Anyone have a Makita Model 4351FCT barrel grip jig saw? Their web page says it it new but doesn’t say what is new. How is it different from the 4341FCT?
Haven’t purchased a jig saw in over 20 years. I suspect they have improved over the last few years. But then, maybe not.
All the comments I read about it are positive. Rarely use a jig saw so can’t justify a really expensive one. Any comments, positive or negative, on your jig saw(s) will be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
A bad day woodworking is better than a good day working — yes, I’m retired!
Replies
I would not use a jig-saw for around 30 years as I considered them to be literally useless as 4 brands I purchased was basically junk toys. I had to have one for a large project and the Bosch Barrel Grip was recommended to me. My company paid for it as the project was for them.
From the moment I turned it on.. after 30 years I understood how a real jig-saw preforms. It went from being the least used tool in my shop to one of the most used and for wood and metal. I have a 18" Bandsaw and 12". For stock under 1" they get over-looked and the Bosch gets the call.
Extremely accurate and a pleasure to use. I look for excuses to use it...
Save your money and get the Bosch.. I believe Amazon had the older style (which I have and love) on sale for around $100. Worth the full retail price.. much less the sale price IMO.
Good luck...
Sarge..
Sarge,Which model Bosch do you own?-mGlaucon
If you don't think too good, then don't think too much...
1584 AVS with barrel grip, Doc. Still available, but without the one touch blade change as the newer 1587. Takes about 20 seconds to change a blade before you experience the best jig-saw on the market and that includes the "you know what brand" as I have used a friends. And whatever jig-saw you get the Bosch blades are the best on the market I have found IMO, having tried about 6 different brands.
I just gave a Bosch electric drill away and sold a Bosch router combo. OK... but Hitachi gets the drill call for me and I purchased a Milwaukee 2 1/4 HP Combo kit to complement my 3 1/2 HP Milwaukee under the table. As it's big brother, the Milwaukee plunge and body grip are powerful.. precise.. easy to change bits.. very well made and a pleasure to use.
But the jig-saw? Try prying it from my hands and you wil soon discover that I have a concealed weapons permit. :>)
That info comes at no extra charge. ha.. ha... ha..ha..ha..
Edit after seeing Terry's post... The 1584 has 3 orbital speeds and I cannot comment on the finger thingies... it may be better with them but that is hard to imagine as it I am not sure how I could get a better cut. It has a roller at the bottom that won't allow the blade to wander and I have used it in up to 1 1/4" hardwood on many occasions.
And it is precise in metal cutting as I build and modify quite a few jigs. I wouldn't consider anything else to use making a template from 1/2" MDF to carry over the the Milwuakee with an over-head pattern bit for finalization.. It's good... just plain d*amn good!
Regards...
Sarge..
Edited 3/27/2008 11:18 am ET by SARGEgrinder47
Sarge,I have a 1587, which is the top-handle version of your 1584. It is a very nice tool, and the sale prices are amazing. The ones on sale are not made in Switzerland like yours and mine, however. I do not know if the quality degraded when they moved the factory, but it is something to be aware of.I resisted the 1590/91 when they came out as they seem too tall and heavy. Especially the top handle model, which is the configuration I am most familiar with.I also have the Bosch 18 volt jigsaw with the new quick change bladeholder, and it is very sweet. That tool lacks the carbide fingers of the 1590/91 and Festool, so it behaves like the older saw but with the newer quick release mechanism. Anyone considering the Festool should know that it is very nice, but has no dust blower to clear the line. It is engineered to be used with vacuum dust collection, and I suppose a dust blower would interfere with that.Bill
Interesting about them being made elsewhere now, Bill. That may and may not make a difference as long as the specs were maintained and quality control insured that. From the positive feed-back of those that have purchased recently, I doubt it in this case.
The Rigid 5600 (I believe) 6" ROS was made by Metabo. When I heard that they added an A or similar at the end... I searched 3 stores and found one without and stamped Made in W. Germany. The Oriental version may be as good as I looked at it and hard to see any difference on the surface. But not all moving parts lie on the surface? :>)
Regards...
Sarge..
Sarge, Rigid's made in Germany R2610 ROS is an excellent machine, whereas the new unit they replace it with, the R2611 that is made in China is a radically different and quite ineffective machine. Not only does it NOT sand as effectively, its dust collection capability is very poor. I made the mistake of buying a R2611 after reading on one of the forums that the 6" Rigid ROS was actually a rebadged Metabo. After taking it home and trying it out, I was really disappointed. I then more closely checked tool reviews and found that it wasn't the same model at all, and so called around to a few Home Depots until I found one that had a few of the R2610 models still available. I returned the R2611 and bought myself one of rebadged Metabos. I'm very impressed with how well it sands as well as its nearly dust-free performance, especially when hooked up to my shop vac.Marty S
http://www.martyswoodworking.ca
I looked at the Chinese version just after the switch-over Marty.. and the outside looked the same basically. Maybe a slight difference in the mill of the housing. But.. that may have changed as things evolved with HD to what you refer too.
It might be orange.. but I love the Metabo 6" (aka Rigid) and use it on anything 6" wide and wider which is most of the time. I do have a PC and Bosch 5" for the small stuff as I try not to over-lap the outside section of the pad if possible... but neither will hold a candle to the Metabo IMO.
And you are correct about the vacuum. Literally no dust from the Metabo as I hook mine to a 5.5 HP portable Shop Vac with a 2" hose. The hose tip slides right inside the 2 1/2" opening for the sander. I tried using a 6 HP with a 2 1/2" hose (which it's set up for) and I felt it had too much vacuum as the sander would almost stick to the stock with suction in my case.
The smaller hose just worked out great for me. If I had not had that particular Shop Vac on hand.. I would have just put a restrictor on the larger 2 1/2" vac to reduce the suction somewhat.
Anyway.. a great ROS by any account....
Regards...
Sarge..
Sarge, I haven't sprung for the Bosch jigsaw yet, but one thing to highlight: their blades are waaaaaayyyyyyy better than other blades. forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
There might be a better blade somewhere in the universe.. but in 6 tries to find one the Bosch still rules at my shop, FG. Enough that I would not waste time checking out any more pretenders.. :>)
70's in hot-lanta so open the doors and let the hand held router shavings fly..
Have a good day, Mrs. Jamie...
Sarge..
Sarge,
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
It's snowing up here, AGAIN!
:>)
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Getting ready to snow "green" here Bob.. if that's any consolation. Meaning pollen season is about to burst onto the scene. Hope to have finish layed with doors open soon for that reason. When it does happen, those doors get closed for 3-4 weeks as everything outside turns greenish-yellow. Our curse for a month in lieu of snow for 3-4.
Regards...
Sarge..
The curse has lasted 5 months in Ottawa. Only 1 month of Winter left. ENOUGH, Already!!
Yeah... I know you guys have had a rather harsh winter this year. It will get hot and eventually humid here.. but I don't personally see that as a problem as I don't work outside full time like some have too. In the worst scenario.. we just find a shade tree and take a nap. :>)
Regards...
Sarge..
Ron,
we just find a shade tree and take a nap. Now ain't that Sage fella just a bundle of laughs!
:>)
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Actually, 50 weeks of winter followed by 2 weeks of relatively poor skiing...Glaucon
If you don't think too good, then don't think too much...
Thanks Sarge,
So far, the Bosch barrel grip is the preferred one. I'll check it out.
Thanks again,
A bad day woodworking is better than a good day working -- yes, I'm retired!
Ditto on Sarge's comments.The Bosch barrel grip, with variable speed is one the best tools in my shop. LOML gave me a Mikita top grip as a present. It is not worth the plastic and wiring. Secretly replaced it with the Bosch and have never looked back. (I kept the Makita for rough jobs that may cause harm to the tool. This way, when she asks I can honestly say I still have/use it.)Dorsett.
Treehouse,
When we were having our house remodeled last year, I needed a jigsaw for some stuff, I somehow got talked into splurging for a Festool Trion barrel grip. Something about spending 100s of thousands on the remodel says that I deserve the best tools too. It is truly amazing, it cuts like my bandsaw! Of course, my prior experience with a jigsaw was with a horrible Craftsman that I bought for $30 some years back. Anyway, it turns out that I pulled it out quite often for things like cutting out the base for my Silestone countertops, sink cutouts, etc. I'm glad I got it. That said, the Bosch is really sweet too!
Sarge is right about the Bosch. They improved it a couple of years ago by putting those little fingers that stabilize the blade like the Festool. I think the 1591 is a variable speed and 1584 is the single speed.
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