I've a layout building project on for BRM at the moment, and that means I need to install point motors, which means making neat slots for the operating pin to poke through.
My tool of choice is a 3mm drill saw bit. I make a series of holes and then using the serated edge of the bit, join them into the required slot. This was proceding well, until the bit broke.
Where to find a replacement? A quick web search threw up Screwfix, but their set is 6, 8 and 10mm. OK, I could probably work with this, but it's hardly ideal.
The other result? Aldi.
Yes, the German supermarket beloved of those on a budget, and the middle classes who like to be amazied at the bargains and the amusing foreign pastries.
It seems I struck lucky, in their middle isle random stuff was a set of saw bits. I hopped in the car, taking advantage of their late opening, and after rooting around, found two packs. Each contains 3,4,5,8 and 8mm bits - perfect for most of my work.
A couple of reviews on the website suggested they weren't all that great, but beggars can't be choosers. Having tried them, I can't see a problem. Comparing the old and new bits, maybe the serations are sharper on the old one, but I can't be sure. What I do know is that for installing point motors, they are perfectly good, and that's all that matters.
It's not a store I'd ever expected to make an emergency tool run to though!