questions about buyin a welder

im tired of bullshit with shops and ive had no luck with the ones ive dealt with...i wanna start workin on my own and my friends sellin a 110 mig no gas hook up for 200...is that a good price/do i need gas? heard i do/if notta good deal what should i buy to start out with...ill have 600 or so to spend with the next couple of weeks so id like to get one