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  1. #1
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    Default Opinion on these Aldi tools

    Aldi are selling Cordless hot-melt glue guns and variable speed grinders https://www.aldi.com.au/en/special-b...-26-july-2014/, I know that I'd use the hot-melt gun if I didn't have to worry about sticking it into the powerpoint and a variable speed grinder would have to be a good thing if you're worried about burning an edge when sharpening. Both items are reasonably priced but it is Aldi and neither product may have enough grunt for general woodworking tasks, anyone used these and care to comment?

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  3. #2
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    Tiger both are looking good as is the spray kit.
    I have often looked at the grinder its similar to that of Robsons Tool King has/had. The attachment of flexi shaft gives added features if you use it on your turning to surface decorate.

    One thing I am beginning to hate is battery powered anything from vernier to power tools they always seem to have low battery or no battery power left just when you need them.

    I would worried in that case of the power required to heat the glue and amount needed on the job.

  4. #3
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    Just my opinion, the grinder seems a tad small.

    What will you be using it for?

  5. #4
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    FenceFurniture is offline The prize lies beneath - hidden in full view
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    Aldi tools can be a mixed bunch. If it is an inherently noisy Machine then expect the Aldi version to be deafening (my experience was a Vac, but it got me out of gaol for a while).

    You can expect filters to quickly clog, cutting edges to dull quickly, grinding wheels to wear down quickly (and be difficult to replace), accuracy to be not as required, spanners to be softer than required, dust collection to be less than desirable, glues to be not as strong or thinly applied (gaff tape etc). Speaking of Gaff, the tape itself is thinner and less strong, but for a great many applications it's jim dandy and cheap as chips. Same for the double sided tape.

    Remember you get what you pay for, and they can only be cheap for good reason, but these downsides can often be less significant when the crazy purchase price of them is considered.

    Just don't expect a long life from them.

    Recently I was extolling the virtues of their quick clamps for the price ($5 each for a 400mm job). However, a number of others said that theirs had all karked it - just don't expect to be able to apply a lot of pressure. Apparently I never have, and I find them very useful.

    Having said all that, I have quite a few Aldi tools that I have been choosey about. If their limitations are within your spectrum then you'll be happy, and not too much out of pocket if it fails.

    I did NOT purchase the 29kg thicky/jointer - gimme a break - 29kgs??? My three cats weigh more than half of that. Has to be a bit concerning when you see a guy walking out of a store able to hand carry a machine like that! The biggest turn off was apparently having to hand bash the tables to be even remotely co-planer.....
    Regards, FenceFurniture

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  6. #5
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    I can't comment on the tools specifically.

    However, my experience is identical to FenceFurniture. Price is one of the key determinants to quality. While, obviously, an expensive tool is not necessarily better, a cheap tool needs to be cheap for a reason (if non discounted that is).

    If a widget costs $10 to make, one cannot sell it long for $9. I don't think Aldi are trying to corner the garage angle grinder market. They are simply selling quick knock down bulk deal Chinese stuff.

    When I was in retail (kids toys) we visited china and several expos. What can be bought for stunningly low prices in massive bulk is amazing. As we were trying to sell things that didn't involve loosing an eye or finger OR involve being sued, they couldn't be imported.

    BUT, the absolutely vast array of this stuff was intense. Ever seen a wholesale supercentre with 12000 "shops"? There must have been 120 stores selling just 10tpi left handed bolts. We are very thankfully lucky to see 0.000001% of it here. I feel sorry for the poor souls who have it foisted upon them.

    Would I trust a $40 grinder? Not if I knew the vast majority of cheap ones cost twice as much. I've had far too many accidents (some bad) and near misses to risk equipment failure. I would kick myself forever if I lost an eye because I wanted to save $20.

  7. #6
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    Agree that there is some variability with Aldi products, these seem fairly cheap but may wait on those that have had some experience with them.

    Christos, just like the ability to vary the speed when sharpening certain tools that are a little prone to having their edge burnt. Use quite a bit of HSS when turning but still have some Carbon stuff around which would benefit from the lower speed.

  8. #7
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    Aldi have sometimes sold chisels which have received good reviews. On the other hand I have seen some tools sold at these sorts of places that look like they are 5 minutes use from the rubbish bin. It is a bit of a lottery. I have a random orbit sander I got about 20 years ago that has 100's of hour use and still goes really well. I paid almost nothing for it at the time. On the other hand I have succumbed to the temptation to try other of these cheapie tools out and they have proved to be cheap rubbish.

    So far as the bench grinder goes I imagine it would have some limited use, if it worked. You could not grind chisels on it with a 75 mm diameter for example. But it is only worth $40 and if you get some use out of it for a while and it dies you have not lost much either.
    My age is still less than my number of posts

  9. #8
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    if you are a hobbyist why buy crap? unless you are dirt poor and have no choice... spend a bit more and get some enjoyment from a well crafted tool. you only feel the pain in the wallet once but if you buy $hit tools you hate them every time you use them.
    Zed

  10. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Zed View Post
    if you are a hobbyist why buy crap? unless you are dirt poor and have no choice... spend a bit more and get some enjoyment from a well crafted tool. you only feel the pain in the wallet once but if you buy $hit tools you hate them every time you use them.
    I’m not sure how the hobby part fit in here. Every purchase everyone makes is either funds dependant or not, for the greater part.

    The OP was after opinions on the product offering not their personal budget choices.

  11. #10
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    I offered my opinion - which is "why buy cheap rubbish?" Rubbish of course is what tools in this price category are. One cannot separate a conversation between "ulta-budget" tools from "funds dependency" they are integrally entwined.
    Zed

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    I was looking at the broken/damaged screw extractors. They look like they are made from chewing gum and have badly formed ends. I don't think they are worth the money.

    A long level I bought has a slight flaw but is otherwise OK.

    I bought a Power planer some years ago and while it hasn't done a lot of work it has done what I wanted.

    I suppose it's a matter of pot luck.

  13. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by artme View Post
    I bought a Power planer some years ago and while it hasn't done a lot of work it has done what I wanted.
    Yep, they can be an excellent solution for a one off job - probably cheaper than hiring. Only difficulty is they won't be on sale when that one off job comes up.....
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  14. #13
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    When I purchase tools the decision is almost always a mixture of need, desire and affordability. I have sometimes daydreamed about what sort of workshop I might have if money was no object but I don't personally know anybody who is in that position. I started many years ago collecting tools and first when we had lots of kids and a big mortgage any money spent was hard to find. Younger men starting out in the craft today with families who are young, paying off a house I suppose find it just as hard now as then. My impression is that's good tools are both easier to obtain and are relatively cheaper now though. For example not that many years ago if you wanted a 12 inch planer you needed close to $1000 and that was at a time when average weekly earnings were a fraction of what they are today. Aldi, Bunnings and the like might not sell Rolls Royces but they sometime do make tools available to those who might never otherwise be able to obtain them.

    Sometimes, often really, I go into my workshop and I just feel so blessed to have the workshop I do, the health to enjoy it, a wife who encourages me and even sometimes to time to play in there. If only I hade any skill!
    My age is still less than my number of posts

  15. #14
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    In my home workshop, I have quite a range of good brands including Jet, Metabo, Makita, Bosch, Sidchrome, Triton, Gifkins, De Walt, etc and they all serve me well.

    I also have a heap of Aldi tools, none of which have I ever regretted buying because the Aldi tools that I buy are always in the occasional usage, nice-to-have, just-in-case category. In fact, I have so many Aldi tools that I often forget what I have and only discover a handy tool to do a particular job when I have a look at my workshop shelves to see if I have anything that might help me and lo and behold, there is a forgotten Aldi tool sitting there, sometimes unused and out of warranty, ready to do the one off little tasks that I ask of it.

    Ya gotta be careful of the advice from the tool snobs who won't touch an Aldi tool and who have just gotta have a Festool or something equally Ritzy for every little job in the workshop. Good luck to them but I am very happy to buy the Aldi power tools for the occasional use that does not warrant the expense of a professional quality tool. Even better if you wait two or three weeks after they appear in the store and get discounted to make way for the next lot of Aldi "special buy" products.

    Just don't expect the same performance from say a cordless Aldi tool versus say a cordless Metabo tool but for occasional use, they are fine.

    The non-powered tools like screwdrivers and ratchet spanners, socket spanners etc from Aldi are fine, In fact they are very good value for the money. I probably would not bother buying bar clamps from Aldi because I would suspect that they may not last as long and be as reliable as Irwins and especially because clamping is one of those critical tasks that you don't want to have to muck around with when the glue on your workpiece is going off. For non-critical stuff, the Aldi tools are terrific.

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    In that case Charleville, I can be called neither tool snob nor tool scab - I've got Festool and Aldi.

    And a few in between.
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