Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 66
 Great saw. November 10, 2001
Jerry Lobel (Virginia United States)
16 out of 16 found this review helpful
Not long before I accidently noticed this saw in a catalogue, I mentioned to a friend that if an electric knife could be made to cut meat, why couldn't a similar electric saw be made to cut wood. That's effectively what this saw is. I used it the same day it arrived via UPS. I bought this saw (along with the Bosch compact belt samder) to cut the dovetail splines I make with a Kehoe dovetail jig. Also, I thought I could use it to actually hand-cut "real" dovetails and pins (I haven't tried this function yet, but I believe it will work OK with a hard-wood guide). It will actually cut flush to a surface. I held a 26-gauge sheet of steel between the wood surface I wanted to not damage and the flush saw blade. It worked very well. As time went on, I found I could control the saw without using the sheet of metal. The saw is a little on the heavy side for its size. It does things a saber saw cannot do, but it doesn't replace a saber saw. I wouldn't suggest a lot of heavy-duty and prolonged cutting with this saw, but for small cuts and dovetail-type joints, it's an excellent tool.
CANT FIND BLADES October 14, 2001
david brewer
13 out of 19 found this review helpful
this is a very handy saw blades dont last long and are hard to find i wouldnt advise buying one because you cant buy blades for it you have to special order the blades so if you need the blades right away you are out of luck
 Used to think this was a good saw October 30, 2007
masterarchitect (Cedar Ridge, CA USA)
12 out of 16 found this review helpful
I've read most of the reviews on this saw and had to add my two cents. I've owned this saw for almost 5 years and used it quite a bit each year - until I got exasperated with it each time. Each time I've ended up regreting using it, primarily on the bottom of door jambs where it is supposed to excel. The problem I have with it, is that it is TOO powerful and despite the appearance of being "variable speed", it isn't. It can easily rip up a jamb if you don't get it just right and you must hold it VERY firmly or it will tear out your hands as well. It does a decent job on smaller trim work, working with it in the miter box. Here the miter box attachment helps control this beast. Still, it needs a true variable speed control. It could also use thinner blades, more in line with the Japanese pull saws. The thickness of its blades and its un-variable speed make for burning of the blade and/or the jamb, as well as sticking in the jamb cut while you are doing it. I've often resorted back to my Japanese pull saw after starting a cut with this. Anyway, that's my two cents. It sounds like other do like this, but after 5 years of experience with it, I just don't use it any more because of these problems and unreliability.
Very Portable! March 23, 2001
yuvak tuladhar (Richmond , CA)
11 out of 13 found this review helpful
This is a really handy tool. You can do pretty controlled freehand cut on baseboards and plywood. The quick change system is excellent and you can change the blades in no time. It is small enough to fit it my aluminum briefcase when the blade is removed. When you are working around the house it is really convenient to have it. I leave my jig saw and circular saw in the workshop. It feels like a hand saw with more power. By the way this tools cannot replace jig saw or circular saw. The flush blade is also very good. The tool is lightweight but feels solid and well built. Variable speed goes from zero to six.
You may not use this a lot, but when you need it...! January 12, 2006
HG fan (wyoming)
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
I admit, I waivered back and forth on whether to purchase this tool a few years ago. Now I wouldn't trade this little gem for anything! It is definately a 'specialty' power tool (aimed at the 'trades'), but it's one that makes your job sooooo much easier! This saw is primarily designed to flush cut clearance space for tile and hardwood flooring to slip under door jambs/casings for that nice 'finished' look. Undercutting jambs by hand was always such a pain! With this saw, just use scrap tile and wood (for the depth of the mortar bed) or a scrap piece of flooring as a depth spacer; set this baby on it; and push the rocker switch! The fine tooth blades cut a beautiful crisp, clean edge. The saw is very easy to guide and control dispite its size and weight. Bosch did a fantastic job of design when allowing for right or left hand cutting; just turn the blade edge around and virtually any needed cut can be made.
This saw is an amazing timesaver and at around $100 is an outstanding tool for the money! I own several Bosch tools and the fit and finish; performance and quality of their tools are always superb... and they are available at a very decent market price; the 1640VS is no exception. I have also used this saw on other applications that required a flush cut, such as 'shaving' crowns off stud walls before drywalling. You'll probably find yourself scratching your head asking yourself how you got along without one.
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