Festool Jigsaw

[Bob Marino]

Bob,

Are any of the thicker blades included in the blade assortment?

I'm not Bob, but...  Yes, there are 7 of the S 75/4 FSG blades in the assortment.  The FSG are the thicker blades.

BTW - you can use Festool blades in Bosch saws and vice versa.

Thanks Dave!

Bob

 

[chrisrosenb]

Bob,

Are any of the thicker blades included in the blade assortment?

I'm not Bob, but...  Yes, there are 7 of the S 75/4 FSG blades in the assortment.  The FSG are the thicker blades.

BTW - you can use Festool blades in Bosch saws and vice versa.

Thanks Dave,
I have been using the Bosch blades in the Festool jigsaw. That is one of the reasons I am very impressed with the saw. It cuts so much better than the Bosch, using the same blades.
I just discovered that one of the FSG blades came with the saw. I had not even looked at them as I wanted to do a comparason with the blades I have been using.

Thanks Bob.

Chris

 

[Dave Ronyak]

I have one of the newest bosch jigsaws and it is a good saw but cutting material thicker than .75" you rarely get it to cut square.

Then I suggest that you try a few Makita blades in your Bosch.  I purchased a Makita jigsaw a couple of years ago because most of the work I was doing seemed to be in low light situations (building a deck in the evenings/nights), and I liked the relatively smaller size and LED light that shines on the cutting edge of the blade, and the cost was about the same as a Bosch unit.  Makita included a small assortment of their blades, which have the same bayonet mount as is used by Bosch and Festool.  I have found their blades to cut very square, even in 2X stock.  In fact for cutting 2X ACQ lumber, I prefer Makita's blades to the Festool products.

Dave R.

 

[Mike_Chrest]

Eli,
 

The blade guides are supposedly what keep the blade square, not the blade itself.

The newer model Bosch has very similar lower blade guides : (Somebody copied) and I have the older Bosch so I am curious if more ridgid blades would bring the new Bosch close to the Festool in square cutting ability. So anyone with a new Bosch and a Triton want to compair?
Mike

 

[bruegf]

Mike,

I should be able to do a comparison once my jigsaw arrives as my Dad as two Bosch jigsaws, both a newer style and an older one.

Fred

 

[Mike_Chrest]

Fred,
  Woo hoo. A real tool review ;D

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Hoover]

Bob,

Are any of the thicker blades included in the blade assortment?

I'm not Bob, but...  Yes, there are 7 of the S 75/4 FSG blades in the assortment.  The FSG are the thicker blades.

BTW - you can use Festool blades in Bosch saws and vice versa.

David,

Just to confirm something with the festool blades.  The 75 in the number stands for the length of the blade and does the 4 stand for the thickness?  I assume this is the case but I just want to make sure I'm interpreting it correctly.  Thanks.

 

[AZSportsFan]

Mike,

I should be able to do a comparison once my jigsaw arrives as my Dad as two Bosch jigsaws, both a newer style and an older one.

Fred

Did this review ever happen, Fred?

Just curious.

Brad

 

[bruegf]

Not yet,  just received the saw yesterday, but somehow accidently ordered the d-handle version instead of the barrel grip version, so I need to exchange it.  Still can't figure out how in the world I did that since the website actually has the picture of the saw next to the add to cart button.  Fortunately, Bob is a great guy to deal with and there's no problem getting it exchanged.

A mind is a terrible thing to waste.....  but, I get better at it every day. 

Fred

 

[Frans]

David,

Just to confirm something with the festool blades.  The 75 in the number stands for the length of the blade and does the 4 stand for the thickness?  I assume this is the case but I just want to make sure I'm interpreting it correctly.  Thanks.

I'm not David, but the 75 is indeed the length (in millimeters) of the cutting part of the blade. The 4 is the size of the teeth in millimeters.

Frans

 

[Bill in seattle]

as my eyes get fuzzier with age I have found that enlarging the slot in the chipguard at the bottom about 1/8'' wider gives me much better view of the blade and cut line without sacrificing dust collection ability. I used a rotary tool and took off some plastic on each side till I got a good view. If I find a camera I'll post a pic. 
also a note on the blades, there are four blades s75/4fs 486549, s75/4fsg 486551 s105/4fsg 486552,  s145/4fsg 490256 that are made specifically for cutting at precise angles and square. they are thicker and resist flexing which gives them the ability to due this.
The s75/4fs  is a hollow ground (tooth set in) which makes better strait cuts and finer finishes vrs the others are tooth set out and better for curves/radius work.  let the blade do the work and don't force it on thicker woods with the longer blades for best results.
a helpful note when changing between blades is to check the blade guide set. it is adjustable using the allen in the base. if you go to a thicker blade and they are set to tight, the guides being carbide,  will quickly heat up the blade and cause it to bend backwards. I've seen them turn red hot and fold back.( not good)and then conversely, if they are set to loose and you put in a thin blade they  will allow the blade to flex and result in a poor cut. Set the guides to be snug but not allow binding, a little lite bluing on the blade is normal, but black is a tad tight.
not many people realize this fine feature on festool jigsaws, this is another thing I believe sets them apart from others. check it out next time you cut with it and it might help following the line even easier.
Bill

 

[Eli]

The blade guide adjustment is a good tip. I wouldn't have thought to check. Now I won't smoke a blade. Thanks Bill.

 

[Mike_Chrest]

check the blade guide set. it is adjustable using the allen in the base

This might explain why people find the Triton cuts more squarely than the Bosch. I think the lower guides on the Bosch are spring loaded instead of fixed. So they are self adjusting but not as rigid.

 

[Lancashire Fusilier]

check the blade guide set. it is adjustable using the allen in the base

This might explain why people find the Triton cuts more squarely than the Bosch. I think the lower guides on the Bosch are spring loaded instead of fixed. So they are self adjusting but not as rigid.

Triton? Triton? what??

 

[Ned]

Triton? Triton? what??

Puzzled me for a moment, too.  I think it should be Trion, as in "Festool jigsaw".

Ned

 

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Yeah gathered that too. Freudian slips perhaps?

 

[Mike_Chrest]

You mean the jigsaw isn't named after a Greek sea god?  ???

 

[Eli]

Actually Triton does make a (monster) jigsaw here in AUS, but I'm sure that wasn't really what he was talking about.

 

[Mike_Chrest]

Oh. OK. Eli's right. I couldn't figure why all the confusion about a typo. I forgot about the big orange tools from Oz. Getting senile.