The Carvex PS420 - A Quick Test in Thick Timbers

[Timtool]

Rdebets, i have a somewhat similar story.
I bought the 400 because word was out that that all the initial kinks were worked out, during the trial period i only had light work for it and i was so happy i even sold my Bosch GST135. Then i started using it on tougher tasks and noticed the problems right away, blade wander, vibrations etc...
I mailed Festool Belgium about it mentioning what others in the UK had gone trough sending and resending theirs in up to 3 times and being without a jigsaw for weeks, only to be offered a new 420 after all that.
And they generously agreed to let me go to my dealer and exchange it for a 420 even though i was like 5 months over the 30 day trial.
I have had the 420 for a couple months now and it's a much better tool, all the initial problems are gone.

Maybe you need to wear in the blade guide? When new it is V shaped and pinches only the rear corner of the blades but after a while the guide adapts and you can feel that it holds them better in place.

edit; if something is misaligned then you should see more wear or burn on one side of the blade, or when you try to cut straight the saw will want to move sideways in a crab motion? My Bosch was like that, wouldn't go straight and couldn't cut square.

 

[jmbfestool]

Hi Peter,

I was a lurker for a long time on this forum, reading and learning.
I'm posting because I hope to contribute to a solution to the problem.
By shutting up and returning the PS420 nothing is gained.

Thank you for your interest in where I bought the PS420. The shop is Scheins in Aachen (in business since 1880 or so)
and I have been buying my tools there for the last 35 years and trust them more than anybody when it comes to tools.

All my woodworking tools are Festool and I have been buying Festool since 1995.

Maybe you missed my first message: I bought the PS420,because I don't like the PS400 and assumed that Festool fixed them in the new and improved PS420.
Blade holder didn't always retract so you couldn't eject the blade, blade would jump out of the lower guide, cutting not square, etc.
During the first 30 days I had no application PS400 where it had to cut more than 18mm plywood. Bummer.
Until the PS400 everything I bought worked as expected, no, let me correct that: better than expected.
So when I finally started using it seriously, I found out that it sucked. Too late to get your money back. Bummer.
I send it in, no improvement. Bummer.

Let's just say that with the PS400 I learned my lesson.
I didn't post back then because, given the excellence of the other Festool tools, I considered it a hick-up by Festool.
I bought one of the first PS400 available in Germany so maybe it was just that.  It can happen.

Now that the PS420 is being advertised (and discussed here) as being an improved PS400 I figured I try it and this time round do the tests right away.
And now that, for the second time, they don't seem to get it right, I feel that it is time to post my opinion.

I assume that everybody on this forum (like me) is honest when stating their opinion.
It is consequentially inexplicable why the PS420s are so different.

Are the positive people just trying to promote the PS420?    I assume not. I'm happy with most of my Festool so I understand that other people are as well.
Are the negative people trying to talk the PS420 down?    I'm certainly not. I just have a bad saw. For me it is understandable that others may well have the same PS420 problems.

Peter, maybe we should just exchange our PS420s?

I think that you should get the machine sorted out by Festool. The PSC 420 is a brilliant machine and rather than you sorting it out it would serve the Festool community more if Festool themselves could look at it and learn from the process. That way, any improvements will be reflected by Festool and not lost on the FOG.

Trying to sort it out by remote control on the internet is not the best way forward.

I visit the Netherlands every year for cycling holidays (my wife and I have Gazelles recommended by Dutch friends) and I know the Aachen area well. My next trip will, unfortunately, be too late for a 30 day return but I would be quite willing to help either here on the FOG or in Aachen in the Spring.

Peter

Haa haa lol. I gotta disagree with you again Peter.    He should do both always every one should  go to festool AND post on FOG.  This will help festool in many ways and to keep them on their toes.

1.In past when I posted on FOG some negative posts festool UK sent me a letter asking me to post positive feedback after they provided me with good service which I am more than happy with doing as they did provide me with good service. So it works both ways.

2.So others like me and you know about common problems so if we feel unhappy we know its not just because we are being to picky/anal as their are others who feel their is a problem with the tool

3. If it wasn't cus of FOG I would still have the old crappy carvex as I just took it as a jigsaw is a jigsaw and I kinda waisted my money on a festool one expecting festool jigsaw would be better than competition which with disappointed wasnt.

3. Festool keep everything quiet so many people out their with the old carvex who don't go on fog will still be using the old carvex most likely thinking umm why did I spend more money on this as it performance no better or worse than any other jigsaw. At least if they come across FOG they will know.

 

[Stone Message]

JMB

He will sort it out by speaking to his dealer or Festool or both. Anyone on the FOG can give advice but will not sort it out for him - unless you have a trip to the Netherlands coming up!

Peter

 

[jmbfestool]

JMB

He will sort it out by speaking to his dealer or Festool or both. Anyone on the FOG can give advice but will not sort it out for him - unless you have a trip to the Netherlands coming up!

Peter

Not what I am saying I said he should do BOTH sort it with Dealer and/or Festool  but he should still post on FOG about it.

If he is the only one complaining then his posts will mean nothing  but over time as more and more people might complain  just like they did with the OLD carvex then people will be made aware that there is a problem simple. 

 

[Stone Message]

I agree with you JMB and what I had said at the start does not contradict you either.

Peter

 

[jmbfestool]

I agree with you JMB and what I had said at the start does not contradict you either.

Peter

Its just that the feeling I am getting from you is that no one should post anything bad about a festool tool as they should give festool a chance to fix it first

This particular complaint about the carvex 420 in this topic I have read but dismissed BUT if more people start posting with same complaints then ill start to take note. 

 

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

There are no issues with anyone posting negative comments or opinions here on the forum, and I think there's plenty of evidence of that. It just needs to be done in a civil and factual way, which it has in this instance in my opinion. At the same time, I can understand why there might be raised eyebrows when someone from the Netherlands posts about the 420 after the previous fiasco. But let's not stereotype but instead give everyone a fair chance.

I would agree that the best course of action, should you want to, is to return it to the dealer for another unit or to contact Festool Netherlands for assistance in checking it out. Sorry to hear that you're have trouble with it and we hope it will give resolved to your satisfaction.

 

[FulThrotl]

Looks to me like the claims from the other review have been fairly well debunked by Peter's video.  [scratch chin]

I knew that would be the case because we've had a Carvex 420 for months now at Festool USA HQ and done this same type of cut numerous times.

Peter even went a step further and cut 110mm thick MAPLE instead of pine. No issues at all.

Peter, thank you for taking the time to test this independently and post your results for all to see even while feeling under the weather.  [thumbs up]

Shane

that's nice. when can i buy one in the US? a real date? i needed one six months ago....... i still need one.

or do we all have to go buy ryobi's?

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Expected dates for tools in NA are listed in this thread:

http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tools-accessories/eta-for-new-product-introductions-in-na/

That is the best information I can provide at this time.

 

[rdebets]

There are no issues with anyone posting negative comments or opinions here on the forum, and I think there's plenty of evidence of that. It just needs to be done in a civil and factual way, which it has in this instance in my opinion. At the same time, I can understand why there might be raised eyebrows when someone from the Netherlands posts about the 420 after the previous fiasco. But let's not stereotype but instead give everyone a fair chance.

I would agree that the best course of action, should you want to, is to return it to the dealer for another unit or to contact Festool Netherlands for assistance in checking it out. Sorry to hear that you're have trouble with it and we hope it will give resolved to your satisfaction.

Hi Shane,

I went back to the dealer to return the PS420. We checked the setting of the blade guide, cut some wood and still had the problem. Then he noted that my blade was a Trion FSG blade. We tried a Carvex FSG blade and it seemed better. They are a bit thicker so that might prevent the warpage of the blade.
He gave me some Carvex blades to try so I took the PS420 home and will give it another try.

 

[Stone Message]

I did use the new Carvex blades in the PSC 420 for all of my filming but I have used the old Trion blades and they work fine. The blades are different; the Trion are slightly narrower at the back of the blade and the Carvex ones are rectangular in section. I am sure that Festool intend people to use Carvex blades as they have just introduced them but if you have any of the old Trion ones and no Trion to use them on then give them a go and see how you get on - I had no problems at all.

Peter

 

[rdebets]

I did use the new Carvex blades in the PSC 420 for all of my filming but I have used the old Trion blades and they work fine. The blades are different; the Trion are slightly narrower at the back of the blade and the Carvex ones are rectangular in section. I am sure that Festool intend people to use Carvex blades as they have just introduced them but if you have any of the old Trion ones and no Trion to use them on then give them a go and see how you get on - I had no problems at all.

Peter

Hi Peter,

with the Carvex blades the cut was a lot better. One of the things that I noticed though is that the Carvex blade looked bent when looked  at from the front.
I removed the foot and saw that there is an clamping screw that,when loosened, lets you move the entire guide assembly. After a few attempts I got it perfect.
The PS 420 is now well within my expectations, even in 7 cm wood, very close to the PS300, and thus a keeper.

Actually, the carvex blade made the PS400 a lot better as well, even though one cannot tune the guides as they are fixed to the machine.

Regards, Rene

 

[Frank Pellow]

I recall a post a while back by someone complaining about not getting square cuts in framing studs using a jigsaw. I remember at the time thinking "who the he'll uses a jigsaw to cut studs?". Am I the only one who thinks this whole thick timbers cut with jigsaw business is out of hand? It seems evident that no jigsaw on the market, despite any bias, can do the job properly. Regardless, i'm happy with my trion for now and won't be forking over the pile for another "high end" jigsaw for a while.

I almost always use a jig saw to cut studs and have experienced very good accuracy doing so over the last 9 years with two different generations of Festool jig saws.  When the Carvex arrives in Canada later this year, I am looking forward to obtaining a third generation of Festool jigsaw and might even risk getting the battery model.

 

[Tintin]

Peter - I wanted to Thank You for your review of the Carvex.

BTW The Toolnut is taking advance orders of the Carvex 420 in the US.

I only see the battery models in the barrel grip version. Will the corded version of the barrel grip model of the 420 be available in the United States?

 

[Stone Message]

Hi Tintin,

I do not know what the marketing strategy is for the US (or anywhere else actually!) and so perhaps a Festool dealer or employee can answer that for you. At first I thought that the corded version would be best but I have now grown to love the battery version (but you do need a second battery). Also, given a choice 12 months go I would have gone for the 'D' handle but the barrel grip is fantastic and, for me, far more maneuverable particularly when doing curves greater than 90 degrees.

Peter

 

[Frank Pellow]

Peter - I wanted to Thank You for your review of the Carvex.

BTW The Toolnut is taking advance orders of the Carvex 420 in the US.

I only see the battery models in the barrel grip version. Will the corded version of the barrel grip model of the 420 be available in the United States?

I see both D and Barrel grip versions of the Carvex in the new catalogue.

 

[Tintin]

Hi Peter,

Thank You.

Quick question: How would you rate the Carvex 420 from a visibility perspective? Is it better than the Trion in your opinion?

Best Regards,
- Tintin

 

[Tintin]

Peter - I wanted to Thank You for your review of the Carvex.

BTW The Toolnut is taking advance orders of the Carvex 420 in the US.

I only see the battery models in the barrel grip version. Will the corded version of the barrel grip model of the 420 be available in the United States?

I see both D and Barrel grip versions of the Carvex in the new catalogue.

Hi Frank,

Ah yes but the corded version of the Barrel grip is the 400 and not the 420.

Best Regards,
- Tintin

 

[Frank Pellow]

Peter - I wanted to Thank You for your review of the Carvex.

BTW The Toolnut is taking advance orders of the Carvex 420 in the US.

I only see the battery models in the barrel grip version. Will the corded version of the barrel grip model of the 420 be available in the United States?

I see both D and Barrel grip versions of the Carvex in the new catalogue.

Hi Frank,

Ah yes but the corded version of the Barrel grip is the 400 and not the 420.

Best Regards,
- Tintin

Well spotted.  I missed that.  [embarassed]  Lets hope that the catalogue is wrong.

 

[Stone Message]

Hi Peter,

Thank You.

Quick question: How would you rate the Carvex 420 from a visibility perspective? Is it better than the Trion in your opinion?

Best Regards,
- Tintin

Hi Tintin

I have never played with the Trion. My PSC420 provides excellent visibility. I prefer using the light on all of the time (rather than strobing) and I have done some quite delicate scribe work - particularly curves for router template work. I sometimes forget to flip the clear dust shield down and have discovered that visibility is then worse - I imagine that is because with the shield down the dust is being taken away more efficiently and the area (where you want to see) is clear of dust and debris.

Peter