to come…
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How awesome! You never cease to amaze me with your frugal ideas and inspiration. I really like the stand. You haven’t ever mentioned owning a dehydrator, but I was wondering if you all had one since you are primarily raw and getting ready to become “suburban farmers” and all
Cool news! My husband enjoys welding, too – and can make pretty much anything I ask him to. He’s also great at repairing things with the welder. The funny thing is that the welding gas place knows me now, since they are only open while my husband is at work, and he does a lot of welding so I’m there pretty often getting refills.
Is that your solar oven in the background?
Tee – we don’t have a dehydrator, although it is something I’ve considered. I think by next fall (when we hopefully have a good harvest from our garden) we’ll have one.
We have such a big patio that we can just leave it out there all the time now.
Kaytee – It is indeed
On the subject of the dehydrator and in the spirit of frugality, this spring I scoured the internet for DIY solar dehydrators. I found several plans that I really liked and was all ready to commandeer my carpenter husband. Then summer hit. You know, we haven’t seen the sun two days in a row since May? This has not been the summer for line drying, solar cooking or solar dehydrating for us at all.
Very Cool umbrella stand! I was in the Merchant marines for 5 years and caught the welding bug. I welded everything. Be carefull you don’t loose your husband to the garage. I like your blog. I found it looking for money saving ideas. My wife and I are just starting a blog about easy ways to keep from being nickel and dimed to death. Please check it out at http://www.checkyourreceipts.com
So wonderful to catch up on your blog. Congratulations on the move!