Having a welder can be so handy. I'm lucky that I have a TIG welder and can weld s/s and aluminum.
I've had it for 20 years. My welds have always been OK but not nearly as nice as a friends who does it for a living. Got a new auto darkening helmet and just tried it out. My first weld was a piece of art. Better than I've ever done. I've always suspected that the cheap helmet that I was using didn't let me see the work clearly. If you get a welder, get a decent helmet. It only took me 20 years to discover that.
Ron