Reddit reviews Bosch Power Tools Jig Saws - JS470E Corded Top-Handle Jigsaw - 120V Low-Vibration, 7.0-Amp Variable Speed For Smooth Cutting Up To 5-7/8" Inch on Wood, 3/8" Inch on Steel For Countertop, Woodworking

Bosch Jigsaw

http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-JS470E-120-Volt-7-0-Amp-Top-Handle/dp/B004323NPK/

Here are the basics, I will edit if I think of any more essential tools, but you can go an awfully long way with these.

Hand Tools:

• Hand saw- I prefer Japanese style pull saws, meaning they cut on the pull stroke. My go to utility saw is a Vaughn bear saw, which is a robust package, with several types of interchangeable blades. There are countless types of saws, for different uses, but a fine toothed Japanese saw will get you by for most things.
  
  
• Combination square- A sliding ruler square, perfect for marking and layout. you will also want a speed square eventually, so you might as well get one.
  
  
• Tape measure- Start with a basic 25' tape, and get more as needed.
  
  
• Basic chisel set- Most of the entry grade chisels are pretty much the same, this Irwin set is a pretty good buy. to start with a set of 1/4", 1/2", and 1" are all you really need, but you can never have enough chisels.
  
  
• Block plane- A low angle block plane will get you a long ways breaking corners and trimming pieces. Stanley makes a great, affordable, option. As time goes by you will need a jack plane, but a block plane will do for now.
  
  
• Sharpening equipment- A fine diamond stone like this will get you a long way keeping your chisels and plane sharp. You should do research into sharpening methods as you use your tools more, and build a system that fits you.
  
  
• Hammer- A cheap smooth face hammer. Build a wooden mallet as a starter project.
  
  
• Clamps- You always need more clamps. Big clamps. Small clamps. Weird clamps. I like bar clamps. Harbour Freight has good deals on fair clamps, but don't expect too much out of them. To start with get a couple with ~8" throat, and a couple with ~18" throat.
  
  Power Tools:
  
  
• Cordless drill- If you're willing to spend the money for a good, reliable, tool I recommend Makita, but a Ryobi or Rigid will serve you well if you're just working on small projects. Everyone has their favourite cordless tool brand, and, for the most part, it really is just preference. I highly recommend adding an impact driver and circular saw to whichever system you choose.
  
  
• Circular Saw- If you want to work with plywood or larger sticks, you will want a circular saw, which is the most basic power saw. Most of the major tool companies make fine starter saws, Skil is the original, and is quite cheap, but there are plenty of others, browse a store and see what takes your fancy.
  
  
• Jig saw- A jig saw is used for cutting curves, and you will eventually need it if you build enough things. I prefer Bosch but there are cheaper options. See what feels right to you.
  
  
• Miter saw- You don't need this right away, but if you start doing more projects you will want one. I recommend going right to a sliding compound miter saw, like this Dewalt. You will never need more miter saw than that, and if you get a small one you will eventually end up buying a the real deal.
  
  
• Table saw- Again, you don't need this right away, but eventually you will feel you need the precision and ease that a table saw brings. The Rigid portable table saw is a great saw if you're working in tight quarters and need to pack up, but you'll appreciate the appreciate the stability of a cast iron topped cabinet saw if you have the cash and space for it.
  
  Misc:
  
  
• Drill bits- Get a cheap twist drill set that goes from 1/16" to 1/2" and a basic spade bit set. Later you will want a set of forstners and hole saws.
  
  
• Utility knife
  
  
• Driver bits
  

I'm a professional carpenter and general contractor, and from my personal experience and the anecdotal evidence from the guys I regularly see, Bosch is of the best you can get for cordless tools nowadays. DeWalt used to be the go-to, but their quality has dropped considerably over the last 5-10 years. They still have some decent products, but I know of a lot of people who have had major issues with their drill chucks being off center.

This said, you kind of need a grab bag to get the best of each tool.

Here's my current setup, which is the same as quite a few contractors I work with:

• Bosch 18V impact driver/drill set. I've dropped my driver with a 6" bit attached directly onto the bit from 10' up, on concrete, and the entire thing was unscathed. Batteries last forever and charge very quickly.
  
  
• Festool jigsaw. Festool makes AMAZING products, but it's probably way overkill for most, and this Bosch model is a great second option I've seen used by many guys with a ton of success.
  
  
• Skil Mag 77 circular saw. This is the be all end all saw. It has enough torque to change the rotation of the earth. It's heavy, though, so a decent sidewinder might be your best bet. I would never use anything else, personally, though.
  
  
• Bosch compound sliding miter saw. I love this thing. You can put it flat up against a wall and still use the slider, which is a feature unique to them.
  
  
• DeWalt table saw. The major plus of this saw is that the rip fence is on a track, so both sides move together. I still never trust their gauges, but to know that both the front and back are equidistant from the blade 100% of the time is worth its weight in gold.
  
  
• DeWalt thickness planer. Never thought I'd buy one, and now I wouldn't be without one. With the combination of the above 3, you can pretty much make anything out of anything. Have a 5/4 board at the house but you need a 1x? 2 passes through the planer and you're set.
  
  
• Bosch Rotary Hammer. The demo master. It can hammer drill massive holes in concrete, or switch to hammer only mode to remove tile or glued on drywall particles. These are bulletproof.
  
  
• DeWalt orbital sander. Nothing fancy, as I don't do a ton of heavy sanding. Something to look for in these is the variable speed; makes jobs much easier.
  
  
• Bosch oscillating tool. Most brands are similar, and depending on your uses a corded model may be better. I have a second tool that uses these batteries so I have lots of backups (and they charge very quickly), and I often use it in places that running a cord would be a pain in the ass. This is great for trimming things that are immovable and can't be sawed: think door frame bottoms for new floors, baseboard trim to accommodate a new vent, drywall patching, anything. Love this thing.
  
  
• RotoZip spiral saw. Great for drywall, and there's a masonry style bit that works good for cutting pieces of tile (like around a faucet or control).
  
  
• Bosch planer. Again, nothing fancy and I definitely don't use it daily...but when you need a planer, there's not much else you can use.
  
  
  So there you go. Those are the ones that have gone through the ringer on a construction crew and have survived heavy abuse and regular moving/dropping without any signs of letting go. Some may be overkill for your situation, but they're what I've found to be best. I'm probably missing a few loose ends so look out for edits.

Unless you are in the trades, where time is money, go with a corded model, as it will get most of its use in the shop and hardwire is always available to you. Batteries go bad and fail, or the technology improves and you're left with a bare tool in 10 years.

As far as brand and cost, you should be spending about $150 for a quality saw that will give you good cuts and long service, and you do want a variable speed for different materials. The only two I would recommend would be Bosch or Makita; I happen to own a Bosch, which has served me well for over 18 years now. The current version of my saw is below.

https://www.amazon.com/Bosch-120-Volt-Variable-Top-Handle-JS470E/dp/B004323NPK/ref=sr_1_3?s=power-hand-tools&ie=UTF8&qid=1526935503&sr=1-3&refinements=p_n_feature_four_browse-bin%3A9060578011

Can't go wrong with the Bosch, the pretty much invented the jigsaw and are still affordable. http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-JS470E-120-Volt-7-0-Amp-Top-Handle/dp/B004323NPK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394418669&sr=8-1&keywords=bosch+jigsaw That's what most of my coworkers use, but I personally prefer my Festool. The only thing to worry about with Bosch is the blade carrier which will wear out, especially if you're doing lots of curved or miter cuts.

Also stay away from a cordless. The Dewalt cordless is solid but the battery doesn't last longer than 45 min of cutting, and the Bosch cordless I've used the motor burned and now it only runs at 1/4 speed.

I have a Bosch JS470E, do not regret buying in the slightest (reviews speak for themselves). Had a piece of crap Ryobi cordless before it, which had me questioning why people use Jigsaws.

Yes! I really like barrel grips, too, because it gets your hand closer to the work so it's easier to control. Also, the ergonomics (at least on this one) are so nice! :) The standard ones you find in the big stores have 'top handles'. I don't like them as much. Thin handle, and if you think about it in terms of lever-arms, your hand rests a whole lot higher than the body, and a little bit behind where you can get your palm on a barrel grip. I find it's easier to make mistakes with top handle ones.

Just my opinion, so still worth researching to see what you like.

I've got this one, holy crap I can't even begin to describe how much better it is than my old black and decker. http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-JS470E-120-Volt-7-0-Amp-Top-Handle/dp/B004323NPK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420836671&sr=8-1&keywords=bosch+jigsaw

I stick with craftsman for basic tools like screwdrivers and shit because of the lifetime warranty. I've had too many cheap philips screwdriver get their tips bent out of shape from an unruly screw, and that's really fuckin' annoying. Spend the extra few bucks, but don't go overboard. Stanley tools are pretty good too. Kobalt and the other off-brands are crap.

Other than that, I tend to go with DeWalt- decent quality, not too expensive. However, this was recommended to me by the carpenters at work, and that thing is a wonderful beast. I'm doing some home construction work, and so far it sings like a champ.

Do you have an idea of what you want to get her, and what she'll actually use it for?