Thread: Absolute junk

I also had an "artistic" experience with the Aldi brad point bits. They did do one thing VERY well though. They gave me an even greater appreciation for my Fisch brad point bits.

a bit off topic -however every now and then they have german made jigsaw blades that are worthwhile and have picked up 10" 3 pack circular blades for $20 which will never be sharpened -but good for rough stuff (I do a lot of recycled timber and miss the odd nail) Would never get the drill bits though. Have had nasty chinese bits melt trying to get through mild steel.

Originally Posted by BEM

I also had an "artistic" experience with the Aldi brad point bits. They did do one thing VERY well though. They gave me an even greater appreciation for my Fisch brad point bits.

Yes me too. In the early days I got an Aldi set and could not for the life of me understand what happening with them wobbling all over, till I laid one down and it didn't roll at all. They were all bananas, and went in the bin.

Now I buy one good brad point bit when I need it from Tools Unlimited, and suck up the price. Gradually building up a set.

This is so shameful.

Another bargain from this week in Ireland's middle isle, so guessing it's also around this time they will be available down under.
The heavy duty f clamps were in the same time and definitely worth getting, I have a bucketful of them.
Best value you will find, and forever quality.

Regarding the vice, it seems good, but the one which was taken out of the box was very rough looking.
The "anvil" (which I certainly won't be using)
section of the casting had lots of flaws, but apart from that seemed the same, with little slop.
First box I picked up was much better looking when I opened it...
Definitely have your keys handy.

Could get a pair of the medium sized clamps, instead of the big one to suit, the junction between the base and body is easy to get a
clamp head tight against.

Yet to give it a proper review with a poor man's clock, seems great for general work.
It doesn't move very much, even when pried at without having jaws synched onto the work.
Have one of the older type pictured earlier, and it has held up well to abuse.

Bit of a wee lump in the middle which made it rock about a bit, took all of 40 seconds with a file to sort out.
The casting seems very soft, but I admit I haven't much experience filing cast.
Might make it accurately levelled if the bed turns out to be flat.
Seems like very little would need to be done, should one want poor mans parallels, couldn't detect the milling marks with a fingernail.


Seems good enough, providing it's the same screw that is in the older one, it should last me a very long time.

Did I say those clamps are very very good!

Update on the vice
After squaring the drill table up using a poor man's clock, simple tool shown beside the chuck key and the allen key.
Seems only about 1mm or less to remove off the base to get the jaw parallel in it's length, and less than a half mm to remove to make the jaw
parallel along it's width.
Rather pleased I haven't found something shoddy yet...
Should be able to do some more checks after I fettle the base.

Tom
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Tom

Good news. Opened up my 1st box of Aldi (Ferrex) brad point bits and the one I used was fine. So far so good