When I was 10 or 11 years old, my father "who is a welder by trade" used to make me weld in the garage 2 nights a week for 2 hours or 50 rods whichever came first. He used to stand a piece of 4 x4 x1/2 angle iron 16" long vertically and have me start doing vertical ups filling out the angle iron. I hated it at the moment when I was doing it, I wanted to be out with my friends, but years later I am glad that he showed me. I worked as a welder for the pipefitters at a nuke plant in PA. Knowing how to weld has come in very handy for me and my friends. I have an AC DC stick welder in my garage. Iwill probably pick up a portable mig sometime. Have a tig set up for the delicate stuff also.
Randy