To barrel (grip), or not to barrel?

[craigs]

More natural grip, and a lower centre of gravity. That could be tosh, but it makes sense in my head

yeah this is what im going with as well, seems to make sense in my head.

As for the bosch...... I did look at the GST 150, but I suppose I am used to Makita, i know they just work well. Would love the festool but for a jigsaw, i just dont think its worth the extra expense.

 

[custard]

Would love the festool but for a jigsaw, i just dont think its worth the extra expense.

Only you can decide if that's where you to spend your money. What I will say is the latest Festool Carvex jigsaws do a better job of keeping the cut line dust free and visible than any other jigsaw I've used. If you're roughly breaking down sheets into more manageable sizes that's probably not a big deal, if you're following tight curves in components and want to leave a sub 1mm edge for copy routing, or want to minimise final clean up, then it's a benefit that's worth something.

 

[custard]

By the way, I don't want to sound like a fanboy. The Carvex is good but it's not perfect. The trammel facility for example won't work at an angle, and Festool say it's limited to about 25mm thick boards, I've tried it up to 60mm and they're probably right, it becomes progressively less accurate as you go past 25mm.

 

[craigs]

By the way, I don't want to sound like a fanboy. The Carvex is good but it's not perfect. The trammel facility for example won't work at an angle, and Festool say it's limited to about 25mm thick boards, I've tried it up to 60mm and they're probably right, it becomes progressively less accurate as you go past 25mm.

You know you sound like a fanboi right?

Dont get me wrong, since i have discovered Festool, its going to be my goto brand for most things, its a bit like crApple though and ties you into an ecosystem, which isnt a bad thing if they are superior products and that seems to be the case. But im not a professional and these tools wont be used on a daily basis, i just want decent quality tools and not Argos specials.

I kinda wish i bought a rotex instead of a makita, but again, the cost far outweighs the use it will get and these tools for me are just a hobby.

Have my eyes on a domino and Kapex though

 

[DiscoStu]

Just my views on the systainers.

I love them!

I can stack them up out of the way, it's clear what tools are in them from the front. I can open them mid stack (although this is limited)
I have a tool tote so just chuck in hand tools into that and have a CXS drill that I stick underneath and that gives me my basics.

I am intending to build drawers for mine and then I think you get the best of both. You can easily access any systainer but also you can load them up for travelling etc.

You can wheel them on the extractors which is useful.

And personally I like everything having its own place. Whilst it's convenient to just lob stuff in a big box or drawer it's a right pain when you're trying to find a rail connector or router bit etc.


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[craigs]

my god this forum certainly helps out my credit cards, just not my bank account.

i think ill be going through the toolbox today and eyeing up which systainers i need to buy, i certainly agree it makes organisation better, especially as all tools are stored in the cupboard under the stairs

 

[skeetstar]

Used various d grip in my time, presently have a festool trion barrel grip. I think the barrel grip may give marginally better control, but to be honest I don't like the festool's on/ of switch, I prefer trigger of the barrel grips - much easier to use. At the risk of being shot down in flames, I reckon the barrel grip ,is more at home in the shop, and a d grip better for site. Don't suppose that helps but you never know.

 

[craigs]

my D-handle was delivered today, the barrel grip will be delivered Tuesday and then ill see what works for me and return one of them.

 

[finish_that]

I have the barrel Makita and an older Bosch "D" - I found the barrel more stable and easier to control, although its a heavy tool.
The thing that I noticed most - and which irks is that whilst the Barrel has variable speed it has no soft start and a
thumb switch like an angle grinder - so it has to be used running otherwise the kick of the motor starting can be a bit unruly .
The D saw can be used - with soft/variable start to almost hand start a cut , its frustrating as the Makita was expensive and is definitely well made etc.

 

[craigs]

I went with the Makita barrel grip

I sent the d-handle back.

 

[MattRoberts]

Great - why was it better for you in the end?

 

[craigs]

it just felt more comfortable. agree that its missing the soft start, but thats not a deal killer for me.

 

[skipdiver]

Can't get on with a barrel grip myself.

 

[Tortion-Stephen]

As said above I was lead to believe the barrel grip was more so it was easier to use underneath the board for scribing. I tried the Festool 420 last time they bothered to come near me on a road show and really liked it. I found the automatic speed thing gimmicky and felt like it could maybe hide bad technique to some extent, but it's a good machine.

I like the barrel better myself even used above. Though I still have an older hardly used De Walt DC330 18v cordless D-handle type.

 

[chippy1970]

I had always used d handle bosch jigsaw but I do a lot of upside down cutting so years ago got a festool trion barrel grip. I've now got the 18v carvex too which is very nice.

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[pcb1962]

i think ill be going through the toolbox today and eyeing up which systainers i need to buy

The more expensive Systainers come with a free tool inside. You might as well get those ones and ditch your existing tools

 

[craigs]

lol i looked at the carvex, however after speaking to a few people, the one tool they wouldn't buy again was the festool jigsaws purely because it was worth the extra expense over say a Bosch or Makita. strange for me to say, but im not going to spend and extra £150 for a green and black colour scheme

 

[chippy1970]

lol i looked at the carvex, however after speaking to a few people, the one tool they wouldn't buy again was the festool jigsaws purely because it was worth the extra expense over say a Bosch or Makita. strange for me to say, but im not going to spend and extra £150 for a green and black colour scheme

Yeah the carvex had a lot of bad press when the 400 (original model) came out. The auto adjusting guides were rubbish so they removed them and brought out the 420 which works well. My cordless one is great and I use it all the time.

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