Thread: Jigsaws - Bosch 135 vs Makita 4350

Originally Posted by harrygrey382

Edit - looks like I have posted before but it was many years ago!

You've done well to remember your password then

I've wanted to upgrade to a 135 but have you looked into the Bosch GST140? Available in the UK I haven't seen them yet in Aus. I don't know about the electronics issues of the 135 but have read about blade guide wear. I think the only real bad review from a trade perspective was of the 150 which had blade holder issues, but the same place used and gave thumbs up to their 135s. The 140 on the other hand has replaced the blade guide with a second roller which apparently increases the accuracy over the 135. It sounds like the new bees knees and I'd love to get hold of one by the end of the year. As far as I know the Blue Bosch jigsaws are made in Switzerland. No idea about the pros and cons or any experience with any of the Makitas sorry.

Thanks for the reply. I've seen the 140 looks great, and I'm actually planning on getting it from the UK as my parents in law are about to one over so will bring it with them. But the 140s go for a lot more it looks like and I'm not it's worth it. I should be able to get a mint used one for about 100GBP and more like 200 for a 140 - not many used ones about!
I think i'm leaning to the 135 easily now...

I have a 135 Barrel, have had for about 2 years and thus far have found it superb. I don't use it every day, but being in the trade (carpenter), I cut anything from pine to ironbark with it and it seems to perform well (provided the correct blade selection is made).

The guide bars seem to ware into the blade a little, but I usually replace the blade due to needing a clean cut well before it becomes an issue. I haven't had an issue with the electronic speed control at all, but as I said, I don't use it every day. I have used an older Makita (don't know the model number, but a d handle about 10 years old) and it does the job well, but the blade changing can be tedious. The bosch feels a lot heavier, but does that mean its better built? who would know.

But I can safely say that you won't be unhappy with a Bosch.

Great, what I was wanting to hear. Is it made in switzerland? Sounds like you use it as much as I used mine...

The GST135 is Swiss made. At the time of release, it was the world's best jigsaw. It's still a fine tool, but of course no longer @ the "cutting edge" in comparison to newer releases by other respected manufacturers. I cite Mafell (Cuprex) and Metabo as superior tools. The blade guides are semi-automatically self adjusting for each and every blade change. Issues of heat and wear are often caused by lack of adjustment when either blades or pendulum settings are changed; i.e. operator error. As this adjustment is accomplished at the mere press of a button, I personally can't see it a legitimate criticism of the saw's performance. My own 135 BCE has given me years of sterling, absolutely trouble-free service.

There are other saws available with similar, but much more poorly designed blade guidance systems. I have a Festool PST300, which has given me nothing but trouble from day one, burning out blades or wandering if the ceramic guides aren't manually adjusted spot-on every time with a stupid little torx/hex key.

As the inventor, Lesto/Scintilla/Bosch have always lead the world in Jigsaws. They still do. Forget the GST150. It's an abberation, in that it's large capacity doesn't reflect its build quality. The GST 140 BCE is the best of it's type available, and an improvement in many ways over its predecessor. It still has the twin speed controls. It's smaller, lighter, has greater power and capacity, has lights, blowers and the such like. Just as many other brand's tools do also. It's biggest innovation, however, is one of those "why hasn't it been done before" things. The dust-pipe out the back swivels. This makes it the very first jigsaw in history with truly useable (and useful) dust extraction. All other fixed-pipe saws are just so ridiculously awkward to use with an extraction hose attached that very few users actually bother, me included.

The best barrelgrip saw currently available is Metabo's STE 140 Plus, or it's cordless cousin the STA 18 LTX 140 (the world's first truly "professional" grade cordless machine). The Metabo is superb because it's motor housing cum bodygrip is so much more slender than the competition that it is easier and safer to hold than the others. It also has a range of protective baseplates for just about every delicate surface you can think of.

Don't discount the Makita either. It's a fine tool. I have a builder/carpenter colleague who swears by his 4351FCT, together with all things Makita and Hilti. Tens, if not hundreds of thousands of builders the world over are happily using millions of Makita tools. They have an enviable reputation for robustness and longevity. If not for the latest technology. On a construction site a Makita would be an excellent solution.

But the Bosch is still the best.

Thanks Ratbag, that's a lot of info! I'd love a Mafell, but definitely not on the cards this time. I've still got another month to find one, but it's definitely sounding like the GST135 is the one to get. But my fallback will be the 4351/4350. How is the blade guide on them? Does it work as well as (or almost) as the the GST135? What are your views on the previous Metabos? I have read people are not impressed...

Originally Posted by harrygrey382

Thanks Ratbag, that's a lot of info! I'd love a Mafell, but definitely not on the cards this time. I've still got another month to find one, but it's definitely sounding like the GST135 is the one to get. But my fallback will be the 4351/4350. How is the blade guide on them? Does it work as well as (or almost) as the the GST135? What are your views on the previous Metabos? I have read people are not impressed...

Mafell isn't available locally. Without service backup or parts and accessories available, you'd be nuts to buy one anyway.

The Makita has a fairly basic roller guide placed close to, but not as low as, the base of the baseplate. Think "old school".

Does it work as well as a GST 135 BCE? Not on your nelly. Aside from the newer Bosch only 2 the previously mentioned; the Mafell Cuprex and the Metabo STE/STEB 140 Plus are better saws in my opinion. Only the Metabo, however, is a practical alternative, as the Cuprex is just too expensive, of limited availability, and it's worst crime is that it uses those stupid accessory bases for bevelling like the Festool PST 400.

I also have an older Metabo. The STE 135 Plus. It's a good saw. It's the most powerful feeling saw I own. It is let down badly, however, in being a bodygrip model, and it also tends to "stall" when loaded up in a cut at very low motor speeds. Having a secondary speed control, as better bowhandled machines have, would eliminate this problem of course. It has the longest stroke of any jigsaw I know, and an extra pendulum setting, which makes it an ideal saw for metalwork. I'm more confident using the Metabo in metalwork, as the epoxy armoured armature and field coil wiring is much less sensitive to the ingress of metallic swarf and "dust". It's also less susceptible to problems of swallowing blade lube.

I'll say it again. In my opinion the best bowhandle is the Bosch GST 140 BCE. The best bodygrip is the Metabo STE 140 Plus. The best cordless is the Metabo STA 18 LTX 140. The most reliable builder's site saws are (probably) the crude but reliable Makita 4351/4350 twins. The best value for money saw is the Bosch GST 135 BCE, assuming as a runout model it's bought at a substantial discount.