You can never have too many tools...
If I can offer any advice it is don't go out and buy a whole heap of what you think you might need but rather get what you need when you need it.
However, a caveat to the above is if the missus says you can purchase a bunch of tools for this mission, then the game is on and you can spend up large... budget allowing that is.
Learning generally boils down to "Repetition or the avoidance of pain", some people learn by doing, some by watching and some just have to pee on the electric fence.
Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right. Henry Ford
C-clamps are very nice. Pipe clamps are a must. Harbor freight has some cheap welding tables that nice to have. I was able to get two of them for about $100.
If you are looking a building a gravity smoker then angle clamps are handy, to hold pieces at 90° .
Then you need flapper disk for grinding, lots and lots of grinding.
Also, since you are somewhat close to me, I recommend you go to Rainer Welding in Spanaway and get gas cylinder. They are $30 for refills and there tanks are the cheapest you will find, I think I paid about $130 for a 160, other places had 80's for the same price range.
If you would like information about building your own heatermeter or having someone build one for you, feel free to ask any questions you may have.
Definitely a gas bottle and a rolling welding cart. Never have too many clamps and magnets. My favorite tool is my plasma cutter ltd5000d almost killed myself with a cutting wheel making my welding table so I sold the plasma idea to the wife [emoji3]. O yeah welding table, as big as you can afford both money and space wise. i agree the best welding helmet you can afford I cheaped out and regret it, it will save your eyes. Also a decent welding jacket and cap molten metal hurts and the arc can cause a nasty sunburn type effect. An extra 10lb spool of solid wire and a 4lb spool of flux. Nothing sucks like running out of gas or wire in the middle of something. Two angle grinders one with a flapper or wire wheel and another with a grinder. If you can't convince the wife a plasma cutter will save ur life get a portaband and some cutting disks. Also something to mark on metal sharpies work great but they make things specific for the task. Also start a scrap pile and start thinking of things you can make for the wife. Nothing gets tools approved like a Pinterest project.
Learning generally boils down to "Repetition or the avoidance of pain", some people learn by doing, some by watching and some just have to pee on the electric fence.
Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right. Henry Ford