Aldi bandsaw

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

Not sure if we are talking jig (scroll) saws or bandsaws here. I have the previous incarnation of the Aldi bandsaw. It was end of line and I paid £40 for it. It is excellent on wood and providing you get a fine tooth blade it will cut non ferrous sheet material like a hot knife through butter. This, despite it being having far too high a cutting speed, according to theory.

Andrew.

[Tom S.Participant @toms]

I've ordered one of the new Aldi bandsaws (they appear to have two – the smaller version looks more like a typical mini wood bandsaw, but the £150 one looks far more like the 6 x 4 inclined bandsaw than the cheaper vertical only version.

My main concern is compactness as I don't have a lot of room to spare for a full bandsaw, but after using a manual hacksaw for a while… yeah 😀

Unfortunately, Aldi shipped me a scroll saw… wonderful, but not exactly what I ordered, and equivalent to about £70 – apparently they've made this mistake quite a few times according to the pretty helpful customer service, who helped out even on a Saturday and got it rectified for pickup and replacement.

So I should be getting an actual bandsaw around the end of the week, and I'll report back then about how good it is!

[Ray LyonsParticipant @raylyons29267]

I look forward to seeing your report. Aldi are not the best with on line orders. Last year I ordered a 55" television but due to an error on my part, they sent two. I sent one back but it went missing over the Christmas holiday. It took a long time to get my money back.

[Ray LyonsParticipant @raylyons29267]

Finally took the plunge and bought one of the portable metal cutting bandsaw. It took ten days to arrive, I think the horses on the stagecoach need a rest.

It arrived yesterday and I only got around to a trial this afternoon. When the blade was fitted and tried under power, I noticed a "jump" where it had been joined, far worse than when I make a bad job of brazing. Examining the blade, there was no sign of the joint but when cutting there is a nasty bounce as it passes through the guides and after a couple of cuts the area of the joint has been rubbed to clear metal. I usually make my own blades and will now make one up to try again or perhaps to do a fair test, buy one from a good British maker.

The machine itself is easy to handle and I can see a lot of use on the bench replacing the hacksaw although I must keep my hand in since the exercise helps keep the hand and arm joints in shape. I hope eventually to fit a table to use it in the vertical position.

[Henry BrownParticipant @henrybrown95529]

Posted by Ray Lyons on 07/12/2019 15:33:48:

"When the blade was fitted and tried under power, I noticed a "jump" where it had been joined…"

I bought one recently Ray, mine does the same but it still cuts ok, I've used it on some 30×40 cast aluminium bar and 30×25 EN3 that I'd machined down to make some T nuts and it cut fine, I was a tad alarmed by the jumping at first but realised it was probably the join, I'll persevere with the blade until it werars out (or breaks) and see about a better replacement then.

It does save a fair amount of tedious hacksawing though.

[colin wilkinsonParticipant @colinwilkinson75381]

After watching this video it makes it more appealing.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

This thread started when the aldi offering was a small vertical bandsaw suitable for wood. It has included replies about disc blade metal cutters (rage type) scroll saws, their cheaper vertical metal bandsaw and now the typical hobby metal worker horizontal band saw (which can be used in three modes – horizontal, vertical with an added table or freehand)

This latest offering appears to be good value for money if it does the job – what with a three year warranty – if a straight cut is all you will ever need. I somehow doubt the saw delivers the power stated – more like power input – so the run-cycle might just need watching.

Just be aware that wearing it out in 3 years will not be what it is warranted for. Doubtless just manufacturing defects if most of these warranties are to be read carefully.

Personally, I preferred a slightly(?) more robust machine with swivel head (worth an extra fifty quid at least, I reckon). Likely a better blade (is the aldi blade just a carbon steel offering, which may mean further outlay fairly soon?). I’m not sure if mine can be easily converted to vertical operation and I have no wish to use it free-hand.

So, as a cheap option, the aldi looks quite good value – if it suits your needs, suits your pocket and doesn’t wear out too quickly. Most certainly better than no saw at all if, like me, manual hacksawing hacks me off these days!

Edited to add that the more expensive ones likely have a ‘no volts’ starter fitted as standard, an auto stop when the cut is completed and will operate without the switch being held in the on position by the operator (or rigged with some form of trigger-holding device – which may cause motor overheat if used continuously?).

Edited By not done it yet on 08/12/2019 08:18:26

[Ray LyonsParticipant @raylyons29267]

I went to the TuffSaws site and found that they offer a cobalt hardened blade with varied tooth size for portable, metal cutting bandsaws. They claim that these blades last 5-10 times longer than the normal bi-metal blade.I ordered one at £14 including postage which arrived today.

I just tried it out on a piece of 1" heavy gauge pipe, taking a few cuts at various speeds. What a difference that makes, almost no sign of the joint and the cut is clean and smooth. See how long this one lasts and next time I will may buy a set of 3 which would be even cheaper.

It's a pity that Aldi did not specify a good blade when placing their order. Iam sure that the improved performance would encourage others to buy what is a very handy piece of equipment for hobby use.

[Henry BrownParticipant @henrybrown95529]

Thanks for the feedback Ray, I'll try to remember that!

[FullaFlavaParticipant @fullaflava]

I bought one about 10 days ago and it took a week to arrive, I unboxed it today:

Inside the cardboard is the stand and a blow moulded case for the saw, which is nicely screwed together with plastic and metal castings and not flimsy.

The flex is about 2M/6 ft long, the blade is stored in the lid with the instructions, which were only in English. The blade is marked thus –

There is a brush to remove filings from the teeth of the blade

Fitting the blade was easy, as was fitting the saw to the stand with 3 Allen bolts.

The vice and the angle adjust (0 x 45 degrees) are secured with a lever lock, the vice onto the knurled bar. The speed control is step less in 6 stages from 0.7- 2.4 metres/ sec

i cut a piece of 30mm mild steel to test it with no other setting up initially at the slowest setting raising it to number 2 as it started to cut properly.

It cut through in a minute and a half, you have to keep the trigger held, there is a led light to help illuminate the cut., the cut vertically is a little off but no worse than hand cutting, the front to back is acceptable as it is adjustable by tweaking the angle

First impression is of good value and likely very useful especially when I get to making a vertical table fixture.

Al

[Paul RhodesParticipant @paulrhodes20292]

I bought the same product 9 months ago and agree great VFM. The one issue is the poor hold on the vise. I routinely use a G Glamp to secure the workpiece.

Paul

[Ray LyonsParticipant @raylyons29267]

I fitted the saw to the stand today and did a trial cutting a 11/4" bronze and a piece of 3"x1/2" steel plate. Both were easy and the cut was smooth. It would only need a little filing to finish.

A few things which would improve. The first would be a catch to hold the saw up while fitting and adjusting the work in the vice. 2/ some kind of stop to shut off at the end of the cut. 3/ an adjustable dampening devise to control the presure on the saw.

Some of these have already been covered by others and I will be looking to get some of these improvements soon. Someone is now going to say why not pay the extra and buy a saw with all those features built in but we are model makers and there is nothing like a challenge to improve what is already there.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

An automatic cut-off switch at the end of the cut seems a lot OTT – are you not holding the switch on, so just need to let go of it at the end of the cut?

[Ray LyonsParticipant @raylyons29267]

Automatic cut off means you can leave it while doing other things. I admit to being a bit impatient, like watching paint dry.

[Douglas JohnstonParticipant @douglasjohnston98463]

The vice seems to get a lot of criticism with some hardly holding at all and others much better. I seem to have been lucky as mine holds pretty well but I wonder if it will stay that way long term. It must be poor design or poor manufacture that causes the variation. If the vice becomes sloppy I will replace it with something better.

I don't think we can complain too much bearing in mind the relatively low price of the Aldi version. The blade also seems to be of high quality.

Doug

[Ray LyonsParticipant @raylyons29267]

Doug, I agree with you, this saw is value for money. The blade supplied with mine is not so good, especially compared with the TuffSaw replacement. The vice on mine works OK with no sign of movement. I have a job though, trying to hold the saw while clamping the item to be sawn in the vice. You need three hands

Ray

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Automatic cut off means you can leave it while doing other things. I admit to being a bit impatient, like watching paint dry.

The video put up of the guy who modded his saw for veryical operation had a home-made clip to hold the switch energised. I presumed that was because the switch could not be locked in the ‘on’ position, so is the switch lockable in the ‘on’ position on later versions?

[Stuart Smith 5Participant @stuartsmith5]

I have just bought one of these as well.

Cuts ok and the vice holds well on mine.

The on/off trigger does not lock, so that is why the mod on the YouTube video to keep it pressed. Obviously needs an external switch ion line if doing this as per videos.

The blade seems ok with none of the problems some others have had.

The only problem is the vice is not suitable for holding small parts.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

The on/off trigger does not lock, so that is why the mod on the YouTube video to keep it pressed.

Thanks Stuart. Real up to date information. Either they fit any switch that is available or they are all non-latching switches. Don’t know which, now, so the comment of being OTT for an auto cut-out seems to stand if they have made the saw like that for a good reason (like there is a limited run-factor on the motor).

[Stuart Smith 5Participant @stuartsmith5]

It is advertised as a portable bandsaw and doesn't need to be used on a stand. In this respect it is similar to a portable drill. I have tried it like this holding a small piece of steel in my normal bench vice. The only problem was that it was difficult to control when starting the cut. After that, it was similar to using a (heavy) hacksaw. I think if I had made a start with a normal hacksaw I wouldn't have had a problem.

[Henry BrownParticipant @henrybrown95529]

The non-locking power switch is probably because there isn't any damper to control cut which all comes down to cost. The times I have used mine I as very conscious that I was feeling the blade through the material rather than letting the weight of the saw just cut away.

Incidentally the vice on mine is fine, although I must admit I was a bit concerned about it holding the bar securely at first. I recently made some T nuts and cut them off one at a time after machining but didn't have enough bar stock to cut the last one so I used an old pair of parallels either side of the machined bar with a previously cut T nut to balance the clamping and it did the last cut fine. Other than deburring I've left the cut as it is quite acceptable for purpose.

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