jig saw/choices

[Steve Evans]

I have the Festool and the Bosch, both in barrel grip, which is my preferred format.. The Festool is definitely a better saw than the Bosch, but for the price the Bosch is a better deal. Won't go wrong with either one.

Steve

[Allen Grimes]

Steve, if you don't mind I have a few questions for you.

1) What besides the pendulum feature makes the Festool a better tool?
2) When did you purchase these machines? Also which did you buy first?
3) What model # is your Bosch?
4) Do you consider, the Festool, price reasonable in comparison to the quality over the Bosch?

Larry,

I just want to point out that the Bosch 1590 also has a nice anti-chip feature. Though if you have no problem spending the extra cash, everybody seems happy with their Festools and I'm sure you would be too.

[Brian Buckley]

The Festool PS 300 barrel grip is the best jig saw I have ever owned. It is vibration free with no chipout. I find the barrel grip easy to control. In the past I seldom used a jigsaw because of the lousy cuts I was getting. I assumed my skill level was not up to snuff. The Festool makes me look like I know what I am doing. Beleive me, if a tool can make me look talented, I like it alot.


Brian

[mike lucas]

One vote here for the DeWalt. I was seriously looking at a Bosch until a friend told me that they must use the Bosch blades while the DeWalt could take not only the Bosch but all others as well. I had too many blades that I wouldn't/couldn't throw out so I went for the big yellow. Mine is a top handle, power galore, and cuts hardwood like butter. I expect mine will last for years as I have only had it a little over a year and use it on a limited basis.

Merry Christmas to all.
Mike

The Bosch blades (There are copies from other companies now! ) are far better then the old style. I don't know why you would have used that as the reason for buying a jig saw that isn't worth half the Bosch. But it is your money, you can buy what you want.

I had never heard about, read about or even seen anyone that liked the DeWalt jig saw. I do hope it last for you. They make a very good router, but havn't learned how to build a good jig saw.
And I think that you are really missing out on how good a jig saw should be.

For the price of blades, I would gladly throw out the other type and get the 1590/1591 Bosch.

I want a new Bosch, but having the older style in both top handle and barrel grip, I can not justify a third jig saw. Maybe I could convince myself that I would save time and money on blade changes. After all, I have the one`s that uses a screwdriver to change blades. And if I would lose the screwdriver, I would be in trouble because I have yet too find one that will fit and reach all the way to the screw head.

[Walt Pater]

I sold my Bosch to create need for a Festool 300 PS. I've always sorta regretted doing that. The Festool is a nice saw, but with shipping came to $300.00. I'd probably be happier w/ the Festool if it had tooless bevel adjustment, but it doesn't. So, the Bosch is a better deal than the Festool is a better saw. You'll be pleased with either.

[Mark Singer]

The Bosch is great! It has been the standard for cabinet installers and finish carpenters for years....not that expensive either. Tremendous control and power.

[everett lowell]

one more vote for Bosch,I have two, top handle and barrel grip. I keep the top handle in my truck and the barrel grip in my shop.I guess i feel i have a little more control with the barrel grip.if i had the extral $$ i would get one for the bedroom just to look at!LOL just my 2 cents.

[Jim Becker]

Larry, your short list is a good one. The "new" Bosch has some very nice features, too. But I bought the Festool barrel grip (it was my very first Festool purchase) and have been very pleased with the machine. The barrel grip was more comfortable for me than the D-handle...you really need to try both to determine which is best for your own hands and work. I do have a review of the Festool on my site at http://sawsndust.com/index.shtm.

BTW, the Festool takes Bosch blades and Festool also has some heavier and much longer ones for scrolling in really thick material...

[John Miliunas]

Larry, kinda' hard for me to compare, as I've never had/used the Bosch. Most any Bosch tool I've used, has been nice. That said, though, I opted for the Festool. 1st test cut I made with it was in 8/4 Hard Maple and I made sure to give it a couple good squiggly lines! Took my little engineer's square out and checked the cut line throughout; Square all the way around!

[Ted Daigle]

Larry,
Never used the festool, but have heard only good things. I do have the Bosch and it is a very good tool for the money.

[Dan Mages]

I have the Festool D Handle jigsaw and so far it has done a nice job. I do wish I had the dust blower feature that is available on the bosch.

Dan

[Thomas Walker]

I hate my dewalt jigsaw. The blade deflects like crazy and the bevel adjustment is very easy to knock out of adjustment.

I love the blade stiffness of my Festool jigsaw. The dust collection is so-so because the plastic housing snap on piece makes it hard to see the cut line.

[larry merlau]

thanks to all that replied and i will see if i can find that deal at the orange store, and if not will try for the best deal elswhere on a bosch, cant come up with the extra b-fraklin for the green one now. if shipping wouldnt kill me i would help that feller out that needed a excuse to try festool. but it would have to be a deal with a warranty against bad cuts but i would feel good about supporting another great tool company. so where is the best deal at on the 1591 if the orange box doesnt have the deal mentioned?

[Erin Stringer]

I have bought a few tools from these guys, they have always been good to work with. I haven't been looking at the deals lately but they have had the lowest prices on what I have looked for in the past (router, ROS, router templates).

http://www.internationaltool.com/bosch1590.htm#1591

[Steve Evans]

Steve, if you don't mind I have a few questions for you.

1) What besides the pendulum feature makes the Festool a better tool?
2) When did you purchase these machines? Also which did you buy first?
3) What model # is your Bosch?
4) Do you consider, the Festool, price reasonable in comparison to the quality over the Bosch?

Allen, I have a Bosch 1584 that I've had for about 2 1/2 years. The Festool I've only had since around Sept of this year.
The Festool will make a square cut in much thicker/harder material than my Bosch will. This was compared using both the Festool blades on both machines, and the Bosch blades on both machines. As well, I've had a problem with bending the footplates on the Bosch cutting some hard woods, most notably Jatoba flooring. I know of two other shops who have had the same problem. One guy has gone through 4 footplates and will never buy another Bosch because of it. Whether the Festool is better in this respect remains to be seen, but I get the feeling that at least they'll stand behind it. Bosch has been indifferent to say the least, quite happy to collect the $35 Cdn each time it happens.
I do consider the price reasonable for the Festool. Including the extra footplates, I've spent close to the same amount for the Bosch. I think that under normal use the Bosch is an excellent machine, and I suspect the new Bosch would probably be very close or the same as the Festool with regards to the squareness of cut.

Steve