While cutting a sink opening in a counter top I hit an imbedded screw. Instead of the blade bending the gears broke. This never happened with either Milwaukee or Bosch jig saws, the blades would just bend. The Festool repair dept. said "it would cost 355.00 to repair the saw". I said "why should I pay 355.00 to repair a 350.00 saw?" He said "I abused the saw by hitting a screw". He said "I should have used a metal blade". That's when I knew I was talking to the wrong person. Has anyone had this happen to them? Maybe I shouldn't use Festool for construction. Should Festool tools just be by hobbyists.
Festool will not cover repair of jigsaw at 1year into a 3 year warrenty
- Thread starter cabmaker
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tigger
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Hey Cabmaker
[welcome] to FOG
Sorry to hear. I've hit embedded screws before and not had this happen. Festools can take quite a bit of abuse. More so than any other power tool I've used.
Maybe try contacting Festool direct. I would not simply take the dealers word for it.
Cheers
Tigger
[welcome] to FOG
Sorry to hear. I've hit embedded screws before and not had this happen. Festools can take quite a bit of abuse. More so than any other power tool I've used.
Maybe try contacting Festool direct. I would not simply take the dealers word for it.
Cheers
Tigger
Thanks for the replies. This wasn't a dealer, it was Festool repair. I couldn't believe it was really broken. I always thought their tools were the best you could buy, and that they would back it up. I called Hilti right away to see if they had a cordless jigsaw, but no.
tigger
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If it's not the dealer, then show him your stuff first, so he can fight for you. If that doesn't work, then go over his head.
I don't know how you did it and there is always the possibility of human error, but if you believe you have used the tool correctly, I sure as heck would not accept his response. [mad]
But, then again, I'm a Festool nut [embarassed]
Festool is one of the toughest tools out there. I've been using Festool for around 15yrs (I think) and I have never had a problem with the tools. Only ever the dealers.
I don't know how you did it and there is always the possibility of human error, but if you believe you have used the tool correctly, I sure as heck would not accept his response. [mad]
But, then again, I'm a Festool nut [embarassed]
Festool is one of the toughest tools out there. I've been using Festool for around 15yrs (I think) and I have never had a problem with the tools. Only ever the dealers.
This is really bad.
We pay a premium for Festool and goodwill in these types of situation should be the default response. To say you "abused" the tool by making an honest mistake is insulting. I think this employee is probably just an office worker and doesn't have the knowledge or experience to understand the real world mishaps that a) happen and b) that Festool tools should be capable of shrugging off!
We pay a premium for Festool and goodwill in these types of situation should be the default response. To say you "abused" the tool by making an honest mistake is insulting. I think this employee is probably just an office worker and doesn't have the knowledge or experience to understand the real world mishaps that a) happen and b) that Festool tools should be capable of shrugging off!
Hitting nails and screws is a pain in the ar*e in any wood cutting situation, it happens but I've never had a tool break whilst inadvertently doing this.
To mention to you how much the tool will cost to repair without even seeing it, is very assuming and not what I would expect from Festool.
To mention to you how much the tool will cost to repair without even seeing it, is very assuming and not what I would expect from Festool.
waho6o9
Member
Isn't hitting nails and metal objects par for the course?
I seriously don't see how it could break a jigsaw.
I seriously don't see how it could break a jigsaw.
Carl Prentiss
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Something's not right here.
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FYI, I started writing this posting last night before the server went down, but saved it.
I feel your pain, but I have to agree that this isn't necessarily a warranty issue. You can't bring a moving system to an unplanned abrupt stop and not have something break. It's not a defect nor design flaw. It's just raw physics. My guess is that you broke the main eccentric, probably the follower bearing, or maybe the yoke on the reciprocating shaft.
There is a fairly large torque turning the eccentric gear, and when you bring it to an abrupt stop, it's like hitting the follower shaft/pin with a hammer. The inertia of the motor's rotor is amplified with each gear reduction up to the eccentric. I'm sure you've seen the same principle when you bottom out a screw or bolt with a drill/driver in low gear. The inertia of the gear-reduced motor will cause the whole drill to jump out of your hand, because you can't stop it instantly.
If you look at the Carvex drivetrain, it's actually pretty robust. (see below). I don't know which part broke, but my first guess is the pin that the cam bearing is secured to, holding it to the main eccentric gear.
[attachimg=1]
I feel your pain, but I have to agree that this isn't necessarily a warranty issue. You can't bring a moving system to an unplanned abrupt stop and not have something break. It's not a defect nor design flaw. It's just raw physics. My guess is that you broke the main eccentric, probably the follower bearing, or maybe the yoke on the reciprocating shaft.
There is a fairly large torque turning the eccentric gear, and when you bring it to an abrupt stop, it's like hitting the follower shaft/pin with a hammer. The inertia of the motor's rotor is amplified with each gear reduction up to the eccentric. I'm sure you've seen the same principle when you bottom out a screw or bolt with a drill/driver in low gear. The inertia of the gear-reduced motor will cause the whole drill to jump out of your hand, because you can't stop it instantly.
If you look at the Carvex drivetrain, it's actually pretty robust. (see below). I don't know which part broke, but my first guess is the pin that the cam bearing is secured to, holding it to the main eccentric gear.
[attachimg=1]
Attachments
First, welcome to the forum. Sorry to read your first two responses. I would suggest that you contact Festool directly again. Posting here about your issue might make you feel better but I suspect that you want your tool back in working order.
Peter
Peter
Peter Halle said:
I think posting here is a great idea.
For example, I want a new Jigsaw and have been debating between spending £400 on a 420 with accessories or similar money on a Mafell without all the accessories.
After reading this thread I think I'll go with the Mafell, just to show people can vote with their feet and let the Festool representatives on the forum read that they do actually lose custom when they don't treat their customers in a manner expected of a premium branded business. I was in a 50:50 decision between the extra bells and whistles of the Festool vs the raw quality of the Mafell, this thread has tipped me to the Mafell, so hopefully Festool will learn there are repercussions for wriggling out of warranty claims on technicalities.
Drop off a three story building = don't expect a warranty claim.
Hit a screw and the gears break = come on, surely Festool should be able to take this!
Gota agree with you there, I've noticed a lot of shutting down on subjects by mods recently when it's not always in Festools favour. One such subject was when the server went down telling people to stop complaining and get back to talking about tools. if you want an interesting forum keep it lively let people express their thoughts without getting personal.orm8426 said:
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It doesn't matter what he hit or which brand of tool he owned. He experienced a kickback, just like pretty much any owner of any jigsaw has experienced. The difference is that he did exactly what he should have done, and that is hold-fast, and not let the tool jump out of control. The unfortunate repercussion of doing that is that it brought the motor to a dead stop.
We've all had that happen with all of our jigsaws, and the tool jumps out of the workpiece, which is dangerous. He was holding on firmly enough to prevent the jigsaw from jumping. That's the right thing to do for operator safety. But it's going to cause damage to the tool in the process of protecting the operator.
We've all had that happen with all of our jigsaws, and the tool jumps out of the workpiece, which is dangerous. He was holding on firmly enough to prevent the jigsaw from jumping. That's the right thing to do for operator safety. But it's going to cause damage to the tool in the process of protecting the operator.
Greg M
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Pay premium for Festool, expect premium service. If Festool can't cover this then they're being penny wise and dollar foolish. Most Festool owners have spent many many thousands of dollars on Festool tools. The repair should be covered and to try and charge more than a new tool would cost is despicable!!! This repair can't cost Festool much money at all. What, $50 in parts, their cost?
SittingElf
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This is from Festools Warrant Information:
FESTOOL SERVICE ALL INCLUSIVE® Limited Warranty
Festool USA warrants that all new Festool power tools1 purchased from authorized dealers in the U.S. and Canada will be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a term of 3 years from the date of original retail purchase.
Service All-Inclusive Warranty
Conditions of the SERVICE ALL INCLUSIVE® Limited Warranty are as follows:
This warranty applies for 3 years from the date of original retail purchase. Proof of purchase is required. This warranty is void if the tool is not used, operated, repaired and maintained in accordance with the tool's instruction manual.
Excluded from this warranty's coverage are:
Accessories and/or attachments, including, but not limited to, saw blades, drill bits, router bits, sanding discs and apparel
Tools purchased from outside of the U.S. or Canada
Repairs or replacements not performed by an authorized Festool Service Center, outside of routine maintenance as set forth in the instruction manual
Parts or components not supplied by Festool or that have been modified
Damage caused by misuse, abuse, accident, impact, abnormal wear and tear, improper storage and/or exposure to the elements, or neglect
Damage caused by anything other than defects in materials and workmanship
Normal adjustments and recommended maintenance as set forth in the tool's instruction manual
Damage from the operation of the tool at a voltage or frequency different from the tool's rating, including the use of transformers
Damage resulting from the use of any non-FESTOOL accessories or attachments
Tools used in high volume industrial applications2
Pretty self explanatory. The damage due to a nail is NOT covered under Festool's Warranty, like it or not. Feel sorry for you, but it ain't Festool's problem!
Cheers,
Frank
FESTOOL SERVICE ALL INCLUSIVE® Limited Warranty
Festool USA warrants that all new Festool power tools1 purchased from authorized dealers in the U.S. and Canada will be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a term of 3 years from the date of original retail purchase.
Service All-Inclusive Warranty
Conditions of the SERVICE ALL INCLUSIVE® Limited Warranty are as follows:
This warranty applies for 3 years from the date of original retail purchase. Proof of purchase is required. This warranty is void if the tool is not used, operated, repaired and maintained in accordance with the tool's instruction manual.
Excluded from this warranty's coverage are:
Accessories and/or attachments, including, but not limited to, saw blades, drill bits, router bits, sanding discs and apparel
Tools purchased from outside of the U.S. or Canada
Repairs or replacements not performed by an authorized Festool Service Center, outside of routine maintenance as set forth in the instruction manual
Parts or components not supplied by Festool or that have been modified
Damage caused by misuse, abuse, accident, impact, abnormal wear and tear, improper storage and/or exposure to the elements, or neglect
Damage caused by anything other than defects in materials and workmanship
Normal adjustments and recommended maintenance as set forth in the tool's instruction manual
Damage from the operation of the tool at a voltage or frequency different from the tool's rating, including the use of transformers
Damage resulting from the use of any non-FESTOOL accessories or attachments
Tools used in high volume industrial applications2
Pretty self explanatory. The damage due to a nail is NOT covered under Festool's Warranty, like it or not. Feel sorry for you, but it ain't Festool's problem!
Cheers,
Frank
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