Customer Reviews

Freud FJ85K 6 Amp Top Handle Jig Saw

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

My bosch died after many years of good service and I replaced it with the Freud based on my good experience with their Plunge Router and Biscuit Joiner I depend on daily. I couldn't be happier with the performance. I think people that have had issues with the blade change were overthinking it. Even though I felt I had thoroughly mastered the Bosch blade change I am awed at the simplicity of the Freud. You just push a lever over, insert the blade and release the lever. It's almost too simple. The trigger did take a little getting used to because it's electronic but the difference is worth it. I can dial in the speed and pull the trigger and the speed won't change no matter how hard I push or how thick and hard the wood is. This one's a keeper and a great bargain, too.

I've used a lot of different jig saws over the years. From Black & Decker to Bosch. Have to say that the Freud FJ85 was one of the worst I've ever used.

Fairly well made? Yes. That's probably the only reason I gave it two stars. Trigger was mushy, didn't have the "crisp" feel of a good trigger switch. Didn't like the blade retention system at all. Bosch and Morse blades both hard to get inserted all the way in the barrel. Cutting guide was so far off it was pathetic.
Last of all, during cuts the saw tracked somewhat sideways like a car with a bent frame! Really skimpy manual, too.

I've used several Freud tools over the years with good results, but this saw is not a "keeper"!

My wife gave me this saw for my birthday 3 months ago. I have since had occasion to put it through its paces. I could not be more pleased with it. The blade lock system is an absolute breeze to use. It snaps in easily and is gripped firmly. I found the unit to be quite well balanced also. The saw has a great deal of power and cuts through various hardwoods with no effort at all. I could not be more pleased, this saw is on par with the Bosch and PC both of which are far more.

I purchased this jigsaw only about a month ago, and so far I am very pleased. It feels solid, with smooth cutting action, and goes through a variety of materials with ease. I have to agree with other reviewers regarding the manual, which I too find extremely spartan. However, there has been much reference made regarding the "quick change" blade mechanism, and this is what has compelled me to write this review. I too, initially could not lock in the blade, but after a couple of attempts I managed to figure it out (useless manual). Pull back the sliding mechanism, insert the blade to the point of resistance, now you can release the sliding mechanism, and then push the blade harder until you hear a click. The blade is now secure. It may in fact be that some got a bad machine. But give these instructions a try. Hope this helps!

Considered Bosch but purchased Freud for (...) less. This allowed me to buy a bunch of Bosch T-shank blades guilt-free. Solid piece of machinery, ample power a 6.0 amps, excellent tool-free blade change feature (the best I've seen). The only difference that I can see between this saw and the more expensive Bosch clones is that the finish is not as nice -- I can live without the polish.

I have been buying Freud tools for quite a while and I really like all of them. This jig saw is a meaty tool in the professional class with a 600 Watts motor. It has a quality feel to it with capacities rather better than others in a similar price range; especially the Quick Fix blade changing feature is enough to elevate it to the top of the ladder. It takes the fiddle out of what otherwise is a fiddling job, and despite its generous size and 2.5Kg in no way it lessens its effortless use. Cutting at full length (80mm) has no problem in soft and medium woods, as well it is effective while cutting hardwood, but at a slower pace. Same as above with metal. I did cut some pipes, and despite it took a while I was much better off than with my hack saw! Up to now I have had no service problem with Freud products so I cannot rate them for service. Hope to never need to know!

I bought this saw and it came with a badly warped base. Unfortunately I didn't discover this in time to return it to amazon for a full refund. I sent it to Freud for repair/replacement and got the same base back, only slightly less warped. It won't follow a saw guide because of "drift", in other words the edge of the guide is not parallel to the blade. Basically the engineering on this saw is very ambitious but the manufacturing craftsmanship is terrible.

Addendum: Freud eventually made good by shipping me a new base. If I were to rate the saw now that it has been repaired, it deserves at least three stars. It has a nice powerful motor with variable speed, but maybe it's more powerful than it needs to be. It is fairly heavy, and the motor has a lot of inertia so it keeps on running for several seconds after the trigger is released. The dust collection attachment is somewhat cumbersome, but without it the cutting line is quickly obscured by sawdust. If I had it to do over again I would go for a lighter weight saw with a dust blower like the Black and Decker JS600K, and just be prepared to return it promptly if the base didn't line up just right.

I just returned my Freud FJ85. Sad to do since it was truly a bargain and had a good motor and smooth gearbox. But all of that isn't of much use if you can't get blades to lock properly. I had trouble with the supplied Freud blade, but eventually was able to lock it in. I also bought a variety of Bosch blades. I could lock in some after great effort, but some simply never would fit in. In the end, my fingers were completely cut up. I also didn't care for the lack of dust blower. The Freud comes with a vacuum attachment, but that seemed too awkward for most uses I had planned for the saw. The sight line also left a lot to be desired. I ended up paying more for the Porter Cable jigsaw, but I'm so much happier with it and glad I made the decision quick enough to get a refund.

This saw is terrific! It is a *huge* improvement over my old B&D jigsaw. Freud has corrected the blade installation issue... blade change is a snap, literally! Just open the catch, insert the blade, close the catch, and push the blade up slightly until it snaps in place. Easy, and it won't come out.
Yes, the vacuum hose contacts the cord near the dust port, but this isn't a big issue. It seals and vacuums the dust quite well.
The saw has plenty of power and doesn't bog down in thick conditions. I look forward to using this saw every chance I get.
It does all I ask and more. Also, for $50 less than the Bosch, it's a bargain.

I was able to purchase this saw from Lowe's. I would've paid twice that for it and still felt good about the purchase. I feel like this is one of the best tool bargains I've ever been fortunate enough to take advantage of. The saw performs flawlessly, has plenty of power, is solidly built (as are all of Freud's products) and changing blades couldn't be simpler. I have not had any of the blade retention problems that other reviewers have mentioned. It is a very smooth cutting saw and the soft start feature works quite well. I highly recommend this saw.