Why Pay $150 For A Bosch When You Can Get This For $50!

[sweensdv]

Amazon is selling the most excellent Freud FJ-85K jigsaw for $49.99. Heck, that's even cheaper than the old style Grizzly Bosch "clone".

[pacwind3]

I wish to heck that I could get a jig saw to work well for me. Granted, I have the cordless ryobi, but it seems like not matter what I do and no matter what blades I use, my cuts aren't straight up and down. They end up curving to the side. Drives me nuts. Is there a difference in the saws that keeps this from happening? or is it me?

[rnelson0]

Probably you and/or how you secure boards. If you're not securing them right, the pressure you exert to lay the guides flat will cause the board to bend some, resulting in a slanted cut. Or, you're just not pressing the guides flat. If it's then, you can probably true it up by sanding, but I wouldn't want to do that on a 1/2" or greater board.

[agent511]

first time i get in on time to pull the trigger on this great price, and I couldn't commit. Too many bad reviews about the blade holding mechanism, the trigger, etc. Many are from 2001-2003, so maybe its been fixed, but no way of knowing. Also it doesn't blow the dust away, obscuring the cut-line. It does come with a vacuum hook-up, but this isn't the kind of tool I would use in a situation where I would have a vacuum unit handy.

I could still change my mind, but I don't use a jig saw very often, and wasn't even looking for one, except for the BT3 mention and the great price.

Will power. Will power.

[agent511]

update - I couldn't stop myself!

the black and decker is SO bad, and for this price, there is little downside. Can always be returned or sold on ebay worst case scenario.

[radhak]

I wish to heck that I could get a jig saw to work well for me. Granted, I have the cordless ryobi, but it seems like not matter what I do and no matter what blades I use, my cuts aren't straight up and down. They end up curving to the side. Drives me nuts. Is there a difference in the saws that keeps this from happening? or is it me?

I have not used the Ryobi, but that is a symptom of less than optimum power. general comments :
- clamp the workpiece down, firmly
- switch to corded
- make sure the 'base' of the jigsaw is completely in contact with the workpiece. I have myself (early on) used a jigsaw very tentatively, causing it to jerk around, or not be solidly on the piece, causing a haywire cut
- finally, if you are already doing all the above and are still unhappy, get the bosch 1587 ! no, seriously, ever since i have it, i have had not a single complaint against it! impeccable cuts, every time. And now that the 1590 is around, the 1587 is available at cut-rate prices, but it's quality is eternal.

[SARGE..g-47]

Amazon is selling the most excellent Freud FJ-85K jigsaw for $49.99. Heck, that's even cheaper than the old style Grizzly Bosch "clone".

I used to think along those lines about a jig-saw as it was probably the most less used tool in my shop. Seven years ago, my company (at the time) purchased me a Bosch barrel grip to make 100" of semi-round counter with many templates.

Once I used the Bosch for the first time.. after 29 years (at the time) I finally realized what a jig-saw really was. It went from the least used to one of the most used. And I now understand "why" I would rather pay the $150 than $50 as I just gave my FIL a free $50 jig-saw. I have thrown two others (Skil and Craftsman) out in the trash out of shear frustration.

And of course.. that's just why I would pay the extra in this case.

Regards...

[herb fellows]

I used to think along those lines about a jig-saw as it was probably the most less used tool in my shop. Seven years ago, my company (at the time) purchased me a Bosch barrel grip to make 100" of semi-round counter with many templates.

Once I used the Bosch for the first time.. after 29 years (at the time) I finally realized what a jig-saw really was. It went from the least used to one of the most used. And I now understand "why" I would rather pay the $150 than $50 as I just gave my FIL a free $50 jig-saw. I have thrown two others (Skil and Craftsman) out in the trash out of shear frustration.

And of course.. that's just why I would pay the extra in this case.

Regards...

By all accounts, the 1590 is a sweet tool, i really didn't want to 'settle' for the 1587 when Amazon had it on sale a few months ago for about $70, but it seems the price of the 1590 remains pretty steady at around $150-160, not much in the way of discounts on it. Probably should have gone for the 1587. Oh well, as they say, 'too soon old, too late smart'!

[wouldchuck]

ditto that

Once I used the Bosch for the first time.. after 29 years (at the time) I finally realized what a jig-saw really was. It went from the least used to one of the most used.

Regards...

Totally agree. A precision jigsaw is like a completely different tool. In my case I went from the Freud J85 to the Milwaukee 6268-21 (which I picked up on sale from Amazon in February for $128). I used to go out of my way to avoid using the Freud, because it was poorly balanced, and the sawdust would obscure the cut line, and I just couldn't trust it to cut square. Now I use the Milwaukee for many cuts that I would have done on the bandsaw or table saw, but maybe the set-up is awkward or time-consuming, or the workpiece is too large, or it's an interior cut that you can't get a bandsaw blade into. For the price of a good tablesaw blade, you can upgrade from a piece of junk to a truly fine tool, and to me it's definitely worth it.

[SARGE..g-47]

Totally agree. A precision jigsaw is like a completely different tool. In my case I went from the Freud J85 to the Milwaukee 6268-21 (which I picked up on sale from Amazon in February for $128). I used to go out of my way to avoid using the Freud, because it was poorly balanced, and the sawdust would obscure the cut line, and I just couldn't trust it to cut square. Now I use the Milwaukee for many cuts that I would have done on the bandsaw or table saw, but maybe the set-up is awkward or time-consuming, or the workpiece is too large, or it's an interior cut that you can't get a bandsaw blade into. For the price of a good tablesaw blade, you can upgrade from a piece of junk to a truly fine tool, and to me it's definitely worth it.

I haven't tried a Milwaukee jig-saw, but I do love both my Milwaukee 3 1/2 HP table mount router and the Milwaukee 2 1/4 HP combo router kit. Both are a hoss in disquise and the best I have used in 36 years period.

What you mentioned about using the jig-saw instead of the BS. I have a 12" Jet for curve cutting and a 18" SC. If the stock is under 1 1/4".. it gets done with the jig-saw. Three days ago I discoved another use for the jig-saw. I had a 4 x 8 sheet of very squirrelly 1/4" poplar ply to use on drawer bottoms. It looked to spooky to cut the sheet down with my circular saw and guide. So.. just set up the guide and free-handed it on-line. Without the blue tape and scoring with a razor knife I usually do.. it was splinter free. It will go to the TS for final sizing.. but from this point All sheets (I don't use them often) will get done with the Bosch.

Last night I cut a hole in top of a cyclone chip collector barrel about 3/4 of the way to the top. Mounting a blast gate with a clear plexi window to inspect to see the level of chips so it doesn't overfill. Drew a circle and straddled the barrel to hold it in place. Drilled a 3/8 pilot hold to get the blade in and free-handed the traced circle with only about 1/3 the base touching the round shape of the barrel. You couldn't have shoved a knat's hinny through the gap after I slid the blast gate in.

I look for things to cut with my jig-saw.... and often consider knocking on doors in the neighbor-hood with it in my hand to see if the neighbors need any metal.. holes or anything else cut I can use it with. It's that good and that much fun since I got it....

[rcp612]

Why Pay $150 For A Bosch When You Can Get This For $50!

I thought that way for too many years. But didn't find out until I bought the Bosch 1590. Wish it wouuld have been my 1st jigsaw now, and I'd pay whatever to replace it. The blade guide system is great and the weight/balance seems perfect to me. Anyway, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

[poolhound]

A valuable posting. I currently dont have room for a BS and that forces me to generally avoid projects with too many curves. I have the Ryobi battery powered JS that came with a kit. It works OK but only for rough cuts so I have been considering getting a better quality powered JS. This Freud looked like a good deal but the Amazon feedback and the valued comments in this thread have disuaded me. I have had too many experiences over the years buying lower priced tools that havent done the job properly and ended up buying something decent in the end anyway. This costs more than just buying the right tool in the first place.

Which JSs would the group recommend as quality performers so I can keep my eyes open and see if I can find a deal somewhere.

[radhak]

Which JSs would the group recommend as quality performers so I can keep my eyes open and see if I can find a deal somewhere.

Repeat after me : Bosch 1587.

High quality, and since 1590 is around (the 'latest' model, with very little upgrade), you find the 1587 at ridiculously low prices.

Local CL had it NIB for $60, and I have seen similar on the net too.

[poolhound]

The 1587 is curently $102 on Amazon, If I could find it for $60 that would be great. If its still in the $100 range I may choose to splurge the extra $50 on the 1590. I feel another tool purchase heading my way - Save me, Save me......

[Stormbringer]

Why Pay $150 For A Bosch When You Can Get This For $50!

I thought that way for too many years. But didn't find out until I bought the Bosch 1590. Wish it wouuld have been my 1st jigsaw now, and I'd pay whatever to replace it. The blade guide system is great and the weight/balance seems perfect to me.

I second and third that. Bosch 1590 at any price....well you know what I mean.