Lidl Portable Bandsaw

[Martin of WickParticipant @martinofwick]

This brand of tool (Milwaukee clone) was originally designed for freehand use. The addition of the stand and vice was clearly an add on afterthought to extend the utility of the device- compromised by poor saw geometry and poorly designed mount location.

If you get a 'proper' fixed mount bandsaw, the vice will usually be set up with respect to the saw so the teeth move in the direction of the fixed jaw, for obvious reasons (see the usual 6x4s 3x5s offerings from China).

See also the bandsaws by FEMI where they have designed the complete saw and mounting arrangement to properly suit the saw geometry, so the vice is on the backside of the saw with the fixed jaw in the correct orientation with respect to blade direction and the swivel mount on the right.

But then hey! a Femi is 3 times the price of the Aldi offering, and for that, I expect all but the most seriously minted can put up with some minor inconvenience while finding some other way to dispose of the £300 saving..

Alternatively, just go back to hand sawing, if you prefer

[Michael BriggsParticipant @michaelbriggs82422]

The Femi NG120XL cuts against the moveable vice jaw, not what you would expect. The makers claim the reverse blade direction cuts 60% faster. I bought mine for a commercial project that justified the purchase.

[IanTParticipant @iant]

Posted by Martin of Wick on 10/12/2020 21:40:25:

This brand of tool (Milwaukee clone) was originally designed for freehand use. The addition of the stand and vice was clearly an add on afterthought to extend the utility of the device- compromised by poor saw geometry and poorly designed mount location.

Yes, good point Martin – that's the reason, same as a chain saw now I think about it.

IanT

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

I watched a chap on youtube chop up junk with one but an angle grinder would have been a far more sensible option

A Bandsaw should be saved for giving you nice straight cuts on useful jobs while an angle grinder hacks up any rubbish and junk

[Dr. MC BlackParticipant @dr-mcblack73214]

Very many thanks to everybody who replied

I found a YouTube film by somebody who had converted the Vice from Cam to Screw; it involved a lot of welding (and I do NOT have the kit or ability to do that). But I've been thinking of doing the same thing without welding if necessary.

I assumed that reversing the fixed jaw meant rotating the plate through 180 degrees in a vertical plane so it projected towards the blade. If the body of the saw fouled the reversed plate a spacer should solve that.

I had NOT realised that one could fit the blade the wrong way round! I shall have to check that!

I had great difficulty in attaching the Saw to the stand. I first cleared the threaded M6 holes using a tap. Then I fitted M6 Socket set screws into these holes and that made the assembly much easier. I used a shakeproof washer under each M6 nylock nut, holding the screw in place with an Allen key.

I have invested in a pair of Cut-resistant gloves (am I allowed to mention the supplier?) to use when fitting or handling the blade.

MC

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

I got the impression that the stand attachment threads in the bandsaw were undercut so it felt like they were cross threading

Makes the nuts more secure if you only set it up the once

[Dr. MC BlackParticipant @dr-mcblack73214]

I checked this morning and found that the teeth were cutting towards the moveable jaw in the Vice.

This seems to be design issue to me.

MC

[KEITH BEAUMONTParticipant @keithbeaumont45476]

I would be interested to know which way the teeth are facing on saws puchased from third part suppliers for this saw. I know a band saw can be turned inside out for thinner wood saw blades and it often happens when I twist one into the three ring coil for storage, but I woud think that twisting this very stiff blade would be difficult and end up with a few kinks in it.

Thinking about how these vices grip a round bar only on two unmeasureable lines, I have been experimenting with two hardwoodj jaw pads with a vee machined in each face. This increases the contact faces to four and gives a very firm grip. A bonus using these is that it has reduced the noise of cutting by breaking the metal to metal contact.

Keith.

[Bo’sunParticipant @bosun58570]

Posted by KEITH BEAUMONT on 11/12/2020 10:07:56:

I would be interested to know which way the teeth are facing on saws purchased from third part suppliers for this saw.

Keith.

Mmm…. Do the Bandsaw Blade suppliers know which way round to weld these very stiff blades blades? As Keith said, having to turn the blade inside out might damage it.

[Martin of WickParticipant @martinofwick]

Michael, should have clarified, my comments on Femi vices were in regard to the 782 series, noted that other models are available!

The basic cutting of bar against the moving jaw is not really an issue on this device, especially if you mod it to restrict the jaw lift. It could become an issue if you are attempting 'precision cuts. In that case you may need to get inventive with various jigs, fixtures, fittings etc.

In my limited experience, the metal bandsaws I have seen, the blade rotation has been in the anticlockwise direction and wood bandsaws in the clockwise direction. I have used TuffSaws for replacements and for both types of blade, the tooth orientation has always correctly matched wheel rotation (ie haven't had to do any blade twisting).

Now I am not suggesting anyone attempt this, but if you felt really strongly that you absolutely had to cut towards the fixed jaw on the Aldi, because it would be a mortal sin to do otherwise, then you would have to find away to reverse the direction of the motor AND flip the blade so the teeth point in the direction of blade travel.

Clearly you DON'T want to be doing this if you are planning to use the saw in the vertical mode! And in any case, I am not sure what the practicalities are of reversing the motor direction on this device, whether you risk damaging the gear/drive arrangements, motor, controller etc. it is hard to say.

Nevertheless, If some brave soul wants to experiment with their shiny new saw and report back to enlighten the rest of us…..

[Pete RimmerParticipant @peterimmer30576]

Posted by Bo'sun on 11/12/2020 10:17:37:

Posted by KEITH BEAUMONT on 11/12/2020 10:07:56:

I would be interested to know which way the teeth are facing on saws purchased from third part suppliers for this saw.

Keith.

Mmm…. Do the Bandsaw Blade suppliers know which way round to weld these very stiff blades blades? As Keith said, having to turn the blade inside out might damage it.

If you're worried about it breaking at the weld just grip the blade across the weld with mole grips then flip it inside-out.

[KEITH BEAUMONTParticipant @keithbeaumont45476]

I have closely examined both of the M42 saws supplied with my machine and there is no detectable sign of a join in either of them. The one in the saw runs very smoothly with no sign of a bump during rotation..

Keith.

[KEITH BEAUMONTParticipant @keithbeaumont45476]

Posted by Bo'sun on 11/12/2020 10:17:37:

Posted by KEITH BEAUMONT on 11/12/2020 10:07:56:

I would be interested to know which way the teeth are facing on saws purchased from third part suppliers for this saw.

Keith.

Mmm…. Do the Bandsaw Blade suppliers know which way round to weld these very stiff blades blades? As Keith said, having to turn the blade inside out might damage it.

In a "light bulb" moment I have realised the answer to my own question. All blades will be made to cut in an anti-clockwise direction. It is whether the pivot point of the saw is at the left or the right, that decides which jaw takes the cutting forces.

Keith

[Henry BrownParticipant @henrybrown95529]

It occurred to me that this thread could have its title changed to Lidl/Aldi Portable Bandsaw as there is lots of useful info about the Aldi saw in this that could be handy when searching in the future.

If Ray, the thread originator, is ok with that could a Mod oblige please?

[Bo’sunParticipant @bosun58570]

Yes, the Lidl Bandsaw seems to have fallen by the wayside.

[Ray LyonsParticipant @raylyons29267]

I agree that the Lidl model is not very popular. Perhaps a better title would be Portable Bandsaw since there are many makes but most with the same footprint and the ideas for adapting are similar overall.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Did anyone actually keep their Lidl machine? Seems to me that it was just a but too cheap.

That might be one good reason why the title should not be changed – it might serve as a good warning that at some level of price-cutting the quality becomes too marginal for that machine to be recommended.🙂

[Stuart Smith 5Participant @stuartsmith5]

Posted by not done it yet on 13/12/2020 19:57:38:

Did anyone actually keep their Lidl machine? Seems to me that it was just a but too cheap.

That might be one good reason why the title should not be changed – it might serve as a good warning that at some level of price-cutting the quality becomes too marginal for that machine to be recommended.🙂

The Aldi one is cheaper then the Lidl one now, and people seem to generally think it is OK. So just because something is cheap, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is poor value..

I bought the Aldi one a few months ago and am happy with it.

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

My Lidl one is fine

Rod

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

The Aldi one is cheaper then the Lidl one now,

Under a hundred quid? Reports in this thread would suggest that the Aldi offering is much better value for the money (especially if that is the case).🙂

Thanks Rod. I’m glad you are satisfied with your purchase. It was just my impression, from the early posts, that there were more returned than retained, with several promoting the more expensive aldi variant as the better buy.

A good honest review, overall, of the item in the thread heading, from a range of users. I find many lists of reviews so stupidly inappropriate – like a positive reviewer stating ‘it was well packaged in a colourful box’ but with no reference to the usability, or otherwise, of the item.

Edited to add that I just tried to look up the current  price for the aldi item.  Result was no price indicated, just a notice that the item was ‘no longer available’.

Edited By not done it yet on 14/12/2020 08:13:05

[Adrian R2Participant @adrianr2]

I bought the Lidl one and I'm keeping it, at least for now. I made a temporary (wooden) stand and a foot switch for power to use it in vertical mode and I will invest in a better blade in due course but for the money it seems useful enough until such time as I can justify buying a proper vertical/horizontal unit.

A the risk of encouraging topic drift it would also be nice if one of the budget makers added a cordless bandsaw to their range as using this one handheld is a bit fearsome.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

It should not be fearsome if the supply is appropriately protected. A residual current safety device, in the supply line, should protect you from your fear of electrocution – should you try sawing through the cord!

[Adrian R2Participant @adrianr2]

I've got the RCD etc, it's not the electrical part that worries me, more what happens if it snags and pulls either me or the workpiece loose. Those pictures in the advertising of people happily sawing unsupported things halfway down the blade don't tie up with my experience, hence the desire for something lighter for convenience jobs.

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

At least it doesn't have a trigger lock, which is madness on a portable chopper upper

My parkside sabre saw has one, so if you're doing an awkward job and you drop it or lose control of it… it just keeps on going

Edited By Ady1 on 14/12/2020 10:31:37

[KEITH BEAUMONTParticipant @keithbeaumont45476]

Posted by not done it yet on 14/12/2020 08:09:53:

The Aldi one is cheaper then the Lidl one now,

Under a hundred quid? Reports in this thread would suggest that the Aldi offering is much better value for the money (especially if that is the case)

Edited to add that I just tried to look up the current price for the aldi item. Result was no price indicated, just a notice that the item was ‘no longer available’.

Edited By not done it yet on 14/12/2020 08:13:05

The Aldi SCHEPPACH model is currently £129.99 on their website.Same item on Amazon is £199.99. It is the Ferrex item that is discontinued.

Keith

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