Get one of the cheap DC rectified machines and learn to stick weld with 3/32 rods.

I took a couple of courses at the tech college and made it clear to the instructor I was there for hobbyist reasons, not career reasons. That changed somewhat his approach with me. In the classes I did get to build a couple of projects I needed done and usually brought my own steel in for the larger stuff. I bought a small 110V MIG that makes repairs or tacks stuff together to take to buddies for heavy duty arc or TIG finishing.