jig saw (Carvex - Mafell)

[DanielOB]

I have Bosch barrel jigsaw EVS1591 - corded.
I keep all my tools boxed, and all boxes are full with utility stuff for that specific tool (e.g. in router box are all my bits, screwdriver, Measuring Tape, ...). Space is critical and large box is not practical because it can get very heavy = problem lifting, breaking hinges, ..., finding some small screws inside, ...

I take my tool outside the box only when i need it, so not every day. I found that corded jigsaw is my big problem due to cord permanently attached to the saw. It take so unproportionaly large space in the box, it is so messy to pack it in the box, it always need extension cord, i have to employ my wife to hold the cord while cutting outside on open space, ... hate it.

So. I see i have to do something, a new saw. Mafell or Carvex-Festool (battery-barrel).

MAFELL : is permanently corded too, so will not make any difference f4rom my Bosch, but many says it is much better than Bosch EVS1591 and Carvex too. So what is better? Please be practical, so no flush light, ... I know that it has special blade (wider at teeth side, but man i have no intention to pay for it, no matter how "good" cut it makes - it is still a jigsaw). ONLY T-shank (like Bosch) is in the game and have lots of them.

CARVEX FESTOOL :  runs on battery 10.4-18V (whatever comes). This makes it extremely usefull (i had wrong opinion about batt powered jigsaw in past). Just get it and go on roof, backyard, shed, whereever, cut and store back. The plan is when battery bite the dust, will make some trafo to run on cord, and until it happen i will get most of my jobs done.

QUESTION : what is your experience with both, in regard to my cord problem (not if you have a setup for it in the shop so the cord is OK). Any problem with Carvex (like blade comes off itself, ...)?

Thanks

 

[wrightwoodwork]

Can't comment on the festool I have the mafell and it is by far and away the best jigsaw I have used. Bosch blades are perfectly good enough there is the fancy blade is obviously expensive the only real advantage is it can turn sharper than any other blade and still be cutting square. There is no rollers to adjust to each type of blade. So just a case of putting the blade in and ready to go. The blade can be turned around to face backwards so you have a bigger surface area for taking out notches etc. When the blade is clamped in there is play on the blade. Basically it's like a mini bandsaw. The only downside is the price and it's not cordless in your case. Personally unless you make a living from your tools I would maybe opt for the festool as the price isn't as high

 

[MrToolJunkie]

I have four jigsaws -- both Festool versions, Bosch 572 and the Mafell P1CC. My two favorites are the Mafell and the Carvex. I do not have the cordless version so I cannot comment on it, but the Mafell hands down makes the best cuts of the bunch. Everything is perfectly square, regardless of blade; they stay cool and so last longer and the angle base is the best of the bunch with detents at 22.5 and 45. It has great DC and awesome power. Everything fits well in the Systainer and I can pack everything into one box. There is no light, so that might or might not be important to you. It is the most expensive of the bunch, but worth it in my opinion. I shot a video of it cutting that you can find on YouTube to give you an idea of the cutting results I was able to achieve with just a normal blade. If I could only have one, this would be it.

I also really like the Carvex. It too has plenty of power and cuts well. You do need to adjust the blade guides for critical cuts and it works best with the Carvex blades when perpendicular cutting is critical. It has a light with different modes, DC is good and it is light-weight in the corded version. I think that it has the best circle cutter of any jigsaw and that is the reason why I will keep it in my arsenal and it is worth it to me for just that base. I like the other bases as well as you can equip the saw for the task - rough stuff with some bases and quickly switch to other bases for finer work -- that is a nice feature and not at all gimmicky. It is nice that there is a cordless version and a corded version and you can get D-Handle and Barrel grip versions to suite your preference.

I do like the Bosch for power, the light and tool-less adjustments. It cuts OK with the thicker blades by Bosch (DP) or Carvex/Trion blades. Thinner blades I have found drift in some cuts. Plenty of power and OK dust collection. Works with Mafell and Festool guide rails when you buy the aftermarket parallel guide. I keep this one for rough work and doing things like cutting travertine and metal and other tasks that are not fine woodworking.

Trion - this is a long standing saw that has been proven over the years. I originally bought it thinking I would not get a Carvex. It has the best guide rail attachment that you can adjust for slop. Same blade adjustment as the Carvex and similar cutting properties/results. Not as powerful as the others, but it does fine in most materials. Base can scratch when cutting metal and abrasive material and you have to buy another base for the shoe. The circle cutter and parallel guide is clunky, IMHO, and so I usually do not use them. This is the saw I will likely sell as I am not using it that much.

Hope this helps.

 

[Angus]

I also have both the Carvex (battery) and Mafell P1CC.  ScotF summarized the comparative advantages of each model and I would simply add that the convenience of a battery powered saw is great to have in certain circumstances.  I regularly reach for the Carvex to make quick cuts or for use outside untethered by cord or dust collection.  For all other circumstances IMO P1CC is superior even with standard Bosch blades (which to my eye seem indistinguishable from Mafell-branded blades although they are way cheaper).

Pros Mafell:  superior power enables faster cuts; greater accuracy esp. on thick perpendicular cuts; far superior angle base; everything fits in one small Systainer; marginally better DC; reversible cut direction is useful sometimes; no blade guides to adjust; unmatched "feel" - as nice as the Carvex is the P1CC seems more solid and precisely assembled. 
Pros Carvex: best circle cutter; cordless option; LED lights; choice of bases may be useful to some; cost

 

[#Tee]

how about the Mafell's dust extraction?

 

[MrToolJunkie]

how about the Mafell's dust extraction?

The dust extraction is very, very good - I would say it is better than Festool's and you do not need a plastic guard in front of the blade. They even supply a little deflector if you are not using it with an extractor to direct the chips away from your face.

A couple of other things to mention on the P1CC -- it also has 5 orbital modes instead of 4 found on most jigsaws and the orbital action stops when you are not cutting into the wood - so you can get right next to a perpendicular edge and not cut into it. The base slides into a forward position as standard and also you can slide it back so you literally can cut to the edge of a perpendicular surface as the front of the shoe will be inline with the teeth of the blade. The anti-splinter inserts have a center line marked on them and they are ever so slight convex at the cut line to ensure chip-free cross-cuts.

I was using my Trion today and while it is my least favorite of the jigsaws I have, I actually did like using it and it cut really, really well too. In the end the Festool versions are top level jigsaws and I recommend them and I also highly recommend the Mafell if you have the money to swing it and are looking for that added level of accuracy in a jigsaw.

 

[DanielOB]

I know that Mafell gives better surface quality than Carvex. However it is stil just a jig-saw, and if the surface need aesthetic it has to be sanded. I am not in hurry when work and aesthetic is very high on the list, so no jig-saw will be final-cut.
I have heavy-duty experience with "low-cost" stuff and re-buying, so Bosch, Makita, .. jig-saw will not do for me.
I am after Festool due to 2 things:

1. quality (Maffel is better than Carvex but i am not after corded one, and Carvex will not make any difference in cut quality for me, just because i will re-work the surface)
2. portability (this (battery) is crucial quality for small shop 22 m2, that pretend to be high-end)

But if Mafell stil stands out, i am after Mafell.

 

[PreferrablyWood]

I have the Carvex and I'm quite pleased with it, being cordless it's a got a great level of freedom of movement in use that I enjoy. I think the quality of the cut is excellent. It's very important to choose the proper blade for the job and let the tool do the work. It cuts more perpendicular than any jigsaw I've ever used. If I got another jigsaw then it would likely be the corded version of the Carvex..