Many years ago (like 30) I had to get a hook welded on my dads tractor that I broke because I was an idiot. Looked in the phone book. Found a place near by. Rusty sign out front, down a dirt road, old arm house, red barn with a sign "SHOP' on it. Went inside. Typical welders/machinist shop. That dusty, burnt gray color and scent. I asked the guy if could weld the hook on. 'Sure, five bucks'. Deal. When it was done, I talked to him about metal and stuff, at the time, I was, heavily involved in motorsports. He told me he was a 'master TIG' welder and worked for NASA. Sure, I thought, this guy works for NASA. He asked me if I wanted to see some of his work. Yupper! He led me into the back through a door. Suddenly I was in a bright hallway and looking in to a clean room, one of those places you enter being in a rubber suit connected to a wall. Ultra sterile. On the table was the 'cube' that looked like a oil refinery except it was about one fot by one foot by one foot and not a thousand feet. Tiny little pipes snaking about. All Ti. He told me it took close to a year of 40 hour weeks to weld up (the parts were precut and bent elsewhere). It was amazing. In a million years, I'd of never gussed that shop was there and that the guy was so good.
A pal did these welds on a bike Ti pipe for me, installing the bung for an O2 sensor. I cannot weld one bit. I stink.