Good info here. All stuff that I was wondering about but I'm unfamiliar with and it was never explained to me. Which is why I haven't been really pissed about it, just wondering and playing different scenarios through my mind. Would have been nice if they had mentioned the refinish was going to be necessary. I know Dan was asking Tim everything before telling me anything so the $175 quote should have been "plus refinishing." It would have been easier to handle than feeling like it was sprung on me at the time the invoice was due. I also don't understand the hole that needed welded up.
All of this would have been fine if they didn't act like they were trying to rape me right from the beginning. I pay with honest money for honest work. I mean, we went from an under $100 quote to $700 once they had my rifle and only when I asked for it back did they tell me, "Well $175 will get it right and safe and you'll be happy." And then even before I called them I mentioned that I bet my invoice ain't gonna be $175. I was right, it was damn near double. We will see what the work looks like, it may be fantastic and on point, but I still won't use them until they either get Dan initiated or get their communication issues handled.
Also, you can drill out rivets and pop the heads off. It's not labor intensive, it's the right way to do it. My brother does it for a living and I've seen it done every day when I worked on C-130s. I've done them myself when I couldn't get a sheetmetal mechanic available.