Went with the wrong cordless system, Go for ALDI over LIDL

[TigerUK]

Both of them have 20v systems.

I bought a cordless sander, 20V 4ah battery and plunge saw from LIDL on impulse.

I didn't realise the plunge saw and circular saw are quitre diffeerent, The plunge saw only has a cutting depth of 25mm. I want the circular saw for deeper cuts - but it's never on sale. It came once and got sold out by the afternoon. Scalpers have bought them and put them on ebay for 2x the price it seems.

Been meaning to get the circular saw and site light from LIDL but it hasn't come on sale yet.

If I had gone with the ALDI set, I could have bought any tool I wanted online. IIRC ALDI is rebranded EINHELL so you can use the two together.

Live and learn.

[big-all]

its worth saying that you cant assume any tool will fit the battery more often than not rebranded means wont fit with other with a different name on
even the same name can have non compatable tool and batteries within its ranges

[kellys_eye]

I've got a wide range of Aldi tools but can't recommend their drills at all other than for VERY light work. They burn the brushes out far too easily under load.

Their angle grinder and reciprocating saw are both good devices though. I have their circular saw too but it uses a different battery (real shame).

[arco_iris]

Surely you have to realise that the two "brands" mentioned are "pile it high, sell it cheap" merchants and what you get at any one time is unlikely to be repeated. They both have food stuffs, wines & cleaning materials that are brilliant when you get them, but go back for more - no longer available.

Stick with a make like Dewalt or Makita for consistency.

[kellys_eye]

I got the Aldi stuff (the ones that work!) purely because they get so little use under normal circumstances. For 'proper' use I'm gathering Erbauer stuff and building a kit from it.

The Aldi angle grinder (battery - I have a corded grinder for most use) - has come in really useful for cutting bits off my car. Cut some upper control arm bolts (easily) and today was used to cut brake pipe mounts free. Small(ish), powerful (surprisingly so) and does a good job. I'd recommend it to anyone.

The Aldi stuff has been marketed for a few years now and they still seem to stock it. When my Aldi battery drill blew its brushes they send a replacement PDQ and no questions asked so their warranty service has a plus point to it. That said, I've relegated the Aldi drill to Mrs k_e's toolkit - in other words if she asks for a drill (for whatever reason) she gets the Aldi one, not the Erbauer!

[Argyll]

As I recall they required different chargers depending on the ah of the battery. Then there's the hassle of ordering a new battery that normally cost 150% more than the tool itself. And they normally only stock up to 4ah which is pretty poor now.

There's a good chance in a few years they'll change the battery design and you'll need to chuck the tool. At least with a big name brand, you'll still be able to buy their batteries s for years to come or at least a compatible battery. You can now buy a badaptor for DeWalt nicad to li-on batteries. No chance of this with Parkside or Workzone.

I bought a cordless Parkside heat gun which turned out to be a poor buy as the 4ah battery only lasts 5 minutes. I've looked high and low for a badaptor from Parkside to DeWalt/Makita but have been unsuccessful.

I bought the Parkside table and track saws a few years ago but returned them within a few days. The tolerances were horrendous.

I might buy the odd thing but I normally walk buy any of their tools nowadays.

[Graeme from Tod]

Most of the tools in our workshop are Dewalt , Makita or Evolution. The cordless ones are all Dewalt 18V ( although we've had a couple of Makita Nicads ).

I needed a new drill for occasional DIY jobs at home & bought a Parkside 20v one. It came in a case with a charger, one battery & some bits. I bought another battery which there's space for in the case. The whole lot came to £52.98. Is it as good as the Dewalt stuff? No but it's done everything I need it to. You'd struggle to buy a bare Dewalt drill for £52.98.

I bought a Parkside work light which takes the same battery for £7.99. It's been very useful. Not as good as the Dewalt we have but that costs 5 x as much.

The 20v batteries & other tools from the system are often on the shelves in our local Lidl.

Also have a Parkside planer ( corded ) which I've been quite happy with.

If you were setting up on a shoestring as a handyman or similar I bet a bunch of Lidl or Aldi tools would get you through your first year.

[TigerUK]

its worth saying that you cant assume any tool will fit the battery more often than not rebranded means wont fit with other with a different name on
even the same name can have non compatable tool and batteries within its ranges

Both aldi and lidl have a special range of 20v/40v tools that's all share the same battery.

Lidl call it the parkside XTEAM series.
Sldi call it Activ energy

Just Google them, they have many many different tools in their range that you can get.

I really wanted the circular saw xteam

[big-all]

its worth saying that you cant assume any tool will fit the battery more often than not rebranded means wont fit with other with a different name on
even the same name can have non compatable tool and batteries within its ranges

Both aldi and lidl have a special range of 20v/40v tools that's all share the same battery.

Lidl call it the parkside XTEAM series.
Sldi call it Activ energy

Just Google them, they have many many different tools in their range that you can get.

I really wanted the circular saw xteam

have you actually tried to interchange them as thats the only way to check ??
it often looks identical but have extra lumps bumps or grooves to stop them fitting

[kellys_eye]

Aldi and Lidl are not interchangeable - I don't think the post was actually referring to that, only mentioning that Aldi and Lidl both have 20/40V versions and they EACH have their ranges of tools that share their respective battery.

[big-all]

Aldi and Lidl are not interchangeable - I don't think the post was actually referring to that, only mentioning that Aldi and Lidl both have 20/40V versions and they EACH have their ranges of tools that share their respective battery.

Possibly exactly as you say
it can off course be a minefield

[TigerUK]

I decided to use an adapter for parkside battery to aldi tools.

Aldi 20v tools go on sale more often But parkside sell their batteries more often, I bought an adapter for parkside batteries to aldi tools.

[kellys_eye]

But parkside sell their batteries more often,

Not kidding! Aldi batteries are like rocking horse sh17! If I ever see them for sale (there's occasionally ONE on the shelf) I buy it! Got 6 of their large batteries now and about the same of the smaller.

Mind you, if you want an Aldi charger they seem to have BILLIONS!

[APDIY]

But parkside sell their batteries more often,

Not kidding! Aldi batteries are like rocking horse sh17! If I ever see them for sale (there's occasionally ONE on the shelf) I buy it! Got 6 of their large batteries now and about the same of the smaller.

Mind you, if you want an Aldi charger they seem to have BILLIONS!

I've found exactly the same thing as you with Aldi batteries.
Buying by post is expensive because of the postal charges.

[APDIY]

I decided to use an adapter for parkside battery to aldi tools.

Aldi 20v tools go on sale more often But parkside sell their batteries more often, I bought an adapter for parkside batteries to aldi tools.

Any details of the adapters you use, please.