Thanks Tom! I was given the AC/DC 7018 (attached) By a Steel Construction Welder which makes sense with him using a DC Welder in the field (most likely. He knew the E6013 was my only experience and wanted me to see the difference in the welds (possibly d/n know I only had AC. BUT! The container says AC/DC. They are a Bear to start and try to run a bead at my usual 120 amp setting. They are over 10 yrs old and I am almost sure I used them with some success over 10 yrs ago. They still look new in color and good flux condition. out of the sealed container (but I doubt tape has all ways been on the seam sealing it. I made a ref to darker color once that referred to my old 6011s since I was not use to that color as being normal maybe until I purchased my first 6011 recently. My old 6011s were one step from the Scrap Metal until I realized my old worked with both being New Animals to me. The new did work better but the old did some course welding (rebar to pipe that would be sleeves in concrete in the ground. I might need to play with my amps more on 6011. With the deeper penetration I needed to come down off my 120 to keep from burning the pipe but 140 w/ worked better on þ rebar and other heavy plate. The Bottom Line! I h/n had time to experiment and do 1-3 projects due to instant needed repairs vs 10 or more per year in the past.

I bought 2 small round plastic feeders at Walmart last year; .50¢ each on clearance! Of course I can't find the second one. My hummers like this one better than the glass Perky Pet I had also purchased; it's been 'retired', since they won't use it! The cheapie has the screw on bottom, that splits apart, for oh-so-easy cleaning! I'll be going back to check at the end of the season again this year.

Thanks for responding! It's actually one of the sites I have been looking at. I spoke to them a week ago about finishes and shipping times. I'm also been in contact with www.ironandinteriors.com which has nice rods also. I believe both make good quality round rods with a nice choice of finials, however I've hesitated over Robles' ball finial as it doesn't look as if it proportionally fits the rod in the pictures - if you look closely. Both my daughter and I thought the finial looked too small for the 1 1/4" rod. The Texas place has a ball finial that actually looks as if it had been welded to the rod as well as a standard ball finial and a variety of others, so I am leaning in their direction. I need to make a decision. I'm looking for a rod and finials with a bit of texture for the living room so that they don't look as if they came from Pottery Barn, although I also have some of PB's elsewhere in the house. Robles seems to wax then paint their iron rods to give them texture, the Texas one treats their metal with acid to etch it before painting to give it an aged look.

Joe, you talking trees then? Or a range of plant types? For trees-especially in "native restoration" work-oft times your county or local DNR tree sales can be good sources of native stock. For wetland plants, we've got some great sources here in this state, actually among the very pioneers of this side of the business, but I'm not thinking they'd be your best bet, both in terms of zone-appropriate species and shipping costs. Have you no wetland plant purveyors in your area? Or am I misinterpreting what it is you seek? +oM