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recommend a barrel-grip jigsaw

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malibu101

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I like your choice. :thumbup:
I really like the orbital action when cutting wood. Especially thicker wood. My old one did not have the orbital.
The speed control is great also as compared to my old on/off switch.

I could go on and on gushing about how much I like mine. I'm glad I stepped away from Milwaukee for this tool.
 

demographic

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When does orbital action help me?

Far faster cutting of plywood and generally first fix carpentry items.
Don't use the orbital action when cutting metal or on something where the splinters show on the finished (second fix) item.

I've just realised that you already have it and like using it now. My fault for not reading the whole thread.
 

ricleh

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Fein ASte 638

10_800x600.jpg

It's not really fair to compare any of the other barrel jig saws to this Fein. The Fein is so much superior that there is simply no comparison.
 

carbon

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I have the bosch 1591EVSL, and you've made me curious...why is the Fein better?
 
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ricleh

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You would know in about 10 seconds after using the Fein. Be happy with the Bosch though. Fein stopped selling that jig saw in North America about 5 years ago I believe.
 

carbon

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You would know in about 10 seconds after using the Fein. Be happy with the Bosch though. Fein stopped selling that jig saw in North America about 5 years ago I believe.

Is it smoother, or quieter, or? Just wondering.
 

ricleh

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Much smoother than any other jig saw I have ever tried. Fine Woodworking magazine did a test 10 or 15 years ago on jig saws. One of the testers put a dime on its side on the Fein while it was running at top speed and the dime did not fall over. Their conclusion was that the Fein jig saw was the best they had ever seen. Only the price was a deterrent. If you research Fein you will find that they use better materials (copper, steel, iron, etc) in their manufacturing process. They also wind their motors differently and therefore get better efficiency from their electric motors. They just make their tools in a different manner than other power tool manufacturers. Their tools are not cheap, but they are better than any other power tools I have ever used.
 

Monte

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They (Fein) also don´t compete in the "price war" of the other companies and don´t have to match competitors prices or certain retail prices like 149.99 or 199.99 or so. They don´t have to engineer a product which fulfill these price requirements so they can produce a longer lasting superior quality product and add the price tag after the engineering and not before.
The quality can be seen, for example if you look at their drills with their precision Rohm chucks with better runout than any competitor. Every tool which leaves the factory is also thoroughly tested and not only every 5th or 10th product that´s why you don´t hear of any problems with Fein products. Fein also has a vast amount of experience in manufacturing power tools (since 1895) and is one of the few manufacturers who not only make power tools for tradesman but also industrial power tools for assembly lines ("Akkutec" range: http://www.fein.de/en_uk/automotive/industrial-volume-assembly/ ) as well for industrial production like foundries ("High-Frequency" range: http://www.fein.de/media/catalog/18841695210-en_uk.pdf )
All of their products are also "Made in Germany" (except the vacuum (Italy), cordless drills and the newer line of magnetic core drills (obviously made by their subsidiary "Jancy Engineering" in the USA))

here some pics from inside the Fein factory:
http://www.werkzeug-news.de/de/bran...eeting-874/fein-betriebsbesichtigung-875.html
 

rlitman

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The quality can be seen, for example if you look at their drills with their precision Rohm chucks with better runout than any competitor.

Ummm, both of my Dewalt 18V drills came with Rohm chucks. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Actually, this is why I bought the "hammer" versions of the same drills.
I'd be happier without the added weight/parts of that useless hammer function since I only use my SDS drills for drilling masonry, but the hammer drills come with the better chucks.

I've got two Rohm 3-jaw chucks for my Unimat III lathe, and their precision is unbelievable. In both, I can chuck a straight piece of drill rod, and measure the runout to under 0.0001" with my 3" 3-dial Starrett indicator, open the chuck, rotate the rod any angle, close the chuck, and still be in the same place! This should be impossible, yet I can repeat it again and again.
I have a full collet set for this lathe with a custom closer, but with the 3-jaw chucks so impossibly precise, I hardly use the collets.
My 3-jaw and 6-jaw Buck chucks in my larger lathe (which are considered the best in the industry), can't even repeat this feat, even though they've got adjustment screws where you can nudge the center like you can with a 4-jaw.
 
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BreeStephany

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I would have to agree with the majority here. Talk to almost any professional carpenter and more than likely they will tell you they have a Bosch. I have found them to be of good quality construction, and overall, are definitely the most comfortable jigsaw I have ever used.
 

Monte

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rlitman

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I was thinking of these "drill press type" chucks mounted with a morse taper.

I have one of those in a tailstock, and know of a few installed in drill presses. Yeah, those are sweet indeed.

Funny thing is, I've never even seen a Fein scrollsaw in use, but I see a lot of Festool barrel grip jigsaws around here. You really think the Fein is better than that?

For myself, I've got the Bosch 1590 top handle, but only because I got it so cheap. I'd gladly trade in that trigger for a barrel grip any day of the week.
 

Monte

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Funny thing is, I've never even seen a Fein scrollsaw in use, but I see a lot of Festool barrel grip jigsaws around here. You really think the Fein is better than that?.
Fein is more the specialist for metal working tools, the jig saws for example don´t have a moveable base plate so you can only make 90 degree cuts and the saw don´t has a quick change blade mechanism and no orbital action. The common jigsaws for wood workers are Festool, Mafell, Metabo, Makita... etc... Jig saws for wood working also have a higher stroke like 25 or 26mm while the Fein only has 19mm.
So for metal working i would choose the Fein, for wood working the Festool Trion or Mafell P1cc

For myself, I've got the Bosch 1590 top handle, but only because I got it so cheap. I'd gladly trade in that trigger for a barrel grip any day of the week.
Bosch makes nice barrel grip jig saws, readily available at any store :D
 

JayL

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carbon

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I have tried both. I kept the 1591. The JS470EB has a problem...you can't get it to not oscillate, even if it's set on 0. This means if you overcut on the bottom of your piece, even if you stop on your "stop" line above.
 

Monte

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The new model has a automatic precision control so you don´t have to push any button. The "wheels" adjust the blade automatically in the center. It´s also lighter and slimmer.
So maybe i would choose the newer model, the spare parts situation will be better too because the other saw is discontinued and it´s even cheaper it seems. And still swiss made.

dewalt190.jpg

dewalt192.jpg
 

JayL

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The new model has a automatic precision control so you don´t have to push any button. The "wheels" adjust the blade automatically in the center. It´s also lighter and slimmer.
So maybe i would choose the newer model, the spare parts situation will be better too because the other saw is discontinued and it´s even cheaper it seems. And still swiss made.

dewalt190.jpg

dewalt192.jpg

Is the equivalent model out in the US market already?

Thanks
 

JayL

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I have tried both. I kept the 1591. The JS470EB has a problem...you can't get it to not oscillate, even if it's set on 0. This means if you overcut on the bottom of your piece, even if you stop on your "stop" line above.

Looks like one JS470EB reviewer in Amazon was also saying the same thing.

Has Bosch not yet corrected this on their newer production for this jigsaw?

Thanks for the feedback.
 
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