Thanks Doug

Check craigslist for a bottle, just look at the date stampings on it to make sure it is till in service (like a scuba tank certification). Also, if you buy a new bottle, get it from a place like Air Gas or something similar. If you buy a tank from somewhere like Harbor Freight or Tractor Supply there is a good chance the welding supply shop will not simply swap it out and you may have to wait a few days to have it refilled. Get the largest bottle you can find. It is marginally more to have a large tank filled than it is a small tank. You are paying more for the handling, not really so much for the gas that is in it. I have a "S" size bottle I use. Just over 150 CF. That size bottle is an "owner only" bottle. They are +- 48" tall. Any larger and you run the risk of getting a rental bottle that may be stolen or have rental charges against it.

Also, think about getting a small bottle of pure argon, that is great for welding stainless and with the right wire that little machine will weld stainless.

As for wire, I would stick with .023 and never look back. It is easier to turn the wire speed up for thicker gauge metal when using thin wire than it is to turn the wire speed down when using thicker wire on thinner metal.

Thanks Andy!

So I picked up a 125 cf C25 tank from Craigslist, a regulator, some 0.023 wire, some fiberglass blankets, and a couple other welding odds and ends. Got the tank and regulator all set up then swapped in the 0.023 wire and started laying down some beads. Man, did they look terrible! No matter how hard I tried, the results looked like crap! Frustrated, I was about to quit and go in the house when I happened to look at the regulator: I had turned it off after adjusting the gas flow earlier! I had been welding with non-flux wire with no gas! Turned the gas on and laid down a nice bead!
Next time I guess I'll double check that I have the gas turned on

Also make sure to turn the gas off. I wasted at least a couple bottles that way.