Right. So, you can't do it, is what you're saying. $500 for a welder, $80 for a tank of gas, $20 for a crappy helmet, you're in over $600 and you still haven't taught yourself to weld, hot tanked the K, blasted it, checked to make sure it's straight or laid down a single weld.
Where I'm coming from? I can't know more than suspension? I've been welding for over 20 years. I learned from a certified aircraft mechanic. I do all my own welding, all the chassis stiffening I've done on all of my cars is my work for better or worse. I use a couple of ancient welders I bought used and maintain myself. An old Miller 320 AB/P TIG machine circa 1972 and an old Millermatic 35 from around '75 converted to a Tweco gun. Yes, that makes both of those machines older than I am. I'm not, and have never been, a professional welder, so maybe you've got me there. And I'm still way better with a TIG than a MIG because that's what I learned on and probably still have the most hours on by far. But that doesn't mean I can't add, or that I don't understand what it would cost to go from an empty garage to having a machine and set up capable of welding up K frames. Because I've done a few of those myself as well, you know, being a suspension guy.
Awesome! Glad that's available local, but classes like that aren't always easy to find. How many hours a week is it and what are the registration and shop fees? Because not everyone can manage a class like that with a day job. And a class that lets you walk in and work on your own projects isn't exactly the norm, but I'm sure you know that.