Worked in a fab shop for a little while myself. Everything that's been said is good advice. If you get a wire feed machine, get plenty of tips, and get a good pair of diagonal wire cutters. Some of those machines you can switch gas and wire, and do aluminum, aluminum is kind of tricky, but you'd be surprised how much aluminum stuff you'll run into to fix if you have one. If you think steel gets hot when you're welding, you should check out aluminum. You can put a tiny bead on a ten foot long piece of aluminum and the other end will be like a branding iron in three seconds flat. A good metal table is easy on your knees, and makes little things easier because you don't have to hook a ground clamp to them, just lay them on the table and ground the table. Buy a bunch of assorted c-clamps and vice grips if you don't already have some, and remember, an end grinder is like the eraser on the other end of a welding machine. Stock up on grinder wheels.

More great advice folks, much appreciated, reading everything that has been offered, lots of well earned tips that I know you all earned, appreciate you sharing!

Andy, I like that grinder=eraser analogy!

Justin

ETex, I might have a better one, not trying to best you, but gotta share. I too worked at a fabrication shop. A new hire, they had to last a week before we asked his name, tried for almost an hour, with a sparker for a torch, to light the gas, so he could weld with a wire feed welder. I had to convince the boss to go over and watch what he was doing! He claimed to have welding experience!

Yep,,,,,Quit smoking cigarettes.....

Vinke, I'll tell you my secret for quitting. I quit drinking beer on the same day. Who needs a cigarette if you don't have a beer? and vice versa. ( They did have to keep me in a locked cage for a couple of weeks until I adjusted )

It is on my bucket list,,,,, for me it is when I am driving. (the smokes.......)

Lundy, that one was better than mine by a long shot. That was one smart fella there.