I can’t believe I’ve missed this thread, luckily for me I could binge it all at once. Excellent work and I agree totally with the missing fastener, weld it on approach. A farmer friend of mine uses this technique, with a mig welder and argon bottle. If the fastener doesn’t need a high torque, don’t use the argon. If it’s a critical component that needs a particular high torque then use the gas.
Coming from the UK, where you aren’t allowed to use a step ladder without a safety harness, hard hat, goggles and a respirator, I will follow this thread and every new instalment will fill me full of, “thank god , he’s still alive”.