Decided to make a sierpinski's tetrahedron as a first REAL project! I built a shitty angleiron workbench (with an old door ziptied onto it as the tabletop) before but I'm actually trying this time so it's different
170 welds completed so far 
!! So, only 346 left to go!!... 
This was a really good idea until I remembered how complex fractals are, like GIRL, DUH, fuck was I thinking hahaha
Its REALLY scuffed though, I'm talkin like using my stick welder to melt a half inch off the end off of the pieces I had precut to make it shorter so it will fit in the actual dimensions needed, I've been holding the smallest (~2") pieces with a wrench and holding it in place freehand. It's been a lot of fun so far, and I'm definitely improving as I go, I weld my welding stick to my stock way less often now, and achieve arc much more reliably too, which is cool to see my own progress within the project!
I hurt my shoulder a bit ago so I haven't been able to do much lately, but welding is pretty low impact in that I mostly just sit on a folding chair in my driveway next to my shitty workbench lol
Have some more views!
When it's done it'll look like this image I found on google
I recently - well a year or two ago - replaced an old failing MIG with a new one from Northern Tool that I think is quite good for the price. I've only used it with flux core wire and no gas so far but it's been great for fixing broken things and building a few tables/furniture stands. It's a multi-process that can do mig and stick right out of the box, plus you can get an aluminum spool whip or a tig setup to add to it.
Well shit I just looked it up and the price has gone up by like $200+, thanks inflation and tariffs: https://www.northerntool.com/products/klutch-120-230-v-240-a-mp-welder-inverter-technology-volts-120-230-max-amps-240-mig-ready-model-extremig202w-5875893
If you could find one of those northern tool branded ones used it's a solid bet.