Aldi Metal Bandsaw

[Pat BraveryParticipant @patbravery]

I have had to return my Aldi bandsaw today as it kept throwing the saw blade, I checked it out and the rubber tyres on the drive wheels had started to disintegrate. It was probably caused by using thin oil as a lubricant when making cuts, has anyone else experienced this? I have always used this method so I will try using the saw dry when the new one arrives. I have to say that Aldi were very good and the refund was no problem at all. Regards Pat

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Posted by Pat Bravery on 16/10/2019 17:23:45:

I have had to return my Aldi bandsaw today as it kept throwing the saw blade, I checked it out and the rubber tyres on the drive wheels had started to disintegrate. It was probably caused by using thin oil as a lubricant when making cuts, has anyone else experienced this? I have always used this method so I will try using the saw dry when the new one arrives. I have to say that Aldi were very good and the refund was no problem at all. Regards Pat

Did you read the ‘destruction’ manual? If it says cut dry it probably means cut dry.

[Robert WheelerParticipant @robertwheeler71281]

Hi, I think this was part of my problem, I have bought a tyre from a british supplier. Not the correct one but it is a very tight fit on the pulley and seems to be working ok. like you i will be using it dry, not happy but needs must when the devil drives.

Bob

[Pat BraveryParticipant @patbravery]

Hi, I have dug out the manual and I can't see any mention of the use of cutting oil, I always have used a lubricant when doing any cutting on machinery and surely that is standard workshop practice. Is it a normal practice to cut dry on bandsaws? Regards Pat

[Douglas JohnstonParticipant @douglasjohnston98463]

Thank goodness I have read this thread. I have just bought the Aldi saw and have only cut some wood so far and was intending cutting some metal this afternoon. Like Pat I always use cutting oil when cutting metal on a bandsaw and would probably have ruined my rubber wheels if I had done so. This should be made very clear in the instruction booklet. Close shave there then, so thanks for pointing that out.

Doug

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Posted by Pat Bravery on 17/10/2019 11:12:02:

…

. Is it a normal practice to cut dry on bandsaws?

…

It is on mine. Specifically states ‘cut dry’.

[ChrisBParticipant @chrisb35596]

Posted by not done it yet on 17/10/2019 20:02:01:

Posted by Pat Bravery on 17/10/2019 11:12:02:

…

. Is it a normal practice to cut dry on bandsaws?

…

It is on mine. Specifically states ‘cut dry’.

If the pulleys are not all metal then it is a 'cut dry' saw. Mine has cast iron pulleys and likes oil a lot.

[Bill PhinnParticipant @billphinn90025]

I've just taken delivery of mine.

Either I'm being very stupid or the saw has problems.

First "problem" is that the vice jaws don't meet or clamp parallel. I took the fixed jaw plate off, and tellingly there was a grape-pip sized piece of swarf mashed between the jaw plate and its mount, but unfortunately removing the swarf only improved the problem slightly, it didn't cure it. Short of shimming the fixed jaw (am unwilling to) I can't see a solution.

Second problem is that the saw blade leans out, i.e.doesn't come down perpendicular on to the work. The outcome of this can be seen in the image with the square. The brass bar in this case was cut standing on its edge – partly to minimize the ferocious jaw lift when anything under about 1/2 inch thick is clamped in the vice.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[IanTParticipant @iant]

Hi Bill,

I think you will find that there has been a fair bit of negative comment on YouTube about the vice provided (and it's poor quality). I intend to use the saw mostly in vertical mode – I'm busy making the stand at the moment. However if I find I do need to use the horizontal cutting stand provided, I'm simply going to change the vice for something more suitable, as I have a suitable one made some years ago. On my power hacksaw, I sometimes have problems holding the stock being cut securely (and the vice on that saw is very well made) and get around it by using packing (to help keep the jaws parallel and/or help grip the work better). I sometimes also have to provide sacrificial support beneath the work to stop it being pushed down.

I've not noticed the other problem you mention but as I've only used the saw to rough-size some stock material (before machining it) mine may have a similar (as yet undiscovered) problem. Are you sure it's the blade that's off-kilt – or could it be the stand mechanism? The later may be easier to fix. Are you also sure the work isn't moving?

Regards,

IanT

[Bill PhinnParticipant @billphinn90025]

Thanks for your reply, Ian.

I'm pretty sure the workpiece isn't moving; I cut half a dozen different pieces of material in succession and all showed exactly the same small degree of unsquareness (as seen in the pic) after cutting.

I can't really tell at this stage whether the blade lean is a fault with the blade twisting or is being caused by the support arm/pivot mechanism not holding the saw blade perpendicular to the base. I've tried to remove as much slop as possible in the pivot mechanism by tightening the 19mm domed nut at the pivot point as hard as possible to still allow unhindered pivoting up and down, but it made no difference to the blade lean. If the mechanism is what is causing the lean the only thing I can think of that might cure it is to put packing under one side of the arm's base plate, but I'm not sure how satisfactory a solution this would be.

Did you have an alternative idea about a fix for this?

[Bill PhinnParticipant @billphinn90025]

I've just put a square on the vice, with the saw blade near the bottom of its travel and the vertical of the square just touching the edge of the saw blade. I raised the saw up until the edge of the blade was level with top of the square – distance betweeen saw blade and square at the top was approx 3/16", whilst being zero at the bottom, hence the angled cuts I am getting. Am still hopeful of a solution before committing to a return.

[Pat BraveryParticipant @patbravery]

Did you read the ‘destruction’ manual? If it says cut dry it probably means cut dry.

At the risk of making myself look stupid, where in the instructions does it say to use the saw dry? I have read it a few times and I can't see it but then I am getting on a bit. Regards Pat

[Douglas JohnstonParticipant @douglasjohnston98463]

My saw also has a slight problem with the vertical alignment of the blade. I was also thinking of a shim under one edge of the base of the tilting fixture to correct this. I notice that the gap between the rollers of the blade guides is a little too wide which probably accounts for the slight misalignment. Unfortunately there is no adjustment possible there.

I assume that you are supposed to release the tension in the blade when the saw is not in use but the lever is quite stiff. I wonder if it does any real harm to keep the blade tensioned when not in use.

Doug

[IanTParticipant @iant]

Hi Bill,

I'm not going to be able to take a look at my saw (and the stand geometry) till next week now but will have a closer examination then. If it's a 'stand' problem, then a shim might do the trick but I think I'd also dissemble the pivot and have a look at that.

Douglas, on my INCA (wood) bandsaw, I always try to remember to ease off the band tension after use, as I think this is good practice. However, I've also read that if the saw is in regular use there is no need to do this – only slackening the tension when it will not be used for long periods. However, with the simple lever action on the Aldi saw, I'll be slackening after every use unless I forget to do so. May be worth trying to ease the lever a bit or it might just ease itself over time.

Regards,

IanT

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Posted by Pat Bravery on 18/10/2019 05:59:32:

Did you read the ‘destruction’ manual? If it says cut dry it probably means cut dry.

At the risk of making myself look stupid, where in the instructions does it say to use the saw dry? I have read it a few times and I can't see it but then I am getting on a bit. Regards Pat

I did use the word “if”. That is exactly what I meant.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Posted by ChrisB on 17/10/2019 20:12:21:

Posted by not done it yet on 17/10/2019 20:02:01:

Posted by Pat Bravery on 17/10/2019 11:12:02:

…

. Is it a normal practice to cut dry on bandsaws?

…

It is on mine. Specifically states ‘cut dry’.

If the pulleys are not all metal then it is a 'cut dry' saw. Mine has cast iron pulleys and likes oil a lot.

I have no reason to believe the wheels on mine are not metallic. Most likely Aluminium. But they do have a friction coating/covering and that is non metallic. No ‘tyres’ on yours? Quite unusual, I would think? I assume my saw band would like some lubrication/cutting oil, but the rim material would not. Can’t manage all the requirements all of the time, so as the instructions say ‘dry’ dry it is.

[ChrisBParticipant @chrisb35596]

Posted by not done it yet on 18/10/2019 16:45:19:

I have no reason to believe the wheels on mine are not metallic. Most likely Aluminium. But they do have a friction coating/covering and that is non metallic. No ‘tyres’ on yours? Quite unusual, I would think? I assume my saw band would like some lubrication/cutting oil, but the rim material would not. Can’t manage all the requirements all of the time, so as the instructions say ‘dry’ dry it is.

Hi ndiy, no coatings or tyres on the pulleys, just plain cast iron pulleys. In fact it's one of it's marketing points I believe. **LINK**

[Bill PhinnParticipant @billphinn90025]

Posted by IanT on 18/10/2019 09:54:50:

Hi Bill,

I'm not going to be able to take a look at my saw (and the stand geometry) till next week now but will have a closer examination then. If it's a 'stand' problem, then a shim might do the trick but I think I'd also dissemble the pivot and have a look at that.

IanT

I disassembled the pivot assembly this morning. Basically it's been machined in such a way that when you snug down the axle bolt with the lock nut it pulls the saw into a slight skew and there is no means of compensating for this I can think of except shimming the base plate or reboring the hole for the axle (straight this time) and putting in a thicker bolt.

I've given up and initiated a return through Aldi, which is a saga in its own right, involving 6 phone calls so far, and we're not done yet. In response to my request for a pre-paid return label (none was included in the package, when it should have been, apparently) they've just unhelpfully emailed me a copy of the delivery note.

[Pat BraveryParticipant @patbravery]

Hi Bill, I just printed off the email receipt and took it to my local Aldi where they issued the refund without any problem at all, it appeared in my account the next day. Regards Pat

[Bill PhinnParticipant @billphinn90025]

Posted by Pat Bravery on 18/10/2019 20:35:54:

Hi Bill, I just printed off the email receipt and took it to my local Aldi where they issued the refund without any problem at all, it appeared in my account the next day. Regards Pat

I could try that, Pat, and if they don't send me a return label I might have to.

The only problem is it says on their website that they "do not accept in-store returns for products marked with a * on your delivery note", and my two delivery notes both show a * next to the item. Also, if you knew my local Aldi branch (in one of the most socially deprived areas of Manchester), and you were familiar first hand with the general level of enlightenment among the staff (not high), you would be doubly doubtful of success at getting a refund in the branch.

[Henry BrownParticipant @henrybrown95529]

I've at last had a reason to used my new bandsaw!

I needed to cut the end of a piece of solid aluminium cast bar, about 40 x 40mm, and it worked fine. It cut square and the vice worked ok despite not looking too special, I didn't have to make any adjustments. The motor seems plenty powerful enough for what its intended for, I used the slowest speed setting but wonder if it would be slow enough for larger steel items – we'll see.

For a budget saw I'm very pleased with it for what my needs are.

[Ray LyonsParticipant @raylyons29267]

Nice to see some positive feedback. I have been following some demonstrations on youtube and they look good. The vice looks a bit cheap but I guess it could be replaced with a light machine model.

I backed out and bought the woodworking bandsaw instead and pleased to say that it works well. Next time round I may be tempted to spend some more money on the metal cutter.

[Paul LousickParticipant @paullousick59116]

Lubricating Bandsaw Blades

My bandsaw (not Aldi) also has rubber on the drive wheels and I use bees wax to lubricate the blade which helps cutting and extends the life of the blade. The wax stick which I use is about 60mm dia x 300mm long and was purchased from a supplier of the blades. I run the blade thru the end of the wax stick prior to cutting. The saw is 5 years old and has done heaps of work. The rubber tyre is still good and has not broken down.

I would advise that you use bi-metal blades on your saw. They cost a bit more but last longer.

Paul.

[Ray LyonsParticipant @raylyons29267]

Thatt's a good tip. I will try that on my old 6×4 bandsaw which I usually run dry. I was looking at an item on Youtube last night where a cheap, hand held bandsaw was tested and it quickly cut through a section of railway line held in a bench vice. Some kind of foam lube was applied a couple of times during the cut. Very impressive.

[Paul LousickParticipant @paullousick59116]

Even on a hand saw, either metal or wod, a biit of wax on the blade makes cutting so much easier.

Paul.

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