Carvex circle jig bending my blades.

[bkharman]

Try this.

If you are having the issues going clockwise, try it counterclockwise. I had an issue with runout on my Carvex cutting circles before and on a whim tried it the opposite direction and it went through the chipboard like butter (as expected). Before I went that route, I tried the other pin hole and everything else under the sun. I also did a lot of cursing and swearing that I was going to fling my Carvex all the way to Indiana for them to take it back.

Once I got it to move through the material the way I wanted, it worked great. I did it on MDF as well and even an oak stair tread to make the newel post wrap. No clue what that curved part of the last/first step is called! 

I really have grown to love my Carvex in everything I use it for.

Cheers. Bryan.

 

[Shane Holland]

Bryan, maybe you have the Carvex "Zoolander Edition".  [big grin]

I think I remember reading where someone else found this trick worked for them as well.

 

[Kev]

Maybe I'm just lame and slow, but I don't have issues cutting circles with the CARVEX and never really had issues with my old Hitachi. I always cut circles very slowly and consistently and make certain the blade is doing the work (guide the jigsaw as opposed to "pushing" it).

From memory the last time I cut a bad arc was with my old jigsaw using the wrong pendulum setting.

Ensuring the jigsaw is running perpendicular to the material is critical. Once you track out of square the problem will quickly amplify. This could result from something as simple as the way you're holding the jigsaw or the amount of forward pressure you apply.

Too often a CARVEX issue here turns into a Mafell sales pitch. There's probably nothing wrong with the Mafell as a tool. That's all I say on other brands.

 

[Bill Chang]

I bent 4 blades on my carved before trying the FSG (thicker) blades just last week.

I was cutting a sink cutout in 40mm thick hard maple counter top with the circle cutter and the carvex.

I would suggest trying the FSG blade if you are cutting thicker material.

 

[Holmz]

[member=49749]Locks14[/member] - fair point those. The trammel in particular is nice. I would probably use a template and bushing... (But then I still need to cut the template out with a pendulum saw

[member=13058]Kev[/member] - Maybe I am just lucky as I turn the pendulum down for circle-work. I would read the manual if know where I put it.
It is hard not to like the p1cc, and people usually compare to similar tools.

On the technique/technical side... If the saw is pivoting from a point behind the cutting edge, then the saw blade will be effectively dragged sideways away for the circle and try to go off on a tangent. It would be like having toe out on a car or akerman being hosed up.
If the pivot was in front of the cutting edge then it would be toed in and trying to spiral in ads one goes around.
This also applies if it is possible for the saw to at an angle related to the base.

In any case a fatter and more taped blade would provide a lot of clearance to keep the trailing edge of the blade from being rubbed.
The fatter blade is also massively stiffer as the stiffness increases by the cube of the thickness.

I doubt that the Mafell blades (W1 I think?) would fit, but they seem well suited for this sort of work... Just no circle cutter
... I just watched the demonstration part2 video there is a circle cutter so now I have another use for that guide.  (It is still probably worthwhile to use the FT tape measure to mark the cut as that way the centre hole position get verified.)

Anyhow... I have been saving those blades for critical work and just use the standard Bosch blades so far, with standard being metal or the superlong blade. For cement fibreboard the hitachi 6tpi works a treat.

 

[waho6o9]

"If you are having the issues going clockwise, try it counterclockwise. "

Great idea Bryan thanks!

 

[bkharman]

"If you are having the issues going clockwise, try it counterclockwise. "

Great idea Bryan thanks!

Have you had this issue before?  My thought (unconfirmed) is that the blade release mechanism is the culprit. I think it binds with certain pendulum settings and causes the blade to deflect or bend.

I don't want to burn up any more blades playing with it!

Cheers. Bryan.

 

[Wuffles]

Maybe I'm just lame and slow, but I don't have issues cutting circles with the CARVEX and never really had issues with my old Hitachi. I always cut circles very slowly and consistently and make certain the blade is doing the work (guide the jigsaw as opposed to "pushing" it).

Are using a circle cutting guide in this reference, or just freehand?

I doubt that the Mafell blades (W1 I think?) would fit, but they seem well suited for this sort of work... Just no circle cutter
... I just watched the demonstration part2 video there is a circle cutter so now I have another use for that guide.

Seriously, you didn't know that was a circle cutting guide too, or are you joking?

 

[Holmz]

Maybe I'm just lame and slow...

...

I doubt that the Mafell blades (W1 I think?) would fit, but they seem well suited for this sort of work... Just no circle cutter
... I just watched the demonstration part2 video there is a circle cutter so now I have another use for that guide.

Seriously, you didn't know that was a circle cutting guide too, or are you joking?

I am not sure about [member=13058]Kev[/member]  's comment (which that I modified on you quote for clarity  [embarassed]... And spiritually it seems I am with Kev.)

I am serious. [embarassed]
I used that edge guide, but I never paid attention to the pins in it.
When the Haus-Boss wanted some cement board circles cut out to go into some tyres for planters I ended up making them oval so I could wrestle them into the tyres. She still doesn't have BS and flowers planted yet.
I have done some free hand stuff and a fair whack of metal.

There is a gate coming up to do, but that will be more of wavy cuts and not circles per se.

 

[Wuffles]

Maybe I'm just lame and slow...

...

I doubt that the Mafell blades (W1 I think?) would fit, but they seem well suited for this sort of work... Just no circle cutter
... I just watched the demonstration part2 video there is a circle cutter so now I have another use for that guide.

Seriously, you didn't know that was a circle cutting guide too, or are you joking?

I am not sure about [member=13058]Kev[/member]  's comment (which that I modified on you quote for clarity  [embarassed]... And spiritually it seems I am with Kev.)

I am serious. [embarassed]
I used that edge guide, but I never paid attention to the pins in it.
When the Haus-Boss wanted some cement board circles cut out to go into some tyres for planters I ended up making them oval so I could wrestle them into the tyres. She still doesn't have BS and flowers planted yet.
I have done some free hand stuff and a fair whack of metal.

There is a gate coming up to do, but that will be more of wavy cuts and not circles per se.

That's pretty offensive man.

I mean, why leave in the "maybe"?!

 

[Holmz]

[member=20162]Wuffles[/member] - I have not yet met [member=13058]Kev[/member] so it is still a half a question. [wink]

I got some plexiglass (acrylic) today and need to finish off the liquor cabinet door... (Before I finish off the liquor)
I was thinking of using the jig saw for the corners as I routed in the recess. Or I cut the corners at a 45 to relieve the corners... Still no use for a circle cutter this week.

 

[Kev]

Maybe I'm just lame and slow, but I don't have issues cutting circles with the CARVEX and never really had issues with my old Hitachi. I always cut circles very slowly and consistently and make certain the blade is doing the work (guide the jigsaw as opposed to "pushing" it).

Are using a circle cutting guide in this reference, or just freehand?

with the CARVEX I use the guide that comes in the CARVEX accessory kit.

The circle cutter on my old Hitachi is (still have it) quite agricultural, so I'm probably slow and careful as a result of practicing with the oldie.

 

[Kev]

Maybe I'm just lame and slow...

...

I doubt that the Mafell blades (W1 I think?) would fit, but they seem well suited for this sort of work... Just no circle cutter
... I just watched the demonstration part2 video there is a circle cutter so now I have another use for that guide.

Seriously, you didn't know that was a circle cutting guide too, or are you joking?

I am not sure about [member=13058]Kev[/member]  's comment (which that I modified on you quote for clarity  [embarassed]... And spiritually it seems I am with Kev.)

I am serious. [embarassed]
I used that edge guide, but I never paid attention to the pins in it.
When the Haus-Boss wanted some cement board circles cut out to go into some tyres for planters I ended up making them oval so I could wrestle them into the tyres. She still doesn't have BS and flowers planted yet.
I have done some free hand stuff and a fair whack of metal.

There is a gate coming up to do, but that will be more of wavy cuts and not circles per se.

That's pretty offensive man.

I mean, why leave in the "maybe"?!

[member=20162]Wuffles[/member] [member=40772]Holmz[/member]

It is all relative .. you should see how I rate other people!

 

[Wuffles]

Maybe I'm just lame and slow...

...

I doubt that the Mafell blades (W1 I think?) would fit, but they seem well suited for this sort of work... Just no circle cutter
... I just watched the demonstration part2 video there is a circle cutter so now I have another use for that guide.

Seriously, you didn't know that was a circle cutting guide too, or are you joking?

I am not sure about [member=13058]Kev[/member]  's comment (which that I modified on you quote for clarity  [embarassed]... And spiritually it seems I am with Kev.)

I am serious. [embarassed]
I used that edge guide, but I never paid attention to the pins in it.
When the Haus-Boss wanted some cement board circles cut out to go into some tyres for planters I ended up making them oval so I could wrestle them into the tyres. She still doesn't have BS and flowers planted yet.
I have done some free hand stuff and a fair whack of metal.

There is a gate coming up to do, but that will be more of wavy cuts and not circles per se.

That's pretty offensive man.

I mean, why leave in the "maybe"?!

[member=20162]Wuffles[/member] [member=40772]Holmz[/member]

It is all relative .. you should see how I rate other people!

Typo in rate? It's closer to the "h" in the Southern Hemisphere due to the Coriolis effect?

 

[Holmz]

rate's anagrams include tear and tare.

 

[Lbob131]

There  is a video  on  U tube  showing a Mafell v  Carvex  Jigsaw.
Needs to be taken with a huge pinch of  IMHO.

The mafell  finishes  the cut over twice as  fast. In the real  world that  just isn't possible.
I have the  trion  and  the design  is basically  the same as the carvex and  I'd be confident  to make  the cut as fast  as the mafell.
But credit  where credit  is due. Mafell  have incorporated  a  good design into their  machine.  AT £450  quid it would need  to be  good  and also reliable.

 

[Holmz]

There  is a video  on  U tube  showing a Mafell v  Carvex  Jigsaw.
Needs to be taken with a huge pinch of  IMHO.

The mafell  finishes  the cut over twice as  fast. In the real  world that  just isn't possible.
I have the  trion  and  the design  is basically  the same as the carvex and  I'd be confident  to make  the cut as fast  as the mafell.
But credit  where credit  is due. Mafell  have incorporated  a  good design into their  machine.  AT £450  quid it would need  to be  good  and also reliable.

You may be better off retaining the Triton than upgrading to a Carvex.  [big grin]