Review of Festool Carvex Pendulum Jigsaw (561351)

[ajones]

Mattijs

That is really interesting about the shape of the blade.  Makes you wonder why Festool don't make it more obvious in there literature etc

Woodguy.

how about trying this blade in the earlier model to compare results

 

[Michael_MA]

Hi,

A couple of weeks ago my dealer demonstrated the Carvex to me and I had a little go myself in cutting out some circles. The results were amazing. A radius of less than an inch as no problem in the inch and a half material and the cut was dead straight.

The dealer showed me the blade and told me this particular blade is thicker on the cutting edge than on the 'tail' edge. This allows it to move more easily in curves. Looking at the dutch festool site, I find that the S blades have this shape. All the other blades seem to have a straight blade.

This might explain the issue with cutting curves. It is probably not so much the thickness of the blade as it is the shape of the blade.

Mattijs

Well, i tried the S 75/4 K blade (which is a special K=Kurve=Curve blade) before i made the video myself and burned it, because it was pushed out of position to the right due to the material pressure. Since the blade is only 75mm, it was not completly protruding the material, when operated with the circle cutting jig and base.
I can make picture of the blades, i already haved burned by trying to cut an diameter of around 520mm out of the 38mm Melamin coated chip board.

After my modification as mentioned in the Video,  i used the standard blade S 105/4 FSG (Golden colored) and cutted a perfect Arc of 180? without splinter guard. The result is impressive on both sides, because it has virtually no chip-outs, even with this Rough saw blade.

@Mattijs: Do you remember which material you were cutting ?  Did you use the circle cutting Jig ?

kind regards, Mike

 

[hoedma]

Hi fellow Festoolians,

I only had a very short time with the dealer, the kids were waiting to be picked up. And I dare not go back due to expected irresponsible transfer of money for goods.

The material I was cutting was some standard kitchen top multiplex.

The Festool catelogue does indeed note the S 75/4 K as the curve blade so I am unsure why this did not work with you, Mike. And I did not take note of the actual blade the demo machine was equiped with. Just goes to show, so many blades for so many purposes.

Cheers,
Mattijs

 

[Michael_MA]

Thanks Mattijs for your information,

as promised, here are some pictures of my "burning" blades and the modified Base.. Please note, the top blade was the survivor which i cutted at least 5 complete turns of 180? 520mm diameter.

The inner side of the blades:

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The outer side of the blades (which has been pressed against and beyond the collar and guiding groove)

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The full size of the blades, please note only the top three blades have interleaved teeth:

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This is the survivor blade S 105/4 FSG in profile:

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The data badge of the Adapter base:

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and finally, here is my non-professional, but very effective workaround

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[ajones]

nice close up of the blade [thumbs up]

 

[jmbfestool]

I spoke the my Festool REP and he hasn't heard anything of it.  I noticed the movement the first day I got but thought well its just one of those things but when I saw this video and the pictures I thought more of it then and called my dealer who then got Festool Rep to call me.  I told him about this topic so I dont know if he has had a look at it yet but my Dealer said I am being to picky lol. I dont think I am. Any way will the UK be gettin it sorted? And any one who already has one be getting a replacement base?!?!?

 

[Deansocial]

i had a play with 1 of these today at my local dealer. i found it very uncomfortable to hold because my fingers could not go under the jigsaw because of were the bases attach. Suppose i will make do with my perfectly fine trion

 

[jmbfestool]

i had a play with 1 of these today at my local dealer. i found it very uncomfortable to hold because my fingers could not go under the jigsaw because of were the bases attach. Suppose i will make do with my perfectly fine trion

Take is you was using the American version?!  Not the D handle one

 

[Deansocial]

by american?? i pressume you mean body grip then yes. I hate d handle jigsaws, personal pref

 

[jmbfestool]

by american?? i pressume you mean body grip then yes. I hate d handle jigsaws, personal pref

YES lol.  D grip is more UK innit!?! lol    I have 2 D handle jigsaw (cordless Milwueake M18 and Corded Bosch Precision) and the Carvex is my first body grip jigsaw if ever owned and used.  I think its defuntly more comfortable but I find you have less control of the jigsaw but then also have more control.  What I mean is with the body grip its either ON or OFF now if you accidentally and hit something your jigsaw bounces out and starts doing and dance cause damage while you panic to try and turn it of. With a D handle you can slowly pull the trigger and gradually start the jigsaw to full speed also just letting go of the trigger stops the jigsaw so if you starting dancing you can just let go and be in control again.  So when I was first using the Carvex cutting out sink on a worktop I was scared if it did decided to bounce out for no reason I could end up bouncing across the worktop doing the Dance!!!!! lol

JMB

 

[Deansocial]

i never really had a issuse with it bouncing apart from when scribing skirting and thats just because the blades so short

 

[Michael_MA]

I spoke the my Festool REP and he hasn't heard anything of it.   I noticed the movement the first day I got but thought well its just one of those things but when I saw this video and the pictures I thought more of it then and called my dealer who then got Festool Rep to call me.  I told him about this topic so I dont know if he has had a look at it yet but my Dealer said I am being to picky lol. I dont think I am. Any way will the UK be gettin it sorted? And any one who already has one be getting a replacement base?!?!?

So he call's you picky..  hmmm.. Just  have your Festool rep trying the carvex PS 400 with a S 75/4 FSG  blade and the Curve cutting Jig and let him cut a 500- 600mm Radius in 1 1/2 inch coated chipboard material..
I'm sure he understands the problem after the saw blade cooles down Then he may change the blade to S 105/4 FSG and try again.. which changes the Angle of the cut line to 90? .. the blade stays i n the middle and is not pressed to the right guide.

The guys at the Festool HQ are already on it and we will soon see a solution. In the meanwhile, those who already own the saw and need precise circles, watch my video and modify the plastic base as i did.
I'm completely confident, you will get perfect result like with a Router.

Kind regards, Mike

 

[jmbfestool]

i never really had a issuse with it bouncing apart from when scribing skirting and thats just because the blades so short

I'm confused!  What part of the skirting are you scribing?!  I cant think where the blade would be to short for scribing skirting?!?!

 

[jmbfestool]

Thank you Michael_MA. 

I will send this topic to my Dealer so he can see for him self!  I will wait and see what Festool HQ will do.

 

[Deansocial]

i never really had a issuse with it bouncing apart from when scribing skirting and thats just because the blades so short

I'm confused!  What part of the skirting are you scribing?!  I cant think where the blade would be to short for scribing skirting?!?!

the blade i use only sits about 10mm proud on the base when fully up which means it is in the middle of the material

 

[jmbfestool]

i never really had a issuse with it bouncing apart from when scribing skirting and thats just because the blades so short

I'm confused!  What part of the skirting are you scribing?!  I cant think where the blade would be to short for scribing skirting?!?!

the blade i use only sits about 10mm proud on the base when fully up which means it is in the middle of the material

Thats a short blade. How come you use a blade so short. Whats the benefits?!? I Normally use a Coping saw for the scribing the joints but I do use a jigsaw sometimes depends how I feel. Ofcorse I use a jigsaw to scribe it to the floor if needs be depending on surface of floor.

 

[Deansocial]

because thats how long the blae is for scribing that my supplier has in stock, its not that its a short  blade it more that the fes jiggy pulls the blades up higher.

 

[Rob-GB]

because thats how long the blae is for scribing that my supplier has in stock, its not that its a short  blade it more that the fes jiggy pulls the blades up higher.

So it is not a Festool blade that we are talking about? What blade is it? And, most importantly why put up with it? Get what works and keep stock of them, it will save you time, money and remove frustration! We get enough of that day to day without adding to it.
Rob, who has spent the day in a sauna of a loft on a very hot day and two cold showers have not been as refreshing as hoped [sad]. [wink]

 

[Michael_MA]

Just as a short Note:

Festool has solved the probs with the Carvex Adapter base. I've just added another Video to my Review to show how it works.

kind regards, Mike

 

[jmbfestool]

Just as a short Note:

Festool has solved the probs with the Carvex Adapter base. I've just added another Video to my Review to show how it works.

kind regards, Mike

When will the UK current owning Carvex people (ME)  be seein a replacment base?!?!?

cheers JMB