MF, I have a small inverter arc welder. It works fine, but I am not the best with electrical resistance welding. I can braze great with an oxy, but the bottles are so damn expensive.
You really need a rod oven to get the moisture out of the rods which is a downside. Look in bunnings, half the welding rod packets have condensate in them.
With mig, you need to control gas flow, wire speed and voltage.
With stick welders you need to strike the stick like a match, then pull it away before it sticks.
Go with arc to start with, you will get the hang of it
