Welcome Ron,
I think one of the best things you could do, would be to get in contact with and get along to Mr John Davis' gaff in St Neotts, where I'm sure you'd get to try out a steel and get any and all questions answered. John's an extremely experienced player who lives and breathes steel guitar, his living room looks like a steel guitar showroom
Good luck with your quest, I'm sure, being a player, you'll be up and running in no time on, this demanding, fulfilling and addictive instrument.
PS- you can send John a PM through the forum.