Jig Saw ball of confusion

[SS Teach]

I am in the market for a new jig saw. I have read the reviews and it's a mixed bag, a love hate relationship when it comes to the Carvex. I have also seen YouTube videos showing its ability to make 90 degree cuts and versatility. As Vince Lombardi once said so eloquently "what the hell is going on here". I priced the Mafell, please stop complaining about Festool prices. I am not buying some one else's problematic unit. I know it needs Carvex blades and according to Peter Parfitt  it is important how the blades are installed. I think my best bet is try it, I have thirty days. If it is not what I hope for return it and go with something else.     

 

[bobfog]

I am in the market for a new jig saw. I have read the reviews and it's a mixed bag, a love hate relationship when it comes to the Carvex. I have also seen YouTube videos showing its ability to make 90 degree cuts and versatility. As Vince Lombardi once said so eloquently "what the heck is going on here". I priced the Mafell, please stop complaining about Festool prices. I am not buying some one else's problematic unit. I know it needs Carvex blades and according to Peter Parfitt  it is important how the blades are installed. I think my best bet is try it, I have thirty days. If it is not what I hope for return it and go with something else.   

I recently went through this dilemma. Wanted the Mafell but as they don't do a D handle I discounted it.

Anyway, I tried both the Carvex 420 and the Bosch GCE 160 (JS572 in the USA) and ended up with the Bosch. I found the Bosch gave perfectly square cuts in thick stock where are the Carvex was almost but not quite as square. The Bosch also has a range of accessories including an adapter to use it on Bosch/Mafell and Festool rails, it has a circle tape measure style circle cutter like Festool and small circle compass.

I also preferred the fact it didn't need a separate angle base; the wide range of bases available for the Carvex might be useful, but for my needs I thought they were a bit gimmicky vs. the advantages of an integrated angle base.

 

[ear3]

Yeah, I suppose if you were doing a lot of fancy kitchen counter top installs the different base selections might be useful, but the standard base works for just about everything.

Btw, what's the part number for the adapter that allows you to hook the Bosch up to a Festool guide rail?

 

[Staniam]

Yeah, I suppose if you were doing a lot of fancy kitchen counter top installs the different base selections might be useful, but the standard base works for just about everything.

Btw, what's the part number for the adapter that allows you to hook the Bosch up to a Festool guide rail?

It's the KS 3000 kit. [member=7673]neeleman[/member] shipped it across the pond for me about a month and a half ago.

 

[bobfog]

Yeah, I suppose if you were doing a lot of fancy kitchen counter top installs the different base selections might be useful, but the standard base works for just about everything.

Btw, what's the part number for the adapter that allows you to hook the Bosch up to a Festool guide rail?

It's called the "FSN FA" part number 1 600 A00 1FS, it has a thin groove for Bosch/Mafell tracks and a square cutout for Festool/Makita/Dewalt.
http://www.bosch-professional.com/gb/en/fsn-sa-35828-ocs-p/

 

[ear3]

Thank s

 

[Staniam]

Thank s

It works great, much better than the Carvex rail attachment. I posted a short video on my instagram of it.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BDYljaNoHcv/