I noticed two new listings for Metabo 18V cordless jigsaws. I’m not at all familiar with them, and so I am considering them new products. Maybe they are, maybe they aren’t, it’s always hard to tell with Metabo.
First up is the barrel-grip jigsaw, STA 18 LTX 100. It looks more compact than an older Metabo model, and more air vents.
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Metabo says that the cordless barrel grip jigsaw is extremely handy due to small handle size and soft-grip surface.
It features a variable stroke rate, pendulum stroke (orbital mode), and low-lying blade guidance with spring support. There’s a tool-free blade change mechanism with automatic blade ejection feature, and the footplate bevel angle can also be adjusted tool-free.
A blower function helps to keep the cut line clean and clear.
- 550-2800 SPM no-load speed
- Weighs 5.6 lbs with compact battery pack
- 4″ cutting depth in wood
- 3/8″ cutting depth in sheet metal
- 4 orbital stroke levels
- -45° to 45° bevel range
Price: $159 for the bare tool
Buy Now(via Amazon)
The jigsaws – both of them – appear to have built-in dust collector ports, but it’s unclear as to whether the vacuum accessory ports are included with the bare tools.
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There’s also a top handle model, STAB 18 LTX 100.
It features the same specs and features, but with a top handle and variable speed trigger switch. It looks like there’s also a lock-on button.
Price: $139 for the bare tool
Buy Now(via Amazon)
Check out the neat folding sawhorses! I don’t think I’ve seen ones like this before.
First Thoughts
It also looks like both jigsaws have clear slide-down blade guards.
No brushless motors? But I suppose the brushed motors make the bare tools more competitively priced. Meanwhile…
New Milwaukee M18 Fuel Brushless Jigsaws
Metabo’s going to have amp-up their efforts if they’re to stand a chance competing with other pro-grade cordless power tool brands in the USA.
I’ve liked the couple of Metabo cordless power tools that I’ve tested. But if I were in the market for a new cordless jigsaw, there’s not enough for these two new models to make it to my shortlist. If I had already bought into Metabo’s 18V cordless power tool lineup exclusively, then I’d be a lot more interested. But at the moment, Metabo is not doing enough to answer the question why buy either of these instead of competing models?
Promo Video
Here’s a quick promo video with music that I’d characterize as an “action movie montage.”
John S
That barrel grip looks great. Just ordered the newest Makita 18V barrel grip last night which is almost twice the cost. The Metabo is priced darn well, but I don’t have Metabo batteries.
The one single feature I consider a must and not all jigsaws have is the dust blower. The 12V Bosch doesn’t have it and is driving me crazy, hence getting the Makita.
Metabo batteries work on Mafell cordless tools which just might be the only joint company battery use of its kind. Props to them for that.
Rob Potsdam
Metabo is actually partnered with like 6 or 8 other companies (They tout this on their facebook profile) who all have compatible cordless platforms, but most of these other companies are just selling clones of Metabo tools. A few like Mafell for instance make their own saw, but rebrand the metabo drill.
I encourage anyone interested in Metabo tools to send an email to their customer service department first. I have had terrible customer service experience with them, and cannot wait until my metabo batteries die to swap to a different tool platform.
John S
Looked it up (never go to facebook anymore but you made me, ha)
Never heard of 7 of the companies except Metabo and Mafell.
– Collomix
– Eibenstock
– Eisenblätter
– Haaga
– Mafell
– Metabo
– Rothenberger
– Starmix
– Steinel
fred
Rothenberger is big on plumbing tools – we had some of their tools and one of their threading machines. So I’m still 2/3 ignorant
I think the guys liked this offset pipe wrench:
https://megadepot.com/product/rothenberger-70115-14-aluminum-offset-pipe-wrench
Here’s a listing for one of their threading machines:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/2SE-Portable-Compact-Threader-63004/203550207
When we bought our Rothenberger tools – Rothenberger was involved with Greenlee. Greenlee was then a Textron subsidiary – but was sold to Emerson earlier this year. In 2015 Greenlee sold its interest in Rothenberger and their joint venture is no more.
ktash
@John S “The one single feature I consider a must and not all jigsaws have is the dust blower. The 12V Bosch doesn’t have it and is driving me crazy”
Yes, I got one since I have the Bosch 12v platform, and it drives me crazy, too! Not likely to get this Metabo, but I’m going to experiment with using a fan with the Bosch.
Cordless jigsaw=excellent No blower on cordless jigsaw=disappointment I’ll never, never, never ever get another jigsaw unless it has a blower.
TonyT
Just got the Bosch 12V jigsaw last week, but haven’t used it enough to know if lack of blower will drive me crazy…I do like the low barrel grip…so maybe the Ryobi hybrid fan will be in my future….
BTW, I did some quick research, and the M12 jigsaw also doesn’t have a blower, but both CXT & LXT Makita barrel grips do.
Mike
How do they make a jigsaw without a blower a blower is almost a necessity to me I don’t need a light but the blower most definitely
TonyT
Curious fact: even the $60 Ryobi D-handle jig saw has a blower
I’m not saying I’d take the Ryobi over the 12V Bosch, but what were Bosch and Milwaukee thinking?
Paul K
That wheel of tools at the end has a lot of tools on it. Do they really have that many cordless tools…somewhere in the world. Also, is that a heated motorcycle jacket!?!
Stuart
Yes, the brand is a lot bigger in Europe.
While impressive, a lot of those tools are drills and grinders. I’m eager to see greater breadth in their lineup.
fred
Metabo has a great reputation in Europe – possible built on great grinders.
They are a bit like Fein in terms of breadth of offerings and market.
Fein is also a less-represented brand in the US – but a old and respected company Europe. Fein is credited with the invention of the first portable power tool (a drill) and they took what had been a tool used in the medical arena and turned it into the first OMT (the Multimaster). Metabo also started out making drills – and they are credited with producing the first hammer drill.
Redcastle
Fred
Fein would say (If you could get them to say anything) that they developed the OMT which is used by among others the medical profession. This has led to the development of what must be akin to the sensing technology on Sawstop a blade system that can differentiate between hard surfaces such as a cast and soft surfaces such as skin.
fred
I thought that the Stryker oscillating saw (1947) came first:
https://www.stryker.com/us/en/about/history.html
Redcastle
Fred
Stryker are responsible for the blade I referred to earlier and for other medical applications. Over the last eighteen months I have had a lot of experience of this particular technology as in being on the receiving end.
The patents for the OMT were held by Fein until recently and then everybody started producing them, hence Starlock.
As a side note I have become aware that the person who originated plaster casting for bones was not a doctor but a female sculptor from Northern Ireland who is currently being formally recognised for her achievement.
fred
The Fein patents for its Multimaster’s technology certainly held the floodgates (of other rivals) back for many years and if you wanted the tool – you put up with its plusses and minuses. The original blade holding using mostly friction and a clamping mechanism secured with a hex head socket screw was iffy. Some blades tended to move around when subjected to lateral forces.
Despite this we had a batch of the Multimasters and then Supercuts – and they were made very well and held up in almost daily use.
In our pipe and metal fabrication business, we also used a batch of perhaps lesser known Fein tools for grinding and polishing operations – all good tools.
Speaking of patents – I expect that when Sawstop’s patents run their course we will see some competition again from Bosch and others. Perhaps to a lesser extent, we’ll also see some alternatives when Festool’s Domino patents expire
Travis
The barrel grip jigsawn while brushed, is fantastic. It is very light while being easy to grip and control. A dust collection port is included while being a bit cheap. These do not come with a plastic no-mar shoe though. There is no LED either. The dust blower has a slide switch to turn it off or on.
Overall, for the money, they are a great buy if you are in the Metabo battery system.
If interested in Metabo, the best places to see offerings available are at Ohio Power Tool and Tool Barn.
@TOOLSbyDesign
Curtis
I’m not even sure that a brushed jigsaw is a liability. For me at least, jigsaws are one of those tools that I use frequently, but never for more than a minute at a time. Battery life simply isn’t an issue and I doubt I’d wear the brushes out in a lifetime.
Rob Potson
Metabo’s design for turning off and on the orbital action of the Jigsaw hasn’t changed I see, and is still a huge problem with this tool. I own the corded version of their jigsaw (which is made in germany), and it will often start with zero orbital on, and by time I’ve finished my cut, be in the max position. This is a big deal when I’m trying to do a very clean nice cut.
Does anyone know the country of origin on these new tools? In the past almost all Metabo cordless saws have been made in china, and the quality has very much shown that too.
I think its important to not support a premium german tool maker shipping their tool making overseas.
Travis
These jigsaws are made in China. I’ve not yet experienced the orbital issue on the new barrel grip.
All of the new Metabo brushless tools are made in Germany except for the impact as its a shared technology project with Hitachi.
fred
I know that they have a factory in Shanghai.
I don’t know what they make in China versus what’s German-made
Rob Potson
As Travis said, their brushless tools are almost all Germany.
Their 2 different reciprocating saws, their circular saws are all chinese made. (and honestly are all garbage too)
Their LTX drills are german made from what I have seen. Their LED light is german made.
Very disappointed to hear this new jigsaw is chinese made. I will not be adding it to my tool collection. Chinese made isn’t a big deal if you’re buying Dewalt, Makita, Milwaukee etc, but when you buy a company who’s main page says “made in germany”, and is supposed to offer a premium product, you really lose my interest as a customer.
Doug
I use their brushless 18v 6” grinder often and have been extremely impressed with its power and durability. But it too is made in China.
Koen Bro
I have recently bought a corded Metabo 4-1/2” grinder which is the finest Such tool I have used after Bosch, Milwaukee and a P-C Literally burst into flames while using it. Because of this I am very favorably disposed of towards Metabo and I will definitely try their tools. Normally Milwaukee would be my first choice but now Metabo got up there. I have a Festool 420 jigsaw so I’m not in the market for one.
ToolOfTheTrade
Any word as to when we should expect to see some Metabo hpt tools? I know that the name change will take full effect in December, but are they working on new tools for the new name? Are there going to be more Metabo tools available now that the US hitachi tools will be sold under the Metabo name?
Travis
Metabo HPT is just Hitachi rebranded. There will be no battery compatibility with Metabo.
Metabo HPT will take effect next week. New tools with the name change will be rolling out.
Stuart
There will be new tools, such as MultiVolt. As far as I am aware, there are no changes planned for Metabo, at least not because of the Hitachi name change.
Redcastle
Metabo in Europe is avoiding the incompatible Metabo and Metabo HPT structure with Hitachi being rebranded as Hiroki. When they first announced the change Hiroki were lead sponsor on tee shirts at some of the major trade shows and have since in effect vanished.
I really do not understand the rationale for the Metabo/Metabo HPT branding. Metabo as with Fein have a huge range however these are still accessed by print catalogues rather than the Internet and their “marketing” seems to be along the lines of clients are in the know and those that are not are not wanted.
My 18v personal tools these days are mostly Metabo because they are in the right place for me in terms of value for money and quality and this jigsaw would fit right in if I did not already have a Milwaukee one.
Stuart
You mean HiKoki.
Hitachi was better known as Hitachi Koki, at least in some areas outside the USA. Here it was just Hitachi.
Redcastle
Hitachi was always just Hitachi in the UK and is invisible under its new name. Other than nail guns I am unaware of any product Hitachi made which does not have a Metabo equivalent so perhaps they do not see the need to run separate lines.
Redcastle
I have just seen for the first time a listing for a HiKoki tool and it is for, of all things, a pair of angle grinders. This package is very reasonably priced as was its identical Hitachi predecessor. Perhaps they will position HiKoki as the pricing equivalent of Bosch green versus Metabo being Bosch blue.