Carvex Blade Guides Rant

[southrider]

So - I'm cutting simple soft pine treated deck boards. New blade - properly adjusted guides (no wandering - no burning of the blade), and the Carvex just spits out a chunk of one of the guides onto the deck. I finish the job without the guide. Call Dealer for new blade guides - "we can't find them in ekat", well neither can I...

Call Festool US - you can't buy guides separately - you must buy the entire holder assembly - cost $40 plus shipping.

I've had it - enough is enough. Worst tool that Festool makes. I'll either spring for a Mafell, or get the best one that Bosch currently offers.

Rant over.....

 

[AlexThePalex]

I agree, those guides are terrible. I'm not even sure they're the right idea, but I am sure they are made to flimsy for what they supposedly should do.

If you want to use your jigsaw for precision work, the Mafell is more or less the only choice.

If you want a jigsaw for all kinds of rough jobs, a Bosch or a Metabo would be a great choice.

 

[Birdhunter]

I have both the corded and uncorded Festool jig saws and a Bosch. Of the 3, I like the Bosch much more than the Festool. However, I seem to grab the battery Festool jig saw nearly every time. I don’t think I’d ever buy a corded jigsaw, even the Mafell. If Mafell sells a battery jig saw, I’m buying.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Sometimes I work with my carpenter buddy on a job, my 25 yo corded Metabo and his cordless Carvex. My Metabo wins on every account.

Alright, I have to roll out an extension cord to get somewhere, but I don't mind. My saw keeps going all day, while the Carvex beeps every 15 minutes that it wants a new battery. 8 cm thick hardwood poles? No problem for the Metabo. Beep, beep, beep says the Festool. Beep means it doesn't agree.

And then the blade guides, they're either too tight so they spark and burn up the blade, or they're so loose they don't do anything anyway. And even with the guides tight I still see deflection of the blade. 

 

[ScotF]

I have a Bosch, Mafell and Trion corded and  a Carvex cordless. I actual get perfect cuts with the Mafell  and both Festool saws. The Bosch is almost square, but a little blade deflection. I think the Cordless Festool is better than the corded version and is a little  heavier and better balanced. I think Mafell is the most accurate and perfect for fine woodworking. The Festool saws work well and adjusting the guides improves accuracy even is it is an extra step. I use the Bosch for rough work and construction where uber accuracy is not as critical.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Adjusting them does indeed help, but as noted, an extra step.
I really don't need/use a jigsaw to be a "precision" tool. I see them as one step above a recip saw and that's about it. I do sink cut-outs, rough out the occasional corner radius, and a random notch now and then.

 

[mino]

Adjusting them does indeed help, but as noted, an extra step.

Adjustable guides means you can use 2,5 mm blades and 4 mm "Carvex" blades with one saw. A definite plus for occasional/diverse usage.

If someone is OK with same blade width, and needs absolute precision /which was clearly not Carvex design goal/ one should go Maffel IMO.

For versatility /with all the bases etc./ Carvex is IMO a great tool. But for me it is a great tool-of-last-resort first and foremost and there it delivers.

 

[Ted Miller]

I have both corded and battery Carvex and the Trion. Hate the blade giudes on both Carvex machines. I do use the battery Carvex for all trim work with a collins foot attached. But for most other work that needs a jigsaw, I go with the old corded Trion, cuts great, better blade guides, dust extraction far better then the Carvex. No light, but no big deal...