Given that I was really putting him to the test, and understanding that he is a senior, today being his last day, and he didn't really have the best grades over the past few months, I think he did a pretty good job. I'm very gentle with my vehicles when I go off road, and have never really come close to ever using the sliders I had on the XD. I like to tell myself not to outfit it too much, because it's all just an excuse to get into more trouble.
I think his welds and finish work on the seams are really pretty good. He also had a good design sense for what I was telling him I would like, etc... But his execution on making it perfect is a little like Land Rover's own factory, if I'm honest! However, I have a nice looking set of light duty sliders for a good price, and I hope it helped him a bit too! Maybe a life lesson in personal business, ....and a little cash in hand to leave high school with.
When I say his execution in the manufacture might have been a bit off, I mean that he was fitting it in the parking lot at school, then cutting and welding in the shop 100 feet away. Experience would have taught him a few tricks to solve these issues, but in the end I have a bit of gap in the aft section. And the forward mounting brackets have bolt slots that are way too big, that I assume he needed in order to make up for his measurements never really fitting the reality of a Defender, after walking back and forth 100 feet to do the work.
Anyway, considering all, I'm pretty happy with the results! And I'll find a local or a friend to fix/finish the bits that he couldn't do. In the mean time, they are perfectly usable, I just wouldn't want to put them to the test!
I'm keeping them bare metal for a bit in order to do the finish welding, but also so I can evaluate whether or not I want to add side bars/steps, or maybe a tab along the bottom to accommodate a high-lift, etc... I plan on using Por-15 and UV resistant paint to match the rear bumper, wheels, and front bumper. I did this before with a few other items I had, and I can't say enough about how well the finish lasted.
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