Festool Carvex Jigsaw

[ChrisA Edwards]

At an Amazon warehouse returns clearance store, I came across a Festool Carvex Jigsaw, new, for 60% off.

Brought it home and it sat for about six months without me ever using it.

Then I had to cut something that neither my tablesaw, bandsaw or SMCS couldn't do the job, so out came the Carvex. It worked well.

So now, when I need an 18" piece of wood off a 10ft plank, I go to the Carvex. It cuts fast, clean and is the most accurate Jigsaw I've ever used.

It's starting to become a bit of a go to tool.

[Mike Henderson]

I had one but was not as impressed as you are. I eventually sold it. I have a DeWalt cordless jigsaw that fits my needs very well.

The only Festool tool that I think is really great is the Domino.

Mike

[Jim Dwight]

I believe the Carvex is a rebranded Bosch with a few more accessories. I like my Bosch - for a much cheaper price.

[Dave Sabo]

For $125 you got great deal if you like the saw.

Jim - it is NOT a rebadged Bosch. Not even a close cousin.

Mafell makes the best jigsaw as long as you don’t mind a barrel grip.

Carvex’s shortcomings are that every time you change a blade, you have to adjust the guides. And that requires a tool. If you want to cut a bevel, your going to have to pony up another $100 or $200 for an accessory to do so. And then your going to be limited which side of the board you use it on.

[Jim Becker]

Strangely enough, my very first Festool purchase was a jigsaw based on actually getting to use one for a few days and how nicely and accurately it cut really thick stock. There are just some jobs where it's the right tool. I've even usd it to sculpt faux natural edge contours on a table project where the original sapwood was unsalvageable because of insect damage and dry rot.

[Richard Verwoest]

I have never had good luck with any jigsaw. Seems like a simple tool. A blade goes up and down really fast. My cuts are never square.

[Jim Becker]

I have never had good luck with any jigsaw. Seems like a simple tool. A blade goes up and down really fast. My cuts are never square.

The better tools with proper blade guides like the Bosch and the Festool, etc., along with quality blades do tend to cut much better from a perpendicular to the material standpoint. That was something I actually tested back when I was considering the tool and it was easy to put the old B&D in the trash at that point after cutting 3" thick material with zero issues. Perfect? Probably not. But it was a wow moment.

[Jim Dwight]

I use my barrel grip Bosch a lot. We have one at church where I volunteer that is about the same except top handle. Another experienced volunteer was surprised he has to push the church's saw at a bit of an angle for it to cut straight. Might be the blade but I think mine needs to be pushed at a bit of an angle sometimes. Top to bottom of the cut is sometimes at a bit of an angle, especially if there is a knot or something. I waited to get a bandsaw instead of using my Bosch to make some three inch thick curved legs I want to use. The bosch might have done it but it also might have ruined the wood.

My dad gave me a cheaper jig saw that was nearly useless. When I got the Bosch I was surprised at the total difference. The first one would take so long to cut a 4x4 post I would not do it. The Bosch will zip through it about as fast as a circular saw. But it is not a really precise tool IMHO. On thin material it can do well. On thick material, not so much. I also use it to cut metal pretty often. Versatile tool that will always have a place in my shop.

[Jim Becker]

Jim, make sure you're using the right blade type for the thicker jobs. They are thicker metal and have larger, sharp, scalloped teeth to compliment the blade length. There is no "perfect" as I mentioned previously, but with the Bosch tool or similar with decent blade guides, the right blade really does make a difference.

[Jay Michaels]

While I admittedly own a jigsaw (though not festool) and I do pull it out on occasion -- usually for cutting down very long boards -- it is easily my most despised tool in my shop. Hate that thing.

[ChrisA Edwards]

it is easily my most despised tool in my shop. Hate that thing.

That's exactly how I felt about my previous jigsaws and why this one pretty much sat unused for several months...:)

[Evan Van Dyke]

That's exactly how I felt about my previous jigsaws and why this one pretty much sat unused for several months...:)

i have an extremely small garage shop, so every tool needs to pull its own weight. My father in law got me a nice Japanese pull saw last year, and I haven’t touched my jigsaw since. I usually pulled it out for cutting notches and other small tasks.

10” craftsman bandsaw does better on curves.
track saw does better on straights.

Right now I am struggling to find the use case for a jigsaw in my shop, for my needs. The carvex was on my list, and I like the look of it. But I am likely to just ditch my jigsaw entirely to compensate for the room my new hvlp takes up.

[Jim Becker]

Even, even though I don't use my jigsaw very often, there are times when it's the right tool because of portability and size. So my suggestion would be to keep an open mind around this specific tool. Maybe not buy one on speculation, but if the work you are doing seems like it might benefit from one, then make your move. And in your situation, they don't take up much space when not in use, either.

[Evan Van Dyke]

Even, even though I don't use my jigsaw very often, there are times when it's the right tool because of portability and size. So my suggestion would be to keep an open mind around this specific tool. Maybe not buy one on speculation, but if the work you are doing seems like it might benefit from one, then make your move. And in your situation, they don't take up much space when not in use, either.

yeah, I have a skill jigsaw that I’ve used for years. Part of the reason I don’t use it much is that it’s not top quality, but it is useful for construction tasks around the home. Maybe I’m just used to working around it/without it these days. Hard to let a tool go, but I have other/better ways for my woodworking right now. If I ever need to cut a lot of curves on stuff too big for my bandsaw, or giant circles, I could see upgrading, but that’s not the kind of work I have right now.

[Doug Dawson]

Jim, make sure you're using the right blade type for the thicker jobs. They are thicker metal and have larger, sharp, scalloped teeth to compliment the blade length. There is no "perfect" as I mentioned previously, but with the Bosch tool or similar with decent blade guides, the right blade really does make a difference.

Do you have a specific blade recommendation for straight cuts in thicker hardwoods, that minimizes deflection? (This has always been a problem, and why I never use it for that. I used to have the Bosch barrel grip, now I have the DeWalt, same issues.)

[Zachary Hoyt]

There are two things for which I have used my Skil jigsaw in the past 20 years, since I got a bandsaw. One is cutting strips in tight spots when building wood strip canoes, and the other (that I use it for at least once a month) is making a round 3/4" hole into a square hole in a banjo rim. It's one of the very few tools I have bought new. I paid $19, when i was 13 or so, and it's pretty crummy but it does what I need it to. I have never tried a higher quality one, it sounds like a good idea.

[glenn bradley]

Convenient, ain't it? :)

I switched to a jigsaw as my cut-off tool of choice long ago. I used my Bosch 1591 at the bench for a long time. I got a deal on a Ridgid cordless jigsaw that now does that job.

[Jim Becker]

Do you have a specific blade recommendation for straight cuts in thicker hardwoods, that minimizes deflection? (This has always been a problem, and why I never use it for that. I used to have the Bosch barrel grip, now I have the DeWalt, same issues.)

I use the heavier Festool blades for kind of thing. The kerf is wider, but the blade is stouter, doesn't tend to deflect as much and those teeth are "mighty darn sharp". I'm sure there is an equivalent under different brands as it's a standard "Bosch" type mount blade. The Festool part is S 105/4 FSG (or current equivalent) and is 105mm long, 4mm tooth, alternate bevel and listed as good for up to 85mm thickness or about 3.34". Blade is 1.4mm/.055" thick not including the set.

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Glenn, it's interesting that you mention cut-off relative to the jig saw. I used mine with the blade just mentioned when I was working that heavy walnut slab table last year for a client. The slabs were thicker than my trusty 1980s B&D circular saw could handle so I pulled out the jigsaw, clamped a scrap board on and then cut off the unwanted material from the 11' long slabs to get down to about 8' 6" for processing. In the end, I used it to radius the ends of the table top, too, with a template for just a slight radius. The cut was pretty darn good and only needed just a hair shaved off with a (very stout) bearing equipped router bit.

[Jacob Mac]

If I want to really screw up a cut, I will use a jigsaw. I have a Bosch, I use the Bosch blades, it should be really easy. But man I am horrible with it.

[Jim Becker]

If I want to really screw up a cut, I will use a jigsaw. I have a Bosch, I use the Bosch blades, it should be really easy. But man I am horrible with it.
You are likely already watching for this, but "pushing too hard" is the fastest way to get things cutting wonky with a jigsaw. Remember, the blade is only supported on one end. A quality, sharp blade appropriate for the work at hand and a gentle touch without rushing tends to help with cut quality.

[Michael Drew]

Jigsaw is great tool for cutting curves/circles in boards that will not fit in a band saw, or those times when no other power tool will work. Sometimes you just need one. I agree with most others though - I hate using them. A sawzall is similar - sometimes you just need to use one, and no other tool will work.

[Mike Cutler]

I have three Jigsaws. A Milwaukee, a Skill and the Carvex. The Carvex is "hands down" the better of the three. When I had to delicately repair my front porch, the Carvex was invaluable in saving me time.
You do need a pretty wide range of blades for any jigsaw. The wrong blade, in a good saw, can still yield cruddy results.