Bosch JS572EL Jig Saw

Bosch Top Handle Jig Saw, Model JS572EL

What’s blue, measures 6 x 14 inches, weighs only 6 pounds and can cut almost anything accurately and easily? 

It you guessed a Bosch JS572EL Jig Saw your right.  Bosch invented the jigsaw in 1947 and hasn’t stopped improving it since.

I recently saw the Bosch JS572EL Jig Saw  at the bosch”s July 2012 media event.  At the event Bosch showed us this jigsaw as well as the Bosch JS572EB Barrel Grip.   Model numbers ending in “L” (JS572EL – JS572EBL) include the      L-BOXX click and Go tool case.

Reviewing Older Bosch Jigsaws:

The last time I reviewed a Bosch jigsaw was two years ago when I reviewed the Bosch JS470E.  Back then I liked the saw but thought the trigger was sharp on the outer edges which resulted in irritation to the trigger finger.   Not long after I posted on that jigsaw I received a call from the product manager for that jigsaw telling me that my review prompted him to send the tool back to Switzerland to have the trigger redesigned with softer edges.  That made me feel good!

Bosch has come a long way since the 4780 model and have since added seven very nice additions to their two new jigsaws.

 Improvements To the Bosch JS572EL Jig Saw:

1.  Top Handle and Two-Finger Trigger Switch
2. Variable-Speed Dial and Accelerator Trigger
3. Precision Control II blade stabilization
4. LED lighting 
5. Quick blade change lever
6. Adjustable Dust Blower
7. L-BOXX Click and Go tool case.

First Impression:

The folks at Bosch sent me a  Bosch JS572EL Jig Saw to review. 

The first thing I noticed was the saw’s large cast magnesium footplate and over molded rubber handle.  Bosch redesigned the foot plate to better withstand the eventual job-site drop and subsequent damage that usually occurs.

The  Bosch JS572EL Jig Saw also has a  new blade roller stability system to minimize blade deflection – a curse that happens to the best of us  jigsaw users!  Basically the Bosch saw now has two slotted roller guides, one above the other – the lower roller hovers approximately 3/16 of an inch above the cutting surface.    These rollers support the back of the blade and move up and down as well as oscillate with the blade to help minimize blade defection.

The addition of dual LED lights with a push button onn / off switch on the handle top, an  on / off switch for a saw dust blower and a 13 foot cord are all welcome features to an already nice jig saw.  

Using The  Bosch JS572EL Jig Saw:

Touting a 7.2 Amp motor and designed with counterbalancing, the Bosch JS572EL jig saw handled and cut extremely well.    

The blade change lever made super fast work of blade changes and the blade ejection feature did a nice job at keeping my fingers from being burned.  The blade literally “pops” out of the tool.

On a recent cedar tongue and groove barn board install I found the saw to have minimal vibration and my cuts were square – depending on the turning pressure I placed on the blade.  [too much pressure on any saw can cause deflection]  This tool is well balanced, the handle is comfortable and, unlike the earlier model I reviewed, the trigger switch is smooth and does  pinch your finger.  

The 4-position blade orbit switch allowed me to dial in my blade action from smooth to aggressive cutting applications based on what I was cutting, a feature that is pretty much standard on better quality jig saws.  

When adjusting the bevel a tool-less, red-handle lever on the right side of the saw releases the shoe plate.   The  Bosch JS572EL Jig Saw bevels from 0 degrees, 45 degrees left, or 45 degrees right; or locked into any angle between.  

A variable speed switch is smartly located on the rear of the saw and adjusts the motor speed from 1 to 6.  The trigger is also a variable speed trigger and you can really dial in and control the speed of the blade extremely well.

Bosch Click and Go Storage Box:

The Bosch JS572EL Jig Saw comes with a Click and Go toolbox with a molded-in tray for the jigsaw and it’s accessories.  This is a bold new move for Bosch and one that I think may suit them well.

Carpenters like me and other tradesmen are always looking for an easier way to do things.  The Click and Go system allows for fast and easy tool storage and transport.  Bosch has done some decent research on how to increase productivity through better organization, storage and mobility solutions.    The less time your searching for a tool the more time you can focus on task.

My only issue with the Click and Go is that I feel the box container could be a bit beefier.   I’m concerned that the plastic lid could deveop a crack.  

What’s In The Box:

• Three blades,
• Steel overshoe that slides tightly over the non-mar plastic shoe – for materials with a rough surface
• Dust shroud
• Anti-splinter insert
• Dust extraction tube
• Vacuum adapter

 Specifications:

• Amperage 7.2
• Bevel Angle Range 45°
• 13′ Cord Length
• Cutting Capacity Soft Wood 5-5/16″
• Cutting Capacity Aluminum 7/8″
• Cutting CapacityMild Steel 3/8″
• Hertz 60 Hz
• 800-02800 No Load SPM
• 1″ Stroke Length
• 120 volt
• 5.15 pounds

Overall Impression:

The Bosch JS572EL Jig Saw is by far the nicest cutting, smoothest and best balanced jig saw I’ve owned.  

The only dig I have on this saw is on the L-Boxx case thickness and I felt the  the instruction manual was lame when detailing how to adjust the saw blade squareness.   The price is a bit steep but the old saying, “you get what you pay for” applies here.    

How Much and Where To Buy?

The Bosch JS572EL Jig Saw sells for $ 268.98 online here: Bosch JS572EL 120-Volt Top-Handle Jig Saw

Prefer the Barrel-Grip jig saw.  It sells for $ 296.98 online here: Bosch-JS572EBL-120-Volt-Barrel-Grip-Jig

Product reviews on this site contain our opinion of a product or service. I will always strive for objectivity and transparency in my reviews.  My goal is to provide readers with honest, objective information based on my training and experience.  I never have and never will accept payment in exchange for a positive review. Many of the products that I review are provided free by a manufacturer. In some cases, we also have advertising or affiliate relationships with manufacturers and retailers of products and services we review