re: Any place around BR to take a welding class?

That's plenty of machine for household shite. Go ahead and get a dewalt 4" grinder, along with a bunch of 1/8" and 1/4" rocks. With a decent amount of practice, you'll learn how to do it effectively, you won't be a combo welder that can pass phase array, but as far as household projects, it'll be more than enough.