Time for a new jigsaw

[ColossusX]

My dewalt jigsaw finally died.  Which isn't  bad.  I had a lot of  blade deflection lead to many angles cuts no matter the blade or how careful I was.  So now it's down to the Bosch JS572EBK or the Trion. I like the idea of the LEDs and I've heard that cut line visibility is rather poor on the Trion (and haven't heard much positive about the Carvex).  But I do like the dust collection on the Trion as 95% of my work (general remodeler and some woodworking) is done on site.  They're roughly the same cost wise with the bosch having a few extra features.  I know this is FOG but I've seen very honest recommendations even if it isn't for a festool.  I do have a CT vac.

 

[PeterK]

I have the Trion and the earlier version of the Bosch - never handled the new one.
The Trion is very powerful and cuts well. I use it when I absolutely want a true vertical cut as it does that with the proper blade. Yea it lacks a light which is a pain at times. The dust collection works decent but hampers use as you fight the hose if doing scroll type cuts. You do need to readjust the blade guides when changing blades that are not the same thickness. Also if the guides are a little too tight it will overheat and damage the blades.

Bosch has for many years made great jigsaws and I would have no qualms purchasing their top model. If you want the best according to reviews you want the Mafell P1CC but is pricey!! It supposedly does not overheat the blades so they last far longer.

A great battery jigsaw is the Makita. So very handy for house or construction projects as no cord. Just grab and use or move around with it. Mine gets used a lot as is always ready to go to work. I take it with me to the lumber store for cutting down long trim boards or lumber if having difficulty hauling stuff. If I could only have one saw it would be the Makita.

I don’t view jigsaws normally as finish cut tools but they do an acceptable job with quality blades.

 

[waho6o9]

Hilti and Carvex here like both and use as needed.

The Hilti's less finicky and both yield clean cuts.

 

[ColossusX]

Yeah the Mafell is a little too pricey for me lol. I've been leaning towards the Bosch myself as it seems to have excellent reviews across the board.  That's nice to hear about the Makita, as I'm transitioning my cordless from Dewalt to Makita slowly.  True vertical cuts are what I'm primarily after, as I've only used "entry level/DIY" types before hand and could never get a consistent quality cut when cutting curves.

 

[Laminator]

The blade visibility is my only (but big) complaint with the trion.  Even after rigging a light on it, the blade is just too shrouded for my purposes.  I like everything about the saw except this.

I got the carvex and while certainly not perfect, it works much better for me than the trion.  Light is good, saw is lightweight, and almost seems to have an electric brake.  Ninety five percent of my needs are cutting sink & cook top openings in laminated counter tops.

 

[Mario Turcot]

Anyone having both the Carvex and Trion? I'd like to know how effective is the DC and if it is more effective on the Trion or Carvex. Since I never been able to make a parallel cut with the few jig saws (D handle) I owned, I am looking into a barrel jig saw to see if I can get a better result.

As for Maffel, any distributor in Canada?

Mario

 

[semenza]

Anyone having both the Carvex and Trion? I'd like to know how effective is the DC and if it is more effective on the Trion or Carvex. Since I never been able to make a parallel cut with the few jig saws (D handle) I owned, I am looking into a barrel jig saw to see if I can get a better result.

As for Maffel, any distributor in Canada?

Mario

I have both. DC is better on Carvex. However jigsaws are not easy to collect dust from so don't expect the type of results for DC as with the sanders and plunge saws. I generally use the jigsaws with vac connected because it does keep most of the dust , especially the fine dust, out of the air and cleanup is limited to the immediate cut area and below the cut on the floor.

Seth

 

[nclemmons]

Have you tried cutting with the saw inverted?  Great way to get around the line visibility and need for light.  I've used it several times.  I happen to have a Carvex now but had a Trion previously and a Bosch before that.  I like the Carvex best due to the strobe light and battery power.

Reverse cutting seems to be more common in Europe than the US, but is a consideration and nice technique.

 

[ColossusX]

I've only ever used handled ones but am seriously considering the barreled for  euro style of cutting. I'm just not sure how the cord and hose would be cutting like that.  If it would snag more or less than the traditional top cut.

 

[semenza]

Just a note ...... I cut from the top side so the DC info I posted may not apply to cutting from the bottom. DC might be better, might not.

Seth

 

[Laminator]

Dust collection on the trion is prone blockage if prosecuting certain plywood.  I kept a piece of wire to clean it out when it blocked.

 

[ScotF]

Both are quality saws. The Bosch has the light, good DC and is powerful. I think the Trion is also a great saw - very smooth too. No light, but the blade guides can help with deflection. I sold my FT jigsaws and kept the Bosch for rougher work (it has a steel overshoe) and I also have the Mafell for uber accurate cuts.

It would be a tough call between the two, but you can always buy the Festool and try it to see how it works for you. That is probably what I would do if between the two models. It is a little cheaper than the JS572 as well. If you really wants LEDs, then the Bosch is a great choice.

 

[ColossusX]

Thanks for all the feedback.  Both seem to be great saws.  None of my previous saws had LEDs so it isn't a deal breaker, but I've always had a good view of the blade while cutting, with my cheaper saws.  I'm tempted with the Trion just for the DC, both are good but the festool is a little better.  Less mess to clean up the better.

 

[sancho57]

Have you tried cutting with the saw inverted?  Great way to get around the line visibility and need for light.  I've used it several times.  I happen to have a Carvex now but had a Trion previously and a Bosch before that.  I like the Carvex best due to the strobe light and battery power.

Reverse cutting seems to be more common in Europe than the US, but is a consideration and nice technique.

Thats what I do. Agives great view of the blade but it does take some getting used to

 

[ColossusX]

Well my wife suggested the Carvex as a birthday present and so now the Carvex is in the mix hahaha

 

[semenza]

Thanks for all the feedback.  Both seem to be great saws.  None of my previous saws had LEDs so it isn't a deal breaker, but I've always had a good view of the blade while cutting, with my cheaper saws.  I'm tempted with the Trion just for the DC, both are good but the festool is a little better.  Less mess to clean up the better.

I would say that if you are buying with DC as a prime factor (between Trion and Carvex) get the Carvex. DC is by no means complete on either but it is better on Carvex. Also as mentioned by Laminator the Trion DC port is small and prone to blockage. I have not had the Carvex port get blocked.

Seth

 

[Sanderxpander]

Well my wife suggested the Carvex as a birthday present and so now the Carvex is in the mix hahaha

If she's contributing the Mafell P1cc might be getting in reach too

 

[tazcubed]

If you're going with a corded version, I would stick with the Bosch JS572EK. The switch on the Carvex is poor - a bit sticky and not smooth or finely tuned as the Bosch. Also, the lock button on the side of the handle is poorly placed with the D handle - it's downright a pain in the ass at times. The light on the Carvex is nice, but I've also found it annoying as it tends to get out of sync with the blade stroke if you adjust the speed at all while cutting. Cutting with the Bosch is pretty much buttery smooth (both on the straight and scrolling), less so with the Carvex. From what I've read, the Trion is superior in some ways to the Carvex. Blade ejection is easiest on the JS572EK.

It's the opposite if you're looking at the battery versions. The Bosch JSH180B is not as good as the Carvex: tough blade ejection, requires tools to adjust the base plate angle and even the switch isn't as smooth or easy to control. I would probably go with the Carvex with the battery.

So far as dust collection goes, I don't see any advantages. In the end, there's always clean up when you're using a jigsaw.

I would certainly go and trial each one before buying. 

 

[BigfootBuilder]

I have come into the opinion that for pretty much every single (well so far absolutely every single) application I've encountered a cordless jigsaw is the way to go. I ended up getting the barrel grip Carvex and regret it. Won't go into why here and you've already seemed to rule that out. Bosch jigsaws all (to my knowledge) have blowers for the cut line (carvex does not, don't know about Trion) which in my opinion is superior to dust collection for a jigsaw. I have become very interested in most of my tools having DC these days, and the jigsaw is the one exception. I'd rather sweep a bit than drag a heavy hose and cord that just will get caught no matter how carefully you route and handle it.

Makita, bosch, dewalt, Metabo and others all have jiggy's with lights and batteries, and I recently saw a video about Bosch's new 12V jigsaw (JS120BN) and it looks pretty promising. For corded, I don't have one, but were I to get one, I'd be looking seriously at the JS572EBK...

 

[ColossusX]

I ended up ordering the Makita 4350FCT.  Cut line blower, LED, and optional DC, good reviews and good price. 
I'm glad to see that people are happy with the cordless jigsaws.  I've been debating on getting. The Makita cordless has gotten excellent reviews too. 

I appreciate all the feedback