Bosch Tools quietly launched a new 18V cordless jig saw, model GST18V-50N.
This is a top-handle cordless jig saw with brushless motor, tool-free blade change system, and “corded performance.”
The new Bosch corded jig saw seems to have competitive features and specs. I reached out to Bosch marketing, asking for added context – to see how it might stand out from other popular models – but have not yet heard back.
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Bosch GST18V-50N Features & Specs
- Top-handle
- 0-3,500 SPM
- 1″ stroke length
- Brushless motor
- Tool-free blade change
- Variable speed trigger
- 1/8″ max cutting in steel
- 4.9″ max cutting in wood
- Die-cast aluminum footplate
- 4 orbital-action modes
- Integrated dust blower
- LED light
- Bevels 45° left and right
- Works with T-shank blades
- Weighs 4.2 lbs (tool-only)
The jig saw comes with a plastic overshoe, anti-splinter insert, and starter jig saw blade.
Price: $159 (tool-only)
ETA: Available Now
See Also: What’s New with Bosch Power Tools – 2022 Update
Update: “Variable Speed Dial” Clarification
Bosch advertises that the new GST18V-50N cordless jig saw has a speed dial:
It provides a variable-speed dial allows matching the speed to material. It has a variable-speed trigger, which provides further control over the operating speed by feathering the trigger.
Where is this variable speed dial? I can’t identify it in any of the product images I have seen.
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I asked Bosch: Product listings also reference a variable speed dial that is not visible in product images. Is this an error?
Barrel grip jig saws often have an on/off switch and a variable speed dial. Top handle jig saws usually have a variable speed trigger switch and lock-on function.
There are tools with dual controls. The newest Makita 18V brushless jig saw, for example, features a variable speed dial AND a trigger switch.
Bosch advertises a variable speed dial for their new cordless jig saw, but they don’t show it. So is it on the side of the jig saw hidden in product images, or is there a minor error in the product listing?
Bosch Tools USA got back to me with an official response:
The variable speed dial refers to the red speed trigger on the Jig Saw pictured below. The amount of pressure applied to the trigger will control the SPM (strokes per minute). The SPM’s are 0-3,500 for this jig saw, so with little pressure on the trigger the result will be a very slow cut speed, supporting the users’ customization of the speed.
Frankly speaking, this does not make sense to me.
Again, Bosch’s marketing copy says:
It provides a variable-speed dial allows matching the speed to material. It has a variable-speed trigger, which provides further control over the operating speed by feathering the trigger.
To say that “the variable speed dial refers to the red speed trigger” must be a mistake. So does it have a variable speed dial or not?
I requested additional clarification and will report if or when I hear back.
For reference, “variable speed dials” typically describe rotating electronic switches, with or without detents, that provide “set and forget” speed selection.
“Variable speed trigger switches” are typically pressure-sensitive electronic switches that allow for speed control from zero to maximum speed.
When a variable speed dial is used with a variable speed trigger switch, the dial usually sets the speed range, and the trigger switch allows for control of the speed within that range.
Update 2 – Yes, it has a Variable Speed Dial
I emailed Bosch, repeating my question as to whether the new jig saw has a variable speed dial or not.
After 7 days, Bosch finally replied that yes, the jig saw does have a variable speed dial, and that no, it is not the same as a variable speed trigger.
Update History
10/6/2022: Original posting
10/7/2022: Updated with Bosch clarification
10/14/2022: Updated with Bosch response.
Saulac
I wonder what kind of job require powerful jig saws? To me it is all about compact and easy control. I am waiting for Milwaukee to copy Bosch 12v jig saw, or better yet, to copy IR 12v (auto) body saw.
MM
I agree, I want more cordless versions of the auto body saw too! And they need to take standard jigsaw blades! Something that’s small and can get into tight spaces is far more useful to me than a standard jigsaw.
Good tools
“Powerful” is a small part and not the most important, the entire structure of the tool must be well designed and made. Good torque and power, variable speed trigger, 2-3 orbital action, sturdy design, blade holder. Good gearbox, gear housing, footplate. That’s why I’ve used a bosch gst 18v/24 saw for 17 years. 6mm aluminum cutting almost meters today, tomorrow to the cabin/lakeside house and cutting some 50×150 lumber, plywood. The tool bag is filled, ready.
A good cordless jigsaw + wide selection of bosch blades for all materials always in the tool bag.
AC
The 12v Bosch is definitely an appealing nimble design, but it’s too weak and over heats easily.
It’s one of those tools that seems like it would be great, but is too petite for all but the lightest jobs.
Julian Tracy
I bought one thinking it’d be the ticket for coping crown trim and it could barely be used for coping pine trim…. Basically useless.
Jim Felt
This seems so inexpensive compared to my earlier but corded Made in Switzerland Bosch versions.
Maybe if I live long enough they’ll die first? Though I did get the clunky but well thought out M18 version in the last year or so. Too many Red batteries not to I guess.
blocky
I’m really glad this exists, but it’s existence begs a question: what hype and arbitrary name will get North Americans to embrace this tool?
jay
fringe somewhat-off-topic comment: When I was in high school (1960s) this was called a sabre saw (made sense, the blade was operated from one end). ‘Jig’ saws were the large table mounted devices (blade supported at both ends).
When did this all change–apparently somewhere along the line I failed to keep up with nomenclature. 😉
frobo
Funny, I’m roughly the same age as you, and I thought the same thing. However, a look through some old issues of Popular Mechanics showed the two terms being used interchangeably as far back as the early 1950s. In addition, “jig saw” and “scroll saw” also seem to be used interchangeably for machines with blades supported at both ends. But, I’ve never seen a “sabre saw” being called a “scroll saw”. So, we have a weird case where A=B, and B=C, but A does not equal C, at least as far as I can tell.
fred
They were indeed called “sabre saws” – unless you had one like my Porter Cable 548 worm-gear-driven “Bayonet Saw”. Just kidding – but PC did call theirs a bayonet saw – perhaps to distinguish its oddball blade mounting system.
https://www.amazon.com/PORTER-CABLE-5PK-Bayonet-Blade/dp/B00004T9PN/
I still have the saw – but hardly ever pull it out – favoring newer Bosch saws that better support the blade.
MM
I remember asking my old boss this question when I had my first job at a hardware store. I was told that “Sabre Saw” was a Craftsman trademark but that people used it generically, sort of like how people might refer to any photocopy as a “Xerox”, or any facial tissue as “Kleenex”.
I don’t think that is true though, I did an image search for “vintage sabre saw” and while it is true that most of the hits are Craftsman brand there are many other brands which are also calling their product a Sabre saw. The name also seems to be applied to what we would call a Recip saw or a “Sawzall” today. Some tools even had both names, I saw both K-Mart and Power House branded tools whose packaging or tag on the tool states “Sabre Jig Saw”
Stuart
The PC saw when in inline mode is what I would consider a sabre saw:
https://toolguyd.com/porter-cable-18v-pivoting-clampsaw/
https://toolguyd.com/porter-cable-cordless-clampsaw-compact-recip-saw-review/
fred
That makes sense to me too. I posted below about the old corded inline Bosch – which was a bit like a powered jab saw – good for reaching in and making cutouts at the rear of an installed cabinet.
bill
As a retired high school agriculture teacher, who trained several tool identification teams, the term sabre saw is considered correct for the contest.
Jigsaw, is a more common term and easily confused with the puzzle.
In my experiences, industry people and professionals use sabre saw more and non professional people use jigsaw.
Munklepunk
In 30 years I have never once heard it called a Sabre saw, it’s always been jigsaw, and there have been a lot of professionals I have worked with in my time. It may be colloquial because sabre saw was a sawzall.
fred
Maybe it’s one of those regional things. Do you call your fizzy soft drink “soda” or “pop”? How about your long-roll sandwich – is it a Hero , a Grinder, a Sub (Submarine) . Po’ Boy or something else?
To further confuse things – our installers used to like the Bosch 3294EVS – and inline “jigsaw” – that probably did resemble a sabre more than a top-handled jigsaw. In fact, I spotted one that looks a bit like it on eBay:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/125454951966
They list it as a “Sabre Plus” saw.
MM
I found a great article on the topic which explains how the terminology has never been consistent, even citing patent filings and advertising materials going back many decades. I’ve tried to post the link but my posts seem to disappear. I’m not getting an error message so perhaps these are going to moderation even though it’s only one link?
Stuart
Unfortunately, there’s nothing in moderation.
When a comment seems to disappear, go back, copy it, leave a “placeholder message” and send me to the next to add on in the backend. The spam filter algorithm inexplicably doesn’t like certain word combinations.
MM
https://www.props.eric-hart.com/features/saber-saw-vs-jig-saw/
Munklepunk
Pop all the way. Soda is fine, cola is fine, but Texas, come on, coke is a brand not a genre.
Ken
Here is another update for you regarding the “variable speed dial.” As usual, Bosch NA is clueless. See this recent livestream from Bosch UK on youtube:
https://youtu.be/RxUiw7whR08?t=4192
As clearly demonstrated in the video, the new jigsaw has an actual variable speed dial, not just a “feathered” trigger as claimed by Bosch NA.
Not shown in the video is that the new jigsaws have dust extraction built into the shoe. Two dust extraction holes flank the blade and are ported to a vacuum attachment port located at the rear of the saw. You still need an adapter that connects to the back of the saw. I’m not sure if this adapter comes with the saw or not. The Bosch UK team demonstrated this new feature on a different livestream. Seems much less clunky compared to prior jigsaw dust extractor attachments by Bosch.
Stuart
It’s been a week, and they still haven’t gotten back to me with further clarification.
This is one of my biggest pet peeves – tool brands that don’t know their own tools.
I specifically asked if the advertised dial was hidden in product photos or erroneously listed, and they sent me an image with the trigger switch circled, saying that’s their “variable speed dial.”
I had strongly believed this to be a copy-paste error, such as if they used their barrel handle jig saw web listing as a template for the top handle page. That it appears to have an actual dial, at least on the European version – I don’t even know what to say.
Ken
The frustrating thing is that the incompetence seems limited to Bosch NA.
Bosch UK has been doing livestreams for the last several months in which they do a deep dive into each of their various lines of cordless tools (metalworking, woodworking, benchtop, etc). Here is a date sorted link:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bosch+professional+uk+live&sp=CAI%253D
These livestreams show that Bosch is making a large number of new “Biturbo” tools (marketed as PROFACTOR in NA) as well as brushless updates to older brushed tools. The UK team is very knowledgeable about the features of these new tools and how they compare to prior versions.
Additionally, if you click on the numerous “Q&A” chapter links in those videos, the UK reps discuss upcoming tools in some detail. It appears that Bosch has quite a number of new tools in the pipeline that will be released in the coming months. One interesting mention was a corded+cordless dust extractor.
I’m surprised that most of the new cordless tools appear to be released simultaneously in NA and UK/DE. In the past, Bosch cordless tool releases have taken much longer to be released in NA, if we got them at all.
If only Bosch NA marketing had a clue.
Stuart
They must have watched the same video – I finally heard back today that the US version of the jig saw does have a variable speed dial.
Big Richard
If you look at the in-use photos on their website you can see the dial at the base of the handle, just above the battery connection – https://www.boschtools.com/us/en/boschtools-ocs/jig-saws-gst18v-50n-213048-p/
Definitely does not jump out at you, but it is there. Even in your first photo you can almost kinda see it, but only if you know where to look for it.
Eric
Interesting as to how much scrutiny is being applied over a dial that has been included in the last 3 Jig saws they have released, particularly since it’s clearly visible on their web site product page if you care to look.
Bosch gets dinged when basic diligence could have easily answered the question at hand.. I’m not surprised to see the crusade against Bosch on Toolguyd continues.
Ken
Eric: the product photos showing the variable speed dial are new and were not published at the time that this article was written and being discussed. If the dial was that obvious, then why did Bosch US respond to Stuart’s email so blatantly incorrectly?
I’m not sure which 3 prior jig saws you are referring to that had a variable speed dial, but I’m quite sure that they were not cordless 18V (which is the product being discussed here). I believe there was only a single 18V predecessor (JSH180B) to the brushless model being discussed in this post, and that brushed model did not have a variable speed dial (only a variable speed trigger).
Regarding a “crusade” against Bosch: my own prior posts on this topic were critical only of Bosch NA and were obvious in their praise of Bosch more generally. Bosch NA deserves every bit of criticism leveled here. It is really frustrating to see Bosch NA fumble a great tool brand.
Stuart
There’s no “crusade against Bosch.”
I did my due diligence. The product photos did NOT show the advertised variable speed dial.
So, I left out any mention of this feature from the original post, and I asked PR/media contacts to clarify.
I asked if the mention of a speed dial was an error, or the feature was hidden because of the angle of the photos. Their answer was that the trigger is what they mean by the variable speed dial, and they sent an image of the trigger switch circled.