Lidl Parkside cordless 20v jigsaw disaster

[Secret_Sipper]

9 months I've waited.... 9 months after first seeing them sold when I bought my multi-tool from there I went back a day later and they had all sold.
So after learning they where back, Thursday 7.55am I was stood waiting for the store to open. YES I've got one!

Anyway, I've been boarding the loft out with the loftzone kit and although I didn't buy it specifically for that purpose, I thought I'd give it a trial run on how it cut the cross members (which for people that aren't familiar with the kits, are around 1metre long pieces of 80mm wide steel U shaped cable trunking) where needed.
Now, I had bought it for doing odd electrical tray work, although I'm no spark, we do abit of install work of new equipment from time to time and for occasional use was perfect.

I might have been a heavy handed git (I don't think so) but if this is what approx 2 days and 1 battery discharge looks like.... I'm glad I took it back about 30mins ago. I could take the chance.

A lot of the pro dewalt/makita fan teams will probably say I told you so, what do you expect from Supermarket brands but the actual jigsaw itself wasn't bad at all. I also contemplated modifying the base as its clearly bent at the point they have skimped on the side supports of the base however that will make the warranty void even though if any things gonna go wrong it will be the motor/switch side.
I'm not annoyed its bent, I'm more annoyed it didn't live up to the build quality of the other cordless tools I have which are generally good for moderate use.

Its not a buyer beware moment but definitely a buyer be-aware that if you put abit of force down on to the material (whether it be metal or wood) , this could happen.

 

[TicTac]

It is possible that you were applying too much downward pressure at the front, rather than allowing the jigsaw to do the work. The damage does suggest that you're not holding it at the right point. No criticism meant .

 

[Secret_Sipper]

None taken.

Possibility but I have been using my dads old mains Bosch for godknows how long and that's not bent. The base on the old Bosch is nearly twice as thick.

The other possible cause was because the cross member was basically tin, it kept snagging on the last bit if the cut. This could have snagged and pulled it up with force. I did try to bend it back and there wasn't much force needed to do this.

 

[big-all]

yes definately looks to me like your pushing the body unevenly causing extra pressure on the nose your support should be mostly down and gentle forward pressure where as it looks like mostly forward and little down
having said that it shouldn't happen

 

[big-all]

None taken.

Possibility but I have been using my dads old mains Bosch for godknows how long and that's not bent. The base on the old Bosch is nearly twice as thick.

The other possible cause was because the cross member was basically tin, it kept snagging on the last bit if the cut. This could have snagged and pulled it up with force. I did try to bend it back and there wasn't much force needed to do this.

yes that combined with what i said could case the extra force required as a snag is similar to hitting with a hammer

 

[Deleted member 174758]

This may make you feel a little happier when I say that I've bent every last D-handle jigsaw I've ever owned.... That's two Bosch blue jigsaws, a Metabo jigsaw and a Makita cordless. It's because with a D-handle jigsaw you generally need to apply downwards pressure to keep the baseplate on the material and when the blade is getting blunt or the material is uneven - such as cutting out in floors, etc - the pressure both downwards and forwards increases and the jigsaws take on a gentle slope at the front. I've noticed this on quite a few other tradesmen's jigsaws as well (both metalworkers and woodworkers), so I know I'm not alone. The difference is that this bend is created over a 1 to 3 year period - not a single weekend! I suspect the baseplate design of youre saw simply isn't up to the task at hand

BTW I've also had two body grip jigsaws (Metabo and Mafell) there the natural tendency is for the right hand to apply pressure downwards behind the blade and the baseplate "ski effect" doesn't seem to happen.

 

[Diver Fred]

I just do not rate Parkside tools at all…
I bought 2 - a garden multi-tool and a belt sander; both tools I used (tried) once and then took them back for a refund.
The multi tool vibrated that much that after 5 minutes I was shaking…
The belt sander was DEAFENING….

Learnt my lesson - won't buy anymore 'tools' from Lidl.

Now 'Workzone' kit at Aldi I've found to be a much better bet; interestingly a local (pro) tool emporium, nothing to do with Aldi's is selling Workzone kit as well.

 

[foxhole]

This may make you feel a little happier when I say that I've bent every last D-handle jigsaw I've ever owned.... That's two Bosch blue jigsaws, a Metabo jigsaw and a Makita cordless. It's because with a D-handle jigsaw you generally need to apply downwards pressure to keep the baseplate on the material and when the blade is getting blunt or the material is uneven - such as cutting out in floors, etc - the pressure both downwards and forwards increases and the jigsaws take on a gentle slope at the front. I've noticed this on quite a few other tradesmen's jigsaws as well (both metalworkers and woodworkers), so I know I'm not alone. The difference is that this bend is created over a 1 to 3 year period - not a single weekend! I suspect the baseplate design of youre saw simply isn't up to the task at hand

BTW I've also had two body grip jigsaws (Metabo and Mafell) there the natural tendency is for the right hand to apply pressure downwards behind the blade and the baseplate "ski effect" doesn't seem to happen.

Me too , have dewalt mains and makita cordless , both have bent foot plates.

 

[DELLEC]

I note its an old thread, but as these are back in, I would like to say, I got one last time they were in, im ex trade, so used tool with care, and have built a wardrobe, and shelf's and many projects, not bends no problems, I would say you have two problems, and one you push a light duty tool to hard , to much forward pressure, probably as you say you boarding out loft, and the blade in picture is clearly a metal blade not a wood blade, which is probably why you push it to hard, metal blade to many small teeth , you need a coarse cut or cross cut, then you will hardly need to push it, with a coarse rip blade non stop one one cell i cut up 24 , 24 inch conti boards , and they were melamine coated , no probs tool barely warm !

 

[Secret_Sipper]

The reason why there was a metal cutting blade fitted is when I boarded my loft out, I fitted the loftzone kit ontop of the rafters to raise the height up 200mm. The kit comes with steel channels to connect the plastic legs too.
As I mentioned above, I also bought for industrial trucking and tray work which I now know wouldn't have been any good for.

 

[DELLEC]

why would you buy a DIY tool for industrial work? expecting transfiguration of the tool to and AEG or summit !, and assume you mean trunking , Its fine for most wood working I have done as mentioned, I would never have tried on metal , it is after all a DIY tool , On odd occasion I need cordless , for heavy work , I just use my Industrial bosch , on an inverter connected to my van battery , clearly that does job as is a trade tool, and inverter allows use where no current available , you can free it from the van also by use the inverter , on a 12 volt mobile car starter , works for hours .

 

[Secret_Sipper]

I say industrial loosely. We may do install work 3-4 times a year so rather than spending hundreds on a trade jigsaw, for occasional use I'd have thought that it may have been alright for that small use.
As you say, if you use them day in day out I'd have had no hesitation in buying trade power tools.

 

[DELLEC]

Maybe of interest to you, i recently got a gst ind bosch on e bay for £30 , it had hardly any wear on , but still re greased it , i see lots on 240 and 110 v ones, all seemed fine, i have also in past got a 110v one , been fine for 3 years on site, cutting wood metal laminate suspended floor , used mostly every day for £25 , better than new DIY from lidl

 

[SammyInnit]

My Bosch blue 110v has a bent shoe. I do try and be a bit more ginger with my Makita BL cordless but the way that one is made does look like it wouldn't bend anyway.

 

[DELLEC]

Blimy , you lot on here must really put boot in on your tools , i been trade all my life , recently retired, same tools, never burnt one out or bent tool shoes ever , you must be vandals !