A mig is going to be a heavy machine to move around on site. All my site work is done with a genny welder and a set of 10 meter leads but if needed I can get my hands on a set of 15 meter extension leads.
If you are going to go down the mild steel route get them galvanized and then powder coated especially if they are going to be outside.
I made a set of railings for my house about 5 years ago and got them galvanized and powder coated and they are still like new.
I'm in Dublin aswell and I get my bottles from BOC in Bluebell, D12
The bottles from DoneDeal are X size bottles and from the looks of the MSDS sheet it is Argoshield Lite and its working out pretty expensive.
I get a Y size bottle from BOC for €48.40 a refill and I think it is somewhere...
Where in Ireland are you ???
You will need gas and 0.6 wire for the pug.
Have a 215 myself for the last 2 years and it is a lovely and easy machine to use. I went for the 4 meter torch lead and it is well worth the extra few quid.
I second bigbadbugga with the Portamig, have my 215 for 2 years now and have welded everything from car bodies to 10mm plate without a problem.
Sorry no experience with ESAB as my previous mig was an Automig 181.
Have you checked that the piston and pot are ok especially if it 2 stroke ???
Work in a tool hire shop which does a lot of repairs to con saws, chain saws, strimmers, etc and if something come in not starting this is the 1st test I do on the tool as it is the easiest and quickest test...
I have the 215 and welded 10mm today with the course on 2 and the fine on 1 with 0.8mm wire and had no problems, this is the hightest I have gone with the 215 normally run course 1 and fine 6.
No they will not be ornamental, his rear garden is raised above the decking area and its to keep his 3yo boy from coming off the edge of the grass and straight down onto the deck.
Thanks for all the replies.
I will be making a railing for a friend that will be 6 meters long and roughtly 600mm high that is been fitted on top of a wall that has a 75mm granite capping fitted to the top of it, i dont want to use expanding bolts to fix the railings in case I crack the capping is there another way to fix...
I'd look into this idea with the possibility of getting a new bearing slightly narrower than the original bearing thus giving you a little more room to play with if that was possible.
I have the 215 and when i'm doing 5-6mm I put mine on course setting 2 and fine setting 1 or 2 with a wire speed somewhere around 4 to 4.5 and it seams to do the job.
Scarecrow if your in the Dublin area Swan Plant Hire are agents for Kango (well they were when I used to repair plant and tools) there in Ballymount or Cloghran out by the airport.
Here in Ireland galvanizing works out roughtly at €1 a kg plus vat with a minimum charge of €80.
I sent a gate in to get powder coated and it is due back tomorrow, getting it blasted, primed and then powder coated as it is only going into an underground carpark so I can give a price then.