Couple of things at Lidl

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

Got quite a lot of handy stuff in this week.

Oscillating saws, offset ring spanners, mini pliers sets, washers nuts screws

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

Some decent looking air tools and connector sets coming up on Sunday down my way. Could use some of the connector sets but they are PCS style rather than the PCL type I, and most other folk in the UK, use. Total bummer. But £4 ish is still good value for two swivel connectors even after binning the PCS connectors in t'box.

If you do figure to change the connectors after buying the screw threads appear too be unusual. Not BSP as one would expect. The couple I did for a friend turned out to be Admiralty with 60° thread angle. Probably supposed to be something bit more rational but rather out of specification.

Clive.

[Mark RandParticipant @markrand96270]

Posted by Clive Foster on 12/02/2018 12:07:20:

If you do figure to change the connectors after buying the screw threads appear too be unusual. Not BSP as one would expect. The couple I did for a friend turned out to be Admiralty with 60° thread angle. Probably supposed to be something bit more rational but rather out of specification.

Clive.

Does that mean 1/2"x20tpi? If so, they won't fit any air tools in common use. Or is that just between the Series 25 connector and the swivel part?

Expiring minds want to know, having spent half the day recomissioning the compressor because I need to try out the plasma cutter, I've realised That I can either get a few more PCL fittings or get a few more-more Euro/series 25 fittings .

[James AlfordParticipant @jamesalford67616]

Posted by Clive Foster on 12/02/2018 12:07:20:

Some decent looking air tools and connector sets coming up on Sunday down my way. .

Clive.

I bought a set of these a short while ago. I am not sure what thread they are, but they fitted with the rest of my connectors on my airline (both threads and fittings) which I bought from Screwfix, if I recall correctly. They seemed well made for the money and the swivel joint takes all strain out from the end of the hose when handling tools.

James

[michael howarth 1Participant @michaelhowarth1]

New Lidl just opened in Boston. Good all round shop especially fruit & vegetables for a healthy life in the workshop and Parkside tools I have found to be excellent value with long no quibble guarantees. I bought a couple of pairs of good quality work trousers at £9.99. There were two types. "Thermally lined" and "unlined". I wanted unlined so took two pairs from the unlined bin only to find on arrival back at base that they were "thermally lined". I went back next day to change them……too late, they had sold out. No problem with a refund but it is an annoying feature of Lidl that you cannot find out when they will be back on sale again.

Mick

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

Mark

I think the male threads are probably supposed to be 12 mm x 1 mm. Certainly the one male thread fitting I found lying about the place is very close to that albeit a touch undersize. Given that Lidl are a German company that would be logical. That particular one probably came off one of the pressure gauge units which I promptly tapped out to 1/4 BSP to match one of my stash of PCL fittings.

However I do recall making a male "Lidl" to 1/4 BSP female adapter for a friend. The thread in the air tool or accessory, dammed if I can remember what, went into a very thin wall casting so zilch chance of tapping out to BSP as requested. As I recall things the male thread was 11.5 mm or little less OD. Either intentionally undersize or poor QC. If it hadn't been nicely chromed I'd have said the undersize was plating allowance and it had missed the chrome bath. Not wishing to split the casting I had about 3 goes at it. 24 TPI A/F Dormer / SKF / Johanesson style chasers on generous 7/16 OD gave a nice fit. Firm and shake-free but no risk of splitting.

I guess I'm not the only guy who tends to remember far too many of the gory details about simple jobs that turn into total nightmares with no chance of recompense for the time'n trouble.

Clive

[Mark RandParticipant @markrand96270]

Hmm. Have to take the thread gauges and micrometer with me when I go shopping this weekend.

[Mark RandParticipant @markrand96270]

Went shopping this morning:-

The threaded fittings are 1/4"BSP with a random assortment of parallel (no space for washers, but O-rings will work) and taper, but all a sloppy enough fit that Loctite 542 will be of benefit. They appear to be the '19 series' Euro connectors. That's a noticeably larger bore than PCL. The components have obviously come from a number of different factories, since the bores of similar fittings are different in the various 'kits'.

Came home with enough to make a good stab at the permanent air plumbing in the shed later on this year.

[Pete RimmerParticipant @peterimmer30576]

Posted by Clive Foster on 08/02/2018 13:34:48:

Picked up the 5" 125 mm disk sander this morning for £ 30. Parkside PTSG 140 B2.

Figured that it would make a nice basis for a Tiplap style tool grinder after up-gunning the tool rest and arranging a proper grinding wheel in place of the standard plain disk intended for self adhesive abrasives.

Checking it out was pleased to find that it runs up nice & smooth. Even more pleased to see that the standard tool rest is decently robust for an all plastic device. Probably only needs some positive stops on the tilt adjustment and some fixed angle guides for the table to ensure same grinding angle every time. Comes with two each of 80, 150 and 240 grit self adhesive disks. Quick noodle on t'net shows that grits down to 400 are readily available so maybe it will do fine as is.

A round-tu-it project right now but we shall see in due course.

Clive

I had suggested trying out this as a cheapo carbide scraper grinder. Trouble is, the most common size of diamond flat lap disc is 6". Do you think a 6" disc might fit with adaptions? If not, it would be restricted to 4" discs but they would still do the job.

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

Pete

6" disks would require a totally impractical amount of re-working. Effectively you'd need to cut it right back to the motor assembly and start over. Including making your own tool rest / work table. Might as well start with a bare motor and be done with it.

The carrier disk fitted is quite thin, a touch under 5 mm, with a similar space behind it so there is limited room between the edge of the tool rest / work table and body for a proper grinding wheel or diamond lap disk. Boss appears to be around 35 mm diameter as eyeballed from underneath with the table removed.

I'm going to try it out as is with the paper disks supplied and, if that seems OK, get some finer ones.

Its only rated for 15 minutes use at a time before you have to stop and let it cool down. Its never going to be up to proper TipLap or similar tool standard but should do just fine as the second stage in a three step sharpening process viz :-

1) basic shaped of the periphery of the bench grinder.

2) clean up hollow ground surface left by bench grinder to have small lands "top & bottom" at desired angles.

3) hand finish to bright, sharp, edge with diamond lap or stone.

Clive.

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

A ton of air powered gear in there today, 3 to 350 quid would have amassed an amazing amount of air tooling

Is it meant to be for h+s puposes in a professional environment? instead of electric tooling?

The compressor clacking away every few minutes would get pretty annoying for me

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

H & S was the reason we used air tools in the aviation industry, apart from the fact that the drills, and rivet guns never seemed to break down.

Ian S C

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

I remember one early air drill, you could cup it in your hand, straight in line chuck and also you could get a 90 degree version. It would fit in anywhere and do a superb job. "X"s Little Horses it said on the label. Too long ago to recall exactly.

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

So smaller simpler lighter more reliable tooling

Plus stuff like paint spraying, air cleaning and shot blasting is directly on tap

Makes sense

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

Forgot to say, they had a metal chopper disc saw at Lidl yeaterday, 40 bananas

Does up to 50mm, apparently, picture here

Edited By Ady1 on 19/02/2018 15:34:36

[Nick WheelerParticipant @nickwheeler]

Posted by Ady1 on 19/02/2018 10:57:23:

So smaller simpler lighter more reliable tooling

Plus stuff like paint spraying, air cleaning and shot blasting is directly on tap

Makes sense

That was when electric drills, grinders etc were expensive, large and heavy – which isn't the case now. While I have some air tools for use at work, I gave up on them for home use years ago – an electric DA, grinder or die grinder is much more satisfactory than air tools. The 3hp compressor at work runs all the time when using a die grinder or 75mm sander, and both the compressor and the tool make bloody loud and horrible noises.

Spraying is the only thing I use a compressor for now, and the modern low consumption, high volume guns are a big improvement for both finish quality and economy.

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

Lidl claim the compressor is 'low noise' – anybody know if that's true?

[peak4Participant @peak4]

Posted by Mick B1 on 19/02/2018 18:31:27:

Lidl claim the compressor is 'low noise' – anybody know if that's true?

This review claims 97dBa, so it's all relative to what you expect; certainly not quiet line a Jun-Air or Bambi

Bill

[Martin 100Participant @martin100]

If it's above 70dBA then the supplier MUST declare the sound pressure level at the operator position. 97dBA is well into the realm of hearing protection and / or very short exposure times.

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

Posted by peak4 on 19/02/2018 18:58:23:

Posted by Mick B1 on 19/02/2018 18:31:27:

Lidl claim the compressor is 'low noise' – anybody know if that's true?

This review claims 97dBa, so it's all relative to what you expect; certainly not quiet line a Jun-Air or Bambi

Bill

Thanks – that answers the question. Not suitable for running stationary steam engines indoors on air, then.

[davebParticipant @daveb17630]

It's worth noting that the compressor is small (CFM) and will run some of the tools for short bursts only. It's really annoying when you have to wait for the tank to fill up before you can carry on. If noise is an issue, air tools are probably not for you.

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

I have recently purchased a similar sized ALDI unit and I don't find it that noisy, to get over the lack of air I have a compressed air tank from a truck to give me more volume.

Martin P

[Pete RimmerParticipant @peterimmer30576]

Posted by Clive Foster on 18/02/2018 18:24:36:

Pete

6" disks would require a totally impractical amount of re-working. Effectively you'd need to cut it right back to the motor assembly and start over. Including making your own tool rest / work table. Might as well start with a bare motor and be done with it.

The carrier disk fitted is quite thin, a touch under 5 mm, with a similar space behind it so there is limited room between the edge of the tool rest / work table and body for a proper grinding wheel or diamond lap disk. Boss appears to be around 35 mm diameter as eyeballed from underneath with the table removed.

I'm going to try it out as is with the paper disks supplied and, if that seems OK, get some finer ones.

Its only rated for 15 minutes use at a time before you have to stop and let it cool down. Its never going to be up to proper TipLap or similar tool standard but should do just fine as the second stage in a three step sharpening process viz :-

1) basic shaped of the periphery of the bench grinder.

2) clean up hollow ground surface left by bench grinder to have small lands "top & bottom" at desired angles.

3) hand finish to bright, sharp, edge with diamond lap or stone.

Clive.

Ok thanks for the review Clive. It 's a shame that 6" discs won't fit but there's always 4" discs, which will still do the job just that you'd have to be a little careful not to run off the edge.

The 15min duty is no problem lapping a carbide scraper usually takes more like 15 seconds.

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

Most of these compressors seem to be about 95-100dB(A) which is some way from being quiet, akin to the noise level from a motorbike. Apart from the Bambi type, the other compressor I spotted that might almost be described as quiet is the Makita MAC610 which claims to be around 72dB(A).

Bear in mind that these noise levels are logarithmic. 70dB(A) is described as "Office noise, inside car at 60 mph".

The CFM is basically down to the HP of the motor. Always a good idea to compare the CFM of the tools you propose to use against the CFM of the compressor. Fitting a large tank on a small compressor won't get around the bottle neck that is the compressor unless you like frequent pauses.

One key drawback of air tools is their poor overall efficiency. Probably not so much of an issue for us as the noise and space occupied.

Murray

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Posted by Muzzer on 19/02/2018 21:25:42:

The CFM is basically down to the HP of the motor. Always a good idea to compare the CFM of the tools you propose to use against the CFM of the compressor. Fitting a large tank on a small compressor won't get around the bottle neck that is the compressor unless you like frequent pauses.

Murray

I havent fitted a larger tank, the truck tank I have is a simlar size to the compressor tank and it is to increase the time between fill ups which for my use is adequate. I cant afford or have the space for high CFM generating units.

Martin P

[Author]

Posts