Lidl Portable Bandsaw

[Dr. MC BlackParticipant @dr-mcblack73214]

Toolstation have the Scheppach Bandsaw at £209.98; Screwfix offer the same machine at the same price (surprisingly)

Aldi charged me for delivery (even though there was lots of mentions of "Free Delivery" on their web site).

I now have to make space in shed for it!

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Posted by KEITH BEAUMONT on 14/12/2020 12:17:14:

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

Really? This is the url I used when searching for the price this am (as I stated in my previous post – and I don’t tell porkie pies).

**LINK**

It very clearly states ‘no longer available’. It also shows a picture of the bandsaw in question – and I can assure you is not a vertical (woodworking?) bandsaw – the Ferrex machine. Also, do look at Ray’s thread starter where he clearly states the lidl offer was under £100 – £129.99 is not even close to the lidl version, let alone cheaper!.

They could claim anything about the price, but if they are not available it means diddly squat.

I have taken a screen shot of that url, just in case it mysteriously disappears and anyone disputes my posting.

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

It's because you get different search returns

The current one is still available, postage is 6.99 "large item" if memory serves

[KEITH BEAUMONTParticipant @keithbeaumont45476]

I searched for "Aldi portable metal cutting band saw" and two are shown. The Ferrex, no price stated. No longer available. Scroll down and the Scheppach item is shown at £129.99

Keith

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

First bandsaw project, a steel version of those aluminium vices they sell for about a fiver

I hate the vice, but just love the quick release mechanism

Edited By Ady1 on 14/12/2020 18:34:21

[Dr. MC BlackParticipant @dr-mcblack73214]

Where are those "Aluminium Vices" available, please?

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

Try google ebay the internet aliexpress etc etc

Got a new one on ebay a couple of days ago

Edited By Ady1 on 14/12/2020 23:46:41

[Adrian R2Participant @adrianr2]

So, first problem with my LIDL bandsaw, the LED has packed up. I was cutting away and it flickered and then went out. There are two screws to remove a cover for it which revealed a Chip-On-Board type device on a small round PCB. I tested the voltage and was a bit surprised to get 300v DC (yes, three hundred) so I suspect there is a voltage converter board inside that has shorted or something and is now passing through rectified mains.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Those Aluminium vises

I think I threw one out recently. Might still be on the scrap pile awaiting weighing in.🙂. Had it 25+ years and it was never any more use than as a drill vise.

Edited By not done it yet on 10/01/2021 11:34:36

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

I'm getting more bandsaw blade breakages than I think is fair so I've opened mine up

They always break on the drive side which twists the blade from the cut section as it drags it through, so we have a 90 degree twist as we load the blade through the drive wheel which I think is bad for the blade

I've modified mine to 45 degrees and will get more blades in the next week or so and "report back"

The ideal situation is zero degrees of twist as the blade revolves but that's a major job… a complete  redesign/rebuild…?

I love the amount of work and time these things can save

Edited By Ady1 on 10/01/2021 11:56:59

[Dr. MC BlackParticipant @dr-mcblack73214]

Does the break occur at the Weld?

Are you now using replacement blades from another supplier or just the manufacturer supplied ones in the box.

My very best wishes for a Happy, Healthy, Peaceful, Successful, Prosperous, Stress- and Covid-free New Year.

MC

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

Most were at the weld and so I have also changed supplier for the new batch

Part of the problem is I tend to push my kit a lot, but the electrics on my unit have been really impressive so I would like to try and improve any weaknesses

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

Got my blades in today and preliminary results are really good

I realise that there may be a government inquiry when I say this but I may have actually improved my machine

It just cuts so much happier, there's no squeaking or groaning at all and the cut is really stable

So will write it up, hopefully tonight, got domestic priorities because a new bed is meant to be coming on wed

[Dr. MC BlackParticipant @dr-mcblack73214]

Would you like to tell all the other Aldi Bandsaw owners which brand and supplier you bought them from, please?

MC

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

This chap. Bear in mind I've only used one blade for a couple of hours, so I can't say if they are good or bad

They looked exactly the same as my last blades

The big difference was the lack of noise as they cut through

Edited By Ady1 on 11/01/2021 17:36:38

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

Ok then let's make a start

I had to take the guards off which is about 8 screws but the drive side guard fouls on the handle which is integrated with the electrics, including the motor

so I sawed it in half along the side of the handle so I could pull it out and get a clear shot at the drive wheel without disturbing the electrics

with hindsight the other guard didn't need to be removed

The problem IMO is the twist on the blade as it is pulled through by the drive wheel, you can see the huge change in angle this hacksaw blade would have to make to rest on the drive wheel

I used 5mm lathe belting to lift one side of the tyre on the drive wheel

cut a groove of about 0.5mm by 3mm in the drive wheel

and fitted it into the groove, then refitted the tyre

Edited By Ady1 on 11/01/2021 18:41:06

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

This only created a new problem, the tyre would now come off under load since it was no longer seated on the drive wheel dimples

To the rescue came my old friend, pinkgrip. I lifted the tyre all the way round and filled the inside gap with it

Then put a bit onto the 5mm belt raised side just for luck, so the green belting stayed in the groove

Left it for nearly 3 days to cure

Put it back in today with a new blade and the band stays on fine, which was the great unknown here

There are no weird noises from the bandsaw and the blade sounds a lot happier

The cut also looks nicer than previously

Other notes: The drivewheel nuts were seriously tight and it took a good bit of effort to get them off

I ground the internal cleaning brush down to fit the new angle of the revolving blade

The drive wheel guard didn't really need removed

The album for the mod is here

Only time will tell now whether this has been worth the effort, will keep you posted

Edited By Ady1 on 11/01/2021 19:13:04

Edited By Ady1 on 11/01/2021 19:17:01

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