Probably cheaper to buy them new by the keg rather than pay to ship old shoes? My husband started teaching me to weld last summer (after 25 years of bugging him!) It's a blast, I have a med sized wire feed welder - I love it, it's much easier than with the stick welder. I too would rather have a plasma cutter than a diamond ring any day - but that's alot of $$ and I'm not sure how much it would get used. This summer hubby is teaching me how to forge!! It's really fun but I'm already thinking this would be a lesson better saved for winter time! It's hot!