If you want to start cheap and basic, we'll goto lowes some time, pick ya up a gas/mix/flux like I have, expect to spend 300-400-500 bucks. Start you out on flux steel, pretty basic, pretty easy. If oyu get something like I have, lets you do flux, then convert over to MIG so you can do pretty stuff, and do things like aluminum and stainless. With mine, you can just plug it into your wall, but you''re limited to .035 wire, lucky to penetrate 1/8 inch steel, 1/4 inch aluminum.