Long sleeve dark cotton shirts? Meh, I weld in a freaking white t shirt! Wusses. Unless it's arc of course.

Seriously though- If you've never welded before, and you have a decent community college in your area, take a couple hundred dollars and take a semester long metal work class, and take the remaining $1000 and put it towards a hand made bike from someone who knows what they're doing. You will get better skills and a better bike out of the deal, and after the class you'll be in a better position to learn frame building.

You wouldn't ride a frame made by someone else who had been welding for only 5 days, why would yours be any different?