The safety aspect should not be overlooked, especially for someone striking their first arc. The dangers to consider are: FIRE-probably the biggest consideration, especially if it's a home workshop environment. FUMES- There are lots of pontentially bad thngs which can and will fume-out from a weld in progress... ventilate. ELECTRICAL- Make sure the unit is wired properly and has the necessary grounds. (This could overlap the fire issue) WELD FAILURE- Probably not quite as common, but some welds can cause death, injury, or property damage if they fail. Often it's not so obvious whether or not they are "critical welds". This will be very much an issue if you try critical welds with a small mig. Migs in general are more capable of producing welds which visibly look sound, but are inferior. This is why gmaw are not prequalified for certain parameters. They must prove themselves for a each application. HIGH PRESSURE INERT GAS TANKS- If you get into using/storing these they have safety issues which basically focus on keeping the gas under control or inside the tank. Potential injury from high pressure release and asphisiation from oxygen displacement are a couple biggies to consider. PROTECTIVER GEAR- You will need to protect yourself from potential injury. Eye protection, face protection, skin protection. Consider all the aspects of welding including cutting, bending, pounding, arc rays, etc. Take a short class on the basics if you have it availible near you. You'll learn some stuff to give some foundation for the hands-on experience yet to come. Enjoy and be safe!