Just a suggestion, but you might want to take a welding class from a
local community college. It'll speed up the learning process, and
should save you money in the long run. I know I went through *far* more
metal/rods/wire that the class cost me.

I also scrounged some stainless flex-tube and storage rack out of the
trash. (I almost got a milling machine, too, but the head of the
welding department wanted it sold for scrap instead of letting me haul
it out of the trash.)

Anyway, community college is a really good deal.