JS470E
3.4
5
13
13
Fine addition to the shop
I have large hands, and this jigsaw accommodates them better than most. The grip is solid, comfortable and easy to handle. The only improvement would be, for me, an angled handle (lower at the back) for a more ergonomic grip.
The saw performs better than most others that I've used, though how it holds up under extended use remains to be seen.
Blade changes are easy and fast, a plus when doing production work. The blade stays true, for the most part, unless cutting curves into very thick stock. But slowing the feed helps prevent blade wander.
Overall, after just a month of use, I'm decidedly happy with my purchase.
May 13, 2013
Powerful, cuts great
Cuts great and has plenty of power and has a quality feel. The only problem I have seen is the blower does not keep clear saw dust very well.
April 21, 2013
Great tool if precision is not really your goal
First of all I like Bosch. I have had many tools from them for years. but this jigsaw just falls short. We are an aerospace firm that makes custom interiors for large (A340 Airbus and Boeing up to 747) air craft. We do multimillion dollar jobs several times a year.
We have been using these for about a year and are looking to replace them. The vertical cut ability is not always straight. When we are trimming at +/- 0.020" a perfectly vertical cut is mandatory.
Also the distance from the bottom of the foot to the top of the stroke is too far. We are cutting composite panels that have a phenolic honeycomb core. So the top and bottom are the only real cutting areas as the phenolic is so thin that it offers no resistance. What happens is in panels thicker then 0.250" using the diamond grit blades we must use it has a tendency to pull the blade too high and damaging the bottom surface.
Other than these issues which are a game changer for us. This saw is well insulated and almost vibration free. The blade changer may be the best in the industry. The build quality is very high and replacing parts has been great.
March 15, 2013
Bearing groove size is mismatched to Bosch blade thickness.
My trusty Bosch 1581VS jig saw finally died. It was a great tool. Well made and engineered. Its major virtue was the ability to cut straight or curved lines and have that cut be square! I recently purchased the JS470E to replace it and was horribly disappointed with the out of square cutting results. Upon closer inspection, I found that the bearing groove and the Bosch blade thickness were a perfect match on my Bosch 1581. However, on the JS470E, the bearing groove is much wider than the blade thickness. Therefore, the blade is free to wander all over the place and is almost impossible to control during a cut. This is very depressing, because I was really looking forward to owning another Bosch jig saw. I have returned it and am facing the grim task of finding another manufacturer's model that can measure up to my Bosch 1581VS. If this is a case of the wrong bearing having been installed on the JS470E, I would like to know that because I would still be very interested in owning another Bosch jigsaw! A response from a Bosch engineer would be appreciated. Thank you. D.B.
February 25, 2013