BOSCH 18V Cordless Jigsaw (JSH180)

The JSH180 is among the older 18V cordless jigsaws on the market.  It was released early last decade, so it’s a bit older than the competition.  While it might be in need of an update, it’s a reliable unit that should serve you well in the garage or jobsite.

The motor is not brushless.  This might be a function of this unit’s age, but brushless motors are the norm these days with their maintenance cycles being nearly eliminated.  Heavy use over a few years will necessitate a visit to a BOSCH service center to keep the JSH180 in top condition.

The stroke length of 1” is the standard reach for this saw class.  While most of the newer saws on the market are pushing into the low 3,000s of spm, the BOSCH runs at a maximum speed of 2,700 spm.  It’s not a deal breaker, especially if you need to cut metal (which needs to be cut at lower speeds anyways).

The lower speeds aren’t as aggressive as the competition but the included 4-way orbital setting helps for situations that require fast cutting.

Blade speeds are variable and controlled via the trigger.  A light touch to the trigger will start the reciprocations slowly while a firm pull will max out the unit’s spm.

BOSCH has included a couple of features in the JSH180 that were a bit before its time.  An LED light keeps the work area in front of the blade well-lit.  However, that serves the user poorly if it’s only illuminating a pile of sawdust.  BOSCH aims to relieve this by including a dust blower that provides a steady stream of air that keeps the workpiece clean.

The JSH180 accepts t-shank blades only, so keep that in mind when shopping for blade sets for this saw.  The blade change mechanism is keyless and also keeps your fingers away from the blade during discharge.  We appreciate this feature because blades are often very hot after a cutting operation.  Our editor here at WWC has personally experienced thumb scars featuring a sawtooth pattern resulting from a white-hot jigsaw blade.

Like most jigsaws, the BOSCH JSH180 has a beveling base.  It requires a hex key to lock and unlock the pivoting base.  It’s not too much of a hassle, but it is a bit behind the times as many other models feature levers and latches to avoid the need for a separate tool.

At 4.1 lbs, this saw is light.  Opinions vary wildly on the virtues of added heft but arm fatigue is objectively alleviated when tools weigh less.