Jigsaw Reviews, Best Jigsaws

Best-value corded jigsaw

*Est. $145 Compare Prices

Reviews say this top-of-the-line Bosch jigsaw comes close to the $295 Festool Trion jigsaw for precise cutting, yet it costs much less and offers tool-free bevel adjustment. The blade-changing system even pops out hot… blades, a nice convenience and safety feature. Like the Festool jigsaw, the Bosch 1590EVSK has a soft-start electronic motor and a lock-on button to avoid trigger-finger fatigue. The Bosch jigsaw has a dust blower, but it lacks the superb dust control, light weight and extra capacity offered by the Festool, and it comes with only a one-year warranty. Still, the Festool jigsaw costs nearly twice as much.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Taunton's 2008 Tool Guide: Based on tests done for Fine Homebuilding magazine in 2006 (see below), editors give the Bosch 1590EVSK top ranking. However, ...

Fine Homebuilding: Based on objective testing of 12 corded D-handled jigsaws, this review names the Bosch 1590EVSK the "best overall" jigsaw, saying ...

Woodworker's Journal: Based on rigorous tests of 13 jigsaws, this review concludes that although the Festool Trion PSB300 EQ jigsaw is the best, the ...

PopularMechanics.com: The Bosch 1590EVSK clearly offers the best combination of convenience and performance in this comparison review of nine jigsaws, ...

Journal of Light Construction: Carpenter Chase Bridge tests the Bosch 1590EVS jigsaw, finding it cuts so fast and accurately that he uses it for jobs he'd not ...

New Woodworker.com: This enthusiastic review of the top-handled Bosch 1590EVS notes that it vibrates less than the earlier and less-powerful Bosch ...

Amazon.com: More than 120 owners review the top-handled version of the Bosch 1590EVSK jigsaw here, and on a separate page about 50 owners ...

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Basic corded jigsaw

Hitachi CJ110MV

*Est. $85 Compare Prices

Tests at Fine Homebuilding show that the Hitachi jigsaw vibrates more than the Bosch and Festool jigsaws. However, both experts and owners recommend the Hitachi as a budget jigsaw, saying it cuts and handles well. It has… a dust blower and soft-start motor with lock-on trigger, as well as an LED light that illuminates the cutting line. The five-year warranty is competitive, and the jigsaw is extra light at 4.9 pounds.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Taunton's 2008 Tool Guide: Editorial rankings here are based on tests done earlier for Fine Homebuilding magazine, but this review also reports jigsaw ...

Fine Homebuilding: Based on objective tests comparing 12 D-handle jigsaws, this review names the Hitachi CJ110MV the "best value" jigsaw, saying it ...

Woodworker's Journal: This review compares the older Hitachi CJ120V with 12 other corded jigsaws, finding it "a very good little tool" that cuts ...

Woodcraft Magazine: Eames-Harlan finds that the Hitachi CJ110MV cuts 2-inch hard maple well, and that when the orbital action is turned off, it can ...

Amazon.com: About a dozen owners review the Hitachi CJ110MV here, giving it a fairly high average rating of four stars (on a five-star ...

Lowes.com: More than a dozen owners give the Hitachi CJ110MV fairly high ratings here. The subratings - for value, features, design, quality ...

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No-frills jigsaw

Craftsman 17235

*Est. $45 Compare Prices

This 4.8-amp Craftsman jigsaw doesn't have much power, and blade changing can be tedious. However, it does come with an LED light plus a dust blower to clear the line. And it gets good reviews from owners. For fairly… rough cuts and occasional use on wood that's not very thick, this jigsaw should get the job done. The warranty is for one year.

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Sears.com: The handful of owners reviewing the Craftsman 17235 jigsaw here give it reasonably good ratings, though two say they received a ...

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Best corded jigsaw overall, but expensive

Festool Trion PSB300 EQ

*Est. $295 Compare Prices

Although it's very expensive, reviews praise the corded Festool Trion jigsaw for precision, low vibration, superb ergonomics and excellent dust control when connected to a shop vac. Reviews say that the superior blade… guides make true perpendicular cuts even in thick wood and that blade changes are easy. The Festool Trion jigsaw extracts dust through the baseplate in a unique, effective way. Optional circle-cutting and straight guide-rail systems are available, and the warranty is for three years. The Festool Trion is available in either top-handled or barrel-grip styles.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Taunton's 2008 Tool Guide: The editorial review is based on 2006 tests published in Fine Homebuilding magazine, but this article adds the results from a ...

Fine Homebuilding: Based on tests of 12 corded D-handled jigsaws, this review praises the Festool PSB300 EQ jigsaw for smooth cuts and a compact ...

Woodworker's Journal: This review tests both the barrel-grip and D-handled versions of the Festool jigsaw, judging them "at the top of the class in ...

Popular Woodworking: Based on evaluations of blade-changing ease as well as tests of power and cutting quality, the Festool PSB300 EQ shares top ...

Journal of Light Construction: Testing the Festool Trion jigsaw on a range of cuts and woods, lead construction carpenter Victor Rasilla finds that even cuts ...

New Woodworker: Evaluating both handle versions of the Festool, Esposito is amazed at the power. "Using one of Festool's exclusive FSG blades, ...

Benchmark: Reviewing the D-handled version of the Festool Trion jigsaw, woodworker Phil Bumbalough says blade changes on the Festool jigsaw ...

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Best cordless jigsaw overall

Makita LXT BJV180

*Est. $390 Compare Prices

Cordless jigsaws are convenient, but the best models are more expensive than a corded jigsaw. Reviews praise the lithium-ion-powered 18-volt Makita cordless jigsaw for its 6.1-pound weight and fine ergonomics, along with… a long runtime, an LED light and a 25-minute charger. Lithium-ion batteries are light, compact and environmentally friendly. They also hold a charge longer between uses – up to five times longer than NiMH or Ni-Cad batteries. The jigsaw warranty is for three years, and the battery is covered for one year.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Toologics.com: This brief review of the Makita BJV180 lithium-ion-powered cordless jigsaw shows some evidence of testing, noting that the switch ...

PopularMechanics.com: This brief review really just announces specifications for the Makita lithium-ion-powered cordless jigsaw, but a reader also ...

Amazon.com: The sole review of the Makita LXT BJV180 lithium-ion jigsaw here gives it a perfect five-star rating, calling it "the cat's meow" ...

Power Tools for Geeks: Although this review is dated before Makita added a jigsaw to its lithium-ion-powered cordless tool line, tool geek Brian Mark ...

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Best value, cordless jigsaw

Bosch 52318

*Est. $235 Compare Prices

The 18-volt Bosch 52318 jigsaw lacks an LED light, has a maximum speed much lower than that of the Makita cordless drill above, and uses Ni-Cad batteries rather than lithium-ion. However, reviews give the Bosch 52318… jigsaw high scores for smooth cutting power and easy blade changes – ejecting the hot blade without any need to touch it. The jigsaw itself carries a three-year warranty, while the batteries have a warranty of two years.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Tools of the Trade: Comparing five cordless jigsaws at job sites and in the workshop, this review rates the Bosch 52318 best for its smooth cuts, ...

Journal of Light Construction: Carpentry crew leader Ross Welsh tests five 18-volt cordless jigsaws at job sites and in the workshop. The Bosch 52318 is the ...

Builder News: This review compares the cordless Bosch 52318 with the corded Freud FJ85 jigsaw, finding that the Bosch cuts 30 feet of 3/4-inch ...

Woodworker's Journal: Woodworker's Journal compares four cordless jigsaws by setting up a booth at the Minnesota Woodworking Show and inviting visitors ...

Amazon.com: A handful of owners review the Bosch 52318 cordless jigsaw here, giving a near-perfect average rating. The only negative reviewer ...

New Woodworker: Testing the Bosch 18-volt cordless jigsaw on "every thickness and species of wood" he could find, woodworker Tom Hintz writes ...

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	Bosch 1587AVSP Progressor Top-Handle Jig Saw Kit from Amazon.com New: $254.00 $129.99 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Bosch JS5 5.7 Amp Jig Saw from Amazon.com New: $191.00 $135.95 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Milwaukee 6268-21 6.5 amp Top Handle Jig Saw from Amazon.com New: $296.00 $146.00 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Ryobi Orbital-Scrolling Jig Saw with Laser Kit JS550LK from Amazon.com New: Average Customer Review:

Jigsaws: Reviews

Best-value corded jigsaw

Basic corded jigsaw

No-frills jigsaw

Best corded jigsaw overall, but expensive

Best cordless jigsaw overall

Best value, cordless jigsaw