Ditch the seat and 'Tufa yourself a flamingo body on that puppy! Congrats on completing the course. As predicted, your welds definitely look cleaner than mine.

What's next? Are you looking at welding rigs for yourself? Gas? Stick? Mig? Tig? Laser?

Thanks for the pic
I can't wait to see what you turn those legs into.
Congratulations on finishing your welding course Linnea.
Debbie

Yes Tango, I am, but really don't know what to get.
I'm fairly comfortable with the arc welder and 60/10 rods, which my instructor
seems to think would be the most versatile, such as one might have on a farm
for all kinds of odd (and dirty, rusty, paint, etc.) jobs.
He says I need 220 though, that would be a pain, with huge extension cords
and pulling in the 220 (if I even can).

Definitely a chop saw, maybe a grinder if I need it.

The bending worries me, we used his big torch for heating, don't like that one,
too many valves.
The simpler, OA welding/heating torch was fine, but I only bent 1/4" rod with that,
not sure it would work on 1/2" or bigger?
I'll cut with the chop saw, but the bending? Not sure.

That was just a piece of wood lying around, to check the level,
I like the idea of the Baba Yaga house. Always wanted to do a spring treasure
hunt with stone eggs engraved (dremel) with numbers, for our spring Open House.
I think I've got some "house" material sitting about.

I'd really like to make a gate something like the one in this link.
Maybe I also need to consider how many hats I really can wear?

Here is a link that might be useful: Cool gate by pretty NY welding lady

WoW!...great looking gates! Thank you. As for bending metal...heating rebar with a torch is not recommended. Due to the metallurgy it can easily crystalize which can cuase it to shatter like glass. Cold forming is the standard proceedure and even then you need to be very careful. If it was not properly treated after forming it can snap like a twig. I've had a couple of pieces surprise me over the years. Just act as if it were going to happen every time you bend it and be prepared.

I still think you'd like the 110v mig a lot better. Try to see if a retailer or shop will give you a "test drive". They are a breeze to learn and very user-friendly.

All my best...

Linnea2- You are a very creative, productive person. OF COURSE you can wear one more hat! Those gates are wonderful - I can just see you using some of the motifs/designs you have already created in your business for making the perfect gates to your property - maybe even swinging doors or free standing dividers inside your building. These would really set the stage for events. I think you have to do this; you already know how to weld and cut the metal and the designs are swirling in your head. It won't be so much like adding a new hat as stacking a few of your old hats!
Laura

Ohhh, I"m ever so jealous of your talent. Crazy chicken legs, indeed.

Tango, I say she keeps the wood top and calls it a funky flamingo side table. It's just big enough for a drink and a remote....

I'm definitely for anything that will hold a proper cocktail!

Always encouraging, thanks Tango and Laura! And Rockyn.
It does feel like letting something out of a closet.

Spent an hour with an annoying salesman at a local supplier, prefacing every sentance
with "I could sell you this...".
By the time he was done it was over a thousand, not counting some basics, like a pit
table/grill thing, chop saw and the cost of the 220.
Talking to them and a local fabricator friend (fencing),
the consensus is I need a "buzzbox" and 220. They gave me a harbour freight catalog,
like Paws I'm tempted, but remembering Tango's caveat.
I'm going to talk to another friend and see if I can get to try a mig welder.

And it WOULD be nice to have an OA cutting torch, I have all this diamond plate...

Linnea --- Too bad your not close by...I've got a feeling that if you had the chance to play with a little 110v mig, you'd be hooked! Are there any of the "Tractor Supply" stores in your region? They very often have some killer sales on very good equipment and I think they carry a small, gas shielded, wire fed mig. As for flame cutting...Home Depot here has a little "mini-oxy-acytl" welding & cutting system complete with two (very) small tanks for about 40 or 50 bucks. But if you are gonna' be blasting away a lot, you'd probably be better off with a couple of "real" re-fillable bottles and a discount torch & hose system. Besides...if you crank out a few suits of armor to go with your other costumery...you can write the whole thing off!

We have Retool stores around here that sell used equipment if you settle on what you want. They may not be the most knowledgeable people but if you know what you are looking for you might save some cash. Nice "legs".
Paws