Very few homes have actually been set on fire with an arc welder. That's one of those misunderstood fictions...

Arc welding machines are pretty easy to use, though mastery of making a good bead with proper penetration and not melting all the way through takes a while.

Oxyacetylene is a nice home set-up, too, since you can also use it as a cutter and for heating metal for bending and working.

Tim has both out in the garage. Since we bought the house I'll be willing to pay to have the right power lines run out tehre now so he can use the arc machine.