Festool Carvex 420 (both corded & battery) - Comparisons

[Frank Pellow]

I totally agree!  

Thing is I am accustomed to the switch but in situations where you suddenly need to switch the Carvex of because you hit something making your carvex bounce no mater how accustomed you are you ain't finding the switch very fast!

What I have starting doing now is just quickly pull the jigsaw away from the work piece as soon as something like this happens.

Jmb

Yes, that is exactly the problem.

 

[ScotF]

Perhaps I missed it if someone adresses this already, but for the Carvex 420 users; how effective are the improvments to cut-line visibility over the Trion?  I do a wide variety of carpentry work and one use is to cut holes in 1.5" thick green treated decking where the deck newel posts go. Will I be able to see the cut-line with no vac attached to pull the dust away? Does visibility depend on the use, or lack of use of the splinter guard?

Thanks guys

J

I find the visibility much improved, with or without DC. 

Scot

 

[Woodhack]

Excellent!

[thanks]

 

[Frank Pellow]

Perhaps I missed it if someone adresses this already, but for the Carvex 420 users; how effective are the improvments to cut-line visibility over the Trion?  I do a wide variety of carpentry work and one use is to cut holes in 1.5" thick green treated decking where the deck newel posts go. Will I be able to see the cut-line with no vac attached to pull the dust away? Does visibility depend on the use, or lack of use of the splinter guard?

Thanks guys

J

I find the visibility much improved, with or without DC. 

Scot

So do I.

 

[Jason Kehl]

Thanks guys.

 

[FulThrotl]

The idea that a jigsaw is someones 2nd most used tool is very interesting to me. Obviously it depends on what the person does but I do a wide variety of jobs and don't find it out nearly that often to be close to 2nd. A jigsaw packs up easily and is light to move around, show me more...

i'm currently using my battery carvex in the field so i don't have to drag a genset with me for power.
it's doing most of the jobs i'd use a sawzall for, and all of the jobs i'd be using a circular saw for.

i'm currently running 4", 5", and 6" PVC electrical conduit underground, and doing related concrete
form work. with a long bosch bimetal blade, it'll cut wood, pvc, and steel all equally well, and the
batteries last a loooong time.

 

[Frank Pellow]

The idea that a jigsaw is someones 2nd most used tool is very interesting to me. Obviously it depends on what the person does but I do a wide variety of jobs and don't find it out nearly that often to be close to 2nd. A jigsaw packs up easily and is light to move around, show me more...

i'm currently using my battery carvex in the field so i don't have to drag a genset with me for power.
it's doing most of the jobs i'd use a sawzall for, and all of the jobs i'd be using a circular saw for.

i'm currently running 4", 5", and 6" PVC electrical conduit underground, and doing related concrete
form work. with a long bosch bimetal blade, it'll cut wood, pvc, and steel all equally well, and the
batteries last a loooong time.

Are you using the new 4.2 amp batteries?  My saw came with the older 2.6 amp battery and it certainly does NOT last a loooong time.

 

[Artom]

Hi Frank,

Outstanding review. Your effort is impressive as is your findings.

I just noticed that a lot of questions goes in the way of dust extraction and being able to follow a line despite sawdust in front of the blade. Having read all post in this thread I don't think anyone mentioned the "shadow arrow" cast by the light in front of the saw.
I have the 400 D handle, and find this "light guide" very comfortable, especially when handling the saw directly from above, not being able to se the blade without bending over in awkward manners. This happens more often on sites when ripping sheets with the arm reached far out, than in the shop where you might have better ergonomics and need higher precision, but never the less is very handy in most situations. Also when starting a new cut its nice to be guided to the line even before the blade ever touches the workpiece.

Thomas

 

[DanielOB]

Frank, are u at Manitoulin Island

 

[#Tee]

The weight, blade ejection and barrel grip sold me on the carvex(corded)....but actually the blade ejection was like 69% of the reason lol. its a nice tool to have but for what i use it for i can go months without using it.

great review! i hope festool let you keep everything!

 

[StefenC]

One thing I noticed in the original review was the comment of the lack of a blower on the Carvex. My Carvex definitely has a blower - esp. noticeable when the chip deflector is raised. And I find the ability to track to a line pretty easy - even with the deflector down and splinter guard in place.
Regarding inability to eject blades with the splinter guard in place. I take the base plate off first. Slightly more time consuming, but I also tend to use a particular blade with a particular base/splinterguard, so I don't remove the splinter guard when changing blades, just the base to which it is attached.
e.g. 145mm blade fast blade for rough work - dimpled base (no splinter guard)
      Fine scroll blade - phenolic base
      Bi-metal blade - standard base
      Metal cutting blade - metal base
Overall I find the cordless Carvex to be the most all-round useful jigsaw I've ever used

 

[wow]

One thing I noticed in the original review was the comment of the lack of a blower on the Carvex. My Carvex definitely has a blower - esp. noticeable when the chip deflector is raised. And I find the ability to track to a line pretty easy - even with the deflector down and splinter guard in place.
Regarding inability to eject blades with the splinter guard in place. I take the base plate off first. Slightly more time consuming, but I also tend to use a particular blade with a particular base/splinterguard, so I don't remove the splinter guard when changing blades, just the base to which it is attached.
e.g. 145mm blade fast blade for rough work - dimpled base (no splinter guard)
      Fine scroll blade - phenolic base
      Bi-metal blade - standard base
      Metal cutting blade - metal base
Overall I find the cordless Carvex to be the most all-round useful jigsaw I've ever used

StefenC:

[welcome] to the FOG.

You joined in 2009 and this is your first post? You are truly a man of few words, then!

Nice to see you active here...

 

[Frank Pellow]

The weight, blade ejection and barrel grip sold me on the carvex(corded)....but actually the blade ejection was like 69% of the reason lol. its a nice tool to have but for what i use it for i can go months without using it.

great review! i hope festool let you keep everything!

I'm glad that somebody likes the blade ejection system on the Carvex.  I certainly do not like it.

 

[L.J]

Why did Festool decide not to put a battery meter on the Carvex,a big disappointment. If not then they should start putting the meters on the batteries.

 

[rhoyer]

Frank,

I'm sorry if you've addressed this elsewhere and I am certainly sorry for dredging up such an old thread but did you ever get comfortable with the switch positions and operation? Every time I put my hands on a Carvex with a barrel grip I can't help but feel like the knob fits my hand poorly, neither switch is accessible in a comfortable manner for any of my fingers, and neither power switch works in a way that I could adjust to. I have always written this off to my 30 years of familiarity with cheap, D-handle saws.

I am finally getting to the point where I would like to invest in a new jigsaw and I really want to like the Carvex. I also really want to like a barrel grip saw but I am afraid that maybe that trick is too new for this old dog. In any event, your review - and the rest of your commentary in this thread - is still the best resource on the internet regarding the Carvex but I feel like it could benefit from the 5 year look back.

Did you learn to love it? Did you sell the saw? Did all of its wonderful features cause you to continue to use it despite your long time discomfort? Inquiring minds (one anyway) are dying to know.

Again, I'm sorry for dragging this thread from its grave and I hope you're well.

Best,

Reed

 

[chrisrosenb]

I am not Frank, but maybe I can answer your questions. I have 2 corded barrel grip Carvexs & 2 cordless d handle Carvexs. 1 of each in my work truck & 1 of each in my shop. I like the barrel grip saws, but I do not like the slide switch location on them. I use the d handle saws the most, but it is because they are cordless. The d handle saws can be held as barrel grip & they also have the barrel grip slide switches. I cannot say that I prefer one over the other. I like both.

I also have corded Trion barrel grip & d handle saws. I cannot remember the last time I used those. I like the location of the slide switch on the Trion better than the Carvex, but overall I like the Carvex better. 

 

[rhoyer]

Thanks, JD. I keep hearing the D handle can work as a barrel grip but my hand is just too big to handle it that way.