Absolutely agree. Makita is a better jigsaw. I can tell you, Milwaukee has a LOT of reps around compared to Makita, but the latter keeps more staff on the tech support hotline rather than selling on the road. I guess Makita product just speaks for itself (for the most part). Ps I was on the verge of “going red” but since stayed the course with Makita LXT and am happy I did.
We are experiencing higher then normal call volume is a standard recorded for all tool manufacturers dewalt is the hardest company to get a hold of I have never had an issue with Milwaukee customer support
me too,i have the d-handle 334 dewalt,let's just say if the barrel grip had the variable speed trigger on it would you prefer it over the d-handle 334 dewalt jigsaw?
I just bought this Makita jigsaw. As I was doing research on which saw to buy, I came upon your video. What sold me on the Makita was your video that showed the Makita causing far less chip out than did the Milwaukee. Although this Makita model claims to have a blower, I think the air current is not coming from a built-in blower but from the rapid up and down motion of the chuck. However, in your video the Makita did not seem to have any more dust accumulation than the Milwaukee, so maybe that air current caused by the up and down motion of the chuck is effective at blowing away dust anyway.
Hey Steve. I think you'll be happy with the Makita. It is my favorite of the two. I did have a problem with the blower with the Makita. But I'm not sure if it was just a problem with my saw or all Makita's. So interesting to hear that yours is not working either. Let me know what you think after you've spent some time with it.
I own both battery systems, I have no issue buying the best cordless barrel grip jigsaw. Is there a better bosch or dewalt option? Or is the Makita the best?
Hi Jeffrey, I haven't tested the other cordless saws (future shoot-out?) but I do own an older (10+ years) Bosch barrel grip corded jigsaw and it is great. It's my first go to jigsaw if I'm in the shop. Festool makes a much touted saw and I would give it a look too.
Thank you for your thoughts, looking for a cordless jigsaw and I have both battery systems. Always appreciate an honest review. Barrel version most interesting to me, coping joints etc.
I have two of the Makitas and they both came with a dust extractor attachment, but it is something I'd neveruse. Once you get used to the buttons they work great. And no wonder why the Makita is more expensive when it is made in the UK while the Milwaukee is made in China.
I would like to let you know that the dust collection tube does go into the Milwaukee more you have to push it in harder I thought the same thing with mine but it does go in much farther about 3 in more. Just giving you a heads up give it a try
Thanks for the review. The still reigning king of the jig saws is the old Bosch 1582VS, that is unfortunately no longer being made. That saw is so smooth, I can direct it just by using its cord for steering. I have the barrel grip. If you can find a good used one on Ebay or another market, jump on it.
Hey Ken, Thanks for the comment. Either the blower was malfunctioning on the makita or woefully ineffective. Watch me at :25 use the old fashion method so I can see my cut line. Just didn't work for me.
I just bought the milwaukee barrel jig saw . You're not correct about the dust collector back extension, you have to push it all the way in and is very sturdy. The rest is all a matter of opinion
Awesome review , I have been looking for a review on Makita 18v jigsaws and its strange, I can find reviews for all the other brands but they seem to steer clear of LXT Thanks for putting this out! I have all Makita LXT cordless (about 10 tools and 8 batteries) I want the Makita XVJ03Z 18V LXT Cordless Jig Saw. I figure its probably good enough for me as a homeowner if the 299 barrel grip Makita is this good. I cant believe Makita didn't include the dust blower however! Maybe somebody will review that model too as its only 132.00 on the Bezos online store. The best thing to ever happen to jig saws was Bosch's T shank and Orbital action patents running out. Thank goodness now every brand has these features.
I’m contemplating the same . Not a fan of the switches either- have you seen the adapters to use a makita battery on a dewalt or any platform for that matter? eBay and Amazon and probably other sources. Cheers
@@djfglobal3377 Yes i got a really nice one off ebay. www.ebay.com/itm/Makita-18V-Li-ion-Battery-Convert-to-Dewalt-18V-20V-Power-Tools-Batteries-Adaper/142985275459?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
@@djfglobal3377 There was also another one on ebay: www.ebay.com/itm/DEWALT-20V-MAX-Tools-Adapter-Work-with-Makita-18V-BL18XX-Slider-Li-ion-Battery/143358076680
@@djfglobal3377 Amazon has a super deal on the DEWALT DCS335B 20V MAX XR Cordless Barrel Grip Jig Saw right now for $191.91 CDN! I just bought one! www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07KSS2BGF/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_10?smid=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB&psc=1
Milwaukee is what I chose.. it's because I have so many batteries for them.. but you are right the blade change system is better on the makita however.. the battery selection is better on the Milwaukee.. plus I like that it's 30% less money to buy. I got mine with two batteries, a nice carry case and charger for $299. those batteries will work in all ten of my other Milwaukee tools..
I am a Milwaukee die hard fan. I’ve been using their tools since 2006 and have used the snot out of all of them. Went thru multiple drills,impacts,sawzalls,jig saws, 2 chainsaws etc. also I have fully torn down the gen 3 drill/impact’s electronics and they are STOUT. But.... Their isn’t nothing that competes with Bosch when it comes to jigsaws... The only Bosch tool I own.... besides some of their blades. Lol Good video. Subbed
Mark, I just found your channel and sub’d. Exactly the content I’ve been looking for! Your comment about which battery one has “bought into” is why I’m here...I’m about to go all in on new tools and haven’t bought into any battery yet, but I realize that is the dilemma. With that in mind, which battery line (tool line) would you buy into if starting from scratch? Thanks!
Hey Nate. Glad we found each other! The answer to your question is like most things in life...Depends. You really can't go wrong with any of the big manufactures (Makita, Dewalt, Milwaukee) in my opinion. They all make great tools with a wide range of products and the each seem to leap frog each other with technology...which is good. Even the second tier players like Ridgid, Bosch, and Hitachi make some great tools (Maybe just not as wide of tool options). Depends on what type of work you'll be doing. Most of my work is finish carpentry and cabinet making and I prefer the Makita tools. Good balance of ease of use and power. But a lot of the other trades/subs that I work with like Milwaukee for the shear power/run time. And I have a coworker that buys Ryobi because it's inexpensive and he doesn't feel he's breaking the bank when the new stuff comes out (plus they have a lot of unique tools) or cringe as much when a tool is dropped from a ladder. But you are right, once you buy into a battery eco-system it's tough to justify a different brand because you have to buy their batteries and often bring two sets of chargers to a job. That said I'm trying to get back to just two different brands. Good luck!
The only reason I went Milwaukee is the 5 year warranty. That beats all other manufacturers. If they trust their tool to last at least 5 years, that tells me all I need to know.
Nate Marshall I switched from Makita to Milwaukee M18 about 5 years ago. For trades type work the Milwaukee is amazing. Lots of power and lots of run time. For precision there are better options. Makita, festool, mafell, metabo. Not necessarily in that order. Metabo, Mafell, and festool can run on the same battery. No one makes the perfect line of tools especially cordless. As much as I would love to have one battery system it’s impossible. Today I have mostly Milwaukee battery tools, but also a Makita 18v router, DeWalt 12v green cross plane laser, festool plunge cut track saw, and a senco F15 angled finish nailer. Not to mention the corded tools. The thing I would mainly consider when choosing a system is pick the system that has the best for you feel in the tools you will be using the most. For me that was the 1/4” M18 impact of which I have 3. The surge gets the most use because it’s the quietest😀
@@DIYMark Typical of what I see is the following. Milwaukee = run time, Dewalt = Power, Makita = Precision. Just depends on what you're doing. Jigsaws, in my opinion, that's a precision tool!
A lot of the "issues" I see in this review is user error. The dust collection tube for example. The Milwaukee dust tube inserts way further than 1/2" into the tool. You just have to insert it firmly. The blade chuck issue also sounds like you incorrectly fitted the blade in the chuck, causing it come out mid cut. And you completely missed the variable speed auto mode on the Milwaukee. Which puts it ahead of the Makita IMO. My dad owns the Makita. This review seems to me that you don't have much hands on experience with the Milwaukee yet (it's new I know, we all don't have much hands on yet) and since the Makita has been out over a year, you have used it more. I haven't had a single issue with the blade chuck on my Milwaukee. And have been enjoying it so far. The vibration is not that noticeable to me, and overall, I like it better then the Makita. My hands are big though, might be a reason.
The cordless festool jigsaw is renowned as being the worst piece of kit festool has ever made, even from die hard festool fans. That's all I've seen about them anyway
Sorry, these barrel grip jig saws DO NOT have variable speed triggers. This makes them pretty much useless for many applications. I wish people wouldn't ignore this HUGE fact when reviewing them.
Other people have had the same problem with the Milwaukee saw. The Makita looks like it has a shorter stroke and therefore less vibration (and slower cuts). Why would anyone make a jig saw with no blower (this Makita, 12 volt Bosch and 12 volt Milwaukee) at this point is beyond me.
Lou, where is the actual proof? Not what they tell you, but the actual real world proof that they fixed it? Nothing I have seen has shown any improvement.
Milwaukee making him push a lever over to put a blade in set him off... but it’s consistent with the sawzall so good on Milwaukee for staying consistent on a saw to saw basis.
*I've had some time🌗 **allabout.wiki/DJV181Z** to get used to using the saw now and I think its a good one. It feels very solid and well made - great Bosch quality. I like the settings it has for the eliptical blade movement and blowing dust out of the blade path. The quick blade change lever is easy to use but wont be accidentally bumped. I feel that this is a tool that will last me many years. I was considering the next model up to get the additional blade stabilization, but I think most of the blade flex happens below the foot of the saw anyway were there cant be any support. I think usage technique can make up for most blade flex and you also have to realize that this is a fact of life with a jigsaw and use it accordingly.*
Excellent review. Thanks for covering the customer support aspects too. Im going for the Makita.
Absolutely agree. Makita is a better jigsaw. I can tell you, Milwaukee has a LOT of reps around compared to Makita, but the latter keeps more staff on the tech support hotline rather than selling on the road. I guess Makita product just speaks for itself (for the most part). Ps I was on the verge of “going red” but since stayed the course with Makita LXT and am happy I did.
We are experiencing higher then normal call volume is a standard recorded for all tool manufacturers dewalt is the hardest company to get a hold of I have never had an issue with Milwaukee customer support
💥💥 Great comparison, thank you. Do you have the vacuum port model number for the Makita.??
“Better quality cuts” that’s all I needed to hear!
I have the Makita and it's sooooo smoooooth. I'm a Milwaukee fanboy, but the Makita is the best jigsaw out there!
Fan of both, but I am more invested with Milwaukee then Makita due to the hand me downs from my dad who switched over to Makita!😆....
Thanks for the review. Was about to get a high quality jig saw. Do you have a video comparing barrel grip vs top handle jig saw?
I finally got to try the Dewalt barrel grip jigsaw but I prefer the d handle I like using the variable speed trigger I feel better control
me too,i have the d-handle 334 dewalt,let's just say if the barrel grip had the variable speed trigger on it would you prefer it over the d-handle 334 dewalt jigsaw?
@@StreetKingz4Life No I still prefer the D handle just like the feel better
I just bought this Makita jigsaw. As I was doing research on which saw to buy, I came upon your video. What sold me on the Makita was your video that showed the Makita causing far less chip out than did the Milwaukee.
Although this Makita model claims to have a blower, I think the air current is not coming from a built-in blower but from the rapid up and down motion of the chuck. However, in your video the Makita did not seem to have any more dust accumulation than the Milwaukee, so maybe that air current caused by the up and down motion of the chuck is effective at blowing away dust anyway.
Hey Steve. I think you'll be happy with the Makita. It is my favorite of the two. I did have a problem with the blower with the Makita. But I'm not sure if it was just a problem with my saw or all Makita's. So interesting to hear that yours is not working either. Let me know what you think after you've spent some time with it.
I own both battery systems, I have no issue buying the best cordless barrel grip jigsaw. Is there a better bosch or dewalt option? Or is the Makita the best?
Hi Jeffrey, I haven't tested the other cordless saws (future shoot-out?) but I do own an older (10+ years) Bosch barrel grip corded jigsaw and it is great. It's my first go to jigsaw if I'm in the shop. Festool makes a much touted saw and I would give it a look too.
Excellent review. What you think about flex tools
Thank you for your thoughts, looking for a cordless jigsaw and I have both battery systems. Always appreciate an honest review. Barrel version most interesting to me, coping joints etc.
Could you please review the Dewalt brushless 335 model?
I have two of the Makitas and they both came with a dust extractor attachment, but it is something I'd neveruse. Once you get used to the buttons they work great. And no wonder why the Makita is more expensive when it is made in the UK while the Milwaukee is made in China.
I'm having issues with the position of the buttons. Can you shed some light on how turn the saw on and off safely? Thanks
@@youmbgtube I can reach the buttons on each side with my thumb or pointer finger when gripping the saw in any position.
@@Fekillix You must be a basketball player hands :)
Makita jigsaw with Bosch blades. I've not used other cordless mousses but my makita is made in UK and is pukka unit
I would like to let you know that the dust collection tube does go into the Milwaukee more you have to push it in harder I thought the same thing with mine but it does go in much farther about 3 in more. Just giving you a heads up give it a try
A makita man with a Milwaukee jigsaw😂
Thanks for the review. The still reigning king of the jig saws is the old Bosch 1582VS, that is unfortunately no longer being made. That saw is so smooth, I can direct it just by using its cord for steering. I have the barrel grip. If you can find a good used one on Ebay or another market, jump on it.
Absolutely…!! It’s so good that this Makita fan is having a hard time retiring it for this barrel grip Makita.
@@Jimmy_Cavallo yes sir!
The product description for Makita XVJ01Z on Amazon and Home Depot says it has a built in blower
Hey Ken, Thanks for the comment. Either the blower was malfunctioning on the makita or woefully ineffective. Watch me at :25 use the old fashion method so I can see my cut line. Just didn't work for me.
I just bought the milwaukee barrel jig saw . You're not correct about the dust collector back extension, you have to push it all the way in and is very sturdy.
The rest is all a matter of opinion
That was a honest review and video great 👍 and perfect and you tell the important things greeting from Netherlands 🇳🇱
Awesome review , I have been looking for a review on Makita 18v jigsaws and its strange, I can find reviews for all the other brands but they seem to steer clear of LXT Thanks for putting this out! I have all Makita LXT cordless (about 10 tools and 8 batteries) I want the Makita XVJ03Z 18V LXT Cordless Jig Saw. I figure its probably good enough for me as a homeowner if the 299 barrel grip Makita is this good. I cant believe Makita didn't include the dust blower however! Maybe somebody will review that model too as its only 132.00 on the Bezos online store. The best thing to ever happen to jig saws was Bosch's T shank and Orbital action patents running out. Thank goodness now every brand has these features.
I have all Makita cordless, but am leaning really hard towards the Dewalt because of the slide switch instead of the child proof locks on the Makita.
I’m contemplating the same . Not a fan of the switches either- have you seen the adapters to use a makita battery on a dewalt or any platform for that matter? eBay and Amazon and probably other sources. Cheers
@@djfglobal3377 Yes i got a really nice one off ebay.
www.ebay.com/itm/Makita-18V-Li-ion-Battery-Convert-to-Dewalt-18V-20V-Power-Tools-Batteries-Adaper/142985275459?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
@@24revealer
Thanks !
@@djfglobal3377 There was also another one on ebay: www.ebay.com/itm/DEWALT-20V-MAX-Tools-Adapter-Work-with-Makita-18V-BL18XX-Slider-Li-ion-Battery/143358076680
@@djfglobal3377 Amazon has a super deal on the DEWALT DCS335B 20V MAX XR Cordless Barrel Grip Jig Saw right now for $191.91 CDN! I just bought one!
www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07KSS2BGF/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_10?smid=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB&psc=1
Milwaukee is what I chose.. it's because I have so many batteries for them.. but you are right the blade change system is better on the makita however.. the battery selection is better on the Milwaukee.. plus I like that it's 30% less money to buy.
I got mine with two batteries, a nice carry case and charger for $299. those batteries will work in all ten of my other Milwaukee tools..
Makita would've been a winner hands down if it had the blower function.
I am a Milwaukee die hard fan. I’ve been using their tools since 2006 and have used the snot out of all of them. Went thru multiple drills,impacts,sawzalls,jig saws, 2 chainsaws etc. also I have fully torn down the gen 3 drill/impact’s electronics and they are STOUT.
But....
Their isn’t nothing that competes with Bosch when it comes to jigsaws...
The only Bosch tool I own.... besides some of their blades. Lol
Good video.
Subbed
so you would say that Bosch makes a better jigsaw than Festool or Makita?
I can’t say about either of those. Festool I’m sure makes a better jigsaw but their price commands it
Makita is genius ❤
Awesome comparison and opinions. I am on the Milwaukee platform and agree with you totally. Working with what I got is the way to go. Thanks man
My compact recip saw works as a jig saw!
And this is why I own a Milwaukee Super Sawzall and a Mafell P1CC
Mark, I just found your channel and sub’d. Exactly the content I’ve been looking for! Your comment about which battery one has “bought into” is why I’m here...I’m about to go all in on new tools and haven’t bought into any battery yet, but I realize that is the dilemma. With that in mind, which battery line (tool line) would you buy into if starting from scratch? Thanks!
Hey Nate. Glad we found each other! The answer to your question is like most things in life...Depends. You really can't go wrong with any of the big manufactures (Makita, Dewalt, Milwaukee) in my opinion. They all make great tools with a wide range of products and the each seem to leap frog each other with technology...which is good. Even the second tier players like Ridgid, Bosch, and Hitachi make some great tools (Maybe just not as wide of tool options). Depends on what type of work you'll be doing. Most of my work is finish carpentry and cabinet making and I prefer the Makita tools. Good balance of ease of use and power. But a lot of the other trades/subs that I work with like Milwaukee for the shear power/run time. And I have a coworker that buys Ryobi because it's inexpensive and he doesn't feel he's breaking the bank when the new stuff comes out (plus they have a lot of unique tools) or cringe as much when a tool is dropped from a ladder.
But you are right, once you buy into a battery eco-system it's tough to justify a different brand because you have to buy their batteries and often bring two sets of chargers to a job. That said I'm trying to get back to just two different brands. Good luck!
diymark, thanks for the quick reply and for sharing! I’m torn between Makita and Milwaukee but I think you may have just swayed me towards Makita.
The only reason I went Milwaukee is the 5 year warranty. That beats all other manufacturers. If they trust their tool to last at least 5 years, that tells me all I need to know.
Nate Marshall I switched from Makita to Milwaukee M18 about 5 years ago. For trades type work the Milwaukee is amazing. Lots of power and lots of run time. For precision there are better options. Makita, festool, mafell, metabo. Not necessarily in that order. Metabo, Mafell, and festool can run on the same battery.
No one makes the perfect line of tools especially cordless.
As much as I would love to have one battery system it’s impossible.
Today I have mostly Milwaukee battery tools, but also a Makita 18v router, DeWalt 12v green cross plane laser, festool plunge cut track saw, and a senco F15 angled finish nailer. Not to mention the corded tools.
The thing I would mainly consider when choosing a system is pick the system that has the best for you feel in the tools you will be using the most. For me that was the 1/4” M18 impact of which I have 3. The surge gets the most use because it’s the quietest😀
@@DIYMark Typical of what I see is the following. Milwaukee = run time, Dewalt = Power, Makita = Precision. Just depends on what you're doing. Jigsaws, in my opinion, that's a precision tool!
Power is nothing without control. Makita rocks !
A jig saw is really one step away from a chainsaw.
Thanks for the info
A lot of the "issues" I see in this review is user error.
The dust collection tube for example. The Milwaukee dust tube inserts way further than 1/2" into the tool. You just have to insert it firmly.
The blade chuck issue also sounds like you incorrectly fitted the blade in the chuck, causing it come out mid cut.
And you completely missed the variable speed auto mode on the Milwaukee. Which puts it ahead of the Makita IMO. My dad owns the Makita.
This review seems to me that you don't have much hands on experience with the Milwaukee yet (it's new I know, we all don't have much hands on yet) and since the Makita has been out over a year, you have used it more.
I haven't had a single issue with the blade chuck on my Milwaukee. And have been enjoying it so far. The vibration is not that noticeable to me, and overall, I like it better then the Makita. My hands are big though, might be a reason.
Hey Brandon. Thanks for the comments. Glad your Milwaukee is working out for you.
They don't both have "Auto" mode.
Thought the same thing my man...
Jig saws are the most inaccurate saws going
Makita is just way more refined in all the tools they make compared to Milwaukee
They engineer the units, motors, and batteries themselves. No farming it out-
Dont open the chuck lever all the way. Do it half way. The Bosch saw is better
Festool for sure. It's not too much more expensive than the makita.
No, only MAFELL P1. This one is outstanding!
The cordless festool jigsaw is renowned as being the worst piece of kit festool has ever made, even from die hard festool fans. That's all I've seen about them anyway
@@1BrianFantana1 really?
@@uglyashelful I've never used one personally but I've not seen anyone say good things about them from daily users
@@uglyashelful i hate my carvex. Had it for 4 years an it is the worst tool festool make and a terrible jigsaw.
Makita pricing is like depending the mood of the person who estimates it.
Хорошие лобзики, но взял бы DeWalt!
Makita > Milwaukee
The base on the Milwaukee is too big
👍
Sorry, these barrel grip jig saws DO NOT have variable speed triggers. This makes them pretty much useless for many applications. I wish people wouldn't ignore this HUGE fact when reviewing them.
Hi,who’s no.1?
C+ for the Makita? Hardly a ringing endorsement.
Milwaukee are the best on impact tools, in any other way Makita is better
Other people have had the same problem with the Milwaukee saw. The Makita looks like it has a shorter stroke and therefore less vibration (and slower cuts).
Why would anyone make a jig saw with no blower (this Makita, 12 volt Bosch and 12 volt Milwaukee) at this point is beyond me.
Milwaukee rushes tools out that's their problem, Dewalt,Makita and Bosch take their time and do it right
Not with the chain saw
too bad dewalt didnt take thier time on the fire starter 887 impact driver..absolute garbage and dangerous
@@denali7432 one tool of which they have fixed
@@loucifer323 trust me they havent
Lou, where is the actual proof? Not what they tell you, but the actual real world proof that they fixed it? Nothing I have seen has shown any improvement.
if you cant place the blade in the saw i feel sorry for you
makita is the best.....
Makita is better
Attaching a vacuum hose defeats the cordless design
Still one cord less.
Very GOOD Review 👍
Makita advertisement 👎
Milwaukee making him push a lever over to put a blade in set him off... but it’s consistent with the sawzall so good on Milwaukee for staying consistent on a saw to saw basis.
Na, makita suck!!!!!!!
*I've had some time🌗 **allabout.wiki/DJV181Z** to get used to using the saw now and I think its a good one. It feels very solid and well made - great Bosch quality. I like the settings it has for the eliptical blade movement and blowing dust out of the blade path. The quick blade change lever is easy to use but wont be accidentally bumped. I feel that this is a tool that will last me many years. I was considering the next model up to get the additional blade stabilization, but I think most of the blade flex happens below the foot of the saw anyway were there cant be any support. I think usage technique can make up for most blade flex and you also have to realize that this is a fact of life with a jigsaw and use it accordingly.*