I have my electives for high school set up so that, after freshman year:I could frame a door, operate several saws, Weld together broken pieces of metal equipment (Large scale) and make foundred (Or however that is spelled) Tools and weapons.. Granted i had the right tools.. (And lotion, the molding sand hurts your hands bad)

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Less high tech equipment needed, and what is needed can be improvised. Much more skill needed.
Next up in tech level is electrical welding, much lower tech than gas welding of any sort. You can get started with a battery, heavy cables, and clamps.
Top on the complication level is gas welding, compressed gas, valves, metering, mixing.

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