Just a "LIDL'S" heads up...

[Accipiter]

Wasn't sure about posting this - or which area! - but, as it covers various *interests* that cross from one to the other... considered "The Woodmangler's Retreat" probably most suitable...

Thursday, 6th August 2026. Middle of Lidl, selection of various tools... and accessories...

Bench Grinder - with flexible drive shaft... £26.99 OR £22.99 if you have the Lidl Plus app.
Bench Vice - £19.99
Moisture meter (already have one from a few year back) or Multi Purpose Detector (have one of those also... £9.99
Fire extinguisher... £9.99 (mine's donkeys years old so thinking I should replace *just in case*)
F clamps... Hand Winch or Cable Puller Hand Winch...

Check out the pics taken from their leaflet just in case something may be of use to you if you have a Lidls store locally.

OK... not everyone's cup of tea but possibly some things of some use to some members

 

[Cabinetman]

It’s all incredibly inexpensive, I’ve never tried the brand are they any good?
130 drill bits for £13, that’s almost unbelievable, even if they don’t last long it’s probably worth a punt.

 

[Lons]

It’s all incredibly inexpensive, I’ve never tried the brand are they any good?
130 drill bits for £13, that’s almost unbelievable, even if they don’t last long it’s probably worth a punt.

My mate bought a set the last time they were on, I think they're the same and the dills are a bit soft but well worth having for the DIY cr*p jobs that ruin our decent bits.

I'm going to look because that winch could be useful on the front of my trailer.

 

[BigMonka]

I'm not sure what I'd ever use a winch for but at that price it's surprisingly appealing!

 

[Cabinetman]

The cable puller winch is a useful thing to have, I had one (too big and heavy) for pulling the caravan up a slope and into the garage, no way to do it otherwise back then.

 

[Lons]

The cable puller winch is a useful thing to have, I had one (too big and heavy) for pulling the caravan up a slope and into the garage, no way to do it otherwise back then.

I've had a couple in the past and both fell apart I kept some of the bits but why I'll never know. I also have an ancient one picked up at a boot sale a long time ago, solid as cast iron is and weighs about 30kg.

At that price, the cost of 3 or 4 coffees you can't lose really.

 

[Accipiter]

It’s all incredibly inexpensive, I’ve never tried the brand are they any good?
130 drill bits for £13, that’s almost unbelievable, even if they don’t last long it’s probably worth a punt.

I've picked up a few bits and pieces from them Ian. Some good, some 'okay 'ish' - some cr$p...

I've one of their cordless power drills... I had a period where I thought "waste of money" due to the battery not keeping its charge. Eventually sourced another, larger, battery and find it useful for a screwdriver and wood pilot hole drill.

The moisture meter - useful... but I can't swear it's correct BUT gives a guide... which is all *I* need. The multi purpose detector does the job. The drill bits, as Bob mentions, can be a bit soft... but usable and can be sharpened if one cares too. 'F' clamps good... the 'thin bar hand squeeze type sash a bit flimsy BUT of some use...

I had a set of squares from the range - quite surprised that they are indeed *square* ... a set of their chisels I posted about a while ago - as well as the lazer level...


One battery operated power tools I've found most useful is the mini grinder they do. Not in this lot but worth looking out for - Peter Millard of 10MWS (10 mi ute workshop on YouTube) gives it 10/10... good enough for me . I've now got 3 batteries that fit this and the drill so interchangeable.


The winch in this lot offered from the 6th August - 2 different types - look useful and I am tempted. Not sure which one I'd go for or what I'd use it for but I've a big Wisteria that I could use it on to help get it out of the ground ... Will decide when I go in on Thursday the 6th - usually go on a Wednesday (shopping week day) - as SWMBO won't be with me (she is aware though )

One thing about most of this stuff... the 3 year warranty. Another is that you can take it back and get a refund, usually no quibbles...

If you don't have your SWMBO in tow you can take your time to check the stuff out before deciding on whether to buy or not... and, if if shows a fault while in use you take it back and get a refund. No ones forced to buy... but it's worth a punt with having the 3 year warranty and refund if changing your mind or faulty!

 

[TrimTheKing]

Frank - The 'bigger' batteries you mention, are these just larger capacity Parkside, or a third party battery you've sourced?

 

[Accipiter]

Frank - The 'bigger' batteries you mention, are these just larger capacity Parkside, or a third party battery you've sourced?

I should have been more specific Mark... apologies

The original one was a Parkside 4.0 Ah (as one in the photo - square base) - died quite rapidly but that could have been down to me not looking after it properly. The other smaller ones are 2.0 Ah... I should have taken it back but couldn't find the receipt and couldn't remember when id bought it - before the Lidl Plus app thing and saved receipts in the app.

The replacement 4.0 Ah I got from ebay and is marked up as a Parkside battery. I didn't search for any third party batteries... wasn't aware of such possibly available - and wary of getting one if I'd found one. That said, slightly off topic, I've a small cordless Bosch circ saw and have just purchased a third party battery for that - 5.0 Ah instead of the original 2.5 Ah.

I'll be trying to find and use third party ones for future needs.

 

[TrimTheKing]

Thanks for that, good to know. Battery health is a big issue and one I need to get a bit more structured with (having some kind of regular charging depletion checklist or something...) because I've inadvertently killed two Festool batteries simply by not using them enough. Luckily both the original and replacement were within warranty when they went, but annoying.

 

[Accipiter]

Same here Mark - I wasn't aware of the problems regarding cordless tool batteries... still unclear how to manage them. Doesn't help with being mainly a *woodworker when time permits* and using them as and when *needed* - unlike a professional using theirs on a daily type basis for the work they're doing.

Mine get discharged over a gradual time period - most likely not the best way of keeping in top A condition? Think I'll ask Google AI, just out of curiosity, and see how it answers... question based on X battery (power relevant size) times number of that battery? Include if using a combination of (example) 2.0 Ah and 4.0 Ah...

Killing two Festool batteries... ooo... costly I'm thinking if they hadn't been within warranty.

 

[Accipiter]

As per my comment above (#11) I did a quick Google... came back with this:




So... I'm thinking to follow up with the two questions/points as asked: "If you like, let me know: ... tool brand... heavy trade ... DIY/gardening

Probably be best for a new thread topic discussion - unless already covered?

 

[TrimTheKing]

No feel free to open up as a new topic mate, it impacts most if not all of us and interesting...

 

[Cabinetman]

V interesting but I’ll wait for the new thread to comment.

 

[Lons]

This is how I store most of my batteries and the main reason is they're not in a cupboard forgotten and flat. The drills are in use every day I rotate the batteries and have got into the habit of regulary checking the state just by reaching up and pressing the button on each battery.
I wish the old ni-cad would die tbh so I have an excuse to replace it with another newer type. I'd probably buy a bare drill.

The impact drill at the top is a Chiwanese knock off but is surprisingly powerful and reliable so far and at the £20 it cost including 2 batteries and charger meant it was worth a punt.

 

[Accipiter]

Thanks Bob - appreciate you sharing the photo of your cordless tools.

I've started the new thread, along with my excursions into cordless, photos of the DIY/hobby cordless I have and use and the response from Google which is also here.

I'm pretty certain that I wouldn’t be venturing into the larger cordless toolscsuch as mitre-saw and tablesaw...

 

[Accipiter]

I'd just like to express my appreciation to those that have put a like to my post on these offers at Lidl and also to those that have posted comments or asked questions in respect of the tools

Unlike in another forum where I shared the exact same information and photos of the tools and the only comments are in respect of self service or staffed checkouts

 

[fuse]

Ive partaken in a few of of the Parkside deals
Its somehow more attractive than the grey aldi alternative???
Apparently they put themselves forward as a long established brand independent from lidl.
Ive found the kit is ok for occasional light use
The quick clamps have lasted well for the price
The only real disappointment Ive had is with an electric staple gun which is weak to the point that I could spit the ammo in harder myself and a mains powered screwdriver/ drill that spontaneously self combusted on the bench in front of me.

 

[Accipiter]

Ive partaken in a few of of the Parkside deals
Its somehow more attractive than the grey aldi alternative
Apparently they put themselves forward as a long established brand independent from lidl.

Sorry... couldn't resist

Ive found the kit is ok for occasional light use
The quick clamps have lasted well for the price

The only real disappointment Ive had is with an electric staple gun which is weak to the point that I could spit the ammo in harder myself and a mains powered screwdriver/ drill that spontaneously self combusted on the bench in front of me.

Hope you took them back Martin?

 

[fuse]

Lidaldi dont seem to grasp the concept that things might be returned
I once had a can of spray paint that wouldnt spray and the 15 mins of hassle they gave me educated me not to try it again!

 

[Accipiter]

That's got to be down to the staff/manager at the store. Once I may have put up with that but never returned to shop there. These days I'd be taking it further... 1st to their customer support. Never, so far, had to go further.

We once had an issue with an iron from them. Faulted out just within the 3 year warranty period. Contacted CS - instead of going back to the shop as they didn't have the iron in stock at that time - who emailed me that they'd refund and 'to dispose of the iron'... which I did at the recycling centre. Eventually received the letter for the refund BUT it said to "return the iron to my store who would then refund". As I'd recycled it I contacted CS again informing them AND that they had not told me to keep the iron to return it to the store. With that they relented and issued a refund.

**Lesson learned** - Lidl will require the item returned even if almost out of the 3 year warranty period and no stock of to give a replacement.