Nice review Frank.
Thanks Alex, I am happy that I was given the opportunity to test all these saws.
I've got the 420 corded barrel , 4 months now and wish i'd gone with d handle. The d handle can be used in same way as barrel grip as in has switch and hand positioning as barrel grip.The switch on my barrel i'm getting use to but have had a few near accidents. The switch works by pushing forward to come on and remains on even if you let go, you have to push forward again to switch off. This helps in fact that the barrel grip is hard to wrap fingers around and hold switch on. Can't see how festool gets around this with all safety regulations now days
As I mentioned in my review, I too was surprised by the position of the switches and the by the 'push forward to shut off' action. I still have not gotten used to this after about 10 hours of use.
The blade retracting to correct position for ejecting only happens occasional on mine and i just push the blade on a hard service sending blade back into correct position.
Yeh, that works, but I wish that it was not necessary.
I do find the saw takes longer to do same cut as my makita but does a better job/ quality of cut is quite suprising for a jigsaw. Guides allow very smooth tight curves and cuts at 90'. I am finding if you do any curves it wrecks splinter guide or even changing pendulum seems to do them in. Just another cost to consider. I order the 20 packs now.
I agree that the splinter guards don't seem to last very long. Mostly, I don't use them.
I find the saw jumpy on pendulum setting 4 feels like i've got down cut blade in. I find the saw cuts better at setting 2. This jumpyness i think comes from higher rpm that the saw runs at.
There is no 4 setting on my saws. I find that they run well at setting 3 and that is what I usually use.
I hate the strobe so set lights to normal which is a nice feature.
I don't like the stobe when I can see the strobe effect but I usually run the saws at the A
(automatic) speed and, with this setting, the stobe is kept in sync with the blade movement and I don't notice it.
The dust front shroud never stays down on mine ended up duct taping.
I have not had this problem.
Funny Frank had the angle base screw fall apart as i had same bit fall off first use,been a bit more careful and it hasn't come off again.
Mine only came off the first time, but you can be certain that I am keeping my eye on it.
I use jigsaw mainly for flooring and roofing.
I use mine for most everything.
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