This weeks offer at Lidl

[SamsarandaParticipant @samsaranda]

Visited my local Lidl this morning, we had to buy some Easter eggs for the grandchildren and it gave me an opportunity to browse the tools on offer, came across a bench type disc sander on offer for £29.99 so I purchased one having a need for sanding equipment for a job on my list. The job in mind is the sanding and shaping of the ends of a new oak bannister rail that is required on our staircase, I didn’t look forward to doing this with a sanding block and sandpaper, a long and laborious task. When I got the sander home and unpacked it I was pleased with the quality of said item, in fact I am amazed at how they manage to offer the items at such a keen price. The quality of Lidl tool offerings is obviously not in the same league as the premier tool manufacturers but for amateur use, which is only occasional, in comparison to industrial users, then I am more than happy with the quality versus tool life balance.

Dave W

[SamsarandaParticipant @samsaranda]

[SteveWParticipant @stevew54046]

I bought the set of 6 diamond needle files for £2.99. Handle is hollow and takes all the files for storage. I have given it a go on HSS lathe tool and it would be OK for a touch up but not serious shaping. I did use it to re-make a screwdriver for use on 'tamper proof' screw which was fine. I thought it was worth it for the handle

[the artfull-codgerParticipant @theartfull-codger]

Posted by SteveW on 24/05/2018 18:36:09:

I bought the set of 6 diamond needle files for £2.99. Handle is hollow and takes all the files for storage. I have given it a go on HSS lathe tool and it would be OK for a touch up but not serious shaping. I did use it to re-make a screwdriver for use on 'tamper proof' screw which was fine. I thought it was worth it for the handle

Hi Steve,called into local lidl & I bought a set of those files,as you say it's worth it for the handle alone,downside is the files only go in a short distance as the collet is not drilled right through,is yours like that? I thought of drilling it then I decided just to cut down the file shank so they go right in.

[SteveWParticipant @stevew54046]

Yes, mine has a blind hole. I may do as you say and drill it through but I guess a file may foul the others in the handle. Collet geometry is not brilliant but it seems to work well enough.

[the artfull-codgerParticipant @theartfull-codger]

Hi Steve, I toyed with the idea of drilling it out but as you say it would foul the spares in the handle so I just cut them down with a slitting disk,they were quite hard but now fit snugly up to the start of the cutting edge.

Graham.

[JimmieSParticipant @jimmies]

Thursday 16 Aug (Northern Ireland and perhaps elsewhere) Ratchet/socket set, Drill attachment bit holder/T handled Hex and Star key set/Drill Bit set/gloves/Cordless drill/Drill Bit Sharpener/Cordless Multi-Purpose Tool/120w Double Bench Grinder with flexi shaft./600w Belt Sander etc.

Also included in the offers is a set of two diamond tool sharpeners – 'pencil shaped objects with diamond coated stems. Anmong experience of them

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

I got a little 1/4" square drive ratchet socket set from them a couple of weeks back. It's useful, and helped me assemble my most recent model where a bigger ratchet couldn't get in. I had the turn the socket's o/d so it'd fit the recess the hex nut was in, and I suspect severe use would test it harshly, but it's neat, compact, effective and cheap at (IIRC) £3.99.

[Rik ShawParticipant @rikshaw]

As of Thursday 16th they are offering more of those inverter welders at £59.99 with a 3 year warranty. At that price I will bag one.

Rik

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Digital calliper and digital protractor in the store on Saturday.

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

Posted by Bazyle on 12/08/2018 21:02:23:

Digital calliper and digital protractor in the store on Saturday.

Yeah, bought another of the calipers to replace one that's become slowly dodgier over the last few months. Like previous examples, new one has tight spot about halfway along and frequently half- to one thou out on return to zero – both somewhat improved after light stoning of track edges and careful adjustment of gib screws. It'll do for rough work.

Edited By Mick B1 on 12/08/2018 22:21:43

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

I was tempted by this ratchet handle:

… But rather bemused by the Imperial/Metric conversions

If anyone has bought one of these, could they please measure the squares ?

So far as I'm aware, Socket drives are still designed and manufactured as Imperial.

Edit: if the 3/8" square is really 10mm, it may not fit decent quality sockets !!

MichaelG.

[Chris SheltonParticipant @chrisshelton11794]

Hi All, some useful items coming up at Lidl on 29th November, Die grinder with 6 and 3.2mm collets £19.99, variable speed would make an ideal tool post grinder, and a pair of pump up airbags rated at 135Kg, ideal for lifting and holding things in place.

Edited By Chris Shelton on 22/11/2018 15:41:21

[Paul White 3Participant @paulwhite3]

Hello all,

If anybody intends to buy one of the die grinders on offer today, be sure to open and check the contents before leaving the shop, I travelled and returned home then found on opening the carton that one of the collets was missing.

Spares are not held so a return journey is needed for exchange putting another £5 ONTHE PRICE.

[Philip RoweParticipant @philiprowe13116]

Some years back I purchased a digital caliper from my local Lidl, only around £8 but fine for general measuring in the workshop. When I got home and opened the package I found I had a very nice plastic case and a little bag of descicant but nothing else! Fortunately in my case it was relatively easy to take it back but has taught me a lesson when buying anything from there. Incidentally the staff told me that that sort of thing went on all the time, not bad quality control but tea leaves in the shop taking the contents out of packages so they could steal them more easily!

Phil

[John Paton 1Participant @johnpaton1]

If, like me, you store heavy metal offcuts in boxes at floor level in odd spaces around the workshop, you may like the cheap castor sets that Lidl have tomorrow.

Bolt these onto suitable sized bits of 1/2inch ply or Stirling board to sit your boxes on. You can then trundle the boxes in and out of their hidey-holes when you need them.

[Colin HeseltineParticipant @colinheseltine48622]

Just been in to LIDL. They have a few useful tools on sale at present. I picked up a couple of bits but hopefully the Infrared Thermometer will prove useful. Good value at £12.99

Colin

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

I picked up the laser range finder but it seems to be exactly 1cm out, aaargh

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Ady,

No means of Zeroing, adjusting it?

Some time ago, bought a Radio Controlled Clock from LIDL.. Found out that it was tuned to the German station, so was one hour ahead of U K. LIDL apologetic but can do nothing.

Remove clock from case, retard the hour hand by one hour. Reassemble. Keeps good U K time!

Howard

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

Well, I think this is a first. I've seen offers of £2.99 down to £2.90, but nothing quite like this:-

The compressor and air pump are actually pretty useful, but I paid (IIRC) £19.99 for them on an intro offer when the new store opened in Leek.

You really would think that staff might actually read what they're putting up? Or do their conditions make them too cynical to bother?

Edited By Mick B1 on 03/02/2019 17:20:05

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

Safety trainers at my local from 26 th May at £15 a pair in half UK size increments and down to size 5. Picked up a pair of size 6.5 UK / 40 Euro which are a decent fit. Rather lightweight as safety shoes go but better than ordinary trainers for sure.

So if you have small or intermediate size feet.

Result.

Usually resort to size 7 UK / 41 Euro and two pairs of work socks. Which is a pain (pong!), especially in summer.

Also grabbed two pairs of water pump / slip joint pliers at £1.99 each. Strong contenders for the title of worlds worst. Plenty of competition for that title as general quality range of these things goes from ropey to "you cannot be serious". So why buy them. Plan A is to weld fillers in the slots, drill proper pivot holes and fit a screw in pivot pin. Bit more effort to change grip size but at least they will stay put. Ought to cut down on the cursing. Need two to cover the full range as only room for a full hole at every other position. I imagine the fancy £30 up breeds do work but for the amount I use this sort of thing that is way too expensive.

Clive

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Mick B1 on 03/02/2019 17:18:13:

Well, I think this is a first. I've seen offers of £2.99 down to £2.90, but nothing quite like this:-

The compressor and air pump are actually pretty useful, but I paid (IIRC) £19.99 for them on an intro offer when the new store opened in Leek.

You really would think that staff might actually read what they're putting up? Or do their conditions make them too cynical to bother?

I understand that pay and conditions at Aldi and Lidl are quite good and google backs this up.

N.

[HacksawParticipant @hacksaw]

Umm …I've read that the electronics in mig welders dislike being run from a generator , or rather the generator needs to be a much larger kw for it to work ? Well , today i used my newish Lidls variable speed 1200w angle grinder with my Honda EX500 genny…( 500w ) It ran it ok to start with, I didn't overload it , as obviously it wasn't making much power running on 500w ..and i was only using a 1mm disc to cut off a 8mm bolt so i wanted it to keep spinning fast . When i went to cut off a second bolt , the grinder wouldn't work.. Nor on mains .. Fetching my second Lidls grinder , that worked ok with genny power and i finished the job .. Do you think i've damaged the variable speed board ? I can't see that I could have burnt out the motor windings…

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Posted by Hacksaw on 18/08/2019 20:04:46:

… Do you think i've damaged the variable speed board ? I can't see that I could have burnt out the motor windings…

Many modern electronics are not made with sufficient resilience – to less than perfect sine-wave supply. Particularly items with inverters included (modern welders and plasma cutters). I suspect that electrolytic capacitors won’t cut the mustard when the voltage rise time might be a bit steep or with other transient voltage spikes on the supply.

Even non-polarity conscious capacitors can be junk these days – so many old cars with Kettering ignition systems suffer with failed ‘new’ condensers. I’ve only ever had a couple or three condenser failures on my vehicles/machines and none from the 1930-50 period. I try to fit capacitors with higher voltage spec than the originals, but not always possible…

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by Hacksaw on 18/08/2019 20:04:46:

Umm …I've read that the electronics in mig welders dislike being run from a generator , or rather the generator needs to be a much larger kw for it to work ? Well , today i used my newish Lidls variable speed 1200w angle grinder with my Honda EX500 genny…( 500w ) It ran it ok to start with, I didn't overload it , as obviously it wasn't making much power running on 500w ..and i was only using a 1mm disc to cut off a 8mm bolt so i wanted it to keep spinning fast . When i went to cut off a second bolt , the grinder wouldn't work.. Nor on mains .. Fetching my second Lidls grinder , that worked ok with genny power and i finished the job .. Do you think i've damaged the variable speed board ? I can't see that I could have burnt out the motor windings…

Small generators are notorious for poor voltage regulation and mucky output. The waveform can be non-sinusoidal and spiky, while the output voltage swings wildly with the load. A simple generator won't be good at handling intermittent loads – like an angle grinder – and is likely to over-volt the angle-grinders electronics.

Root cause is the motor's throttle reacts too slowly, first failing to accelerate fast enough and then failing to slow down quickly when the load drops. Older generators are particularly prone to voltage swings because their regulators are slow acting, perhaps even a mechanical cut-out.

Apart from the cheap basic models, modern generators are better regulated with the posh ones putting an inverter between the generator and user to clean up the output. They still don't like being overloaded, but they're less likely to damage electronics.

An oversized generator is recommended for a varying loads like an angle grinder because the larger mass of it's spinning parts store enough inertial energy to smooth out peaks and troughs.

Dave

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