So if he painted it orange when he was done, it would of been "as good as new".?.?
I think the rather sad thing here is we sometimes trust someone to help that isn't really qualified to help us out of the jam we find our selves in.
In your case it was welding but on this site we see it over and over with mechanical, hydraulic. electrical and even just use of tools and the tractors and attachments.
I worked in a 24/7 factory environment in "maintenance" and had to be the Jack of all trades master of non.
Being on call and woke up working a plan in my mind during the 30 minute drive because a monofilament shut down cost 10's of thousands.
I worked with others who over estimated their skills in welding. And as a result my group leader would assign me a task because Bob would run a bead so spotty and I am not kidding, he would smooth it up with silicone caulk and paint it with silver paint as a lot of our work was stainless. One time it was on a hot water bath draw tank and the water was leaking everywhere. I got the job of redoing his work.
I had the pleasure of removing not only a bad weld but silicone and aluminum paint.
I feel for you and what you are going thru, it just sucks to be where you are and unable to have a running machine you paid so much money for.
Bill