New TIG starter machine

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Greetings all,First post, new to welding aside from a bit in high school shop. I've worked as a structural designer for 25 years, now I want to learn to actually build stuff myself with metal, so I bought this setup off Craigslist for $300. It's a Maxstar 91, 90A DC TIG and stick. It came with a cheapo torch and a funky regulator, but I replaced the reg with the Victor unit shown in the pic. My intention was to buy something used and inexpensive to learn on and then trade up once I've got the hang of it.I want to replace the torch with an appropriate air-cooled Weldcraft unit - I'm thinking the WP9V with a 12' one-piece cable and the accessory kit AK-1 with .040 and 1/16" collets and #5 & #6 nozzles. I think this model is the right choice for this size welder. I don't want to spend any more money on the larger torches or water cooling - I figure when/if I upgrade to a larger machine I can justify the additional expense. What do y'all think - a good choice?Do I need any other miscellaneous items to start practicing? I have a grinder for the tungsten. I'll be buying a new bottle from my local supply, otherwise I'd have to recertify the bottle I have. I think the existing hose from the regulator and the power adapter can be reused with the new torch. Am I right or should I just replace them when I replace the  torch? I'm thinking of one of these:I know this is a really small machine only suitable for thin material and lightweight tubing and such, but I already have a list of small projects I want to tackle once I get rolling and learning. Any suggestions, advice, or recommendations are appreciated.BTW, I worked in fab shops when I was just out of high school as a pipe fitter's helper and occasionally a welder's helper. Mostly skid work for nat gas processing. But I ground a lot of pipe, tack welded, burned stuff with a torch, etc.Plus like I said I've been designing steel structures, piperacks, supports, etc and specifying welds and such so I'm pretty knowledgeable, I just don't have the hands on experience actually welding. I know folks here do so that's why I'm here.I'm looking forward to learning. Those who say it cannot be done should stay out of the way of those who are actually doing it.
Reply:With a 90 A unit you really shouldn't need a water cooled torch, wait until you get a bigger machine. When you start thinking about upgrading, start watching for used coolers. You also don't really need the plug adapter in the last photo, just use the rod holder and clamp it to the power block on your existing rig. If the power lead/hose in your pic isn't torn up, all you really need is a torch head, it will screw right on to the end of what you have. See if your gas supplier will exchange the bottle, don't buy if you don't need to!Have fun!
Reply:Most places around here you wouldn't need to retest the cylinder, though the LWS may charge you to do the test if they notice it's out of hydro. Usually they just take your old cylinder and exchange it for a full one and they seldom look at the hydro date at my place. The guys that fill them usually check and pull out of date cylinders and the guys at the store don't have to.My only thought towards the WP9 torch is that it uses different parts than the larger WP 17 torches. This can be a disadvantage later because you will have to buy all new collets, collet bodies and cups to fit the other torch. You can do everything with the 17 series torch that you can with the 9 series torch. The only advantage of the 9 for the most part is it's compact size and it's a bit lighter in weight. You may also find the 17 torches and parts less expensive because they are a more popular size than the 9's. I can't tell from the pict if that adapter you show is for adding the gas hookup or the adapter to hookup a water cooled torch to a machine with a flow thru dinse connector.Overall that machine should work fine as long as you stay within it's limits. You should be able to reuse those other parts from what I can tell..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan