Jigsaws unplugged

Bosch 52318 18-volt jigsaw

One of the smoothest-running saws in the group, and at 92 dB, the Bosch jigsaw was also one of the quieter tools in the test. It ran smoothly with minimal vibration, even at maximum power. The saw has a smooth speed-control trigger for precise cuts at slow speeds when needed. Testers found the Bosch to have the best blade-change system for both speed and ease of use. The blade is simply inserted into the collet, where it locks automatically; no lever or button is required. To remove the blade, simply swing a front-mounted lever over and the blade is automatically ejected. When you need an aggressive cut, this saw can be adjusted to the maximum orbital setting-cutting twice as fast with no noticeable increase in roughness and only minimal tearout. The sole provides a lot of support around the blade; as well, it has a removable, non-marring, plastic sole cover. Testers loved the one-hour charger that senses battery temperature before charging. Overall, this excellent tool has outstanding speed, smoothness and accuracy with great linear power when cutting through a variety of materials.

Test results:

Price: $400
Battery/charger: Included
Battery/charger: Nicad
Blade change: Excellent
Variable speed: Excellent
Operating smoothness: Excellent
Orbital blade action: Excellent
Bevel adjustment: Good
Ease of cutting: Excellent
Sole design: Excellent
Contact: www.boschtools.com; 800-387-8304