This weeks offer at Lidl

Visited my local Lidl this morning, we had to buy some Easter eggs for the grandchildren and it gave me an opportunity to browse the tools on offer, came across a bench type disc sander on offer for £29.99 so I purchased one having a need for sanding equipment for a job on my list. The job in mind is the sanding and shaping of the ends of a new oak bannister rail that is required on our staircase, I didn’t look forward to doing this with a sanding block and sandpaper, a long and laborious task. When I got the sander home and unpacked it I was pleased with the quality of said item, in fact I am amazed at how they manage to offer the items at such a keen price. The quality of Lidl tool offerings is obviously not in the same league as the premier tool manufacturers but for amateur use, which is only occasional, in comparison to industrial users, then I am more than happy with the quality versus tool life balance.

Dave W

I bought the set of 6 diamond needle files for £2.99. Handle is hollow and takes all the files for storage. I have given it a go on HSS lathe tool and it would be OK for a touch up but not serious shaping. I did use it to re-make a screwdriver for use on 'tamper proof' screw which was fine. I thought it was worth it for the handle

Hi Steve,called into local lidl & I bought a set of those files,as you say it's worth it for the handle alone,downside is the files only go in a short distance as the collet is not drilled right through,is yours like that? I thought of drilling it then I decided just to cut down the file shank so they go right in.

Yes, mine has a blind hole. I may do as you say and drill it through but I guess a file may foul the others in the handle. Collet geometry is not brilliant but it seems to work well enough.

Hi Steve, I toyed with the idea of drilling it out but as you say it would foul the spares in the handle so I just cut them down with a slitting disk,they were quite hard but now fit snugly up to the start of the cutting edge.

Graham.

Thursday 16 Aug (Northern Ireland and perhaps elsewhere) Ratchet/socket set, Drill attachment bit holder/T handled Hex and Star key set/Drill Bit set/gloves/Cordless drill/Drill Bit Sharpener/Cordless Multi-Purpose Tool/120w Double Bench Grinder with flexi shaft./600w Belt Sander etc.

Also included in the offers is a set of two diamond tool sharpeners - 'pencil shaped objects with diamond coated stems. Anmong experience of them

I got a little 1/4" square drive ratchet socket set from them a couple of weeks back. It's useful, and helped me assemble my most recent model where a bigger ratchet couldn't get in. I had the turn the socket's o/d so it'd fit the recess the hex nut was in, and I suspect severe use would test it harshly, but it's neat, compact, effective and cheap at (IIRC) £3.99.

As of Thursday 16th they are offering more of those inverter welders at £59.99 with a 3 year warranty. At that price I will bag one.

Rik

Digital calliper and digital protractor in the store on Saturday.

Yeah, bought another of the calipers to replace one that's become slowly dodgier over the last few months. Like previous examples, new one has tight spot about halfway along and frequently half- to one thou out on return to zero - both somewhat improved after light stoning of track edges and careful adjustment of gib screws. It'll do for rough work.

Edited By Mick B1 on 12/08/2018 22:21:43

I was tempted by this ratchet handle:

... But rather bemused by the Imperial/Metric conversions

If anyone has bought one of these, could they please measure the squares ?

So far as I'm aware, Socket drives are still designed and manufactured as Imperial.

Edit: if the 3/8" square is really 10mm, it may not fit decent quality sockets !!

MichaelG.

Hi All, some useful items coming up at Lidl on 29th November, Die grinder with 6 and 3.2mm collets £19.99, variable speed would make an ideal tool post grinder, and a pair of pump up airbags rated at 135Kg, ideal for lifting and holding things in place.

Edited By Chris Shelton on 22/11/2018 15:41:21

Hello all,

If anybody intends to buy one of the die grinders on offer today, be sure to open and check the contents before leaving the shop, I travelled and returned home then found on opening the carton that one of the collets was missing.

Spares are not held so a return journey is needed for exchange putting another £5 ONTHE PRICE.

Some years back I purchased a digital caliper from my local Lidl, only around £8 but fine for general measuring in the workshop. When I got home and opened the package I found I had a very nice plastic case and a little bag of descicant but nothing else! Fortunately in my case it was relatively easy to take it back but has taught me a lesson when buying anything from there. Incidentally the staff told me that that sort of thing went on all the time, not bad quality control but tea leaves in the shop taking the contents out of packages so they could steal them more easily!

Phil

If, like me, you store heavy metal offcuts in boxes at floor level in odd spaces around the workshop, you may like the cheap castor sets that Lidl have tomorrow.

Bolt these onto suitable sized bits of 1/2inch ply or Stirling board to sit your boxes on. You can then trundle the boxes in and out of their hidey-holes when you need them.

Just been in to LIDL. They have a few useful tools on sale at present. I picked up a couple of bits but hopefully the Infrared Thermometer will prove useful. Good value at £12.99

Colin

I picked up the laser range finder but it seems to be exactly 1cm out, aaargh

Ady,

No means of Zeroing, adjusting it?

Some time ago, bought a Radio Controlled Clock from LIDL.. Found out that it was tuned to the German station, so was one hour ahead of U K. LIDL apologetic but can do nothing.

Remove clock from case, retard the hour hand by one hour. Reassemble. Keeps good U K time!

Howard

Well, I think this is a first. I've seen offers of £2.99 down to £2.90, but nothing quite like this:-

The compressor and air pump are actually pretty useful, but I paid (IIRC) £19.99 for them on an intro offer when the new store opened in Leek.

You really would think that staff might actually read what they're putting up? Or do their conditions make them too cynical to bother?

Edited By Mick B1 on 03/02/2019 17:20:05

Safety trainers at my local from 26 th May at £15 a pair in half UK size increments and down to size 5. Picked up a pair of size 6.5 UK / 40 Euro which are a decent fit. Rather lightweight as safety shoes go but better than ordinary trainers for sure.

So if you have small or intermediate size feet.

Result.

Usually resort to size 7 UK / 41 Euro and two pairs of work socks. Which is a pain (pong!), especially in summer.

Also grabbed two pairs of water pump / slip joint pliers at £1.99 each. Strong contenders for the title of worlds worst. Plenty of competition for that title as general quality range of these things goes from ropey to "you cannot be serious". So why buy them. Plan A is to weld fillers in the slots, drill proper pivot holes and fit a screw in pivot pin. Bit more effort to change grip size but at least they will stay put. Ought to cut down on the cursing. Need two to cover the full range as only room for a full hole at every other position. I imagine the fancy £30 up breeds do work but for the amount I use this sort of thing that is way too expensive.

Clive