William E.
Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2024
Always wanted a barrel style jig saw and owned the Bosch D handle jigsaw and always liked it so looked to Bosch in this style and it’s really a nice saw and this style of grip seems to give you more control of your cutting. It’s corded and that made no difference to me as it is shop use only and the barrel style battery cordless are so much more expensive and you got to charge batteries so not that great of a deal if you use a saw where power’s always available. You won’t go wrong with this saw plenty of power for the toughest cuts. Highly recommend this saw.
Mek
Reviewed in Canada on April 10, 2024
Comes with one blade. Order a blade kit too. This saw is powerful and steady. Scrolled through pressure treated 2x8 like a hot knife through butter.
Brandon M
Reviewed in Canada on August 25, 2023
My workshop consists of 100's of power tools. I've gone through many different brands over the years. I'm not brand loyal, as I've discovered that there is no single brand that's superior in every tool they make.This jigsaw is top notch. The barrel grip is a must have for comfortable precise cutting. Don't get suckered into thinking "lighter is better", lighter is more often then not, lower quality. This jigsaw is the complete opposite, it's heavy! It will plant itself on the table and will glide around with ease, no bouncing or vibrating with this jig. It's precise!The blade guard is a piece of steel, not some cheap plastic that will snap off the second you throw it in a tool bag. The quick change blade feature is nice to. You can swap a blade out in as little as 5 seconds.No tool is perfect though. I did notice that the barrel grip will get quite hot after 5+ mins of continuous cutting. This isn't a huge concern for me though. I'm rarely doing a cut that takes that amount of time.Overall, this is my 6th jigsaw over 5 common brands, and it's hands down the best. If you're serious about what you do, it's worth every penny.
Allen W. Scantland
Reviewed in Canada on August 25, 2023
I've tried both now and this style of jigsaw is a better design, more versatile. Bosch quality is great, the variable speed and power makes it so smooth.Bosch should be mindful though, their blades are priced way higher than alternatives.
Jayden L.
Reviewed in Canada on July 21, 2016
I've recently started doing some woodworking and small projects at home and I would consider myself a hobbyist. This Bosch jigsaw was an upgrade from an old old jigsaw that I received from someone off Craigslist back when I was just starting out a year or two ago. What a difference it makes!! I think 7 amps is probably way more than I will ever need (for now) and I have never had to use the jigsaw at full speed yet. I picked up a set of various jigsaw blades to go with it and did a little reading up on what the difference in blade types.For a small project, I used this jigsaw to cut a 6in long slot in a 1/8in steel bar and to cut through some 1/8in aluminum. The steel bar was slow going, since I was afraid of overheating either the steel or the blade so I stopped frequently to cool both items. The aluminum cut really fast since it's such a soft metal.I've run this jigsaw through some SPF 2x4s and it cuts like a buttery dream, especially compared to my old clunker. The barrel-grip is a little large for my hands, but it is still easy to guide through the material.The jigsaw looks and feels very solid -- the picture is misleadingly small (it's the size of a small baby!). It comes in a nice plastic carrying case and has a blade to start you off with and some other little add-ons. I think I can safely say this is a tool I'll be keeping for a very long time.
Fraulein
Reviewed in Canada on December 15, 2016
Great tool. The last saw I had was a B&D (3.5 A). This tool is in an entirely different league. Very strong and sturdy. I use it mostly at speed # 4 (medium speed) and this is plenty for the detailing work with my pine wood in the addition I am building This thing will last for many decades. I love the extra long electrical cord it comes with. So far I didn't need an electrical extension. I do not have big hands and so far I am not bothered by the bulk of the saw. I find it easy to control the cut.I would have love for it to have a LED light. My eyes are not what they used to be. Often I work in area that is not very well lit. There is enough light for most of the work I do, but it is too dark for precision work with this saw. I have to put a head light to make sure I see the mark to be cut. I know I should have better lighting, but my drill and my nail gun and my multi tool do have LED light and I am able to work very well in my ambient lighting.Also it would be nice if the foot was curling a bit at the front in a ski like fashion. My old B&D had this feature. This is very handy when you work with uneven wood. As it is, I find that the Jigsaw sometime get caught where two slightly uneven boards are meeting.
Robert A
Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2012
This is my first jigsaw, though I'd used one before. I had a specific need and decided it was time to add a tool rather than rent or borrow. The reviews all lead to Bosch as the jigsaw leader. I'm a DIY/hobbyist and wanted quality and durability but short of professional grade (and price). After reading a lot and a couple visits to stores for some 'hands on' look and feel research, I ended up choosing this model (actually sight unseen, since I couldn't find it in any of my local retail shops) for its decent power, stroke length, features (the speed controls, chip blower, blade release) and reputation (some of my tools are Bosch and they have always been satisfactory), as well as the very good pricing. I'm quite happy with it. So far I've used it only for 'rough' cuts, including metal pipes, and haven't yet tried it in fine woodworking tasks. A couple extras I hadn't anticipated are the excellent power cord length, good blade working area visibility and the useful storage case (good shape, size and weight). I was inclined to the traditional top handle grip type, but persuaded to try the barrel grip and I'm very pleased with its feel and ease of use. I feel I have better control, but you should try it first if you have smaller hands since that variable is an issue. I was surprised at one point when the blade jumped out as I was changing it (the quick release), but now that I know that happens it is not an issue.
L. Blake
Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2012
I'm doing a camper conversion on a Nissan NV High Roof and was using a Black & Decker consumer level cordless jigsaw. It wouldn't cut straight, or plumb no matter what I did. Spent lots of time hand filing and sanding to correct the terrible cuts.Decided to upgrade and get this Bosch jigsaw since I have a couple other Bosch tools and am impressed with the performance.After a whole day of working with the saw, I'm very happy with the performance and the ease of use. I got the Barrel-Grip for several reasons. I specifically like the way the speed is set with a dial at the rear of the tool and the switch on the side doesn't need to be held for the saw to keep cutting. I set the speed dial for the blade and material, turn the saw on and concentrate on the cut. I can grip it several different ways to get the best cut, but I'm 6'4" with large hands.The saw also has an adjustable blade orbit that keeps the blade straight for metal and really rips thru thicker wood on Setting III (most orbit). It has a chip blower that helps visibility, but doesn't clear the cut area completely (oh well).Adjusting the footplate for angle cuts requires removing the soft overshoe and using the included allen wrench on the footplate screw. Not too bad and there are detents for 15, 22.5, 30 and 45 degree cuts.The saw comes with a clear plastic insert for the footplate that is called the "Anti Splinter Insert". I used it on some 1/4" plywood and it really works (with a smooth wood blade).Overall, I would highly recommend the saw.
Gauda
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2012
I'll preface by stating I don't use jigsaws very often, and purchased this mostly because I do not yet have a band saw. I used to use an OLD Black&Decker saw, one with an all metal housing - that's how old. Very underpowered and not at all precise. This tool is the complete opposite. It's actually very large, the size and weight a bit daunting at first. However, not at all a drawback because controlling it is no problem. The variable speed is great, and a very handy feature. The variable oscillation control is just as nice. They can be varied separately which is all the better. Also, the dust blower can be turned off so that's nice too. The cord is quite long, which minimizes the need for extension cords - always a good thing. Blade changes are great, no tools needed. However, you must make sure the blade is fully seated in the chuck. The quick release shoots the blades out, so take care to release the blade where you want it to go.As other reviewers have noted, the blade does cant forward about 1/16" and a bit more with a Progressor blade installed. Personally, I don't mind this as I don't consider jigsaws precision tools. For what I use this saw for, which is making templates and installing things, the blade canting forward isn't an issue. For precision cuts I'd use a band saw, but because I don't have that yet, I use a jigsaw and clean up with other tools.The anti-mar sole plate goes on easily and is a nice feature. Haven't used the anti splinter insert but it looks like it'd work just fine. The tool is a little loud, but that's a result of the very powerful motor, which has NO trouble chewing through two inch thick, extremely hard woods. I haven't used it to cut metal yet, but with good blades and reasonable feed rates I have no doubt it'd do a fine job. The high power would be great for that application. The case is excellent and has room for blades to be stored which is great.Overall I was and still am impressed with this tool. Fit and finish are great, performance is great, and it's made in Switzerland. I use Bosch blades which for me have been the best, and highly recommend them as well. Excellent tool and blades, two thumbs up to Bosch.EDIT 9-27-12This jig saw is going strong. I have used it to cut metal, in several thicknesses and types. Bronze 1" diameter rod, aluminum 1/2" bar, and mild steel 1/4" bar. Went through all like they were nothing, though I did slow the saw down as well as orbital action. Once again, variability for these is GREAT. I also used a Progressor blade for metal on these. I did use it to cut some sheet metal, and as one might expect it went through that like it was nothing, but again, I turned down the speed and orbital action and used a standard metal blade. Bosch has a winner with this saw.