I've gone Bosch!

Unsurpassed in the major tool manufacturer's lineup, perhaps, but I've owned DW, Bosch and Festool jigsaws - it's not even close in my opinion. Bosch does make fine tools, though.

The same way you feel about moving up to Bosch is the way I feel about moving up to Festool - why did it take me so long?!

re: "...I've always been unhappy with the motor on the left blocking your line of sight."

While that point is not really relevant to the discussion since just about every major brand offers a left-blade circular saw, I'll agree that left-blade circular saws are the better choice for right-handed people.

I switched to a PC "left-blade" circular saw many years ago. It amazing how many people - DIY-ers *and* professionals - don't realize the advantage of using a left-blade circular saw. I was helping a friend build a house and a professional framer buddy of his let me use his left-blade saw saying "Once you go left, you'll never go back."

He was so right!

I'm still all Dewalt, but ready to jump ship, I agree they do a poor job of after the sale service. I'll likely just start working another brand in rather than a revolution, but it is nice to have all the cordless tools the same brand.

Festool is another doubling in price, though. I recently bought a TS-55 and a OF1400, but my Bosch jigsaw is just fine, thank you. I also have a Dewalt rear swivel circular saw that I like a lot and will still use it for construction projects. The TS-55 is intended for breaking down sheet goods.

Unlike most Festool snobs, I don't think Festool is the end-all. ;-) Their SCMS is completely absurd.

I have both Dewalt and Bosch tools, cordless and otherwise. Both have their place. As far as service goes, can't say. I've never had to have any of them serviced. The only parts I've needed are for a PC router and that was quick and painless. That said, I'll likely buy a new SCMS in September and it'll most likely be a Bosch.

Oh great. Chop saw; Dewalt. Cordless drill; Dewalt. Circular saw; Dewalt. I was slowly switching over all my Craftsman power tools and here you're providing a warning after that horse has left the barn.

What's lacking in their after-sales support, if I might ask?

The Ranger

What's "SCMS?"

The Ranger

Sliding Compound Miter Saw

snipped-for-privacy@v23g2000vbi.googlegroups.com...

More incompetence than anything else; I bought a stand for my miter saw, I immediately needed a small part to fix it, they never could seem to grasp thatand sent several wrong parts, after they sent me the backbone for the stand, I gave up & put a couple of pop rivets into the little broken part and went on. I bought a second 18v 1/2" hammer drill with 2 batteries to start a new project so I'd have 2 1/2" drills, one of the batteries lasted only about 15 min, so I called them, & was referred to a service center 45 miles away, I'll get it there before the warranty runs out, but a decent thing would have been to send a return box, test it and send out a replacement. They don't have to do better, but the amount I've spent could and will go elsewhere.

Try installing one of these

Don't fret, Range! When I worked at LLNL, everyone knew, by heart!, the catalog P/N for the replacement 90 deg gear drive for a Bosch

Besides, ALL the professional trades ppl where I now live use DeWalt. This might be attributed to the fact DeWalt is the most carried line in the area, but not the only line. Bosch and Makita are also available. Another thing to keep in mind, we have no HD or Lowe's every 5 miles, either. When a tool fails, one is most likely going to have to wait till the next day or drive 30-50 miles for a replacement. I'd say that speaks volumes for the local faith in DeWalt tools. (otoh, ford is the most popular truck. go figure!)

nb

Bosch is very good, but who has a warranty as good a Ridgid, nobody, and you just walk a tool in for service, they even have a lifetime warranty on batteries. My electric tools , about 17 of them are US made Porter Cable, my new tools and cordless are Hds Ridgid and nothing has broke in 4-5 years. If your Bosch breaks you likely mail it in, not with Ridgid, that service policy cant be beat.

Try installing one of these

I've already told you how much I love Bosch. Until something comes along to change my mind, I'll continue to love Bosch. And, I doubt a washer part will do it because I call the appliance man.

I think most of that is because Bosch might be a little out of the price range for most "average" (and I don't mean that maliciously) tradesmen. And you go figure. I was once a Pontiac, Cadillac, GMC dealer and in retirement, I drive a F-250.

BTDT on a GE. Most top-loaders have 'em. Trivial, if somewhat annoying, fix.

nb

Bosch is very good, but who has a warranty as good a Ridgid, nobody, and you just walk a tool in for service, they even have a lifetime warranty on batteries. My electric tools , about 17 of them are US made Porter Cable, my new tools and cordless are Hds Ridgid and nothing has broke in 4-5 years. If your Bosch breaks you likely mail it in, not with Ridgid, that service policy cant be beat.

I was about to start buying the Rigid brand and then read where they were made by Emerson (Craftsman) and that Emerson had been bought out by a company in China and that gave me pause. That's when I started buying Porter/Cable instead of DeWalt, only to discover that DeWalt bought Porter/Cable and they were bought by Delta, or something like that. You need a damn program to know the players these days. I've heard now that some Bosch tools are being made in China. That is disturbing. Hell, if things keep going like they are we'll be better off building with TinkerToys.

Not really. Bosch has no real price point advantage, here. Remember, I said no large discount stores. Everything here, except Walmart crap (B&D), is pretty much MSRP.

You either have never had to work on one or have all the insanely overpriced proprietary tools. I think Ford trucks are pretty reliable. Not the most, but right up there. OTOH, as a mechanic, engineering tech, and former Ford owner, I think Ford engineers are fringgin' morons and Ford has the most mechanically preposterous designs I've ever seen or worked on in my life. If I have to work on another Ford vehicle ever again, I'm charging double!!

nb

Where do you think TinkerToys are made? ;-)

AIUI, Porter Cable and Delta were bought up by Pentair about ten years ago. Pentair then sold the tool divisions off to Black and Decker, which already owned Dewalt, Bostich, Stanley, and a bunch of others. ...or something like that.

A lot of Ridgid's tools are made in the US, if you count the area around Cleveland, Ohio as part of the US. ;-)