Until I can save for a nice TIG welder I went with a inexpensive alternative:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=55250
I have been using this for fixing a Rail Buggy and the welds have been coming out great without using gas. I know that if I use gas I can get better and cleaner welds... but so far it has been working fine.
Fyi - those flat pieces were change for pipes as well... but the idea is for you to see the nice weld you can get with these machines.