Bosch Barrel Grip vs. Trion

[mlfaber]

I am in the market for a new jigsaw and have been looking at both the Trion and the Bosch.  Does anybody have any opinions on the bosch?  I know Festool is coming out with a new model but I am not sure that I will be able to wait.  I am a big fan of Festool but also recognize that there may be a better option.  Also, the bosch appears to come in what looks like a Systainer???

http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-1591EVSL-120-Volt-Barrel-Jigsaw/dp/B004323NOG/ref=sr_1_5?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1299430501&sr=1-5

 

[VictorL]

Good saw, but PS-300 is better

Pros (for Bosch):
1. From first the glance cheaper. (see cons)
2. Slightly better saw blade support

Cons (for Bosch):
1. Bosch a little bit bigger and heavier
2. Hard to find splinter guards for this model of Bosch in the USA.
3. Box is not a systainer, so it's hard to stock
4. Lack of Festool guide rail attachments.
5. Splinter guard is harder to insert

Regards,
VictorL

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

If quality of cut matters to you, check out these two videos from YouTube. The person doing the test uses an aggressive blade on the Festool for both tests. This was done to amplify the results for the tests. In reality, you would get the best results using fine tooth blade.

Remember, you have a 30-day money-back guarantee if you want to try our jigsaw. If you're not completely satisfied, take it back for a full refund less any applicable shipping charges.

Festool v Bosch JS 2

Festool v Bosch JS 3

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

My jig saw, bosch, has a coping foot that will never come off it.

I could not justify a 300 jig saw for coping.

On that note, I would like to buy the corded barrel grip carvex. 

I actually really want to see a real one.

 

[ccarrolladams]

Truth be told, I have had a problematic relationship with hand-held electric jigsaws sine I bought my first one circa 1949.

Over the years tasks kept coming up for which a jigsaw was the lesser of several evils in my opinion. Every ten years or so I would buy a new jigsaw. I admit they did improve. Circa 2000 I bought a Bosch with a barrel grip, because I had just returned from a month in Europe where a good friend coached me using such a jigsaw under the work, allowing excellent visualization of the cut. His left hand supported the knob while his right hand directed the cut by controlling the barrel. Back home in California the jigsaw I first found like that was the Bosch.

I started buying Festools in January 2006. What I cannot remember is the year I bought my Trion PS PS 300 EQ. Used in the European way it worked for me better than the Bosch, and for a jigsaw the Trion had good dust extraction.

Personally I have yet to use my PS 300 with a guide rail, but I have seen other people doing so. As for my old Bosch, in 2008 I gave it to my youngest son who had just purchased his first house. He tells me it serves him well.

 

[Brice Burrell]

Another Bosch owner here, very good value for me.  If you can hang on for a few months you could get the Carvex or pickup a nice used Trion when guys start upgrading.

 

[Joe Smith]

I do not have the Festool Trion, but I do have the Bosch JS470, it is a new model that recently came out.
http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-JS470E-120-Volt-7-0-Amp-Top-Handle/dp/B004323NPK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299433717&sr=8-1

It does everything that I can throw at it. Zero negatives for performance.  I also have the dust attachment hooked to it and use my CT33 with it, minimal dust.

I seriously considered the Festool, but I got the Bosch as a gift from my wife and did not want to return it and tell her I had to double the price on the Festool. 

I would seriously consider the Carvex if I were you, but that all depends on what you use it for and what would suit your needs the best.

 

[Holzhacker]

I've had a Bosch for decades and the Trion for the last 3+ years. Here's how I break it up.
I don't use the Bosch too much since getting the Trion. For rough stuff I use the Bosch, for finer work I use the Trion. As an overall jigsaw I would recommend the Trion. It's lighter, easier to handle and just feels better to use. I wouldn't recommend buying the Trion based on DC. Standard DC is no better than any other tool. To get good DC you have to put the plastic cover on, once you put that thing on your sight line is gone. That is the really one bad thing about the Trion, the sight line blows, but maybe that's just me.
Overall, I'd say buy the Trion. However at this point I would say don't buy the Trion. Buy the Bosch, save some money towards buying a Carvex come June.
Good luck

 

[Guy Ashley]

I have owned both the Trion and the now the Carvex and the Carvex has developed and the downsides to the Trion have gone.

I know you are eager to get a replacement jigsaw but if there is anyway you can hold out till the Carvex hits NAINA land do.

Buy a "temporary" off Ebay or Craigs List, the Carvex is awesome and worth the wait.

Four years since I owned a Bosch so can't comment on that option.

 

[GhostFist]

the carvex looks really promising but my main concern is the bevel base. How much does this attachment add to the price of the saw? When the base is set to an obtuse angle to cut a bevel that's not on the edge of the workpiece, how is the balance and support for the tool? I know we still don't have a price here in NA but I'd really like to know how much more this guy is hiked up over the Trion.

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

the carvex looks really promising but my main concern is the bevel base. How much does this attachment add to the price of the saw? When the base is set to an obtuse angle to cut a bevel that's not on the edge of the workpiece, how is the balance and support for the tool? I know we still don't have a price here in NA but I'd really like to know how much more this guy is hiked up over the Trion.

I don't have pricing information to share but want to address the questions about the base.  First, there will be a base set that can be purchased which will include 4 bases as I recall, much the same way as the base set for the OF 2200 router. This will be the most economical option if you want more than one base. The bevel base is wider that the standard base, providing more support for situations like the one you describe. Also, there are pre-tapped holes, so you can add your own fabricated extensions to that base if you need additional support.

Hope that helps answer your questions.

 

[Julian Tracy]

Any good Bosch dealer has inserts.  They're on Amazon for god's sake.

No big deal inserting them.

Nobodys mentioned the biggest reason that the Bosch is an equal if not better value.  On the Trion, every time you switch to a different thickness blade, you have to manually adjust the lower blade guides with an Allen wrench to match the blade thickness.

With the Bosch, a one-click button closes the guides to the blade in a self-adjusting manner, and they automatically open when releasing the blade.

Systainer?  Buy one - you'll still be $100 cheaper than a Trion.
Guide rail?  Who uses a jigsaw on a guide rail and why would you?  Plus, very easy to modify the Trion's guide rail adapter to work with the Bosch.  I modified mine to work with a laminate trimmer...

If you want your tools to match, more power to you, but don't pretend it's really worth the premium over the Swiss-made Bosch.

Most times, most Festool's - worth it.  Not this time.

Julian

 

[meatman]

I have owned and used many makes and types of jig saw during my working life
I have owned 2 Bosh jig saws with both sorts of grips
1 Hitachi with the barrel grip, still running and was my favourite jig saw
1 Atlas Copco with the barrel grip, still running I didn't like this jig saw very much it is uncomfortable to use as you can't see what your cutting very easily
I January I bought the new Carvex the systaner set with all the bases.
In my opinion I bought to many bases I'm not sure I if I will ever use them all.  The angled base is fantastic and very easy to set up and use
The Carvex jig saw is now my new favourite. It just so easy to use.
I also do most of my work with the jig saw upside down mainly cutting scribes in hard wood this saw just eats it up I love it.

 

[chrisrosenb]

I have both Bosch & Festool Trion jigsaws. I very seldom use the Bosch jigsaw since getting the Trion. When I do use the Bosch, I cut metal with it.
The reason I prefer the Festool saw is for the reasons you stated above.
It is easy to find accessories for the Festool jigsaw & the dust collection is much better.
I have not seen the Carvex, but I hope to get a hands on look at one later this month at Festool training.

 

[mlfaber]

Any good Bosch dealer has inserts.  They're on Amazon for god's sake.

No big deal inserting them.

Nobodys mentioned the biggest reason that the Bosch is an equal if not better value.   On the Trion, every time you switch to a different thickness blade, you have to manually adjust the lower blade guides with an Allen wrench to match the blade thickness.

With the Bosch, a one-click button closes the guides to the blade in a self-adjusting manner, and they automatically open when releasing the blade.

Systainer?  Buy one - you'll still be $100 cheaper than a Trion.
Guide rail?  Who uses a jigsaw on a guide rail and why would you?  Plus, very easy to modify the Trion's guide rail adapter to work with the Bosch.  I modified mine to work with a laminate trimmer...

If you want your tools to match, more power to you, but don't pretend it's really worth the premium over the Swiss-made Bosch.

Most times, most Festool's - worth it.  Not this time.

Julian

I am not so concerned that my tools match and I am not a professional.  I do, however, understand quality and performance of really nice stuff.  I own plenty of Festool but am really having a hard time paying $300.00 plus dollars for a Jigsaw.  I would wait for the Carvex but something tells me this will be even more expensive.  Although, I think Brice had a good point of folks wanting to sell their Trions???  Julian, you bring up an excellent point with the blade mechanism.  I tend to use multiple blades and am not sure I would want to constantly keep adjusting the guides.  The systainer is not as important, it just appeared to be a copy???  Two things are important, not made in China and quality of cut.  However, how much better could the Trion be???

 

[nehardwoodfloors]

Forgot to mention the better line of sight on the Bosch.

I bought a trion and soon returned it. As soon as I realized that I already owned the best jigsaw. Bosch.

Love festools but I gotta go Bosch until carvex comes out.

 

[vkumar]

I wont get into the merits of spending less for Bosch vs Festool. But I will talk about the blade thickness adjustments on both saws. The goal of this blade adjustment is to prevent blade drift, so that when you want to get a 90 degree cut you get that

On the Bosch the blade adjustment is using a spring adjustment (stiff spring)-- the blade wander is as good as the stiffness of the spring and your heavy handedness.

On the Festool the adjustment is with an screw using a wrench, so that it is virtually impossible for the blade to wander and give off 90 degree cuts.

That in essence the difference between the 2 saws, plus the ease of inserting the zero clearance inserts.

I would like to get a Carvex if the price is comparable tot the Trion to replace my Bosch.

Vijay

 

[junk731]

Has anyone done a comparison cutting material in the 3" to 5" range with the Bosch? I know from personal experience the Trion can easily cut 3 1/2" accurately, just curious how the Bosch works in the thicker stuff.

John

 

[Julian Tracy]

That's like some old school guy saying the recip and jigsaws that required a allen screw and wrench to attach the blade are better than the spring loaded quick-release blades catches of modern models.

Much like modern quick-release blade mechanisms use springs to activate a mechanical interlock, I'd be willing to bet the lower blade guides on the Bosch are of a similar design.

To offer up that the antiquated manual blade adjust is better is silly and you might as well be using a jigsaw from the 70's.

Either way, I've yet to find a jigsaw I'd use for anything precise anyways, so the whole conversation is somewhat moot.  And I've had two Trion saws.  I can tell you as a fact that I don't care what jigsaw you use and what blade, there are very few combinations that will yield a perfect 90 degree edge when cutting a 3" radius on 1 1/2" thick built-up particle board counter top stock.

JT

 

[vkumar]

Steve at the Festool training center in Las Vegas demonstrated that very thing to us by cutting a counter top that was 1-1/2 inch thick and showed a perfect 90 degree.  You could say that it was Steve's skill, but many of us tried it and got similar results. Seeing is believing.  Till I saw this I also used to think there was no difference between the Bosch and Festool.

Vijay