Two jigsaws by their makers' figures
| Specification | Bosch JS470E | DEWALT DCS334 |
|---|---|---|
| Power | Corded | Cordless, 20V MAX (18 V nominal, per DEWALT) |
| Blade system | T-shank only | T-shank only |
| Speed | 500 to 3,100 SPM | Product page: 'Maximum Speed 3200-rpm' |
| Stroke length | 1 in | Not stated |
| Orbital settings | O, I, II, III | 0, 1, 2, 3 |
| Maximum capacity in wood | 3-1/2 in | Not stated |
| Bevel | 45° either way | 45° either way |
| Dust | Blower; extraction kit sold separately | Blower; extraction shroud and chute optional |
| Clean-cut parts | Overshoe; anti-splinter insert | No-mar shoe cover; anti-splinter insert |
| Weight | Not stated in the manual | 5.07 lb assembled, tool only |
Each figure is the maker's own. DEWALT's page labels its speed 'rpm', while its manual defines SPM for strokes per minute; the figure is shown as the page gives it. A weight given without a battery is not the weight in use.
Equipment notePaid link
20V jigsaw, tool only
DEWALT DCS334B
DEWALT's DCS334 from the table above, sold as a bare tool: 20V MAX (18 V nominal), a maximum speed DEWALT gives as 3200 rpm, and 5.07 lb.
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Match the saw to the work
| If you plan to… | Compare | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Cut curves and shapes in boards | Speed control, orbital settings and the blades the clamp takes | Bosch recommends a narrow or scroll blade for tight curves; both saws take T-shank blades only |
| Get clean faces for fine work | A straight (non-orbital) setting, a shoe cover and an anti-splinter insert | Reverse-tooth and straight-tooth blades need Bosch's setting O; both makers supply an insert to reduce tear-out |
| Cut bevels | Bevel range and its detents | Both tilt 45° either way, with detents at different angles |
| Keep dust down | Whether an extraction shroud and port are available | A blower only clears the line; collection needs the maker's accessory and a vacuum |
| Work away from an outlet | A cordless saw and the maker's battery system | Voltage names a battery system; it is not a measure of cutting performance |
| Cut openings in panels | Whether the manual gives a plunge or pocket cut | Bosch and DEWALT each give one with their own conditions; otherwise drill a starter hole |
Choosing blades for woodworking
- Shank. Buy the shank your saw takes; both saws reviewed take T-shank only, and Bosch's does not accept U-shank blades.
- Which face must be clean. Bosch explains that teeth pointing up leave the bottom face clean, reverse teeth leave the top face clean, and teeth pointing straight out leave both clean; the last two need downward force and, on Bosch's saw, orbit setting O.
- Curves. Bosch recommends a narrow or scroll blade for tight curves, but not for plunge cuts.
- Splinter control. Bosch's anti-splinter insert works only with ground-sided blades — it names its T301CD, T101B, T101D and T101DP.
- Test first. Bosch advises a test cut in scrap with any new blade.
Corded or cordless
A corded saw like the JS470E needs an outlet; a cordless one like the DCS334 runs on its maker's battery platform. DEWALT names its battery 20V MAX and explains that this is the maximum initial voltage and that the nominal voltage is 18. Volts, amps and watts are not comparable measures of how well two saws cut, and no runtime is given here because neither document states one under stated conditions. DEWALT's DCS334 has a lock-off button and, its manual says, no way to lock the switch on.
What a jigsaw cannot do
Its blade is held only at the top, so it is not the tool for square cuts in thick stock, and a maximum capacity is not a thickness for clean work. For long straight cuts in sheets compare circular saws; for fine fretwork with tiny starter holes, a scroll saw; for tight curves in thick stock, a band saw.
Safety— Before the first cut
Read the saw's manual, clamp the work, and change blades with the saw unplugged or the battery out. How to set up and cut is in the jigsaw guide; general rules in woodworking safety rules.
Comparing jigsaws
- Blade shank the saw takes
- Speed range in SPM, and stroke length if stated
- Orbital settings, read in that maker's terms
- Bevel range and detents
- Dust extraction accessory, not only a blower
- Shoe cover and anti-splinter insert
- Corded, or the battery system you already use
Sources
Specification-based: every figure is the maker's own for its own saw, and figures a document does not state are shown as not stated. Orbital settings, voltages and weights are not compared across makers as if equivalent. No saw was tested, none is ranked and no price is given.
- 1.
JS470E / JS470EB Jig Saw operating/safety instructions. Bosch, 2020.
Used for: The JS470E: corded; T-shank only; 1 in stroke; 500 to 3,100 SPM; orbit settings O to III; 3-1/2 in maximum in wood; a footplate bevelling 45° either way; a two-position chip blower and an extraction kit sold separately; a non-marring overshoe and an anti-splinter insert for ground-sided blades; blade tooth direction and the clean face; a narrow or scroll blade for tight curves.
- 2.
DCS334 / DCS335 20V Max* Brushless Jig Saw instruction manual. DEWALT.
Used for: The DCS334: cordless; T-shank only; cutting actions 0 to 3, never orbital for metal or hardwoods; a shoe bevelling 45° either way with detents at 15° and 30°; a dust blower and optional extraction shroud and chute; a no-mar shoe cover and anti-splinter insert; a lock-off button and no lock-on.
- 3.
DCS334B 20V MAX* XR Cordless Jig Saw (Tool Only), product page. DEWALT.
Used for: 20V MAX explained as a maximum initial voltage of 20 and a nominal 18; 'Maximum Speed 3200-rpm'; assembled weight 5.07 lb, tool only.
About this buying guide
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