Best Jigsaw

**Timless Timber** · 4th October 2013, 07:37 PM

Need to replace my old Jigsaw..

Had an old Bosch that was lovely to use and used it in the cabinet trade for 20 years.

Later bought a cheapie makita that carked it recently.. absolute heap of dung.

Time to buy another GOOD jigsaw...

If you could only have ONE jigsaw and wanted the best - which one would you have and why (Brand and Model - Photo off Google Images pls).

Notice I didn't include a budget upper limit..... for GOOD tools, used frequently, IMHO there should be no upper limit coz they pay for themselves over and again many times.

& Please tell me Festool don't make a jigsaw.

(I didn't find any gold nuggets, this week).

(And I'm allergic to bright lime green).

**FenceFurniture** · 4th October 2013, 08:03 PM

Festool do indeed make a Jig Saw - several actually - they are still trying to get it right, apparently. I have read numerous people not happy with the Jigsaws, and they seem to be releasing a new one every couple of years. Only one of them, the older PS300 which is still current, will do mitre cuts.

I think you'll find that those who know will say stick with a Bosch again, save some bucks, and let Bosch donate some of the profit to their very worthy foundation.

**Bernt** · 4th October 2013, 09:11 PM

[QUOTE=Timless Timber;1703575]Need to replace my old Jigsaw..

Notice I didn't include a budget upper limit..... for GOOD tools, used frequently, IMHO there should be no upper limit coz they pay for themselves over and again many times.

You're right about that. My festool jigsaw has paid for itself over and over many times. Have had mine for ten years now and still cuts more accurate then any other jigsaw I have ever used. Been buying festool for 15 years now and never had one break (use it professionally) or been unhappy with any.

Mine is the PS300.

**hiroller** · 5th October 2013, 07:44 AM

You want to get yourself one of these:
http://www.bosch-pt.com.au/au/en/pro...t-140-bce.html
http://www.bosch-pt.com.au/au/en/pro...st-140-ce.html
They are consistory at or near the top of independent reviews I've read. Will be my next upgrade.

**forp** · 5th October 2013, 09:53 AM

Just check out youtube how little vibration the Bosch jigsaw produce. I share a Bosch jigsaw with my dad but its mostly with him since I bought a cheapo $19 XU1, it still works after so many years. Very brutal very noisy. I bought it for cutting thick tree branches instead of a huge chainsaw but it was making surprisingly precise cut that makes me keep it.

**Ratbag** · 6th October 2013, 12:31 PM

Don't buy a Festool. They're awful. I loathe & detest my Trion.

What will you be using your tool for? Deep cuts, curves, hard or soft metals, sheet steel or aluminium extrusions?

There's specialist wood and metal jigsaws available now.

Bosch have traditionally led the field in jigsaw design. It's kind of their particular specialty.

The latest saw (GST140) is well regarded, but is in the process of being superseded by yet another model (GST160CE/BCE) with increased power (800w) and capacity (160mm), features and convenience.

Then there's Metabo's STE/STEB140 Plus & STA 18 LTX 140, my personal favourites. In particular, the bodygrip model/s (there's a cordless model with similar capacities too) have the smallest diameter motor in the market, making it the easiest to handle and the safest available. Then there's the range of fantastic interchangeable soleplate covers, protecting a range of different sensitive materials. As an Electrician/Cabinetmaker these plastic, felted plastic and "pertinax" covers are a godsend. In the past I've had to resort to covering the soleplate with duct tape to protect painted and varnished surfaces when cutting downlight and Tastic cutouts in situ!

I've also found that both my Bosch and Metabo jigsaws are sufficiently robust and versatile to efficiently cut laminates, manufactured board, aluminium and steel. My Festool saw just wouldn't look at these more difficult materials!

The bow handled Bosch, or the barrel grip Metabo are the current state of the art in my opinion.

**Timless Timber** · 6th October 2013, 08:59 PM

Handy to know about the Bosch and Metabo - specially the plates.

Mostly I will cut 16 mm hmr melamine (cabinet bases) or chipboard with laminex covering (Countertops/benchtops) - but occasionally solid wood maybe... not so much metal sheet.

I always found the need to use masking tape on my metal plate, to avoid damaging the surface of laminate tops, when cutting out sink and cook top openings, and yes it is a right royal PIA so softer / padded material base plates could be damn handy.

I'm not caught up yet on the whole chordless thing - I probably should update now that they have the whole 18 volt lithium Ion thing going on... have you seen the prices of that gear?... and it never comes up cheap on gumtree....

Guess I am still old school - plug it into the 240 volt and it doesn't run flat unless the power goes out!

(And today the power was out all damn day while SECWA replaced a power pole & transformer down the street, so it was out most of the day - 2nd Sunday in a row - had to make breakfast on the BBQ, no lights or power in the shed etc etc). Today's a day where chord-less would have paid for itself.

**Doken** · 11th October 2013, 07:45 PM

Another vote for Metabo from me.
Mine is over 15 years old, working fine and still cutting accurately, from memory it cost me a bit over $350, so not cheap back in the day but money well spent.

**richardb9** · 14th October 2013, 04:26 PM

I tried 'em all when I was young ...but I have not worn out a Makita 4304T....this is by far the best I have used...non-vibration, and pulls itself into the wood...cuts clean and accurate. I bought it secondhand many moons ago, and it has had a bit of a flogging, but is still going strong. Tried Bosch, Triton, and other Makita's, but they are all inferior to the model stated.

Richard B. Fremantle

**Damienol** · 14th October 2013, 08:25 PM

I have a Bosch PT and for a long time it was my favorite power tool.

**GraemeCook** · 15th October 2013, 04:37 PM

I have an AEG STP400 - probably 20+ years old. They are virtually indestructible.

But the blade wanders a bit in the vertical plane - cuts can be 2 or 3º out of square in either direction - or both on longer cuts.

Fair Winds

Graeme

**Ratbag** · 25th October 2013, 02:54 PM

Further to my previous recommendations, I have the following:

There's already some extremely favourable user reports coming back re. the Bosch GST160 CE. Users remarked about ample power (800w) and far superior soleblade tilting/resetting over previous Bosch models. I'd still recommend the BCE version of this tool, however, as the top handle gives you the "accelerator" function of a trigger as opposed to a mere on/off switch of the CE bodygrip model.

I'd also reiterate my previous suggestion of getting a Metabo STE 140 Plus bodygrip saw if you prefer that style. Note that only the "Plus" variants offer the motion-activated twin LED lights and auto "soft start"/ auto acceleration functions that make this a superior saw. I believe that the felt pad on the Metabo padded soleplate cover is also readily replaceable, which would be a very good thing as felt inevitably attracts swarf and other abrasive contaminants over time.

**Timless Timber** · 28th December 2013, 10:08 PM

Well i went jigsaw shopping today... finally!

And wouldn't you know it - no one in Oz it seems carries the new Bosch GST-160 CE or BCE versions of this tool.

Any number of the Bosch GST 150 CE or BCE, but not one 160 model here in oz yet.

They seem to only be available in the UK?

They are 240 volt, so is there any practical reason (besides lack of warranty here) that I can't buy one online and have it posted - then cut the pommie plug off and have a qualified, licensed, experienced, Govt certified, university degree electrical engineer, put a Aussie 3 pin plug on it and get started?

I am sure they aren't certified yet for some Australian standard or other but frankly I don't care.

I want the LED lights so I can see the damn line I am cutting too (coz I'm blind as a bat) and the fan thing that blows the dust away in front so you can see the damn line (coz I puff out too easily to keep huffing at it with my big gob.

I've no idea why Bosch haven't sent any to Oz yet - probably waiting for the Aussie stockists to sell their old 150 stock.

Any reasons I haven't thought of not to just buy it online from the UK?

I'll be using it in my shed occasionally for my hobby - not on any AWU controlled work sites.

**Doken** · 29th December 2013, 10:24 AM

I was giving a mate a hand with a job a few weeks ago and he had a Bosch jigsaw which wouldn't have been more than a few months old, I'm not sure of the model number but it was a decent tool and would not have been cheap.
Anyway, it cut fine but when we needed to swap the blade out the quick change mechanism wasn't working properly, I can't remember what he did exactly but he'd worked out a way using a flat blade screwdriver, he said that it only worked properly half a dozen times when he first bought the tool then started jamming.
Maybe it's a one off and not typical of the Bosch jigsaws but I wasn't impressed, I told him to get it repaired under warranty but he said it was no big deal and he didn't want it off the road for a week or more, his old Makita had got the blade wanders and he'd had it repaired but then it started making grinding noises so he ditched it and bought the Bosch.
You need an allen key to change the blade in my ancient Metabo but it's never been in the repair shop in over 15 years and still cuts true.
I only use Festool blades by the way, they cost a bomb but they outperform anything else on the market by miles.

**GraemeCook** · 29th December 2013, 05:05 PM

Originally Posted by Timless Timber

Well i went jigsaw shopping today... finally!

And wouldn't you know it - no one in Oz it seems carries the new Bosch GST-160 CE or BCE versions of this tool.

They are 240 volt, so is there any practical reason (besides lack of warranty here) that I can't buy one online and have it posted - then cut the pommie plug off and have a qualified, licensed, experienced, Govt certified, university degree electrical engineer, put a Aussie 3 pin plug on it and get started?

Any reasons I haven't thought of not to just buy it online from the UK?

Good Morning Timless

I routinely import a lot of stuff - primarily from UK, Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, etc. Frequently goods arrive quicker than I can get them from Sydney. Local stores always seem to be out of stock!

Provided that you are not importing for the purpose of resale there is no restriction on importing electrical goods from Europe same voltage and frequency, different plugs. German electrical standards are unlikely to be lower than Aus ! And if the landed cost (including freight) is less than $1,000 and the goods are imported by an individual (not a company or business) then the 5% customs and 10% GST is not collected. And you do not have to pay the 20% VAT in UK or the 22% whatever in Germany (I cannot spell the German for VAT).

Commonly I find goods advertised for around 40% of Aus retail - take off the 20% VAT and you are down to a third of Aus price - add in freight and I still land stuff for around 50% of Aus price. Who cares about warrantees - they are not worth 50%. And I have never had difficulties with servicing - rarely required, but parts are readily available. Bosch actually supplies repairers with an "also sold as" conversion booklet so that they can access repair manuals.

I could not find a Bosch GST-160 in Aus, and the Cheapest GST-160-BCE in UK was £<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w

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I found the Bosch GST-150CE at Carbetec for $333 and in in UK from £167.90 (inc VAT).

Fair Winds

Graeme

PS: Continuation to follow.

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