Bosch or festool jigsaw

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Is it worth the extra 100.00 from bosch's top-of-the-line corded? If i read correctly, festools has more RPM, but bosch's depth of cut is deeper. Any other "good points" i should be aware of good, bad or otherwise?

The dust collection is nice on the festool, but i RARELY use it where i would need to be conserned.

Nick Cook

Member

I've found the Festool to be awkward to operate, the guys don't like the Festool. We use the Bosch more. When you're trying to make some acurate cut or let's say cut a sink hole in a laminate top the hose and the vacuum take too much time to deal with. I have the Festool vacuums also. The Festool has a light which my Bosch doesn't have. The light is nice at times.

Pat

I have both. Not a huge difference, to be honest. I don't understand the depth of cut comment since both use the same type of blades.

Mike

Pat,

I'm referring to the stroke length (i think it's called that. Meaning... If the overall depth of cut is say 4-1/2" and the blade is 3-1/2, the stroke would be 1".

I'm not too concerned about it being able to use the same blades, as I am how thick of a board could it tenitively cut through.

I have an old bosch that the top tightening part broke off and the plate is missing. In addition to this, i think the motor is on its way out. A few years, maybe 4-5, I bought another Bosch that has the D handle...it seeemed to work just fine until it recently grew legs.

Now, I'm looking to replace it. Since I already have the Kapex and the 6" ROS and obviously the vac, i thought it might be worth the money.

I faintly remember seeing someone use the festool jigsaw and I had an opportunity to try it and from what I remember, it cut a lot more smoothly than the Bosch. Sound right?

Regarding the comment about the festool having a light, i thi k the new Bosch also has a light

Then, the next thing to consider is whether or not to get either one corded or cordless

I'm not on installs even remotely close to full-time anymore, so going cordless would be more of a convenience than anything. I'm just struggling with whether a cordless is worth the extra money. I'm also of the opinion that many of our corded tool may one day be all replaced with only cordless.

Pat

To be fair, I don't have the latest version of either saw. The light sounds like a good thing to have, and Festool's dust extraction tends to be pretty good. I also have an older cordless Bosch jigsaw. Performance is good, but battery life has always been so-so.

JeffM

NO....Festool is way over rated!

The dude

Festool is the sh!t...some of their tools are overrated but generally they are a way better tool....thought through and work as a system. For a jig saw though, I wouldn't spend the extra money because we don't use them a lot....maybe for installs and cutting for outlets and plumbing... we don't need anything fancy there. If you need an accurate jigsaw, festool is better.....

cabinetmaker

we have a lot of different manufacturers. I have the top of the line Bosch in my personal truck and the shop guys prefer the latest heavy duty Dewalts. The countershop guys use the Bosch. I think the foreman ran the crap over with the forklift so it never gets in his truck

Sea444

About 5 years ago my lumber dealer became a festool dealer. A year later he went out of business and sold me his complete inventory of Festool demo units....sanders, track saw, everything. I did not get the vacuume unit as someone else got there before me on sale day. I tried each briefly, and except for one RO Sander I sold it all on Craig's list for 30% off list. I felt they were on a par with the Bosch tools I have and at an equal price point I could go with either; but for regular Festool pricing they can keep them. Save your money.

Jonathan Mahnken

bosch

Larry

We've got two of the Bosch barrel grip models, durable, work well. Much prefer the barrel grip instead of the handle over design.

Mike

Seems like the dibs are on the bosch

My last question is.., i know festool has a lot thicker blade than bosch blades, so will any of the boach blades, more specifically the thicker blades, work in the bosch? I really liked that it would do tight turns and the blade wouldnt deflect

boa2ella

Hi,

I don't have any experience in jigsaw but this website might be helpful to you.

Link: http://www.sawinery.net/jigsaw/best/

Thank you

Jigsaw

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