PRICE: $150 with case; a 4.0-Ah battery with charger sells for $100
WEIGHT: 8 lb. 5 oz.
MAX BEVEL: 50°
MAX DEPTH: 2 in. RPM: 3900
LIGHT: None
10 CUTS THROUGH 2X12: 48 seconds
LINEAR FT. OF PLYWOOD: 147
FEATURES: The Bosch is a big saw with big cutting power. The motor is smooth and produced the least amount of vibration when compared to the rest of the saws. Its large baseplate gives the tool great stability. The depth-of-cut gauge is easy to read and allows you to adjust the depth without having to twist and turn the tool to see the setting.
FLAWS: Before weighing the saws, I was convinced that the Bosch would be the heaviest by a long shot. It turns out that both Milwaukee saws weigh more, but because the Bosch is unbalanced and the ergonomics are poor, it feels like a much heavier tool. On the more comfortable saws, the handle gets thinner at the bottom, but the Bosch’s gets thicker, making it awkward to grip, especially while wearing gloves. The safety switch is also tricky to use because it’s a button that you have to press into the tool and not a paddle that you press down. This saw is also missing a battery-fuel gauge.
BOTTOM LINE: This is a quality saw, but it’s big and bulky compared to the rest. The poor design of the handle and safety switch makes the tool particularly frustrating to use.