Couple of things at Lidl

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

Last time lidl brought out some brushless 20V power tools, they changed the shape of the battery from the Parkside X20V team type. Then, mysteriously, the brushless tools dissapeared and the older designs came back in. The older type batteries came in 2 and 4 amp hour sizes.

I just looked on their website for the brushless in vain.

Edited By old mart on 19/02/2021 15:18:45

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

I picked up another angle grinder yesterday, 20 bananas

Opened it up to check it out and the design is different from my fabby current one so jury is out on whether it will be as good as my first one

Trigger has a lock on it, BAD idea with an angle grinder, will try to disable it

Re: The post above, current brushless stuff uses the standard x20 batteries

Edited By Ady1 on 18/05/2021 08:25:17

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Ady1 on 18/05/2021 08:21:03:

I picked up another angle grinder yesterday […]

Trigger has a lock on it, BAD idea with an angle grinder, will try to disable it

 

.

That’s probably so you can clamp in the Aldi device: **LINK**

https://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=173111&p=1

and live VERY dangerously

MichaelG.

.

Seriously though … I’m surprised they are allowed to sell them with trigger lock.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 18/05/2021 08:34:36

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

I've also found the clutch part of portable units great for drilling metal, it means you can't over push a drill and break your drill bit in metal (or its much harder to do at least)

Could be useful for deep hole drilling etc if a lathe/bench-drill had this as an option

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

I have a 20+ year old Black and Decker and a similar aged Red Deveil angle grinder both with trigger locks, I've never had an issue with them and they are still going strong.

Martin P

[Anthony KnightsParticipant @anthonyknights16741]

I have found a trigger lock is useful in this situation.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Some interesting safety discussion here:

**LINK**

http://forum.iosh.co.uk/posts/t61449-Switches-on-portable-eletrical-tools

MichaelG.

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

All the angle grinders I've ever used, right back to the Wolf Grindette I started with, have had a positive on-off power switch. All have been rather small and needed a bit of technique to operate either way. Current Makita device being about the worst. The old Wolf got retired from active service when it became grumbly but still sits in reserve. Certainly the longest lasting one although the Makita is now only two years behind.

When I bought the Makita I did consider the alternative version which came with a spring loaded butterfly switch that did have to be held on. Mild concerns over whether the fixed hand position needed to operate the switch would make it harder to position the disk at the best angle and more major concerns about £20 higher price. Then Lawsons had a £20 off with free carry case deal for the standard, non butterfly switch, version at the same time as the Black and Decker one I was using died which decided the issue.

These days with the 1 mm cutting disks getting a lot of use I'm convinced that a hold on switch would interfere with operation.

Clive

Edited By Clive Foster on 18/05/2021 09:10:43

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Anthony Knights on 18/05/2021 08:47:10:

I have found a trigger lock is useful in this situation.

.

I do agree regarding the convenience, Anthony

… But that doesn’t stop me being “surprised they are allowed to sell them”

MichaelG.

[Anthony KendallParticipant @anthonykendall53479]

Posted by Anthony Knights on 18/05/2021 08:47:10:

I have found a trigger lock is useful in this situation.

I do use this situation – but I route the supply through a foot-switch, so I need a latching switch for this, but not at other times.
Does nobody make one with a switch with optional latching/non-latching like electric drills used to?

Edited By Anthony Kendall on 18/05/2021 09:17:28

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, every angle grinder up to 5" / 125mm that I've used, has always had either an on/off switch or a locking on / quick release switch and the locking on / quick release type have been in use for very many years now. The locking on switches are normally very easy to unlock with the slightest figure pressure. 7" and 9" angle grinders, don't normally have a locking on switch. The majority of angle grinders that I have used, have been industrial. I think the non locking switches are two fold, firstly for safety reasons, as they should have a type of two stage operation, so they can't be switched on accidentally, and secondly to encourage the user to take a break as holding the switch on does tend to make your figure ache a little after a while, although in recent years, many companies limit the time the user, uses any angle grinders and even pistol drills, in any one day and on some sites that I've worked on, they will limit your use to a set amount of time limit in every hour of your shift, but it is advisable to use them while wearing vibration dampening gloves however long you use one for.

Regards Nick.

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

If you've ever had a kick-back from an angle grinder then you wouldn't ask

I wouldn't pick up one of those big hand held ones and use it manually, the small ones are quite enough

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

The most dangerous angle grinder I have owned was a small JCB branded one from B&Q

The thumb-slide switch was so badly engineered that the machine was impossible to switch off.

I had to put it down ‘safely’ and unplug from the mains.

Lesson learned: I replaced it with a 110V Metabo.

MichaelG.

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, actually, I've just looked at my 230 volt 5" Workzone one from Aldi's and that doesn't have a locking on switch, but it is locked in the off state, you have to press a small button to unlock it before it will start, which I haven't actually used very much at all in the nearly six years that I've had it, as most of mine except an old Wolf 4" one are all 110 volt which are what I use normally and prefer, although I do have a 4-1/2" one which is 230 volts, but seldom use that one, but that does have a lock on / quick release switch. The old 4" Wolf one, just has a flatish slide on / off switch on the back end of it, just above where the flex enters.

Regards Nick.

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

It always surprises me that angle grinders get away with a switch that locks on, if you drop the machine it could chase you round the workshop before you can pull the plug, my ELU router is equipped with a slide switch which again could be trouble. The router is often used in a table so the lock switch is justifiable but an angle grinder is rarely a fixed tool unless used in a chop saw type accessory. Pistol drills seem to make the trigger lockable as required.

Mike

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, I suppose the switch being locked on is not the right term, they are normally more like a quick release latch, I can't remember seeing anyone dropping one while they were using it, but I'd guess that the switch would be jarred into the off position when it hit the floor or anything else. However, whether you are using a 4" or up-to a 9" one, you should be holding it with both hands and have a firm footing, so the chances of dropping one is minimal. I did once see a guy throw a 9" one, when it snagged and ripped a chunk out of the disc and it was shaking his arms about, but being how they switch off when you let go of the switch, it didn't do anything spectacular when it hit the floor.

Regards Nick.

[egaParticipant @ega]

Posted by Nicholas Farr on 18/05/2021 10:53:49:

…The old 4" Wolf one, just has a flatish slide on / off switch on the back end of it, just above where the flex enters.

…

I have one of those – still going strong on its second set of brushes from new. Switching off is a deliberate, two-handed operation.

Have you re-packed the gearbox on yours and, if so, what grease do you recommend?

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi ega, my one was given to me and no I have not repacked the gearbox, but I guess any grease for gears would be OK. I think I did replace the brushes once though, but I don't use it on any regularity, but more often when a 4-1/2" one is just that little too big.

Regards Nick.

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

My Dewalt switch is positively on but only needs a dab to release, it may release if dropped or snatched out of your hands or maybe not. I often use a wire brush with mine but I learned many years ago that wire brushes don’t take any prisoners when they wind themselves into clothing. I was using a cup brush in a not too powerful drill and wearing a jumper, not the most appropriate attire for the task, foolishly I brought the tool close to me to check my progress and it caught my jumper and wound itself very tightly before stalling and me releasing the trigger. I am a firm believer in being the master of the tool and a firm grip will give less opportunity to lose control of the tool. There is a difference between respect for a tool and being frightened of it, if it’s scares you then don’t turn it on. There are some very powerful portable tools and these should be given maximum respect as the firmest grip will not hold them when things go wrong.

Mike

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi Mike, I had the same thing happen in my early days of using a cup type wire wheel on my angle grinder, it was more of applying the spinning wheel at the wrong angle while brushing just under the wheel arch on my car that I had at the time, the wheel bounced back towards me, but I was wearing proper overalls, but soon wound them up before I could switch off. Since then, always wear a welders leather apron and a visor and ear defenders, whenever I use any angle grinder, even if it's a quick job and whatever is attached to it, they don't take any prisoners for sure.

Regards Nick.

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

A cheap item that I bought at lidl a few weeks ago was a set of telescopic wands, one with a mirror on the end, and the other has a magnet with a built in led light. I wish I had bought 2 sets at the time.

[Pete.Participant @pete-2]

The 18v brushless makita I have has a safety feature that stops it instantly if it detects unusual resistance, it saved me once holding it in a cramped location when the disc got jammed, if it had been a corded version it could have been bad, never use anything else now, it's also noticeably quieter than a corded, the new version has variable speed also which would be useful for the various Roloc style abrasives.

[AJAXParticipant @ajax]

Posted by Mike Poole on 18/05/2021 14:09:19:

It always surprises me that angle grinders get away with a switch that locks on, if you drop the machine it could chase you round the workshop before you can pull the plug, my ELU router is equipped with a slide switch which again could be trouble. The router is often used in a table so the lock switch is justifiable but an angle grinder is rarely a fixed tool unless used in a chop saw type accessory. Pistol drills seem to make the trigger lockable as required.

Mike

I have the impression, perhaps incorrectly, the lock-on type switch is banned in the USA.

I dropped an angle grinder fitted with a knotted wire brush once. Switch was locked on. Now that was "fun".

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

Just bought another set of 15 Ti-coated HSS drills in basic metric sizes 1,5 – 10mm. for £3.99 at Lidl.

Previous sets of hese have become my go-to set for ordinary work in these sizes. They come with a decent 4-facet grind, AFAICS drill to size and last as well as other HSS bits. Good value.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

For anyone contemplating moving machines, our local LIDL has some dollies claimed to be capable of carrying 250 KG, for £9.99.

Bought bone, against the time when my 300Kg will need moving. That should support the Headstock end, and another, Machine Mart trolley should be under the Tailstock.

Not that I shall be around to see it, probably!

Howard

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