Carvex Advice - corded or cordless?

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kdzito

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I am considering a Carvex and am leaning towards the cordless version.  Although I would like to get some advice.  So please chime in.

Thanks!
 
kdzito said:
I am considering a Carvex and am leaning towards the cordless version.  Although I would like to get some advice.  So please chime in.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I'd recommend cordless. I bought the corded version originally, but after a few months sold it & bought cordless. Never once regretted it!
 
I'm extremely pleased with my cordless. Not tied to a cord, and I recently cut a TON of insulation for my garage doors, and did it outside where there was no need for dust extraction. (Don't know what's in that stuff, and I wasn't willing to find out! [blink]) 

The PSC420 is awesome. You'll never regret! [big grin]

Cheers,

Frank
 
I think this sealed the deal for me to go cordless.  Now I will need to buy the drill  [big grin] and a Basic version of the cordless Carvex!
 
Neither any or the drills nor the Carvex's are getting a price increase on 1 APR from what I can see, so you don't have to hurry.

Cheers,

Frank
 
I have both. The advantage of the cordless is, obviously, not being tethered to a cord. I did buy a second battery for the cordless so it would always be ready.

The advantage of the corded model is that, connected through the vac, the vac starts up when you start the jigsaw.

I seem to be pulling out the cordless every time I'm doing 1 or 2 cuts.

If I'm doing a lot of cutting, I use the corded.

Both of mine are the D-Handle.
 
I tend to travel with the cordless and use the corded in the shop.  I have been using both for about 8 months. 

The cordless has a coping foot on it now. 
 
Cordless tools are great, but the batteries only last so long. You will have to buy a new drill every three years or so for new batteries. The corded model will last forever. Just a thought. I still want the cordless though.
 
batcave said:
Cordless tools are great, but the batteries only last so long. You will have to buy a new drill every three years or so for new batteries. The corded model will last forever. Just a thought. I still want the cordless though.
Click to expand...

Ummm.... first of all, he's speaking of a jigsaw, not a drill.  And second, why in the world would you need to buy a whole new drill/jigsaw every three years to get new batteries?  The batteries are not necessarily going to peter out after three years. That is only how long Festool's warranty is on the tool AND the batteries.  And finally, if a battery did stop holding a charge, you can just buy a replacement battery...not the whole unit.

Didn't understand your post at all. [crying]
 
SittingElf said:
batcave said:
Cordless tools are great, but the batteries only last so long. You will have to buy a new drill every three years or so for new batteries. The corded model will last forever. Just a thought. I still want the cordless though.
Click to expand...

Ummm.... first of all, he's speaking of a jigsaw, not a drill.  And second, why in the world would you need to buy a whole new drill/jigsaw every three years to get new batteries?  The batteries are not necessarily going to peter out after three years. That is only how long Festool's warranty is on the tool AND the batteries.  And finally, if a battery did stop holding a charge, you can just buy a replacement battery...not the whole unit.

Didn't understand your post at all. [crying]
Click to expand...

Sorry. Every cordless tool I own I notice reduced output after full charge after a couple years. Yes they still work, but you have to start taking the second battery with you to complete jobs I know one battery should do. I started dating my new batteries last year to better monitor this. I 'll leave the older ones behind at remote jobs. The corded models never lose out.

Let me take a sip of kool-aid first.........The drills are the best value to get replacement batteries. You only get one with a carvex. I need a new tool anyways. I don't want just one replacement battery.

Any clearer, Kevin
 
Umm... maybe only one battery with the Carvex in the U.S. which surprises me, because I bought mine in Germany before the NA release, and it came with two 18V 4.2Ah batteries. (And somehow my German dealer was able to swing a 110V charger with the package. Lucky me)

UPDATE:
I've just had a look, and you're right. Only one battery in the NA... and now also in the German version. Guess I was really lucky and must have bought the jigsaw on some kind of special during the initial release in Germany.

I would agree that two batteries are necessary for continuous operation. I had one charging all the time while I cut tons of insulation for my garage doors. I think I went through about 4 charging cycles to complete the job.
 
It is unfortunate. Two hundred more for one battery and a charger that many Festool owners already have. The chargers should be a option. They will become like power cords, we all have sustainer full of them. [scared]
 
SittingElf said:
batcave said:
Cordless tools are great, but the batteries only last so long. You will have to buy a new drill every three years or so for new batteries. The corded model will last forever. Just a thought. I still want the cordless though.
Click to expand...

Ummm.... first of all, he's speaking of a jigsaw, not a drill.  And second, why in the world would you need to buy a whole new drill/jigsaw every three years to get new batteries?  The batteries are not necessarily going to peter out after three years. That is only how long Festool's warranty is on the tool AND the batteries.  And finally, if a battery did stop holding a charge, you can just buy a replacement battery...not the whole unit.

Didn't understand your post at all. [crying]
Click to expand...

I understand it was pretty much standard practice to buy a new cordless tool when the batteries died in a few years with other brands.  That's not how it works with Festool.  I have a couple of T15 drills from their introduction back in 2009.  The batteries are still doing surprisingly well with a moderate amount of (professional) use in nearly five years.  I can tell there is a some amount of degradation of the batteries, but not a lot.  If the batteries died tomorrow I'd get them rebuilt (that's not a Festool service) since the drills themselves are still going strong.           
 
batcave said:
It is unfortunate. Two hundred more for one battery and a charger that many Festool owners already have. The chargers should be a option. They will become like power cords, we all have sustainer full of them. [scared]
Click to expand...

I agree the battery and charger add far too much to the price of the Carvex.  The popularity of other brand cordless tools, is in part, based on the nominal price difference in the tool over corded/mains powered version.  With the Carvex the premium charged for only one battery and charger is going to prevent my from buying.   
 
batcave said:
It is unfortunate. Two hundred more for one battery and a charger that many Festool owners already have. The chargers should be a option. They will become like power cords, we all have sustainer full of them. [scared]
Click to expand...

You can buy batteries by themselves without a charger. I don't think the 18V 4.2Ah ones are available alone yet in NA, but the 3Ah 18V Li-Ion's are (498343).  Currently listed at $110.00  (Pricing was from Festoolproducts.com) 18V 3Ah Li-On Battery

These 3Ah batteries may be discontinued soon because I don't see a price for the new April 2014 price list changes. I would think the 4.2Ah batteries by themselves should be available shortly.

You can already buy the 4.2AH 18V Batteries (499751) in Germany by themselves...but not cheap!  € 152.10 + VAT.  U.S. equivalent is $213.00  A rubber fitting for the battery (769240) is an additional € 5.20 or US$ 7.30
 
Bob has the 18v 4.2 for 110.  I too have an original T15+3. My C15 batteries from last year outperform the t15 batteries by far.  Battery technology keeps changing and one is better off upgrading as time goes on. Ten years from now, a corded carvex will be more valuable than a cordless model. But I still want a cordless!

Kevin
 
SittingElf said:
Umm... maybe only one battery with the Carvex in the U.S. which surprises me, because I bought mine in Germany before the NA release, and it came with two 18V 4.2Ah batteries. (And somehow my German dealer was able to swing a 110V charger with the package. Lucky me)

UPDATE:
I've just had a look, and you're right. Only one battery in the NA... and now also in the German version. Guess I was really lucky and must have bought the jigsaw on some kind of special during the initial release in Germany.

I would agree that two batteries are necessary for continuous operation. I had one charging all the time while I cut tons of insulation for my garage doors. I think I went through about 4 charging cycles to complete the job.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't call it "luck" elf...  I would say that the amount of money you have spent with that dealer probably afforded you a few perks!  ;)

One day, when my company sells to Google or Apple, I might give you some competition.
 
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