Historically, the reciprocating saw is often viewed as a “big” tool. I remember as a kid, my father had a huge corded reciprocating saw that I could barely lug around. When I was big enough to help him with demo work, the saw was not fun to wield. Sure, it had tons of power – but it was tiring to use, especially in awkward positions. Nowadays, this is much less of a problem. Cordless tools have revolutionized the way pros and DIY’ers operate, and the size of our tools seem to keep shrinking. The polar opposite of my dad’s old red reciprocating saw is the Bosch 12v Pocket Reciprocating saw. This one puts a new spin on the traditional beast of a reciprocating cutting tool. Let’s dig deeper into this option in the Bosch 12V Pocket Reciprocating Saw Review.
Bosch 12V Pocket Reciprocating Saw Review Overview
As stated above, my biggest gripe with most reciprocating saws has always been their size and weight. The Bosch counters that by coming in as one of the slimmest saws of this type on the market. While using it during testing, and some other work around the house, I noticed zero arm fatigue. To the average homeowner, this may make a small difference, but to a pro, this could mean everything. Using these tools for an hour or two straight can make the forearms and elbows very sore! I was relieved to also notice the accompanying ergonomics – this thing is comfortable!
If I could guess a target audience for this tool, it would certainly be tough. After testing on the bench, and using it for regular tasks, this could appeal to a DIY’er or most pros. A sturdy construction, great performance, mid-level pricing, and the Bosch name make for a tool suited for anyone.
Bosch 12V Pocket Reciprocating Saw Review Features
When looking at the tool and examining it further, the Bosch is a very high-quality tool. The chassis appears to be glass fiber reinforced nylon with thermoplastic elastomer overmolding for the “grippy” sections.
The only criticism I have on the outer portion of the tool is that even though they’ve done a fine job of adding overmolding, there is no stippling on the overmold itself. The smooth thermoplastic provides a nice purchase on the tool, but with sweaty hands, it can be tough to hold onto.
Coming from someone like myself who has been used to mostly archaic tools, I was pleased to find an LED work light. This is mounted on the business end of the tool underneath the blade lock. This proved to be super handy when working in tight spaces with limited light. And despite the battery beginning to drain after a lot of use, it was refreshing to notice that the light was still kicking at what seemed to be full bore. This alone was enough to make me really smile during testing!
Right above the work light is where the blade can be mounted and is secured with a twist lock. During all of my testing, the blade never dismounted or came loose – which is good since this is always a fear by the user of the tool. The twist lock designs are particularly robust, so it is always nice to see this design being used as it is becoming more popular on reciprocating saws of this type.
Looking at the numbers, the Bosch is just as impressive as the other tools in their cordless lineup. The 12v battery never fully died during normal usage, even though performance was slightly hampered when it became low. Bosch has provided the handy feature of a fuel gauge on the side of the tool. This is complete with bright LEDs so you can be certain of what “juice” is left. The tool is also impressive in regard to its strokes per minute, or “SPM”, coming to about 3,000. This makes for an exceptionally fast cutting tool, with plenty of power. With all of that speed definitely begs the need for a great motor brake. The Bosch takes care of this with it’s “fast motor brake.” This allows for safer cutting by way of shutting down the stroke of the tool when letting off of the trigger.
Bosch 12V Pocket Reciprocating Saw Review Performance
Overall, the performance was impressive just like a pro-grade tool should be. Bosch includes a metal cutting blade, and a wood cutting blade to start you off – a nice touch out of the box. Using both of these, I was able to see just how effective the 3,000 SPM number is, and how much I prefer this tool over the reciprocating saws of old! The combination of effective power, with a versatile and comfortable size, makes this Bosch a win for me, and an addition to my list of favorite tools!
When cutting wood, the Bosch bumper design for reducing vibration really came in handy. Cutting wall studs and hardwoods can give a lot of recoil, but for the most part, the Bosch was an improvement on vibration.
On the metal size, cutting was a breeze. I made sure to use a bit of cutting oil in order to preserve my blade and expect that this blade will last quite long. As a whole, but blades themselves were as equally impressive as the saw. After plenty of use over the course of a few weeks, the blades performed like new each time!
Bosch 12V Pocket Reciprocating Saw Review Value
With an average price tag of around $120 at most retailers, like Amazon. The Bosch is competitive with the other brands in its class. The kit is complete with the tool itself, (2) blades, (1) battery, charger, and carrying case, the Bosch is a great option if you’re torn between all of the options on the shelf. I have to admit, being completely objective, the Bosch was everything I thought it would be. You truly get what you pay for in the way of a well-built tool complete with features that pros would expect. From what I’ve noticed even lately, Bosch has no plans of sacrificing quality in its power tools.
Bosch 12V Pocket Reciprocating Saw Review Final Thoughts
As someone who infrequently purchases a new reciprocating saw, as I’ve mentioned above, I was very impressed. I believe for the pro user, or homeowner, having a quality reciprocating saw is one of the most important tools you can own. Having “something that can cut anything” is valuable as a homeowner or DIY’er, and the Bosch certainly fits the bill. The specs, features, price, and general build quality are all present with this nimble tool that is user-friendly for pretty much anyone. Gone are the days of old where reciprocating saws had to be huge in order to get the job done, and hats off to Bosch!
