What jig saw to get?

[p8ntblr]

I know the popularity of the Bosch both here and other places but was wondering if the Dewalt was as good. I can get the Dewalt cordless like the link below for $80. I like the idea of having a cordless because the cord usually get's in the way and plus I'll have another battery for my other Dewalt cordlessesssess . Should I wait a while and save up for the Bosch or is the Dewalt just as good?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/cus...&n=228013&s=hi

[footprintsinconc]

i really dont know why bosch is the brand for a jig saw, i would be interested to konw if anyone can explain. at thanks giving, people were buying the the bosch like crazy.

i have a b&d, the thing sucks, didnt like the cuts i got. they werent ever straight in a 3/4" thick board. i will probably have to get another one.

[ChrisD]

One of my woodworking pet peeves is the jigsaw power cord. No matter how much I "choreograph" my cut, I just can't seem to get it out of the way!

That said, though, I think jigsawing curves (especially intricate ones) is one of those tasks that you really don't want to be low on juice until you're completely done.

I have the corded, variable-speed, barrel-grip Bosch 1591. I consider it one of my best purchases.

[ChrisD]

i really dont know why bosch is the brand for a jig saw, i would be interested to konw if anyone can explain. at thanks giving, people were buying the the bosch like crazy.

From this page on Bosch's website:

"1946 - When a Bosch employee installed a blade on his wife's sewing machine almost half a century ago, the idea for a jig saw was born. The very first portable jig saw was introduced in 1947. Today, Bosch still enjoys the premier worldwide reputation for this tool."

[crokett]

I have a corded variable speed DeWalt. I love it. It has a neat feature where you can adjust the attack angle of the blade for fast agressive cutting vs slower fine cutting. I have never wished for a cordless jigsaw.

[hermit]

i really dont know why bosch is the brand for a jig saw, i would be interested to konw if anyone can explain. at thanks giving, people were buying the the bosch like crazy.

i have a b&d, the thing sucks, didnt like the cuts i got. they werent ever straight in a 3/4" thick board. i will probably have to get another one.

You really need to use one to know. Especially if your B&D is anything like my old Craftsman 1/3 hp cheapo. I never really used a jigsaw that much, so couldn't justify the expense, but knew I would get a Bosch someday. I had used my brother in law's one time years back. Well my little one burnt up while building a small deck last summer, so I went and got the Bosch. Guess what? I pull the jigsaw out for all kinds of things now. One of my favorite tools.

If it were me, knowing what I know now, I would not waste my $80. Put it towards the Bosch, you won't regret it.

Todd

[lrr]

If you win the lottery before you buy a jigsaw, check out the Festool. I could not figure out why their tools are so expensive, but reading the catalog, and seeing a few comments on their tools in general has me considering one, and maybe their plunge-cut saw with splinterguard (circular saw).

I have an old Craftsman scroller jig saw, but the scroll lock is getting worn, so the blade drifts a little, and so it is about time to retire it. (It is over 30 years old, so I cannot complain about its service.)

The Festool catalog claims their jigsaw (again, with splinterguard) can cut 4-3/4" wood and they claim no blade wandering. ("Parallel adjustable carbide-tipped jaws provide three-way blade guidance")

I'd want a demo, but if claim is true, I'll buy it. (I think it is ~ $280).

Plus, I've got a lot of tools made across the Pacific, I think I'd like to try one from across the Atlantic.

[Rescue U]

Buy the Festool!

I can confirm the abilities of the festool jigsaw, it is great and cuts straight. The dust collection is good as well. The only problem I have with the saw, is that the plastic splinter guard does not allow you to see the cut as it is made, however I and others have made some minor adjustments to improve this problem.

[drumpriest]

In a not too old jigsaw-off, the festool was considered "best", but the bosch was "best overall". Price was the consideration. The difference in performance between the tools was not worth the additional 200+$ for the festool. I have a Bosch 1587 and it is a great tool. The 1590 is even better, from what I understand. The difference between the bosch and the normal do it yourself jig saw is astronomical in nature.

[Marlin]

Well amazon has a sale on the GMC jigsaw for $20

http://www.amazon.com/GMC-AJS58LS-Ha...6?ie=UTF8&s=hi

So if you need a cheap or backup.

[messmaker]

I would say the span between a DIY jigsaw and a premium model may well be the greatest of any power tool. I have an Hitachi as well as a Metabo and they cut well but they are not in the same league as the barrel grip Bosch.

[LinuxRandal]

I have/had (need to look for it) a cheapy Skill or B&D. I also have a lightly used 1970 Craftsman scroller. Both work, but use the smaller U shaped blades, and vibrate a heck of a lot more then that counterbalanced 1587 I bought last month. I am building workbench legs for the garage bench, out of some 2 1/2" angle iron someone gave me. The Bosch was cutting it like butter, and the neighbor came over to see how the heck I was doing that so easily (HF every project for him).
I grew up on my dad's old Craftsman's (he had two), and the vibration difference, is what makes you be able to handle it so much better.

[BigguyZ]

I got a used 1587 Bosch at a pawn shop sale. I think I paid about $70 for it. Definitely one of the best pawn shop buys I've ever had. Even brand new at Amazon or a local store, I think it'd be worth it. It's very balanced and is not difficult to keep on line- a problem I've had with other jigsaws.

Edit: And one more thing- keep in mind that you buy a quality tool only once. With a TS or many other tools, the difference in buying a top-of-the-line tool and even a mid-level tool is $100s or $1,000s. The difference in buying the Bosch and another brand is maybe $50.

[sacherjj]

It is really hard to describe why the Bosch is a great jigsaw. I can only say that the woodworking show over a year ago is when I learned. I tried the 1591. All I could saw is "wow". I didn't know that you could have a jigsaw that would do anything you want with little vibration and not fighting. It is a dream to use. I don't know if I went wrong getting to top handle, but the price difference was so much between that and the barrel grip at the time, that I could only go with the top handle.

[bthere]

I am often glad that I was able to use less expensive tools for a while, like my old Craftsman scroller jig saw. When you get a chance to use a much better tool like the Bosch 1590, you don't have to try to pick out the subtle reasons it seems a little better. You use it and are truly surprised at how much better everything is.

I also have a Ridgid 18V cordless jig saw that I do use just for convenience sake. While it is an ok saw, it is not nearly as good as the Bosch in several ways. The Ridgid, like all cordless tools, just doesn't have the same power as the corded saw. When you are cutting material that is a little tougher, you find the saw bogging down a bit. It also is hard to keep the blade vertical in the cut.