Revamped Jigsaws
Cutting hardwood with a jigsaw is a brutal test of the
machine’s quality. Many saws don’t score high marks
because their blade defl ects, producing cuts that are out
of square. That makes it hard to accurately follow a line.
Years ago, Bosch led the way in producing a jigsaw that
passed the hardwood test with flying colors. They’ve
recently updated their line with two new models.
Inside, the saws are very similar. Both have similar
7-amp variable-speed motors. As with many state-of-theart
woodworking machines today, this motor’s feedback
circuitry maintains a steady speed as the load increases.
In practical terms, that means less bogging down when
you push faster.
Both jigsaws have a toolless blade-change system and
four orbital-action settings (smooth to very aggressive).
They also have an integrated, adjustable dust blower to
keep the cutting line clear and a steel insert in the foot to
reduce wear.
On the outside, Bosch has made two saws that look
and feel very different. One model has a barrel-grip
handle, while the other has an enclosed handle. A barrel-
grip handle puts your hand closer to your workpiece.
That’s best for intricate work, such as cutting small radius
curves. With a low center of gravity, there’s less chance of
inadvertently putting side pressure on the blade and making
a non-perpendicular cut. An enclosed handle, on the
other hand, is easier to grip when making vertical cuts.
Source
Bosch Tools, boschtools.com, 877-267-2499, 7-Amp Top-Handle
Jigsaw, JS470E, $160; 7-Amp Barrel-Grip Jigsaw, JS470EB, $160.