Jigsaw purchase

I have received some Lowe's gift cards for my birthday and plan to use them to buy a jigsaw. Everything I read about the Bosch 1590 is great but my hands are kinda small and that is a pretty big chunk of tool.

I was looking at the Hitachi jigsaw today. It has a little less power and reqires a hex wrench to rotate the sole. It fit my hand a lot better, but I have not seen any reviews of it. Do any of you have any experience with it?

Dick Durbin

Reply to
Olebiker
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Check out the Bosch 1591 barrel grip. that's the one Norm uses. I like mine a lot.

Reply to
Dave

Can we all say, "Cheapskate"?

Lew

Reply to
Lew Hodgett

Maybe the 1590's size would be an advantage - with the extra weight and just the "substantial-ness" of the tool, as well as how smooth it runs and cuts, it doesn't jump around or require as much guidance as my old B&D did. You don't need to push down on it or anything, just kind of direct where you want it to go, and it does so smoothly and without "complaining". I'd reconsider, and at least try the 1590 (or 1591) if you can. Andy

Reply to
Andy

I'll ditto the 1591 Barrel grip version. I have pretty small hands as well and the barrel grip works just fine. It's, I hope, the last Jigsaw I buy. Cheers, cc

Reply to
James "Cubby" Culbertson

For the most part, you get what you pay for. So, decide the features/quality you want and what you can justify paying. Then the most important thing is how a tool feels to you. If the Hitachi feels good, buy it. I have never seen it, but am willing to bet that the people who own it like it. It may not be as good as the Bosch, but is probably cheaper; so it represents an equal value.

Reply to
Toller

Unfortunately, the OP indicated he wants to use Lowe's coupons. Lowes does not sell the 1591.

Bob

Reply to
bluemax1811-newsgroups

I've used both the barrel grip and the top handle versions. I prefer the top handle. I suspect that a small handed person would too.

Reply to
bridger

Actually, it's unproven yet that such is the case. In years past, he's used three iterations of barrel grip Bosches, but the single instance of the new Bosch in the 2005 season (Episode 1708) was too fleeting (at least to my eye) to categorically assert whether it was a 1590 or

1591. The fronts of both saws are indistinguishable from one another and the front is all one could see in that episode.

Now if someone happened to see him using the saw by watching the shop shots during filming and would let me know which it was, I'd be happy to back away from my assessment.

Reply to
LRod

I agree. That barrel grip saw is incredible. You can make an easy S cut in a 2x10 and be pretty much square along the cut edge.

If you have doubts, go to amazon.com and read the reviews.

I really took advantage of the angle cuts you are able to do with it. Also, you can adjust the speed, the blower, and the aggressiveness of the cut (how much it moves forward each stroke).

Holding it by the motor gives you much better control with no carpal tunnel moves of the wrist.

Jeff

Reply to
astutesolutions

That certainly sounds reasonable if you have small hands. Seems the barrel grip would be a bit hard to grasp for some one with small hands. I have pretty large hands and still small the top handle. When I was about 10 my father owned an old Sun Beam Saber saw that was ALL metal and a barrel grip. That sucker would get too hot to hold. When I finally saw a top handle style I found that it was not as hot to handle for long periods. Now that every thing is plastic I doubt that the heat is as much of a factor anymore.

Reply to
Leon

I wonder if they offer more choices on line.

Reply to
Leon

Lowes can order anything you want from a current vendor's lineup - but you DO have to wait for their next ship to come in. And good luck finding anyone qualified to read the catalog and successfully _place_ the order. The help around here has degenerated into $5.75/hr. warm bodies. And if it's a non-stock item, expect to pay a premium.

With that said, I love my Bosch Jigsaw - the feel of precision and balance are hard to beat. The first time I used it, I could have kicked myself for waiting so long to replace my existing jigsaws - which both suck and will be gleefully placed in our next Garage Sale. (One of which is an ancient B&D with a metal case - and as Leon points out, it get's so hot you can't hold it - same with the same era sheet sander.)

Greg G.

Reply to
Greg G

Lew wrote: "Can we all say, "Cheapskate"? "

Why? The money isn't the problem. It's the size of the saw.

Reply to
Olebiker

Don't know about Lowes, but I do know that HomeDepot does NOT accept giftcards for payment of online or catalog orders - and only have the 1590 on the shelf, the 1591 is ONLY listed online and in the catalog - and at least the local HD will NOT special order the 1591 for instore purchase

John

Reply to
john

Lowes will order "anything" that they have access to....

They have been and rema> Unfortunately, the OP indicated he wants to use Lowe's coupons. Lowes

Reply to
Pat Barber

I went back to Lowe's today and played with the 1590 and, in spite of its mass, it has more features that I really like than anything else out there. I am going to save the gift cards for another day, though. I ordered the Bosch online tonight for $133 including shipping. Lowe's price was $169 plus tax.

Reply to
Olebiker

You won't regret it. Even if it didn't have *any* features, it's still be a winner. There's virtually no vibration and it cuts oak like my old B&D POS cut

1/4" plywood.
Reply to
Mortimer Schnerd, RN

Maybe I'll give that old Skil to one of my sons-in-law.

Reply to
Olebiker

That's unfair.

People who haven't _used_ a good jigsaw just don't appreciate how much better they are.

Reply to
Andy Dingley

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