Jigsaw

[VirtuaLogic]

Hello everyone,

I've been reading the forums for some time now with much interest. Currently my only Festool is a C15. My other tools include a lot of cheap crap and some higher quality machines like Makita and Metabo. Most of the quality tools were previously owned by my father and are well aged now, I bought Makita and Matabo systainers for them, just gotta love systainers.

I am a hobbyist, but am looking at a home move and huge renovation possibly in the near future, and want decent tools to be able to undertake that endeavour.

Anyway, recently I broke my Einhell jigsaw (they could remove the Ein from the brand name to give a better description of the quality of the tools in my opinion); the thing did saw but precision was nowhere to be found and for changing blades you needed to fiddle with 2 small hex screws.

Since I am quite happy with my C15, I'm looking at Festool first for future purchases. Unfortunately the jigsaw department at Festool has not won any awards lately, but I'm willing to try the new Carvex 420 since most reviews are mildly positive to positive.

The biggest question for me is if I should go for wired or wireless; I want to buy a Festool vac in the future but do not have one yet. I don't have an unlimited budget and I need a decent sander in the near future too (Ro 90 probably), so the jigsaw will be my main saw at least for some time.

- To trigger the vac you need a corded device. Having a hose on the saw defeats the advantage of wireless. Is the dust extraction on the Carvex even worth going wired?
- The wired version is almost €100 cheaper than the wireless version.
- I already have 2 Carvex compatible batteries with my C15.

So, if dust extraction is not working miracles on the 420 I'm leaning towards wireless, if it is a valuable feature I'm leaning towards the corded device. Can anyone provide some pointers? Thanks!

Cheers,  Alex.

 

[Kev]

Welcome Alex  [big grin]

Dust with a jigsaw can be a factor of the type of blade you're using and the material you're cutting. I personally like dust extraction, but don't like intricate work with a hose ... it's a bit of a trade off.

I found the cordless CARVEX more bulky than the corded, so I went mains power ... I'm also able to use it properly in the CMS module.

I have the 400, but haven't had the issues many 400 users have criticised the machine for (the issues the 420 is meant to remedy). All said, this could be the limits of my own skills showing through!

Just a word of warning, Festool addiction can lead to budgeting failure  [embarassed]

 

[neeleman]

The main problem with most battery driven machines are that they become more heavier then their normal powered versions.
If you do a lot of curved sawing then I would advise the PS 420 or PSB 420.

Pro/cons PS 420:
lighter and thus more manoeuvrable
power cord and dust hose can be a hassle
more and limitless power
dust collection
working mainly in shop

Pro/cons PSC 420:
heavier
comes with 1 battery thus when dead no saw, but as mentioned you can use the C15 batteries
take 18V version which is stronger and can take the 14,4V batteries from your C15
working outdoors or somewhere without power

 

[peter halle]

Hi, Alex and  [welcome] !

Coming from a guy who really is into Festool like most of the others here, my answer would be:

Unless there was an overwhelming NEED, not desire, to have a battery powered jigsaw based on what you use it for or anticipate you will use it for, I would stick with the corded version.

Reasons why:  if you are going to use dust extraction you will need power for that anyway.  If you are using a jigsaw as your primary saw, if you need to charge your batteries, you will still need power.  Dust collection - if used - will place the same advantages or disadvantages on either machine.  For me dust collection on a jigsaw is more about just getting the chips out of the viewing area around the blade;  depending on the material being cut not much dust gets airborne like when using a tool that either has a spinning blade or operates at a high rate of speed like a router.

Mom, of Dutch descent, gave me advice about buying shoes. She said that shoes cover the feet (functionality).  When choosing shoes find a comfortable pair (applicability) first.  Then look at color and style (enhancements).  Then buy the pair that was the most comfortable and has the enhancements you can live with because if you buy a comfortable pair you get usage, but if you buy a pretty pair that hurt your feet and you leave them in the closet then you have made a dumb decision.  Going on she added that you should never wear one brown shoe and one black shoe because no matter how comfortable or stylish they were I would still look stupid.

I've worn a black and brown shoe.  I'd go corded.

Peter

 

[Stone Message]

I was uncertain whether to go cordless. I am so pleased with the cordless PSC420 that I would recommend it to anyone. I take mine to the timber yard and am able to cut timber on the spot.

Peter

 

[VirtuaLogic]

Thanks for the tips so far, they have given me added perspective already; I was thinking wireless to be more agile than corded, but it turns out the added weight from the battery makes it bulkier instead.

Also, I thought that because we'll be doing a complete overhaul of the new home and will have to redo the complete electical system as well, a cordless saw could come in handy, but on the other hand a decent extension cord will do that trick just as well.

I'm now leaning towards the corded version. Another option in the corded world would be the old Trion. On the local second hand sales website they go for €150 to €200 depending on the state of the tool and accesories, but it seems only D handle models are being sold and I want a barrel grip... Are there many things improved on the Carvex 420 in comparison with the Trion?

Also LOL @ Peter Halle, that sounds like Dutch logic indeed  [big grin]

 

[Kev]

I was uncertain whether to go cordless. I am so pleased with the cordless PSC420 that I would recommend it to anyone. I take mine to the timber yard and am able to cut timber on the spot.

Peter

Hah! I can see you now with your CARVEX in your side holster  [big grin]

... then, after a flashy saw up at the OK Timberyard, down to the local saloon for a shot of whisky (single malt of course)

[wink]

 

[hockey_magnet]

Based on what you're planning to do - renovate your own home. I would go corded for sure. Not so much concerned about dust extraction but while a cordless drill is ideal for getting into all kinds of places and much more convenient. I jigsaw is not the kind of tool you would normally just "grab and go" . If you were in the trades and uncertain about power supply, etc. then cordless would make more sense but for reno work around my own home I would go corded for sure. If you keep the tool a long time, you will end up replacing the batteries at some point which is not an inexpensive proposition.

Chris

 

[Stone Message]

I was uncertain whether to go cordless. I am so pleased with the cordless PSC420 that I would recommend it to anyone. I take mine to the timber yard and am able to cut timber on the spot.

Peter

Hah! I can see you now with your CARVEX in your side holster  [big grin]

... then, after a flashy saw up at the OK Timberyard, down to the local saloon for a shot of whisky (single malt of course)

[wink]

Actually it feels a bit like that - I usually get a few onlookers and I have even taken a bet on whether I could cut through an oak sleeper 120mm thick - I won (of course).

(I have been to the OK Corral and popped into the saloon in Tombestone - rather odd feeling as it was a Sunday and all the locals were dressed as cowboys and saloon girls)

Peter

 

[andyman]

Now you can go cordless with your vac & jigsaw, mind you, you may need to empty your wallet as vac I think is approx £800 + batteries 2no 36v

Copy link below

http://www.hilti.co.uk/holuk/page/module/home/browse_main.jsf?lang=en&nodeId=-539262

 

[ceddy]

I'm thinking of going for the corder version, I plan on using dust extraction anyways so it won't be more cumbersome. Plus its cheaper and you won't have any battery issues later.

 

[neth27]

Now you can go cordless with your vac & jigsaw, mind you, you may need to empty your wallet as vac I think is approx £800 + batteries 2no 36v

Copy link below

http://www.hilti.co.uk/holuk/page/module/home/browse_main.jsf?lang=en&nodeId=-539262

£840+vat and does not include batteries  [scared] [scared]

John...

 

[Deadskins]

Alex,

I spent last winter rebuilding a second home (a project still in progress) and kept thinking I could never have done as much as I did on weekends with cordless saws.  I ended up using multiple drill chargers and still had to charge stuff at night.  I would have been way more behind schedule if I had depended on cordless saws.  So, for indoors, I say go cored as much as possible.

During the summer I build a dock and the wife/kids insisted I use cordless saws whilst standing in three feet of water.  Probably a good idea.  But, cordless saws are still a pain for power and longer cuts.  Once I finished the dock I put the cordless saws in storage.  I think I also went through three-four batteries last winter and summer.  Quite an expense.

Ranny

 

[RC]

Just to give you an idea of the functionality and trade-offs I had a Carvex PSC400 14.4V cordless one previously and it was convenient handheld without a cord... for 10min at a time... after which it was a 20min break to wait for a battery charge. Of course you have two extra batteries so that would not be such an irritation, but I can tell that having three cups of tea while waiting for the battery to charge to continue work becomes very old fast. 18V batteries should give you some more uptime but you will still run out of battery and usually in the middle of a tough corner where its hard to continue without deflecting in a random direction after a battery swap.

Also another 'finding' I had was that you cannot use either of the cordless models in the CMS-PS insert for three main reasons:
a) insecure operations with power switch under the table
b) no dust extractor activation due to no power draw through a cable and
c) no dust collection because the hose won't physically fit between the battery and table when the jigsaw is seated in the CMS-PS module.

As a hobbyist I ended up selling the 400 and I replaced it with the corded barrel grip PS420 that doesn't run out of juice and is compatible with my CMS-setup.

Seeing that a Trion goes for 250€ new in Germany I wouldn't bother with a 200€ used one.

 

[VirtuaLogic]

Thanks all for the input guys, a corded PS 420 it will be then.

In the mean time I've found an online dealer that offers some nice discounts on sets of Festool stuff (think CTL mini + sander and stuff like that). Lets see if I can get a few tools at once while spendingsaving as much as possible  [big grin]

 

[VirtuaLogic]

I just bit the bullet and ordered the PS420, along with a CTL MIDI and a RO90.  [big grin]

 

[MrMac]

I am wondering about the vibration of the  jig saw. I currently have a bosch, and it's a nice jigsaw, however it does vibrate. Not a lot, but enough to "rattle" my vision, so when doing fine work (coping crown) I can't quite see the line as well as I should. I am hoping that the carvex will have less vibration.

 

[Stone Message]

I am wondering about the vibration of the  jig saw. I currently have a bosch, and it's a nice jigsaw, however it does vibrate. Not a lot, but enough to "rattle" my vision, so when doing fine work (coping crown) I can't quite see the line as well as I should. I am hoping that the carvex will have less vibration.

The only time I noticed any vibration was when cutting 110 mm thick hard maple and 120 mm thick oak! It helps to have a nice sharp blade and take the cuts gently.

Peter