CAnt find any recent reviews.
older ones, people did not like the dewalt, or the bosch 1587s.
what about the newer Bosch 1590s?
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Buy the Bosch. it is a great saw!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Best! Anyone who tells you anything else is smoking the glass pipe.
Got the 1587 would only trade it for the 1590 and NOTHING ELSE. Have used many and broken many and settled on the 1587 (got it for a good price) three years ago and it still feels like new after heavy use. Reason I would take the 1590 is for the better blade change feature.
some of the 1587 reviews on amazon.com say the Bosch blade change feature has plastic parts that break and are real expensive.
have you had that problem?
nope, I can see how there could be a problem but I bet that some of the people who have had problems with the blade change have monkeyed around with it a bit to much. one click and the blade is tight no need for more twisting other than to get the handle seated again
I reviewed both the new Bosch and the newer Festool when they came out for FHB. I really like the Festool, it's smooth and compact and really has no sway out. The Bosch is also a very good saw. If I were buying them, I would have a hard time paying almost $100 more for the Festool. If you're a boatbuilder and you use it all day, every day, then yeah, but otherwise the Bosch is top of the market.
People here have also given the Metabo and the Makita high marks. The Ridgid used to be a re-branded Metabo made in Germany. Don't know if this is still true.
There was a comprehensive review by Andy Engel since I wrote my two up.
- Kit
The Bosch and festool are pretty equal in performance, why pay $100 more? I like the barrel grip version and the best price and good service is at coastal tool in ct, they charge very little for shipping and no sales tax. Here is one link on Andy's review I saw.
http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuilding/toolguide/product-finder/bosch-jigsaw.aspx
Hey, that link has a very highly edited version of my review as well.Never knew it was out there on the web.- KitTechnique is proof of your seriousness. - Wallace Stevens
I cannot claim any skill in finding it, I just googled FHB and jig saw review. Hope it helps him. He should check the reviews at amazon too.
FWIW I got the barrel grip Bosch a few years back - I'll never use the top handle version again. Highly personal choice, I suspect, but I have much greater control with the barrel grip.
I recently posted here about my Makita 4340 FCT. The major difference between it, and the Bosch products, is a slightly smaller handle and overall size. It uses Bosch blades. It also has a built in light.
In my one use so far .... cutting a sheet metal / foam / sheet metal sandwich .... it performed very well indeed. Little felt vibration, and great control. Very clean cut.
I have the newer Bosch (with the lever blade change--light years ahead of their old blade change design which was horrible), the Festool, and two Ridgid cordless jigsaws.
I agree the Bosch is a great tool. But I also like the cordless ones for convenience when accuracy isn't key.
Fine Homebuilding did a great review (which I believe others have linked to). There are some jigsaws with very particular capabilities. DeWalt makes one with a blade that can flush cut with the front of the saw. Festool's has a very narrow side clearance which is handy when cutting holes in countertops for kitchen sinks, and it works with their guide rail system.
Unless you need some of the special features of the other saws, or the convenience of cordless, I too would recommend the newer Bosch design.
Ed, I bought the Bosch 1590 last year and cannot say one bad word about it. Everyone else I know will not "pay extra for bettert quality tools" but buy the cheaper stuff at the local tool store. I paid $199 for mine and do not regret it at all. I was surprised at how big the tool is but once I started using it I felt very comfortable using it. It's loaded with quality features. Go out and buy it, you'll never regret it. One thing though, the blades are pricey. That was my first impression but once I started using them I quickly ignored the price tag.
Paul in Canada
Did you buy the traditional D handle or the round handle- are the round ones better?
I bought the D-handle as it was on sell but the "barrel" type grip wasn't.
Paul