Some useful Tools

[BosKonay]

A thread for useful bits of kit and tools you might need to follow these tutorials:

 

Free Print-Out Scale Ruler

Print it out and glue it to a lollipop stick, no copyright restrictions so share away. Handy in shops for finding suitable wagon bases.

http://www.glenderg.com/drawings/00_...cale_Ruler.pdf

[murrayec]

In Lidl today

 

Nice set of small power tools for the workshop;-

 

 

€24.99 for the belt sander

€24.99 for the bench grinder and polisher

€19.99 for the jigsaw

 

The thing about big tools is when you bolt them down to the bench there is no bench left, these tools are ideal and could be left in position for handy use!

 

Eoin

[David Holman]

Thanks Eoin, but sadly the Maidstone branch of Lidl does not stock them. Shame. That said, there is an ever changing range of stuff there, so it pays to keep an eye out.

Just wondering on the power of those tools. I have a very nice Proxxon drill, but it has limited torque and [especially with a slitting disc] will soon stop on any heavy work. Hence also have a Dremel, which seems to have enough oomph for anything. Actually used it for cutting out the frames of Sir Henry, where it went through doubled 22thous nickel silver like the proverbial knife through butter. not subtle, but it works!

[Junctionmad]

I have the variable speed proxxon mini drill , I find it miles better then any Dremel, better bearings , stronger etc, I also have several other proxxon bits of kit including a Cnc equipped mf50 mill and a pillar drill , I find it excellent equipment for the price

 

Currently saving for a seig c3 lathe and a i3 3D printer

[WRENNEIRE]

Useful yoke this

It will check your DCC Chip before you put it in a loco

Does harness chips also

 

[Broithe]

Thanks Eoin, but sadly the Maidstone branch of Lidl does not stock them. Shame. That said, there is an ever changing range of stuff there, so it pays to keep an eye out.

 

Current and upcoming UK Lidl offers can be found here - http://www.lidl.co.uk/en/index.htm - you may need to enter a postcode to select a store, as there can be regional variations in the current offers - usually just a few weeks difference between UK & Ireland - always worth a look every week or so...

 

Same applies to UK Aldi - https://www.aldi.co.uk/ .

[Junctionmad]

Having bought the Lidl miniature tools, the sander and jigsaw are good, the bench grinder is very underpowered and in my view is not up to much,

 

Aldi currently have " proper" bench grinders ( 2 types ) at the moment

 

The ether thing to beware is that often I find that things in Aldi and Lidl can be purchased cheaper on the Net too.

Edited November 27, 2015 by Junctionmad

[Broithe]

I have one of the early Lidl cordless multi-tools - the cells began to fail after a good while and I managed to open the battery and replace them - they are AA size, so it wasn't too difficult. It works very well and I have hardly ever felt the need to plug the mains one in since then. I did also replace the collets with a chuck and that has been a useful mod, I feel.

 

 

I can't vouch for whether the later batteries are openable or not - anything can be done, I suppose, but there can be a tendency to impede the consumer these days...

[murrayec]

Hi David

 

The Proxxon drills come in different flavours, it depends on which one you have and they are only light-work machines same with the Dremel. If you require something with umph one needs a high speed spindle drill but they come at a premium in the range of €400.00 up to €2,000.00....

 

I've just purchased a StepperCraft A3 CNC Machine Kit with HSS drill and other attachments- not telling how much it cost, but cant wait for the courier to come calling...

 

Eoin

[murrayec]

Hi JM

 

The mini bench grinder is for light work only- grinding screw lengths, cleaning up light sheet materials from metal kits and bar stock that one could not put near a proper bench grinder, plus my proper bench grinder takes up the whole bench....

 

Eoin

[Glenderg]

I've bought that Parkside "dremel" in the past. Or rather it has been bought for me with all the accessories. The grinding stones might as well be made of sherbert, they wouldn't grind the skin off sour milk. And the dremel thing has a chuck that wobbles. Put any length of a bit in, turn it on, and it looks more like a whisk. Awful junk.

[murrayec]

G

 

oooohh! like sherbert, do you remember the stuff that came in the tube with a liquorish straw....

 

Eoin

[murrayec]

JM

 

You mentioned a C3, I have a Clarke version, I upgraded it over the years to the same spec as an ArcEuro C3- its a deadly machine and love using it BUT;- if you can afford it go for something bigger, everything is very tight (close together) on these little machines, all the stuff gets in the way of your hands and using small drill bits is a nightmare as the saddle gets in the way of the tailstock!

 

Go bigger, if I was doing it again I would....

 

Eoin

[Glenderg]

G

 

oooohh! like sherbert, do you remember the stuff that came in the tube with a liquorish straw....

 

Eoin

 

Yip, thats exactly what I'm talking about Eoin, and exactly what the grinding heads turn into after trying to use them. Having said that, they polish Balsa wood to a nice shine.......

[David Holman]

Much useful info. Thanks chaps. Maidstone had the bench grinder, plus a drill stand for 15 squid. That said my old pillar drill is still going strong, touch wood. Got the Dremel last year and despite much use and abuse, it works fine and wouldn't be without it. The Proxcon was cheaper and is fine on light work. Have often been tempted by the high end versions, but am happy to get by at the moment.

Edited November 27, 2015 by David Holman

[Junctionmad]

Hi David

 

The Proxxon drills come in different flavours, it depends on which one you have and they are only light-work machines same with the Dremel. If you require something with umph one needs a high speed spindle drill but they come at a premium in the range of €400.00 up to €2,000.00....

 

I've just purchased a StepperCraft A3 CNC Machine Kit with HSS drill and other attachments- not telling how much it cost, but cant wait for the courier to come calling...

 

Eoin

 

 

Personally having had a Dremel , the proxxon is substantially better engineered , runs quieter and with less vibration , used for drilling , slitting , I've no issue with the power

 

The last thing you need for precision work is a screamer of a unit, you need torque

 

Ps will be interested to here about your Cnc bed I was always suspicious of x-y millers , given the issues of head stability , so will await your experiences with interest , good luck with all that. I find a Cnc Mill very useful. Mind you, if I could only get good CAM software that didn't break the bank !!

[Junctionmad]

JM

 

You mentioned a C3, I have a Clarke version, I upgraded it over the years to the same spec as an ArcEuro C3- its a deadly machine and love using it BUT;- if you can afford it go for something bigger, everything is very tight (close together) on these little machines, all the stuff gets in the way of your hands and using small drill bits is a nightmare as the saddle gets in the way of the tailstock!

 

Go bigger, if I was doing it again I would....

 

Eoin

 

 

Well for what I want a 7 by 14 lathe is way big enough. The next one up is the seig sc4 and is nearly three time the price , in my case the SC3 suits the space too and the brush less drive now gives it great versatility. At least it's way bigger then a unimat !

[Weshty]

. And the dremel thing has a chuck that wobbles. Put any length of a bit in, turn it on, and it looks more like a whisk. Awful junk.

 

It shouldn't wobble that badly, but yes it is a tad off centre at the best of times...

[Broithe]

I have an old South Bend - very like this.

 

[WRENNEIRE]

One of my favourite tools

Used to iron the creases out of wagon & coach box's

 

[murrayec]

I have an old South Bend - very like this.

 

Broithe

 

That's a nice size, plenty of room in n around that

 

Sometime in the future I would like to acquire one in this size range.....

 

Eoin

[Broithe]

Broithe

 

That's a nice size, plenty of room in n around that

 

Sometime in the future I would like to acquire one in this size range.....

 

Eoin

 

It's bloody heavy, even the doors are cast. It came over as Lease-Lend, still got the Air Ministry plate on it.

[Dave]

My Dad had one. Sadly my Mother sold it when he died

[murrayec]

Hi

 

I gave the bench grinder its first wherrrrrr this morning, processing a batch of screws for a DART set chassis;-

 

 

At 1/4 regulator open it works an absolute treat, nice and quiet and far better than the Dremil screaming in my ear and blowing cold air in the face!

 

 

The grinding table support needs a little up-stand for to rotate the pliers on and the job will be perfect.

 

I then turned to the brass wire brush to clean up a bit of the flyingscot soldered brass back chassis, again at low speed, it cleaned up beautifully with little effort. Though a softer wire brush would be better.

 

 

 

 

Very happy with this addition to the workshop and my ears really appreciate it.....

 

Eoin

 

Safety Tip Using Brush Wheels;-

 

There is no guard on this wheel so be extra careful, and a good idea is to put something soft about 300mm behind the machine- just in case the wheel takes the work piece out of the hand the soft object will retain it and hopefully minimise damage.

 

Never put your fingers inside an object being worked on always hold it on flat surfaces and not on protruding edges.

 

Bring the work piece up to the wheel under the centre line of the wheel.

 

Read the safety instructions that came with the machine.

[murrayec]

My Dad had one. Sadly my Mother sold it when he died

 

Dave

 

Sorry to hear that, it would have been wonderful item to have in the workshop

 

Eoin

[skinner75]

Wear safety goggles when using the wire brush, as wires have a tendency to part company from the wheel & can go in any direction. I've been using wire brushes in my dremel to clean up some tricky to reach parts of an engine block, and wires wear flying off it in all directions!

[Broithe]

Also beware of wire brushes and clothing, particularly cuffs. Even if there isn't a huge amount of power, there can be a good bit of energy stored in the rotating parts and it all happens very quickly.

[murrayec]

Hi

 

Just a note on a previous post about the Lidl grinding wheel for the hand held unit;-

 

Though the Lidl ones may be soft, but one wants the wheel to disintegrate (hopefully at a slow rate), this is how the wheel works- as chips break off it leaves a continual sharp surface on the wheel to do its job

 

Eoin

[Dave]

Dave

 

Sorry to hear that, it would have been wonderful item to have in the workshop

 

Eoin

 

It would have been, he had a fully kitted out model engineering workshop.

[skinner75]

Hi

 

Just a note on a previous post about the Lidl grinding wheel for the hand held unit;-

 

Though the Lidl ones may be soft, but one wants the wheel to disintegrate (hopefully at a slow rate), this is how the wheel works- as chips break off it leaves a continual sharp surface on the wheel to do its job

 

Eoin

 

After 5 mins using the brass wire brush, there were about half a dozen wires left on it! Most having hit me in the hand or face as they parted company from the wheel

[Junctionmad]

After 5 mins using the brass wire brush, there were about half a dozen wires left on it! Most having hit me in the hand or face as they parted company from the wheel

 

which brings up the next question , where do we get spare disks etc ?

[skinner75]

which brings up the next question , where do we get spare disks etc ?

 

I checked in Woodies - €4.70 for a Dremel brass wire wheel brush. Went on Ebay, and got 50 steel wire brushes, suitable for Dremel, for €10 from China.

[Dave]

Here's a great little tool that I use. It's a flush cutter, I use 3 of them in the workshop for various jobs. Great for track cutting, brass and plastic kits. I liked them so much I bought in a load of them to sell!

 

[Broithe]

Here's a great little tool that I use. It's a flush cutter, I use 3 of them in the workshop for various jobs. Great for track cutting, brass and plastic kits. I liked them so much I bought in a load of them to sell!

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]21453[/ATTACH]

 

I got one of those at the 'Abbeyleix' show in Port Laoise last year - a fine device.

[David Holman]

Thanks for this info Eoin - looks like they are due in my part of the world this week. Certainly sound better than a wire brush in a Dremel or similar. Learned about flying bits of wire a while ago: sort of effective, but not for long!