Bosch 1640VSK Fine Cut Finishing Saw Kit with Miter

by Bosch

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

It might look like the world's largest safety razor, but Bosch's fine-cut saw is a handy little niche tool. Essentially just an electric handsaw, the 1640VSK was designed for flooring installers and remodelers. It feels good in your hand, with a nice grip and contoured angles. The large on/off switch is conveniently located where your thumb would rest. The blades mount easily, too, with the option of mounting to either side. Though the saw doesn't look powerful, we were impressed with its smooth operation. It's precise and works equally well with wood, composites, and plastic. It makes a cleaner cut by far than a reciprocating saw and fits into much smaller places. We used ours to shorten a bunch of door trim before installing new kitchen flooring. It worked great. Why not just use the old handsaw? Well, good question. We guess it depends on how often you have to make these sorts of cuts (and how tired you are of banging your knuckles while making them). The saw also comes with a miter table attachment--which we have to admit we'd be unlikely to use, owning as we do a nice compound miter saw. A floor installer, however, might think it worked just fine. --Michael Shilling

From the Manufacturer

Flush cutting, freehand cutting, and miter cutting--so many cuts, so little time. The Bosch 1640VSK 3-1/2 amp precision saw cuts wood, wood composites, and plastic materials. The saw's ultra-fine teeth provide smooth, tear-free cuts while the flex-resistant, high-alloy steel-blade guides provide accurate guidance. Other features include a quick blade-change system, ergonomic design for compact comfort, and blade mounts on the left or right side for excellent visibility and total versatility. This kit includes power handsaw, miter table attachment, flush-cut blade, fine-tooth blade, coarse-tooth blade, three clamps, two thumbscrews, and carrying case.

Features

• 3.5 amps, 2,000 to 2,800 rpm
• Precision sawing, including flush cutting in wood, wood composites, and plastics
• Variable speed, matches speed to work piece and task
• Flush-cutting ability: blade can lie flat on work surface while cutting
• Blades mount on left or right side for excellent visibility and total versatility
• Tool-free blade-change system for quick, easy blade changes
• Counterbalanced for reduced vibration
• Miter table attachment converts tool into precise cutoff and miter saw
• Ergonomic design provides comfortable handling even in tight working areas
• Miters materials up to 3-5/8 inches tall

Specifications

• Rating: 120 volts AC
• Amps: 3.5 amps
• No-load strokes per minute: 2,000 to 2,800 spm
• Stroke length: 5/8 inch
• Length: 11.9 inches
• Weight: 3.5 lbs.
• Cutting capacity, plastics: 3/4 inch
• Cutting capacity, wood: 2-1/2 inches

Includes

• Fine-tooth blade
• Fine-tooth/flush-cut blade
• Coarse-tooth blade
• 2 table clamps
• Work piece clamp
• Miter table attachment
• Carrying case

Warranty
This Bosch power tool comes with a one-year limited warranty from the date of purchase.

Product Details

Product Manual [2.69mb PDF]

• Shipping Weight: 15.4 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B0000223FQ
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: 1640VSK
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #138,521 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)
  • #92 in Home Improvement > Power & Hand Tools > Power Tools > Saws > Miter Saws

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A power hand saw, March 18, 2000

By 

Adam (Cincinnati, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bosch 1640VSK Fine Cut Finishing Saw Kit with Miter (Tools & Home Improvement)

The Bosch 1640VSK fine cut saw is an electric hand saw. It has a rapid short stroke and flush cutting design that allow you to cut in tight awkward spaces. The blade changing system is well designed and easy to do. The Miter kit has a limited cutting range due to the length of the saw blade. It can't be used for anything much bigger than a 1x3 or toe molding. It is an interesting little saw but with many limitations.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Gem of a saw, good clamps, fair tool case, terrible mitre box, September 19, 2005

By 

Victor H. Agresti "remodeling-guy" (Gaithersburg, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bosch 1640VSK Fine Cut Finishing Saw Kit with Miter (Tools & Home Improvement)

Pros:

- "Flush Cutting" means the blade literally slides on the surface and cuts protruding wood to that level. For example, you can cut a piece of wood poking out above a sub-floor so it's flush, since the blade will slide on the sub-floor itself. Of course, you can cut above the surface, as when shortening door-jambs because you are now installing ceramic tile and you want it to be under the door trim. In such cases, this little gem of a tool is a God-send. I'm not aware of a competing electric tool, and although a manual saw could work in a pinch, this saw does a much better and faster job.

- The flush-cutting blades are quickly reversible, so you can cut right to left or left to right; depending on which is more convenient.

- Accessories include other types of blades, with rougher teeth or for ferrous metals (aluminum, brass, copper).

Cons:

- While the Bosch Fine Cut saw is a first rate tool, the miter table attachment is nearly useless. During a recent house renovation, before my DeWalt sliding compound saw was on site, I tried one last time to use it for productive work. No luck. This table attachment was so unsatisfactory, it was tossed it in the trash. The piece of wood to be cut vibrates way too much, even when clamped, for a quality cut. Besides, the unit itself, including the "fence" is just too darned small for most woodworking tasks. It might do a barely passable job, if you plan to grout the joints, and paint the work, but it is wholly impractical for a cut that needs to be smooth and accurate. Any electric miter saw, or a decent manual miter saw, would do a significantly better job than this tiny miter attachment.

- Of the half-dozen Bosch tools I own, this is the only one with a lousy tool case. It's cheaply constructed with plastic latches, plus the electric cord, saw, and accessories all have to be perfectly situated for the lid to close.

Summary:

- The 1640VS (Bosch Fine Cut Power Handsaw) does not include a tool case, miter table attachment, or clamps.

- The 1640VSK includes the tool case, the miter table attachment, two Gross Stabil 6" F clamps, and a clamp to hold wood to the miter attachment, while cutting.

The saw itself is mainly for remodelers or serious do-it-yourself types, since it's a speciality tool you won't use very often. When you need it, however, you'll be mighty glad you own one.

My advice is to get the saw only (Bosch 1640VS) and a decent aftermarket tool case. Amazon sells the Gross Stabil clamps individually. Also, search Amazon for "miter saw" and you'll find some electric models for $100 or less. You'll spend a bit more in total, but have a much better setup.

5 stars for the saw and two Gross Stabil clamps, 1 star for the tool case, 0 stars for the miter table attachment.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Bosch 1640VSK, January 16, 2001

By 

Pete Gregor (Indio, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bosch 1640VSK Fine Cut Finishing Saw Kit with Miter (Tools & Home Improvement)

If you are making picture frames, installing flooring, crown molding, or base boards then this is the saw you won't want to live without. It leaves a very fine cut, with a little tear out. Not near as much as you get with circular saw type mitre saw. The angles for the included mitre box are dead on accurate. If you want to cut lumber for a woodworking project this is not the tool I would choose. Setting up the saw is quick and easy. Bosch did an excellant job of design in this regard. Two clamps set up the mitre box. The saw fits onto two posts on a hinged tab. A long thumb screw secures the saw to the tab. The only shortcommings to the saw are; small cutting capacity, and vibration (mine has vibrated the clamps loose twice). I'd like to see a wider variety of blades. A metal cutting blade, and a blade with a larger length (for more cutting capacity) seem the logical next step for Bosch to take. Add those two blades and this saw would get 4+ stars from me.