Since you work third shift maybe hit up craigslist and see if you can find a welder that would be willing to show you a thing or two. Offer up what you can for payment. And see what you get. I would ask questions to weed out the unskilled welder. Ask about different positions, the proper way to weld vertical. Ask them to explain a root face, root gap, and bevel face. Ask them for the common name of an AWS vertical fillet joint. (should be 3F) and if you get the questions answered correctly. The guy can probably teach you the "proper" way to weld. As most "self tought" welders can stick two pieces of metal together. But are the actually done correctly?
I'm not bashing anyone. Nor am I saying i know it all. I'm just trying to help the guy find a qualified person that could show him to weld. There is a right way and wrong way, I'm about half way through a 10 month welding school. It's amazing how much i have already picked up.
