Thread: Jig saws . Festool Carvex ?

The carvex is the one fe$tool that doesn’t have a good reputation. I wouldn’t buy one (and I have many green & blacks).
The Festool owners group has a lot of discussion.
I bought the Mafell instead which is a great jigsaw. At some point I’ll convert it to a plug-it. It’s stupidly expensive though.
Axminster do them now, so getting hold of one is a lot easier for Australians.

You can get extra long blades for it (140mm? From memory), and double thickness blades for attacking tough wood like a rabid dog at a bunny convention.

Further to Bermc's reply. I had been intrigued by the Mafell from a few years ago based on reports on how good they are. Following a thread from late last year and with Bermc's ringing endorsement I finally took the leap of faith. At that time it was $955 for the jigsaw, tilt base, guide rail and systainer delivered to my door. I just checked the Axminster website and the price is now down to $925. If you want just the jigsaw without the tilt base and guide rail it is $765, basically the same price as the Carvex.
The standard blades supplied cut to 65mm and longer ones are available, I thought they were 120mm but maybe they are 140. So how does it perform for all that money? Well I have so far only used it for one job cutting 18mm formply. The cut was perfectly square and as smooth as the proverbial baby's bottom. It was equal to my Festool tracksaw's cut quality.
My previous jigsaw was a Metabo that I could never get a square cut out of nor even close to as smooth as the Mafell.

Originally Posted by Bernmc

The carvex is the one fe$tool that doesn’t have a good reputation. I wouldn’t buy one (and I have many green & blacks).
The Festool owners group has a lot of discussion.
I bought the Mafell instead which is a great jigsaw. At some point I’ll convert it to a plug-it. It’s stupidly expensive though.
Axminster do them now, so getting hold of one is a lot easier for Australians.
You can get extra long blades for it (140mm? From memory), and double thickness blades for attacking tough wood like a rabid dog at a bunny convention.

Thanks for that info Bernmc.
Ill have a look at the Festool owners group.

The Mafell price is high ! Whats so good about that machine ? Just the blades?
Rob

I had a good read through Festool owners group and checked out the Mafell on YouTube .

The Festool complaints seemed not so bad, just people annoyed with small parts of the saw that I would probably get used to. Things like Switch positions and feeling the heat from the motor . It's cut looks excellent.

The Mafell is a very impressive machine.
$ 925 for the kit . $75 for two of the double blades for a 65mm cut !
Is Axeminster the only place to get blades from ? I only see the one type of blade as an option from them.

Rob

The Cunex blades are seriously expensive but they are a serious blade.
Try Dictum in Germany, better prices (not sure about freight costs) and the full range. The non-Cunex blades seem to be around the Festool blade prices on their website.

I have also bought from Dictum and have had very good service; very reliable but not as personalised as Dieter Schmid. Have bought mainly hand tools but some small electricals including a Fein multitool - full kit in systainer - had to change powerplug - landed cost was about half of Oz price.

Dictum currently have the basic Mafell jigsaw listed at €534.31. [~€450 ex VAT or AU$675 plus freight]
MAFELL brand shop
Pre-covid, they had an automatic freight calculator with options at checkout.

Originally Posted by auscab

Thanks for that info Bernmc.
Ill have a look at the Festool owners group.

The Mafell price is high ! Whats so good about that machine ? Just the blades?
Rob

It’s powerful (900w vs carvex 500w), extremely accurate, and packed with very clever little features - some of which I’m still discovering and making me go ‘wow’.

I got mine from Dictum too.

Timberwolftools in the us has lots of blurb (but remember they sell them so they’re going to be biased) - Mafell P1cc: the "Handheld Band Saw" - Timberwolf Tools

And Mafell P1cc Jigsaw 917123 - Timberwolf Tools

They’re both high end tools, both probably overpriced because they’re made in and shipped from Foreign Parts, and both will probably make you mostly happy.

Only the mafell will make you happier.
Unless your wife finds out what it cost.

Originally Posted by Bernmc

Unless your wife finds out what it cost.

Some things are best left unsaid!

Originally Posted by Huon pine fan

Some things are best left unsaid!

That's right for sure !


The flat bar that goes through the base. I suppose that would be a standard metric size?
It would be possible to fit a longer one through with a pin for larger round tops?

I cant see myself ever needing a track cutting jig . The table saws in the workshop do all I would need I think .

Quality curve cutting in wood up to 50mm thick is my need. Even thicker would be good.

Things like the lower rail on this . 19mm hard wood and to long for the band saw.

Untitledld.jpg

Or this . 40mm shaped ends on these Table rails . The Makita gets these around 4 mm out of square sometimes . There to big for band saw. Template cutting with router is pretty good but a bit of a fiddle . Everything is hand tool cleaned up any way in the end .
Untitledmnqa.jpg

Id be interested to know what those Cunex blades shave on one side like ? You know when you get the line wrong and have to come back and shave with one side of the blade to bring it true . That's one operation you notice the thin blades flexing . Id expect the Cunex is good at that as long as its sharp ?
Has that been tried out ?

That's the thing with Jig saws . You only get as good as your eyes and hands can follow a line with curved cutting.

I wonder if there's a way in the future for someone to invent a Jigsaw that can template cut ?


Rob

Rob, I have just purchased a used Festool Trion (for $200). A new Trion is significantly cheaper than a Carvex, but essentially the same tool less some of the bells-and-whistles - which is why I think you may be interested. Also, the Trion is only available in corded not cordless. That does not bother me as I do not use a jigsaw much - largely for curves that I cannot do on a bandsaw. A big reason for the Trion was dust control plus the ease of blade changes.

I've just sold my previous jigsaw, an older Makita. The Makita is one of those tanks and it is easy to use compared with the Trion. The downside of dust control on the Trion (and Carvex?) is visibility. What I have been learning is that these jigsaws need to be used slightly differently. Perhaps someone here with the experience will comment in more detail. And how this compares with the Mafell.

I think that the power factor (of Mafell being more powerful) is moot. The Festool machines are more than powerful enough for anything.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Originally Posted by auscab

That's the thing with Jig saws . You only get as good as your eyes and hands can follow a line with curved cutting.

Rob, if you are going to be in Melbourne in the next fortnight you are welcome to give my machine a test run. I fly out to the UK on the 28th for 6 weeks so won't be around for a while.

Originally Posted by derekcohen

Rob, I have just purchased a used Festool Trion (for $200). A new Trion is significantly cheaper than a Carvex, but essentially the same tool less some of the bells-and-whistles - which is why I think you may be interested. Also, the Trion is only available in corded not cordless. That does not bother me as I do not use a jigsaw much - largely for curves that I cannot do on a bandsaw. A big reason for the Trion was dust control plus the ease of blade changes.

I've just sold my previous jigsaw, an older Makita. The Makita is one of those tanks and it is easy to use compared with the Trion. The downside of dust control on the Trion (and Carvex?) is visibility. What I have been learning is that these jigsaws need to be used slightly differently. Perhaps someone here with the experience will comment in more detail. And how this compares with the Mafell.

I think that the power factor (of Mafell being more powerful) is moot. The Festool machines are more than powerful enough for anything.

Regards from Perth

Derek

$200 for the Trion is a nice buy Derek. I'd be happy with the cord type machine as well . I do all this sort of cutting on the table in front of my bench. Its a different thing if your working out on site. Visibility is pretty important . The light in the Carvex looks like a nice thing. Maybe having the plastic shield up and the big fan I use roaring away at me is the go, as well as the vacuum sucking on the back?

Originally Posted by Huon pine fan

Rob, if you are going to be in Melbourne in the next fortnight you are welcome to give my machine a test run. I fly out to the UK on the 28th for 6 weeks so won't be around for a while.

Nice offer HPF ! Thanks . I doubt Ill be there in the next two weeks . Since moving out of Melbourne I do all delivery's in and out by carriers when ever possible. And Ive got so much on atm as well. It would be real nice to have a test run on the Mafell though.
I'm not in a great rush to buy. I went through my tool cupboard today and have a dead Bosch (Broken cord and possible faulty switch ?) and two good 6 year old Makita saws that both are not great on square cutting thicker hard wood but good for general roughing out cutting. I'm also spending some $ on some second hand Acro props and a Makita Laser level which is on order. So the Jig saw buy can wait a while . If I haven't bought one and your back from the UK that may work out. Ill message if it works out that way . Thanks again .
Rob

I’ve had my Trion ‘d’ type handle one for 15 years and it still cuts as well as the day I bought it. I’ve used it a lot for cutting curved shapes in 50 mm thick timber and it’s faultless, just make sure the bottom guide is adjusted correctly to just clear the blade. The long gold Festool blades are excellent.