I don't know how to cut or weld metal. but I want to learn. Since a lot of you guys do your own work, I was wondering what you would buy as your first piece of equipment. I can't afford professional grade equipment, but I would like to buy something that will alow me to cut and weld metal. Should I go with one piece of equipment that will do both, or should I get something for cutting and something for welding? What recommendations do you have? I know there is no substitute for experience, but I would like something with a shorter learning curve. I plan to just get a bunch of old sheetmetal and practice, practice, practice. I would like to take a course or two at the local trade school, but again, they offer different courses for different equipment, so I need to settle on the equipment before I can choose the courses. Most of the work I want to do is sheet metal like floors, quarters, etc. There seems to be a bewildering array of equipment out there (electric vs gas, stick, mig, tig, plasma, etc), and I'm just not sure where to start. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.