New to Welding, Where to start

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I've been bored the last couple of months since its winter, and have decided to buy a welder and teach myself how to weld. I honestly dont know much about the industry at all. Not looking for a career out of it, just a hobby. What do you recommend as a starter welder. I would mainly be doing small pieces of angle iron, and flat bar.
Reply:Welcome to the insanity!  I myself just began learning the dark art about 1.5 weeks ago.  I jumped in with both feet and have been charged since...A good helmet/mask, welding gloves, chipping hammer/brush, etc safety equip.A good grinder w various metal disks/pads.A decent Oxygen Acetylene kit would do great for learning on.Really, it seems this is the way to get started on the cheap.  There's so many types of hot weld precesses that you have too many options.  This is the simple (but effective and good for learning) system that will get it done!I could be wrong though...Im a newbie.ThermalArc 185MillerMatic 180 w/ AutosetVictor Cutskill Oxy/AcetyleneThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 38and spite!
Reply:Originally Posted by lodogg89I've been bored the last couple of months since its winter, and have decided to buy a welder and teach myself how to weld. I honestly dont know much about the industry at all. Not looking for a career out of it, just a hobby. What do you recommend as a starter welder. I would mainly be doing small pieces of angle iron, and flat bar.
Reply:Welcome !                I have been welding for over 20 years as a hobby. I fix things for other people and make "stuff" to keep me happy.  I few years ago I enrolled into a vocational school, Adult Ed program (nights) for some cheap money and I had a great time. I also learned a few things that would have taken a lot of trial and error to discover on my own .                                                                                                              This is a great forum to collect ideas and knowledge from weldors that have learned by making their own mistakes. You have just discovered a vast universe of collective knowledge that is free just for the asking.
Reply:Forgot to add these links:http://64.78.42.182/sweethaven/BldgConst/Welding/DIY MIG welding:http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/They have a decent welding forum, too:http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/index.phpWarning: I have been wrong before!New small workshop, small MIG, oxyacetylene set with a DHC-2000 that I'm learning to use and really like. Life is good!Typos are there for those that look for them. I try to do something for everybody.
Reply:Dang.  Once again, Ive been schooled.  Gotta love it!Very good points there to consider.ThermalArc 185MillerMatic 180 w/ AutosetVictor Cutskill Oxy/AcetyleneThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 38and spite!
Reply:$369 at Home Depot, the Lincoln flux-core wire feed welder HD100.***************************************Lincoln AC225 stick welderLincoln HD100 WeldPak flux core wire feed welderThree of the cheapest grinders money can buy
Reply:Originally Posted by KRS$369 at Home Depot, the Lincoln flux-core wire feed welder HD100.
Reply:Finding a place to buy cheap scap was helpful for me....As it turned out, my scap source was a full service fab shop that sold metal (non scap, for lack of better term) to the public at reasonable prices...Good luck...MetalBob