Carvex 420 ebq

[Laborator]

Si I spent all day yesterday waiting for glue to dry on two glueups for 21" circles I needed to cut. THe material is pallet wood, maybe birch. I then pulled out $600 worth of festool equipment, and with a watch this sort of attitude I began to cut my circles.... 7 blades, a long string of profanities, and a smashed glueup later and I am here. It was what seems like a common sparks flying situation for this tool, but all the boards I read end up gloating about how amazing their b&d saw is. Those comments were not helpful. I checked the guide, I checked the blade length, I used the Festool circle jig. Still no circle. What is the Deal????

 

[nclemmons]

Welcome to FOG.  Sorry for the troubles on the first post.

A few questions.

If you have sparks, it's likely a blade thickness adjustment on the saw.  Have you checked the supplemental manual on adjusting for blades? http://www.waterfront-woods.com/festool/Carvex_PS420.pdf

What blade were you using?  What speed on the saw?  For 3/4 material in hardwood, you probably want a 0 or 1 setting on the pendulum stroke.

 

[Laborator]

Thank you for the reply. I was using the festool blades that came with the saw and some bosch blades I had laying around. The guide was not se too tight. What I noticed was that the blade is not at a 90 to the saw table. I am thinking that this is why it wad "pulling" while trying to cut the circle, and therefore sparking against the guide. I dont see any way to adjust this misalignment ad the base is in a fixed position...

 

[Shane Holland]

The pin for the circle cutter needs to be on the same side as the blade. There are two positions for it. Always put it in the hole closest to the blade.

See if that helps your ability to cut a circle.

Also, reference Peter's video starting at the 8:00 mark.

 

[Laborator]

It was on the blade side. With the blade not set at a 90 to the base the saw tries to wander away from the center of the circle. This presses it into the guide and creates sparks. Also the cut itself is not 90 degrees. It is more of a sloped cut.

 

[Shane Holland]

With the blade not set at a 90 to the base the saw tries to wander away from the center of the circle.

Not sure I understand this comment. Sounds like you're beveling the blade, but that's not possible with the circle cutting base.

Set the pendulum to the "3" setting. Let the saw do the work, don't apply pressure.

 

[Laborator]

THe blade, from my understanding, needs to protrude from the base at a 90 degree angle to the base. if you place a square on the base, with the blade pointing up, the square should touch the entire side of the blade on both sides. thus indicating that it is set at 90 degrees. This is not the case with my saw. When I place a square on the side of the blade it is at an angle. This means that when I try ro cut a straight line, or any line, it will not be a right angle.

 

[Shane Holland]

Is the blade non-perpendicular with other bases and new blades? If so, sounds like your Carvex needs to be sent in for service.

 

[Laborator]

That is correct. I have checked several bases. It is just a little off...

 

[Laborator]

I just attempted again with renewed patience and a couple days later. It immediately started to wander and burn. I am not a whiz with angles, but 30 degrees comes to mind. the more you cut the greater the angle like the blade is trying to run from the saw.

 

[Laborator]

I just threw in yet another new blade and just ran some random curves through the glue up I smashed already. Even outside of the circle jig this thing wont cut a straight line. I mean straight like through the wood not across it.

 

[Shane Holland]

If it's less than 30 days since you bought it, you can exchange. Otherwise, send for repair. Unless someone else has a theory.

 

[Laborator]

Stick this in you pipe, I just used another blade. Cut the circle going clockwise. (with the pin in the proper position) and it cut a circle. no angle , no blade wander. Not really a smooth cut, but I may have run out of blades that cut smooth. What is the theory for that? I will have to call in the morning, but I hate to leave these threads hanging. There never seems to be resolution anymore.

 

[Tyler Ernsberger]

Return the Carvex and buy the Bosch JS572 or the Mafell PC11. 

 

[Laborator]

Too late to return, I bought it in November...