April 18, 2008

Makita Jigsaw with LED Light (4350FCT and 4351FCT)

Makita has two new Jigsaws to add to their catalog. Actually, it's essentially one saw that's available in either barrel grip or D Handle. Pretty much all of the specs are the same other than the handle; same weight, same power, etc.

We've never used a Makita jigsaw and have to admit that this one looks very nice. It appears that the key feature of the saw is that they've translated their AVT (anti-vibration technology) into the jigsaw. This not only reduces movement (increasing accuracy), but it makes for a quieter saw as well.

As far as power is concerned the Makita delivers 6.3 amps of cutting fury. That puts it up there just about with the Bosch mega-saws that dominate the jigsaw market. The Makita's variable speed ranges from 800 to 2800 spm and the saw also has three orbital settings a little dust blower, a 45 degree adjustment on the foot plate, and a tool-free blade change. All of which are standard features on high-end jigsaws. There is also an LED light to brighten up the work surface. This is something new for jigsaws and we imagine that it's a nice feature.

The Makita ranges in price from $160 for the barrel-grip to $175 for the D-handle. It's fairly expensive for a jigsaw, but if it works as well as it looks on paper, it's likely that it's worth the money.

Makita 4350FCT (Top Handle) at Amazon
Makita 4351FCT (Barrel Handle) at Amazon