Thank you, brother.
Goeff helped me (by helped, I mean, I bought lunch and he did a ton of work...) fab up a mount for my XJ so that my bumper won't rip off the first time I use it (like his did... LOL)
In addition to fabbing up the mounts and reinforcement, he let me weld and try my hand at the plasma cutter.
1st of all, thank you Paul for letting me try welding for the first time over here at my house, but I still suck at it. I had more confidence than the first time. It was very cool (gas was much easier). Geoff = master welder, Alan = words "can weld" are still not in my resume, but I was at least able to glue two pieces of steel together with metal. Beats duct tape any day.
2nd of all, Plasma cutter. The sensation of cutting metal without ANY resistance is just weird. I'm watching Geoff just cut any darn thing he wants, thinking it can't be that hard... WRONG. He let me try... um. Sucked. (is there a category for worse than sucked?)... We were cutting oblong shapes for sliding mount adjustments. Mine looked like someone had puked on the steel with a laser... Geoff's? Smooth a silk and nice and round. Um... Professional? I think so. So... I won't be using the Plasma cutter any time soon. Did I mention it was weird to cut metal without any resistance, just point a light? Freaky, man.
Also, the front bumper is straight now (yes, I bent an ARB Bull Bar bumper). The frame straightener worked wonders... it was like watching a car chiropracter at work.
Anyway, the XJ is ready to hook up the electric for the winch, then the lights, then back on the trail! I had a good time, learned TONS, and wanted to say thanks to Geoff for helping me out.
Oh, and Mike: I have line on Grand Prix hood vents in Queen Creek, 25 bucks. Should get them this week... I'll post a pic for ya!