Tig welder for a beginner

Ditto on the primeweld, I am happy with mine.
TIG is an art, and if you are going to practice you can do some amazing things.
That being said, you need a steady hand, and good vision.
You will learn soon enough about dipping the tungsten, keeping sharp points, pre flow, post flow, current, foot pedal, finger trigger etc.
I bought mine for the same reasons, I want to do my own and hard to find someone to do the work. I figure after 4 or 5 jobs, I will be about even on costs.