Bosch (Europe) has come out with two new reciprocating saws, one 18V cordless (GSA 18V-32 Professional), and the other corded (GSA 16-32 Professional), with both promising great ergonomics, power, and vibration reduction.
Bosch says that both of the new reciprocating saws are more compact than their current ones. The new saws also feature a new handle that enables them to be held in different positions.
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Unlike the conventional spade handle, this handle enables the tools to be held and used comfortably in a variety of positions, even in difficult working positions and over long periods.
You might have noticed that the trigger switch is also oversized. That should make it easy to reach, especially if taking advantage of the handle’s different gripping zones.
Both reciprocating saws are also the first Bosch tools of this kind to feature active vibration dampening. There’s a counterweight in the gearbox, continually counteracting inertia during use, to help lower the vibration that extends through the user’s hands and arms.
Bosch says that these saws offer the lowest vibrations in their class, which should result in minimal user fatigue.
In kit format, the cordless saw comes with a 6.0Ah Li-ion battery pack. Bosch says that the corded reciprocating saw offers the best power-to-weight ratio in its class, and that this helps make it an alternative to corded saws for overhead work.
Cordless Saw Specs
- 32 mm stroke length (~1.26″)
- 0-2500 RPM
- Max cutting in wood: 300 mm (~11.8″)
- Max cutting in metal: 20 mm (~0.79″)
- Vibration: 11.6 m/s^2 in wood
- Weighs 4.1 kg (~9 lbs) including 6.0Ah battery
Meanwhile, the corded saw is said to be the most powerful professional reciprocating saw Bosch offers. It has a 1600 watt motor, making it suitable for a range of applications, from light duty to extremely demanding.
Corded Saw Specs
- 32 mm stroke length (~1.26″)
- 0-2800 RPM
- Max cutting in wood: 300 mm (~11.8″)
- Max cutting in metal: 20 mm (~0.79″)
- Vibration: 12.5 m/s^2 in wood
- Weighs 4.6 kg (~10.1 lbs)
Bosch saws feature a pendulum (oscillating) stroke that can be toggled on for quicker sawing.
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Additional features include a soft-start motor, which makes it easier to start cuts with higher precision, and a special tool-free blade change mechanism that Bosch says can even be used when wearing work gloves. Turning the large ring on the saw shaft immediately loosens the saw blade for changing.
The saws have metal hooks, for hanging them from a ladder or frame when not being used.
Prices: 449 (~$495) euros for the cordless kit, 319 euros (~$350) for the corded saw, excluding VAT
ETA: Sept 2016, in Europe
Both saws come with 2 saw blades.
First Thoughts
These new Bosch reciprocating look quite different from all of the other saws I’ve seen and used.
We have seen angled compact reciprocating saws before, such as the Dewalt DCS387 cordless saw and Dewalt DWE357 corded saw, and there’s of course the Milwaukee Hackzall in 12V and 18V class sizes.
Bosch’s new reciprocating saws look to have beastly motors, a good thing for heavy duty work.
It looks like they put a lot of thought into ergonomics, between the huge handle and oversized blade change release mechanism.
Active vibration dampening? Sounds good to me.
Oh, and a nearly 1-foot wood cutting capacity? Maybe this is my inexperience in demo work talking, but WOW! I’ve certainly seen 12″ reciprocating saw blades before, but don’t think I’ve seen such blades being used along their full lengths.
Hopefully we’ll see these models available in the USA as well.
Nathan says
I’m curious as to the handle and vibration system. I’d like to use it pared against my big milwaukee. Nice to see the corded and cordless appear to be as close to the same as possible..
mike aka Fazzman says
These look awesome,Bosch is really impressing me so far this year. Seems like they have some nice goodies for 2016.
Jacob says
Awesome. I’ve always wondered why recip saws have stayed so big. The hackzalls seemed like they were trying to fill the gap but this seems like great direct replacement.
Jason says
This sounds like it’s its a much better though out product than the Dewalt compact saw. I hear that saw bucks and vibrates like hell.
Jerry says
Sounds like a nice upgrade. Might was t to double check the specs though since the corded model lists weight with battery.
Stuart says
That was my error, sorry, it’s since been fixed.
Adam says
should RPM be replaced with SPM?
Nathan says
recips per minute?
Stuart says
Yes, but Bosch says RPM and so that’s what I used.
Depends on what they mean by that R part. Even if it’s rotations per minute, the number should be the same for strokes per minute.
Jacob says
Isn’t the motor the powers it a rotary motor still though?
Richie says
CORDED SAW SPECS
Weighs 4.6 kg (~10.1 lbs) including 6.0Ah battery
What?
Stuart says
Whoops, thanks! I mean, that was a test – you passed!
Niels says
There is a whole bunch of new stuff coming from Bosch, you can see a press release on http://www.bosch-presse.de/presseforum/presseInformation.htm?tk_id=112&page=1
Among these are new cordless, brushless drill/drivers, new Starlock multitools and the mentioned recip saws, of course no indication of the tools will be available world wide or just some markets.
Nathan says
do the starlock machines have more power than the previous Oscillating tools?
Monte says
yes, up to 550 Watt.
John says
If the counter balance works efficiently that would be a good reason to buy it. My brother has a DeWalt corded and it’s not that good from my experience…but it’s still better than any hand saw!
Bruce says
Vibration in the saw is usually caused by poor technique. I dunno, it all looks pretty cool, but I’d want to make sure that the fancy counterweight thing doesn’t just rob the saw of power.
Hang Fire says
Oh, look. Another cool Bosch not-in-the-Americas product introduction. Hasn’t the US Bosch marketing team cut you off yet, Stuart? Keep up the good work.
John S says
Hilarious 🙂
Stuart sure does know how to pour salt on my NAINA wound….
Stuart says
I figure you’re joking, but my coverage of Bosch international tool releases has certainly been the topic of a couple of phone calls and email conversations in the past. As far as I’m aware and can recall, their only (polite and respectful) request was that I make it clear that such tools aren’t available in the USA, which I already do.
I used to include a one-line reminder at the top of Bosch international posts, but has since stopped doing that; it seemed too redundant.
John, I’ve got open NAINA wounds too. There are numerous Bosch NAINA tools that I wish were available here, starting with their drill press.
Jim Felt says
Stuart. I too love that Bosch line voltage bench top Drill Press.
We can all see it on Amazon UK etc. but never here.
Darned annoying.
Nathan says
what’s special about it?
Stuart says
Feature set looks good: https://toolguyd.com/bosch-drill-press-pbd-40/
It looks functional and unique.
Most benchtop drill presses aren’t that great, and so I’m optimistic that Bosch put enough effort into their design that it strays from the norm.
Dom says
Im amazed not to see a EC – CORE stamp on the cordless model. Feels like bosch are lagging far behind on upgrading to brushless technology
Cabud says
As a contractor myself, I had a long talk about this one day with a Bosch rep. It’s actually a very interesting conversation. One has to understand the market, and Bosch’s position in the world power tool market.
Bosch is the largest power tool MFG in the world. You say, what? That is because their tools are mainly for industrial and automotive assembly markets, tools that we will never see. The R&D budget of Bosch alone is twice as large as the total revenue of their nearest competitor! They have an industrial tool catalog that is inches thick.
This is hard to believe, because of the relatively small market share from Bosch that we see in the USA power tool market. But it also explains why they don’t jump on market trends as fast as other players. If they have a brushed tool design that is doing well for the industrial market, they are going to stick with it for years, and they aren’t pressured to follow the consumer driven brush less trend until they are ready to do so.
Also, (sadly) when they do release a new cordless power tool, they do so first in smaller controlled markets, and test it out there, to avoid the enormous mass market mayhem of the American tool buyer. Once they are satisfied with performance, they bring it here.
This makes it awkward for you and me, because we don’t get the classy new tools that Milwaukee and Makita buyers do, until much later.
I don’t work for Bosch in any way, just a Bosch tool user myself that is also disappointed many times in slowness to consumer power tool market, but have come to accept their corporate decision process.
austin says
This saw is going to be awesome. More info came out about it. Its going to have an orbital setting on it with a brushless motor and a 1.25″ stroke. looking pretty good
Rory Higgs says
Any word on if this will make it across the pond?
Stuart says
Still waiting, and at this point I’m not very hopeful.
Cabud says
here is the reply I got from Bosch
https://twitter.com/BoschToolsNA/status/793126791728730112
Rory Higgs says
Well hopefully that’s correct! I’ve eyeing the RS7, but I would love to hold out for the newer model.
Rory Higgs says
Seems some German websites are saying these units are brushless:
https://www.cbdirekt.de/bosch-akku-saebelsaege-gsa-18v-32-professional-mit-2-x-5-0-ah-li-ion-akku-l-boxx.html
Rory says
Sorry to keep replying to this old post, but I followed up with Bosch NA on Cabud’s tweet and they confirmed 1) It is still coming in 2017 and 2) it will be EC Brushless.
Here’s the tweet: https://twitter.com/BoschToolsNA/status/817058298528727040