Carvex Cutting Issues

[guddeco]

Hey all,

I wanted to hop on here really quick and see if I may have a faulty Carvex Jigsaw. I have the corded PS 420 model and I'm hoping it's just user error, but when I am making cross cuts in any thickness of wood really, my carvex, which is corded model, stalls. 

What I mean is, I can start the cut, and it eats through it. But, it just seems to stop cutting and "stall out" or not make any cutting progress. I am using S105/4 blades, and have tried brand new ones and they perform the same as the one I have been using for a while.  I usually have to back the saw up a bit and lift for it to continue to make the cut.  Often times I get a lot of smoke when cutting thicker materials. 

Is this my error, or do I have a faulty Carvex?

 

[Locks14]

The Carvex has a reputation for being a bit fussy when changing blades and readjusting the blade guides. If the blade guide is a little too tight, as the blade heats up and expands it could be causing friction and hence causing your problem.

Bit of a PITA, but are you making sure you "tune" the blade guide every time you switch blades? The procedure is to tighten to the point it clamps the blade then back of half a turn. 

As a side note this fussy nature of the Carvex is why I bought the Mafell P1CC.

 

[Brent Shively]

Hello Guddeco,
A couple of questions so we can help figure this out.
1. What speed setting do you have the Carvex set to?
2. When you said you get a lot of smoke, where is it coming from?  Is it comming from the blade?
3. what condition is the blade in once you finish the cut?

Brent

 

[Rick Christopherson]

If I read what you wrote correctly, it isn't the saw that is stalling out, but the blade. This means the blade is not clearing the fibrous debris from the crosscut out of the gullets of the blade. Try switching the pendulum stroke to a deeper orbital mode.

In a crosscut, the wood fibers are laying across the gullets of the blade and equal in length to the width of the blade. This allows them to rest in the gullets without being disturbed as much, causing buildup.

[attachimg=1]

 

[guddeco]

Sure thing.

1. Speed is set to Auto. Does this even if I set the speed down to 5 as well.
2. Smoke is coming from what I guess is blade friction, not the saw itself or motor or anything.
3. The blades either have some pitch on them if the wood I'm cutting is pitchy, or they seem to have all the paint and lettering rubbed off of them. They're very warm to the touch, but other than that, normal looking.

Hello Guddeco,
A couple of questions so we can help figure this out.
1. What speed setting do you have the Carvex set to?
2. When you said you get a lot of smoke, where is it coming from?  Is it comming from the blade?
3. what condition is the blade in once you finish the cut?

Brent

 

[guddeco]

Thanks Rick for the info, I have been adjusting the pendulum swings however I haven't found one that allows for smoother cutting without the blade issues. I will review this info and try again!

If I read what you wrote correctly, it isn't the saw that is stalling out, but the blade. This means the blade is not clearing the fibrous debris from the crosscut out of the gullets of the blade. Try switching the pendulum stroke to a deeper orbital mode.

In a crosscut, the wood fibers are laying across the gullets of the blade and equal in length to the width of the blade. This allows them to rest in the gullets without being disturbed as much, causing buildup.

[attachimg=1]

 

[guddeco]

Hey guys. I made all the adjustments recommended, still having the same issues.  I have a video example that I will link to this, but I am clueless.  I have cut these pieces with ease before with the carvex.  That's what leads me to believe that there might be some error somewhere.

 

[guddeco]

Here's a demo video of the issues I am having. Any one have a fix? Or is my saw in need of a repair?

Festool Carvex Cutting Issues

 

[waho6o9]

I'd change blades just to see what would happen.

Sure is odd behavior though. 

 

[guddeco]

I'd change blades just to see what would happen.

Sure is odd behavior though.

Should have mentioned, the blade is brand new.

 

[waho6o9]

I just used the S105/4 on some 1.75 walnut and it worked perfect.

Not sure why yours would work half way through the board and stall, maybe

change the speed  and see what happens.

 

[SittingElf]

I just used the S105/4 on some 1.75 walnut and it worked perfect.

Not sure why yours would work half way through the board and stall, maybe

change the speed  and see what happens.

In his video, it looks like he DID change speeds and motion. Nothing seemed to correct the problem.  Sure looks like a need to have Festool take a look at his saw.

Frank

 

[Rick Christopherson]

Not sure why yours would work half way through the board and stall, maybe

It should be noted that in the video he had already started that cut previously.

As for the lack of cut, this should really be a function of the blade and not so much the saw. The exception is that maybe something is preventing the saw from making a full pendulum swing. I would check to make sure the blade guide is not so tight that the blade cannot retract into the blade guides. I would also try to determine if something was wrong with the pendulum motion that was preventing the blade from moving backward.

 

[waho6o9]

This makes no sense. I'd still change to a different blade and try

and isolate the problem.

 

[Brent Shively]

What is the condition of the blade after making the cut?  Is there any blueing of the blade?  Which the proper adjustment of the carbide guides, the paint should be rubbed off the back of the blade.

 

[guddeco]

What is the condition of the blade after making the cut?  Is there any blueing of the blade?  Which the proper adjustment of the carbide guides, the paint should be rubbed off the back of the blade.

I don't notice any bluing, the blade is as you described, paint coming off the back. There is pitch residue from the wood I am using as well, and the paint has been rubbed off the bottom half of the blade as well.  I am using S105/4 blades.  I have tried brand new out of the package blades and it does the exact same thing.

 

[Rip Van Winkle]

This may sound like an odd suggestion, but try putting two or three layers of masking tape on the front of the jigsaw base. The idea is to tilt the jigsaw so the front is slightly higher than it was, and then try cutting with it again and see if it starts cutting again.

 

[guddeco]

This may sound like an odd suggestion, but try putting two or three layers of masking tape on the front of the jigsaw base. The idea is to tilt the jigsaw so the front is slightly higher than it was, and then try cutting with it again and see if it starts cutting again.

I will give this a try in the am. Thanks!

 

[Rick Christopherson]

There is pitch residue from the wood I am using as well,

I'd say that was your problem. If you have enough pitch in the wood to show on the blade, it is probably also clumping your sawdust in the gullets of the blade and preventing the blade from cutting.

 

[Laminator]

I seem to remember, many years ago, my Bosch saw stopped cutting much like the video and it was when trying to cut a knot in some white pine.  The teeth filled with pitch and would not cut any further.  Smoke and hot turpentine smell resulted when I increase cutting force.