For your sheet metal, go and see Peter Smits Sheetmetal in Pascoe Vale (28-30 Fawkner Road Pascoe Vale). I've bought a few bits and pieces off him and he's pretty reasonable. He can fold stuff up for you too if needed.

Ok $15 a month for e size bottle and 80 to fill it. Might wait til warmer months for it, so I can continue with rust repairs. Means I can hunt around for panel steel offcuts too

Might build a little shed just for compressor. A small 1/2 pallet, put some tin sides and a roof, tube of silicon to make water tight. Cheap and dry easy to use

I think your dilemna kinda transcends the Mig.
Get some gas, c-Section and some sheetmetal...weld that carport into a garage.
Or sell up and move to the country where you will actually have the space to store all your stuff in...let alone work in

Yeah pm me the details, but I only need and have space for e size bottle. 6 foot won't fit

Mik I was welding outside today in the wind (and rain at some points!) and the gas welder worked perfectly. It was a pretty windy #OOPS#ty day so if ever it was going to test the results it was today.
I got the biggest size gas bottle (the one thats about 6 foot tall?) and I reckon it's cheap. It costs me $160 a year plus $50 for the gas. That's 50 cents a day! It'll take me two years to use all the gas but works out so much cheaper than pissy little bottles.
Let me know if you want to know the name of where I got it. It's in Brooklyn so not too far from you.

yep a curtain is a good idea, you can buy them or put your new welder to use and make up a simple frame and fill it with some plastic sheet.... actually buying sounds alot easier

oh good advice benny- didnt think about curtain.

would have some body panel repiars, but im not that fussed by messy welds if rust is gone

stick with the gas type... its all about weld quality and integrity.. Buy yourself a welding curtin /screen and you are in business.