Hey! Also newbie (3 months). I tried 1# propane for the same reason and was REALLY disappointed. Everything was sooty and it took a lot longer to melt. FWIW. But $10 a can is a bit of a drag.
I was fortunate enough to have someone teach me. The first couple hours to learn how to do it safely and the basics of making a donut were invaluable. The other classes gave me a foot up on other basic techniques but could probably be learned with a book and trial and error.
A couple things I messed up were working too close to the bright blue/white candle (turquoise -> terra cota) and not heating the rod long enough/pulling to hard (bead breaks free).
Aside from that, have fun, try different things, and breath. I noticed I tend to hold my breath while making the base bead. Don't judge
Good luck!