I'm assuming any beginner wants to buy good equipment. You can buy something like a Victor kit with regulators, torch, hoses and other things for a little over $200. Or you can buy an "aircraft" torch like a Smith AW1A and tips for just under $200. Good regulators and lightweight teflon hoses will get you up in the $500 range before you are ready to braze. Esab and Victor make similar torches. The difference is weight and convenience. Lightweight torches make heat control a lot easier; you can flick the flame away quickly. These torches have the valves up at the tip end, that makes adjustments a lot easier, and the knobs don't get in the way. I've done a lot of work with a huge WWII era military surplus torch. Not an easy thing to deal with.