I gotta go along with just about everything Mike Cline says, except learnin to run bare rod on an electric machine, that could turn a young fellow off quick.
Nice thing about learnin with gas first, you develope skill for dealing with the molten weld puddle, and that carrys over into stick welding, making it a little easier to learn stick.
The biggest problem I see with most fellows starting out, CHEAP EQUIPMENT. There seems to be a mindset that says a cheap machine from some mailorder place will save money. My first machine was a Lincoln, 225 amp buzz box, 40 years old now, and still running. I bought it at a welding supplier, and it cost me 4 weeks wages, and I'll tell you to this day, it was the best money I ever spent on welding. Along with that machine came more hours of good advice and counsel than I can count, a couple good friends, several leads on deals I could profit from, and information that kept me from killing myself more than once. You can't make a better investment than a good welding supplier. The kid at Wallyworld can't help you when the machine don't burn rod.
For what you're trying to do now, get a good quality new torch, and learn to weld, preferably without setting yourself or anything else on fire.
I just finished building a yellow bellied bug eyed ring necked groundpecker for the wife's gardens, from an old shovel and sickle bar guard, using a stick, MIG, Plazma, and anvil & hammer. Truth is I could have built it all with a torch, but I own the machines, and each of them has benefits others don't.
Just remember, it ain't welded if it won't survive 3 falls to the floor without breaking.

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