The few bucks are not an issue. The issue is scheduling - can I get
the guy with the welder, myself, and the properly prepared gate all
together at the same time? Will the work be done as I wish? I want to
bolt or magnet the lock block to the gatepost with a 1/16" spacer,
swing the gate ( with the cutout ) over it,and then weld.

In my experience, good people who do good work are in high demand,
and cannot be scheduled at will. People who do crappy work are easy to
get.

I am 180 miles away from my complex, and remote scheduling is an
issue.

I have a very good steel fabrication guy - who put up the fence in
the first place - and he is so busy that he can't even find time to
invoice the last three jobs he did for me!

- Jerry Kaidor ( )