I have the same router. It has seen almost daily use and has not gotten sticky, but I do wipe it off at the end of the day. I would clean it and use silicon. As far as festool, they make the best tools by far. The Jig saw a very nice tool. Only the Bosch comes close. I have the jig saw and also the skill saw. If I had to get a new router I would buy Festool. Aside from being very nice tools, the they all use the same guide rail and have good dust collection.
Does that Festool jigsaw come with a built in computer or a hands free mechanism? That's quite a bit of coin.
I did look at the Bosch equivalent of the Festool before I bought the DeWalt.
I did look at the Bosch equivalent of the Festool before I bought the DeWalt.
Cal,
Festool, at $280 +-, is pretty sporty. I am going to give it a look after golf tomorrow but it has a lot of justifying to do at that price. It is a fine item but...... I think the Bosch and DeWalt will be difficult to beat considering price.
I also am thinking of purchasing a bench top table saw and a bench top drill press. Do you have any experience with either?
Festool, at $280 +-, is pretty sporty. I am going to give it a look after golf tomorrow but it has a lot of justifying to do at that price. It is a fine item but...... I think the Bosch and DeWalt will be difficult to beat considering price.
I also am thinking of purchasing a bench top table saw and a bench top drill press. Do you have any experience with either?
If you can afford it, the DeWalt bench top table saw is excellent. I've run one for about 5 years, never had any problems, and if it gets a knock in the back of the truck, it has all the adjustments required to easily square it up again.
Ray,
Go for the Bosch. I own the 1590 now... had a 1587 before that gave 15 years solid before being stolen. These tools are smooth as glass.
I am not saying that Festool is not a fine machine. But it can't be $100 better than the Bosch...
$100 will buy alot of wood... or beer when you make a bad cut.
😉
Go for the Bosch. I own the 1590 now... had a 1587 before that gave 15 years solid before being stolen. These tools are smooth as glass.
I am not saying that Festool is not a fine machine. But it can't be $100 better than the Bosch...
$100 will buy alot of wood... or beer when you make a bad cut.
😉
The table top saw I have is an OEM from Canadian Tire. Can't remember who makes it. Cheap. I'm sure others have better opinions of their's.
The only drill press I have owned is one of those stands that holds a hand drill.
The only drill press I have owned is one of those stands that holds a hand drill.
I think one of the things to consider when buying tools is how much are you going to use it? I use my tools every day for work, so some of the little differences end up being a big difference for me. The festool jig saw makes the bosch seem expensive, but most people would think the bosch is over priced. As far as table saws, I have a very old makita that has worked very well for me. If I had to get a new one today I would get a bosch. The newer makitas seem pretty nice as well.
You are very right...
My neighbors thought I was nuts when I paid $180 for the Bosch.
Now they each have their own jigsaw... but, they come over to borrow mine. I tell them that they are welcome, but that I am out of blades. I make a thoughful recommendation as to what type of blade would work best for their job.
The jigsaw comes back to me with a blade and 4 extras!
😉 😀 😀 😀 😀
My neighbors thought I was nuts when I paid $180 for the Bosch.
Now they each have their own jigsaw... but, they come over to borrow mine. I tell them that they are welcome, but that I am out of blades. I make a thoughful recommendation as to what type of blade would work best for their job.
The jigsaw comes back to me with a blade and 4 extras!
😉 😀 😀 😀 😀
I wonder occasionally about the present state of handtool manufacturing. Many tools are made in China to oem specs. That, I assume in most cases, means the brand holder that we've come to rely upon has specified certain tolerances and glass-filled polycarbonates and aluminum alloys and sealed bearings and long-lived brushes, etc, etc.
If the overseas manufacturer meets spec, then we're all happy (and one would hope that all this happiness extends to the day laborer who we've gainfully employed at this for subsistance wages - but at least he's employed, and not starving, and that's a big plus.. right? Ok, let's not get into that.)
..anyway, I've spent some top dollar for Milwaukee, Makita, Dewalt, and Bosch, and had the occasional breakdown that rendered the tool inoperable. Some brands are better than others with service. Even the best brands break down. Unfortunately, I know. Most assume that if you've pony'ed up such cash for their handtool, you're probably not going to shrink at the price tag for replacing a fan blade or trigger switch or somesuch as an operating cost. But what?? These are 25.00 to 100.00 dollar repairs!
I got a fifteen dollar angle grinder from Menards last year with a ten dollar mail in rebate. It's more compact and actually smoother operating than my 120.00 milwaukee, and has soldiered through some pretty withering abuse. I'd recommed it to anyone, but I have no idea what brand it is! Now I'm actually starting to look twice at those 18Volt drills in Northern Tool and Harbor Freight for 29.95. Jeez, that's half the price already of ONE replacement battery for my Milwaukee cordless (and I need to replace two of them soon if I want to stay productive).
I worked in a meat packing plant at one point in my leaner years, and I remember being a little amused by the fact that when the "el cheapo meats" production run was done for the evening, we'd change labels for the (insert your favorite top-name brand here) run, and package the exact same product. This stuff naturally happens when products get ramped up to mass marketed scales. That's a level where many of these tools are today.
Just a little to think about.
If the overseas manufacturer meets spec, then we're all happy (and one would hope that all this happiness extends to the day laborer who we've gainfully employed at this for subsistance wages - but at least he's employed, and not starving, and that's a big plus.. right? Ok, let's not get into that.)
..anyway, I've spent some top dollar for Milwaukee, Makita, Dewalt, and Bosch, and had the occasional breakdown that rendered the tool inoperable. Some brands are better than others with service. Even the best brands break down. Unfortunately, I know. Most assume that if you've pony'ed up such cash for their handtool, you're probably not going to shrink at the price tag for replacing a fan blade or trigger switch or somesuch as an operating cost. But what?? These are 25.00 to 100.00 dollar repairs!
I got a fifteen dollar angle grinder from Menards last year with a ten dollar mail in rebate. It's more compact and actually smoother operating than my 120.00 milwaukee, and has soldiered through some pretty withering abuse. I'd recommed it to anyone, but I have no idea what brand it is! Now I'm actually starting to look twice at those 18Volt drills in Northern Tool and Harbor Freight for 29.95. Jeez, that's half the price already of ONE replacement battery for my Milwaukee cordless (and I need to replace two of them soon if I want to stay productive).
I worked in a meat packing plant at one point in my leaner years, and I remember being a little amused by the fact that when the "el cheapo meats" production run was done for the evening, we'd change labels for the (insert your favorite top-name brand here) run, and package the exact same product. This stuff naturally happens when products get ramped up to mass marketed scales. That's a level where many of these tools are today.
Just a little to think about.
The Festool is a fine unit but it is simply too expensive for my weekend / occasional needs. I think the Bosch or DeWalt will probably be selected. Has anyone tried rebuilt tools....especialy the Bosch line?
Bluebeard,
Your points are valid but care must be exercised in selecting from among these Chinese offerings. Today I returned two sets of drill bits ( a brad point set and a complete index set by 1/32nds ) to Harbor Tools because of failure. I used a 1/8" brad point bit in a piece of soft pine and it snapped after 1/2" of drilling depth. I chucked the 1/8" bit from the indexed set and tried again in a different spot with the same results. Both of them sheared about 2/3rd of the way from the shank end. Caveat emptor.
Bluebeard,
Your points are valid but care must be exercised in selecting from among these Chinese offerings. Today I returned two sets of drill bits ( a brad point set and a complete index set by 1/32nds ) to Harbor Tools because of failure. I used a 1/8" brad point bit in a piece of soft pine and it snapped after 1/2" of drilling depth. I chucked the 1/8" bit from the indexed set and tried again in a different spot with the same results. Both of them sheared about 2/3rd of the way from the shank end. Caveat emptor.
Hey Ray,
Test drive the Bosch... they invented the jigsaw... really.
EDIT: you know the Bosch avtually has the exhaust cooling air directed right at the blade... it blows away the chips so you can always see your line!
😉
Test drive the Bosch... they invented the jigsaw... really.
EDIT: you know the Bosch avtually has the exhaust cooling air directed right at the blade... it blows away the chips so you can always see your line!
😉
I vote Bosch. The one thing that sets Bosch and Festool apart from other jig saws is the blade guide. It really helps guide the blade and keep it from walking like jig saws tend to do. I have never had a recon tool, but don't they have the same warranty as the new ones?
I've had a couple of reconditioned tools, most notably my Elu MOF177E router and a DeWalt 1/3 sheet sander. The warranty policy with the quality tool manufacturers is usually to exchange faulty tools for new if they're within the early part of the warranty. As often as not, the fault is very minor. The tool goes back to the factory, has the fault repaired, usually a new casing is fitted, and it goes back out for sale as reconditioned. What you get is effectively a brand new tool with a full warranty at a vastly reduced price.
I bought my router in 1997 for about half the price of the DeWalt DW625 (same machine, different colour). It has been used extensively over the years and is still going strong. The sander, I bought about three years ago - half the price of a new unit, and it has worked perfectly since purchase.
I bought my router in 1997 for about half the price of the DeWalt DW625 (same machine, different colour). It has been used extensively over the years and is still going strong. The sander, I bought about three years ago - half the price of a new unit, and it has worked perfectly since purchase.
oftentimes, at least in the States, you can purchase a "Floor model" which may be a little beat up, but comes with complete warranty -- I have a 5kW Honda generator and Black and Decker circular saw purchased at a nice discount from retail (like 40%).
poobah said:
Every jigsaw I've owned does that. I've never seen one that didn't.
eapavant said:
Most medium grade or better now have that wheel guide. I agree, it's nice not only for the wandering but it is especially helpful for providing a backing for the blade so you are able to cut that much faster.
Speaking of cutting faster, does anyone own an orbital jigsaw?
I had one that just blew the dust in your face.
The blades on the Bosch (Festool for sure as well) do more than just guide. They retract the blade to the rear during the downstroke so the blade doesn't get dull and the saw doesn't hop around.
😀
The blades on the Bosch (Festool for sure as well) do more than just guide. They retract the blade to the rear during the downstroke so the blade doesn't get dull and the saw doesn't hop around.
😀
Cal Weldon said:
Mornin' Cal,
That's what I'm talking about... they are so smooth... they deserve a better name.
😉
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