Ken Nagrod
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Must be a Conehead construction site. Don't stare at them too long! [jawdrop]
Carvex Issues
- Thread starter windmill man
- Start date
ccarrolladams
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Over the years I have owned several small jig saws. Frankly it was always a love-hate relationship for me because I tend to compare cut quality against band saws, even on jobs I could never do with a band saw.
Back in 2006, when I fell into the Festool spell, I did not use any jig saw often, so I did not even ask my Festool dealer for demonstrations. Then in 2009 a project came along that would be ideal for a jig saw. By then I had seen a video about the European method of using the jig saw below the work, for better view of the blade. That featured the Trion PS 300 EQ.
My good luck was the time I drove to my dealer another customer was buying additional jig saw blades. My dealer mentioned that the other customer had owned a PS 300 for a few months. I asked if he had tried the method of holding the saw below the work and rotating it on the knob. That customer asked if he could demonstrate doing just that. Upshot was he came to my condo (this was before I had a shop) to coach me in the use of the Trion PS 300.
With the jump start having coaching from an expert, I approached the Trion with confidence.
I have never had any problems with a Kapex and I currently own and use 2 of them. The Domino is so different from any other tool it did require more practice and experience. I have never felt there was anything wrong with the Festool design or construction quality. Since I have used a Domino most days since buying one of the first sold in Los Angeles, I have coached several nice folks about them. I learn something from everyone I coach.
My gut feeling is there is significant miscommunication about the Carvex. Since as far as I know the Carvex will remain NAINA, I have never tried to see one in action. Why jigsaw techniques that work with the Trion would not apply to the Carvex is unclear to me. Yet reading these posts I get the impression perhaps some coaching of the new owner would have helped. Never having received any Festool product with a shipping defect, I still cannot discount the possibility the OP somehow got a bad Carvex. I have faith Festool will make everything right.
Back in 2006, when I fell into the Festool spell, I did not use any jig saw often, so I did not even ask my Festool dealer for demonstrations. Then in 2009 a project came along that would be ideal for a jig saw. By then I had seen a video about the European method of using the jig saw below the work, for better view of the blade. That featured the Trion PS 300 EQ.
My good luck was the time I drove to my dealer another customer was buying additional jig saw blades. My dealer mentioned that the other customer had owned a PS 300 for a few months. I asked if he had tried the method of holding the saw below the work and rotating it on the knob. That customer asked if he could demonstrate doing just that. Upshot was he came to my condo (this was before I had a shop) to coach me in the use of the Trion PS 300.
With the jump start having coaching from an expert, I approached the Trion with confidence.
I have never had any problems with a Kapex and I currently own and use 2 of them. The Domino is so different from any other tool it did require more practice and experience. I have never felt there was anything wrong with the Festool design or construction quality. Since I have used a Domino most days since buying one of the first sold in Los Angeles, I have coached several nice folks about them. I learn something from everyone I coach.
My gut feeling is there is significant miscommunication about the Carvex. Since as far as I know the Carvex will remain NAINA, I have never tried to see one in action. Why jigsaw techniques that work with the Trion would not apply to the Carvex is unclear to me. Yet reading these posts I get the impression perhaps some coaching of the new owner would have helped. Never having received any Festool product with a shipping defect, I still cannot discount the possibility the OP somehow got a bad Carvex. I have faith Festool will make everything right.
WarnerConstCo.
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We need a beauty shop smiley..... [big grin]
mouppe
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Is there a safety issue involved with tool bases or the blade moving up the V? This all sounds pretty dangerous to me. I would not want a loose blade on a tool I was using.
I would have thought it would be in Festool's best interest to issue a statement about the Carvex, either to say there is no problem and to put the rumours to bed, or to say there is a problem and issue a product recall or a fix. But to have all this doubt and misinformation is bad for sales, bad for reputation, and puts off the customers.
I would have thought it would be in Festool's best interest to issue a statement about the Carvex, either to say there is no problem and to put the rumours to bed, or to say there is a problem and issue a product recall or a fix. But to have all this doubt and misinformation is bad for sales, bad for reputation, and puts off the customers.
jmbfestool
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No it isn't dangerous at all I think. Just get a burnt blade. Well when mine does it it dont feel like im in any danger. When I bought the Carvex when it came out I still havn't used it much. I have cut a few worktop sinks out with it but thats after I had plunged my TS55 most of it so just the corners. I have done one ovel sink cut out but its only 40 mm chipboard it was fine and cut few 18mm MDF panels but thats it. I need use it more!
JMB
JMB
Well as a reply to all these posts: here is my experience with the carvex (the PS400EBQ to be precise)...
Despite my enthousiasm in the begining, 2 problems showed up after a while:
- The dust extraction when using the guiderail adaptor is very lose, but I'm not bothered much because I don't use dust extraction in this case. The other issues with this guide rail adaptor (lots of play and so on) don't seem to happen with my machine.
- The bigger problem is the fact that saw blades jump out of their guide from time to time, which is of course quite annoying (see pictures).
I've contacted Festool Belgium on this and I'm still waiting for their reply. Once I've heard from them, I'll let you know.
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Best regards,
Hans
Despite my enthousiasm in the begining, 2 problems showed up after a while:
- The dust extraction when using the guiderail adaptor is very lose, but I'm not bothered much because I don't use dust extraction in this case. The other issues with this guide rail adaptor (lots of play and so on) don't seem to happen with my machine.
- The bigger problem is the fact that saw blades jump out of their guide from time to time, which is of course quite annoying (see pictures).
I've contacted Festool Belgium on this and I'm still waiting for their reply. Once I've heard from them, I'll let you know.
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Best regards,
Hans
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Does the Carvex not have the adjustable carbon blade guides that the Trion has?
Tom
Tom
Tom Bellemare said:
I don't know, since I don't have the trion, but I don't see anything adjustable down there...
In the meanwhile I've got a call from Festool in which they explained the first production run has indeed problems with the guide for the sawblade, especially with a high pendulum movement (settings 2 and 3) and in tight curves. The cause is a leafspring in this saw guide. These are a little to soft, and are updated in the newer production runs. They said I can have it replaced, or I could take it out, bend it a little and this also should solve the problem. Also they recommended to keep the pendulum movement at setting 0 for very fine work and a little bit of WD40 in the saw guide from time to time... I've made a little how-to-guide in another post... http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-how-to/carvex-blade-getting-out-of-the-guide/
Best regards,
Hans
The Carvex does not have the adjustable guides like the Trion. In one way i am kinda glad as it was a nuisance adjusting it every time you used a different blade. I will send mine back to get the fix done then i am sure it will be the saw it was intended to be. I will try to take some close up shots of the "v" guide tomorrow.
Woodguy.
Woodguy.
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Really? I don't think I want oily solvents on my work...
Tom
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That's the beauty of the carbon guides - no lubrication required.
Tom
Tom
jmbfestool
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Just some pictures of the V groove also a video in 10 mins when its loaded on youtube showing a easier and quicker way to remove the metal spring.
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JMB
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JMB
jmbfestool
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NuggyBuggy
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I'm late to this party but I think that bashing a product in a public forum as vociferously as windmillyguy did without providing details, then refusing to disclose the issues at (what seems to obviously be) the company's behest is hypocritical in the extreme.
I also find it curious that no-one from the company has seen fit to address the issue here.
I also find it curious that no-one from the company has seen fit to address the issue here.
jmbfestool
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woodguy7 said:
I haven't used it yet lol I know I said I would but I have been busy making some wardrobe doors my first set of doors! Ill be using it tomoro I gotta help my mate remove some kitchen worktops and replace with new so with the off cut work top ill have a play I think.
JMB
windmill man
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Carvex Update
I have now had my re worked Carvex back for about 10 days and have given it a very thorough shake down before posting back here.
I received it back from Germany with a letter of explanation as to the cause of the problems and a list of the parts that have been replaced or upgraded.
The guy who became involved, to sort it out, holds a very senior post in Festool Germany and over saw the whole process of the reworks, modifications and upgrades. He states in the report that he did the final QC and test cuts and that the operation my Carvex now is to his standards and expectations. I thought my standards and expectations were high but they are dwarfed by his.
The thing is amazing; I even checked the serial numbers and the work blemishes as I could not believe it was the same saw. It s cut and operation is remarkable and beyond anything I thought a jigsaw was capable of producing.
I have just about done everything and anything you can do with a jigsaw over the last few days and cut every material I could think of . In every case the Carvex performed above and beyond my expectations.
Some here will say what is the point of this post, well it's simple.
If you own a Carvex and are having problem with it, e.g.
Blade jumps out of the v guide.
It is not cutting square.
The quality of the cut is poor.
You have any rotational movement in any of the bases.
You are burning and bluing blades more than normal
It will not follow a straight line.
It will not follow smoothly curves.
It will not follow on the guide rail or any other fence (i.e. Speed square or guide baton)
You cannot get near perfect circles using the attachment.
The dust port does not firmly attach to the bases and pulls out easily during use
The blades release over shoots the mechanism.
The above are problems know to Festool and they now have reworks to correct them.( By now this information should have been disseminated to the various national companies and service departments of the countries into which the Carvex is now being sold ) and you should return it for repair.
Just one more point, there has been posted on here a ?fix? for the Carvex, (removing and bending a spring) I would not do it . This item was not replaced and you may invalidate your warranty.
I have now had my re worked Carvex back for about 10 days and have given it a very thorough shake down before posting back here.
I received it back from Germany with a letter of explanation as to the cause of the problems and a list of the parts that have been replaced or upgraded.
The guy who became involved, to sort it out, holds a very senior post in Festool Germany and over saw the whole process of the reworks, modifications and upgrades. He states in the report that he did the final QC and test cuts and that the operation my Carvex now is to his standards and expectations. I thought my standards and expectations were high but they are dwarfed by his.
The thing is amazing; I even checked the serial numbers and the work blemishes as I could not believe it was the same saw. It s cut and operation is remarkable and beyond anything I thought a jigsaw was capable of producing.
I have just about done everything and anything you can do with a jigsaw over the last few days and cut every material I could think of . In every case the Carvex performed above and beyond my expectations.
Some here will say what is the point of this post, well it's simple.
If you own a Carvex and are having problem with it, e.g.
Blade jumps out of the v guide.
It is not cutting square.
The quality of the cut is poor.
You have any rotational movement in any of the bases.
You are burning and bluing blades more than normal
It will not follow a straight line.
It will not follow smoothly curves.
It will not follow on the guide rail or any other fence (i.e. Speed square or guide baton)
You cannot get near perfect circles using the attachment.
The dust port does not firmly attach to the bases and pulls out easily during use
The blades release over shoots the mechanism.
The above are problems know to Festool and they now have reworks to correct them.( By now this information should have been disseminated to the various national companies and service departments of the countries into which the Carvex is now being sold ) and you should return it for repair.
Just one more point, there has been posted on here a ?fix? for the Carvex, (removing and bending a spring) I would not do it . This item was not replaced and you may invalidate your warranty.
