Bosch has just announced a new 18V compact reciprocating saw, designed for making cuts overhead and in hard-to-reach places.
This looks a lot like Milwaukee’s cordless Hackzall design. It makes one wonder whether Bosch licensed the design from Milwaukee.
The new saw was announced in Europe. We don’t know if or when it will be announced or released in the USA or North America.
The new GSA 18 V-LI C 18V cordless saber saw – I thought saber saws were akin to jig saws?? – can cut through wood, metal, or drywall, when equipped with the proper blade of course.
Bosch product images shows the new reciprocating saw being used overhead and with one hand, which is why you would go for a tool like this.
There is a tradeoff to its compact size – stroke length. Bosch’s standard 18V reciprocating saw has a 1-1/8″ stroke length, this saw has a 21 mm (a little less than 7/8″) stroke length. It should still provide plenty of cutting performance, just not the fastest cutting performance.
- 0-3050 SPM
- 21 mm stroke length (~0.827″)
- 200 mm (~7.9″) max cutting depth in wood
- Tool-free blade change mechanism
ETA: January 2016 (Europe)
Price: 399 euros for the 2x 5.0Ah battery kit and L-Boxx, excl. VAT
Compare(Milwaukee M18 Hackzall kit (compact battery) via Acme Tool
Compare(Milwaukee M18 Hackzall kit (XC battery) via Acme Tool
First Thoughts
Not everyone loves compact cordless reciprocating saws of this design, but they can be handy. A lot of users swear by them.
Bosch boasts about the new saw’s lower vibration operation, which should result in less user fatigue. There’s also the one-handed aspect that makes it easier to wield this saw overhead, when on a ladder, or in tight spots.
The design doesn’t just resemble Milwaukee’s Hackzall. Swap the blue for red, and it could very well be confused for a Milwaukee saw. The same could be said about their 12V model.
It’s good to see Bosch expanding their 18V lineup, and I’m sure a lot of folks will be happy to have this as a new cutting tool option.
The 399 euro price for the kit seems very steep for a non-brushless saw. Milwaukee’s kits are far less expensive, but they’re also bundled with single lower capacity battery packs.