Bosch Reaxx saw worst tool I have ever owned in my life.

[keith micinski]

This is the most disappointing realization ever as far as tools goes for me. I really need a nice job site saw and I really can't stand Steve gass or "sawstop guy" so I found a reaxx unopened for a grand. I bought it thinking that's a pretty good value and even if it's not amazing it will still be good enough and be worth it. I was sorely mistaken. After two misfires and running the saw for months in bypass mode because to ship it to Bosch and get it repaired would cost me more then buying a new saw I have decided it's not even worth getting it looked at it. I could list everything that is wrong, or just plain doesn't work but I can sum it up quicker. ALL OF IT!!

There is not a single thing I like, that's not true I like the placement of the push stick, but other then that I'm not exaggerating, there isn't a one. I'm currently trying to decide if I went to give it to the kid that works for me or if I want to run it over repeatedly with my tractor. Pretty sure I would be doing him a favor by destroying it but he doesn't have any table saw at all and that's the only type of tablesaw this piece of crap is better then.

[Robin Dobbie]

I could list everything that is wrong, or just plain doesn't work but I can sum it up quicker. ALL OF IT!!



I'd be very interested in hearing at least a couple of things that plain don't work.

[Randy Heinemann]

Is it possible the saw wasn't as unopened as it was advertised?

[John K Jordan]

I'm currently trying to decide if I went to give it to the kid that works for me or if I want to run it over repeatedly with my tractor. ...

I heard there used to be a place in Atlanta where people could shoot fully automatic weapons at appliances and computers and things.

[keith micinski]

I'd be very interested in hearing at least a couple of things that plain don't work.

Everytime you move it the fence needs completely reset. Every time you move it both pointers on the scale need reset. There were rumors of them misfiring in the early reviews and I can verify they absolutely do that as a matter of fact this one did it twice. The insert plate is a ridiculous shape and almost impossible to make perfectly flat. The stupid saw vibrates almost like that was what it was intentionally made to do. The stupid motor is a two speed motor so it takes 4-5 seconds of cutting before it actually ramps up into speed which is even worse then it sounds when your in something thick and hard. The stupid gravity rise stand I have heard so much about from other Bosch products is slightly bent in two places from just supporting its own weight. The stupid feet that came with the saw to level it aren't long enough to level completely. The stupid blade storage holds exactly one blade. THE STUPID MITRE GAUGE IS FACING BACKWARDS WHEN IT IS STORED, A PAIN TO GET OUT AND THEN IT HAS A TON OF SLOP WITH NO WAY TO ADJUST IT IN THE SLOT. It weighs about a ton and a half. The cut quality stinks. This one is maybe a bit me more then the saw but I still hate it. The fence locks onto the table and then when you go past 12 3/4 inches you have to start reading a second scale backwards and then you also have to have a second pointer adjusted perfectly to the first pointer which as already mentioned is now not perfect because you have probably looked at the saw to move it and it promptly went out of adjustment. I take it back, the two scales and then reading one the other way is totally ridiculous and there is no way someone is going to say they actually like that. After looking through this post I am for sure running this thing over repeatedly with my tractor.

[keith micinski]

Is it possible the saw wasn't as unopened as it was advertised?
No, if it was maybe someone would have fixed some the terrible engineering that was done by Bosch in the first place.

[keith micinski]

Oh, I forgot the cord is about 24" long and Bosch told me to make sure I plugged it directly into an outlet. Also the dust collection sucks and not in a good way. And there is no way to square the fence with top of the saw so I had to take it apart and make my own shim stock to do that when I set it up.

[Brent VanFossen]

I'm really sorry to hear of your experiences with the Bosch Reaxx. It sure is disappointing when a purchase doesn't work out. I don't have any other information to share about the saw to help you, but it seems that the design team could have used some more time to build, test, and iterate to a better solution.

[Jan Carr]

Apparently, you are not alone............ On the Bosch website, they say: "Bosch is not currently selling or marketing the REAXX™ Table Sawhttps://www.boschtools.com/us/en/more/news-and-extras/specials/reaxx_info/index.html

[Frederick Skelly]

Apparently, you are not alone............ On the Bosch website, they say: "Bosch is not currently selling or marketing the REAXX™ Table Sawhttps://www.boschtools.com/us/en/more/news-and-extras/specials/reaxx_info/index.html

Hi Jan,
I wouldn't necessarily conclude that the issues Keith is having are what is causing Bosch to stop selling that tool. The notice you flagged could also be due to the first round of lawsuits Bosch lost last year vs sawstop. The gist of that was basically "stop selling that saw in the US". (I am not an attorney. That is what I understood from reading published excerpts of the initial March 2017 ruling.) I
noticed that the site you linked to is the US part of the Bosch website , so to test my theory I checked the Canadian Bosch site - I didn't get the same front page message. Perhaps one of our Canadian friends can clarify whether the Bosch is on sale in Canada.

Fred

[Martin Wasner]

Everytime you move it the fence needs completely reset. Every time you move it both pointers on the scale need reset. There were rumors of them misfiring in the early reviews and I can verify they absolutely do that as a matter of fact this one did it twice. The insert plate is a ridiculous shape and almost impossible to make perfectly flat. The stupid saw vibrates almost like that was what it was intentionally made to do. The stupid motor is a two speed motor so it takes 4-5 seconds of cutting before it actually ramps up into speed which is even worse then it sounds when your in something thick and hard. The stupid gravity rise stand I have heard so much about from other Bosch products is slightly bent in two places from just supporting its own weight. The stupid feet that came with the saw to level it aren't long enough to level completely. The stupid blade storage holds exactly one blade. THE STUPID MITRE GAUGE IS FACING BACKWARDS WHEN IT IS STORED, A PAIN TO GET OUT AND THEN IT HAS A TON OF SLOP WITH NO WAY TO ADJUST IT IN THE SLOT. It weighs about a ton and a half. The cut quality stinks. This one is maybe a bit me more then the saw but I still hate it. The fence locks onto the table and then when you go past 12 3/4 inches you have to start reading a second scale backwards and then you also have to have a second pointer adjusted perfectly to the first pointer which as already mentioned is now not perfect because you have probably looked at the saw to move it and it promptly went out of adjustment. I take it back, the two scales and then reading one the other way is totally ridiculous and there is no way someone is going to say they actually like that. After looking through this post I am for sure running this thing over repeatedly with my tractor.

Oh, so what you're saying is, it's a jobsite saw.

[Frederick Skelly]

Keith,
That's a tough break man and I'm sorry to hear it. With that thing unavailable Stateside, are you able to get any significant advice from Bosch Customer Service on the vibration and other "fixable" parts of the tool?

Darn shame you couldn't have set it up and tried it out first to discover the "designed-in" funnies, but if it isn't really on sale here that's hard too. Kind of a "pays your money and takes your chances" thing - and I'd expect a Bosch tool to be a well-designed, high quality machine, so that should have been a reasonable bet/risk to take.

I'd use the tractor on it, or drive from South Bend to Atlanta like John suggests.

Fred

[Rich Riddle]

Apparently, you are not alone............ On the Bosch website, they say: "Bosch is not currently selling or marketing the REAXX™ Table Saw

https://www.boschtools.com/us/en/more/news-and-extras/specials/reaxx_info/index.html Bosch was ordered in January 2017 to stop selling the REAXX in the USA.....here is the quote "In January of 2017, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled in favor of SawStop and effectively halted Bosch from "importing, selling, marketing, advertising, distributing (except for exploration), and solicit United States agents or distributors for imported table saws."

You can see that in Canada they are still legal to sell and even The Home Depot lists them for sell on their Canadian page.

I purchased a REAXX when they first arrived and have encountered only one misfire, the first day I used it. The say doesn't like treated or wet wood or foreign metal objects. It certainly isn't in contention to replace the Hammer or Powermatic in the shop, but mine's a decent job site saw.

[Matt Day]

I know you’re super frustrated with thebsaw and angry, but your post made me laugh! I’m sure it will make you laugh as well one day. Sorry to hear about all that.

This is from Woodshop News:
“Bosch will continue to provide distributors and end users with service, repair and support for Reaxx table saws previously purchased, including the availability of replacement cartridges manufactured in the U.S., which are not subject to the ITC import ban.”

[peter gagliardi]

Pretty much what Martin said, it is a jobsite saw. Basically like every other jobsite saw. Piece of plastic box, housing an upside down skilsaw, with a metal top and fence mounted above. I have used the Bosch, Makita, Dewalt, Ridgid, and several others. That level of quality is par for the course, across the board. When I was younger, we bought the makitas, because they were readily, and cheaply available, and it was known by my boss that they lasted about a year, then you got another one.
I have that exact Bosch you speak of, minus the special Reaxx safety feature. It is a $300-350.00 saw if I remember, with a $650 add on safety feature.
Any of them are a very miserable substitute for a proper shop saw.
They are all made to rip plywood, framing lumber, and other typical housebuilding jobsite materials, including Boral, Azek, and all the composite decking. Basically turning 1 piece into 2 or more. They don't do it well, and they don't generally do it for long.
It also makes just about no sense to put a good blade on it. There is so much runout on the arbors, that it doesn't justify the expense. The lipstick on a pig situation all over again.
All that said, when I finally broke down and bought my Bosch about 5 years ago, after hemming and hawing about wasting that kind of money on a machine with all those miserable attributes, and poor cut quality, I was thankful at the end of the day and job that I could just pick it up and slide it in the truck by myself. And it got the job done, more or less.
I hate using it, compared to any of my shop saws- Whitney, Greenlee, Martins, etc... but I can't cart any of them around.
It is not, in my mind anyway, intended as a precision instrument. It gets banged and tossed from job to job, and you toss it when it dies

[keith micinski]

Pretty much what Martin said, it is a jobsite saw. Basically like every other jobsite saw. Piece of plastic box, housing an upside down skilsaw, with a metal top and fence mounted above. I have used the Bosch, Makita, Dewalt, Ridgid, and several others. That level of quality is par for the course, across the board. When I was younger, we bought the makitas, because they were readily, and cheaply available, and it was known by my boss that they lasted about a year, then you got another one.
I have that exact Bosch you speak of, minus the special Reaxx safety feature. It is a $300-350.00 saw if I remember, with a $650 add on safety feature.
Any of them are a very miserable substitute for a proper shop saw.
They are all made to rip plywood, framing lumber, and other typical housebuilding jobsite materials, including Boral, Azek, and all the composite decking. Basically turning 1 piece into 2 or more. They don't do it well, and they don't generally do it for long.
It also makes just about no sense to put a good blade on it. There is so much runout on the arbors, that it doesn't justify the expense. The lipstick on a pig situation all over again.
All that said, when I finally broke down and bought my Bosch about 5 years ago, after hemming and hawing about wasting that kind of money on a machine with all those miserable attributes, and poor cut quality, I was thankful at the end of the day and job that I could just pick it up and slide it in the truck by myself. And it got the job done, more or less.
I hate using it, compared to any of my shop saws- Whitney, Greenlee, Martins, etc... but I can't cart any of them around.
It is not, in my mind anyway, intended as a precision instrument. It gets banged and tossed from job to job, and you toss it when it dies

This couldn’t be more wrong.I have a Dewalt job site saw that has been amazing for years unfortunately the motor is ready to give out on me and this and the sawstop are supposed to be the next generation of jobsite Saws along with finger sensing technology. I’m not asking it to be a cabinet saw I’m asking it to actually cut wood which this one really doesn’t even do. Also more of my complaint to do with the engineering and designing less with the quality of this saw, if it was just poor quality I probably could live with it.

[Mark Bolton]

Wonder if it uses slotted screws for fasteners. That'd really put you into tractor crushing mode lol.

[Mike Cutler]

"24" power cord that has to be plugged into an outlet". This is a telling statement.

Thank you for the review.
In the spring I want to do a lot of work in our house. Ripping up floors, leveling joists, new subfloor, and flooring. Window trim and case work,a nd possibly a new stairway. I have been tossing back and forth to either buy a jobsite saw, or modify my old Jet contractor saw, to have the saw in the house with me, avoiding 10,000 trips to the shop. I'm leaning toward modifying my Jet more and more.

[Robin Dobbie]

People are saying all the stuff you've mentioned is just any jobsite saw, but I don't know. They may be confusing jobsite saws with benchtop saws. I've not been terribly impressed with benchtop saws. The issues with the fence and miter gauge would certainly not surprise me on a $200 benchtop saw. I've played with some jobsite saws and my impression is that they're very much like contractor saws, just smaller. For example the Ridgid jobsite saw has a nice fence, it's just smaller. But even my old benchtop saw, as terrible as the fence and miter gauge are, vibration wasn't too bad. Oh it's loud, but I never thought about vibration.

Never bothered with the insert plate on my benchtop saw as it too is a weird shape, but maybe that's something you can make a custom replacement for? I think I saw Izzy Swan and a few other's videos about using PVC pipe that had been split, heated, flattened and cut to shape.


motor is a two speed motor so it takes 4-5 seconds of cutting before it actually ramps up into speed

This is the first thing that I'm really surprised about. Reminds me of Hondas where at 5k the VTEC would kick in.


It weighs about a ton and a half.

I suppose it weighs 30+ pounds more than the Ridgid, and that's not nothing, but I don't know if this is as legit a complaint as everything else.


The cut quality stinks.

It's important to find out why this is. Is it the arbor, is it the blade? The motor changing speeds mid-cut?


...you have to start reading a second scale backwards

Stop reading scales. I almost always use a measuring tape, burn 10 inches, then mark my cut with a knife, then line that mark up with a blade tooth, with careful consideration of the offcut side. Then again, that's not the kind of woodworking this saw was even designed for.


After looking through this post I am for sure running this thing over repeatedly with my tractor.

Can I ask why you didn't return it immediately after purchase? Why not sell it? Be completely honest about all the issues you have, but I'm sure someone would buy it.

[terry mccammon]

There was, and I think still is, a "machine gun show" near Louisville. Really a hoot folks brought automatic weapons of all types from M-16's through water cooled anti-aircraft type 50 cal. Out on the range was all sorts of appliances, cars, you name it. Plus they had small charges of explosives that firing would set off to the delight of the crowd.

[Mike Kreinhop]

"24" power cord that has to be plugged into an outlet". This is a telling statement.

I don't know why Bosch didn't manufacture the saw with a longer power cord, but this statement is more likely a liability clause required by the attorneys. With a short power cord, Bosch cannot possibly test every combination of extension cords that owners might use and still retain the various certifications for its consumers.

I do not have a way to compare tools between the two markets, but all of my European Bosch and Dewalt corded tools have very long power cords and I rarely need an extension cord. The REAXX saw is not sold in Europe, most likely because there is no market for it.

[Robin Dobbie]

The REAXX saw is not sold in Europe, most likely because there is no market for it.

That's so weird considering all the "safety" regulations involving woodworking they have there(it's illegal to use a dado blade in a production shop).

[Martin Wasner]

I've used a lot of job site saws. I can't think of one that I was impressed with. They're all comprises coated with disappointment.

I own the Bosch with the flip you stand, I thought it was the best of the offerings, but it's nothing great or easy to use.
If you hook a Oneida dust cobra hop to it, the collection is actually pretty impressive, but it better be.

I really want to try the Mafell one out, but that thing costs more than most cabinet saws.

If you really want to go hog wild, a buddy of mine set a powermatic 66 up so he could slide it in the job trailer.

[Roger Marty]

Get over your grudge for one man and buy the better product. I've never read a negative review of the SawStop jobsite saw

[Joe Jensen]

Get over your grudge for one man and buy the better product. I've never read a negative review of the SawStop jobsite saw

That's a rational option :)

[Mike Kreinhop]

That's so weird considering all the "safety" regulations involving woodworking they have there(it's illegal to use a dado blade in a production shop).

I don't know that dado blades are illegal, but they are certainly not common here and I can't use them on my Minimax SC2.

I've been in only two production shops and all of the saws there were large sliders such as the Felder or Altendorf. There were specialist tools for cutting dado slots, but I didn't look at them. I have been to hundreds of small and large construction sites, and have yet to see a job site saw at any of them. The only saws I see are hand saws or circular saws, and these are used mainly during the formwork tasks. From my experience and observations, wood is not commonly used in residential structure construction and masonry is the primary resource. Any timber frame or exposed wood is normally made off-site and fitted into place during construction.

When I contracted to have my garage completed, it was just four masonry walls, all of the exposed and finished timber beams and trusses were made at the factory and dropped into place. The contractor did not have or use any type of saw during the installation. The wooden structure was installed and secured in less than an hour, and the tile shingles were finished an hour after that. The gutter fitter took almost a full day to install the gutters, but he was an apprentice.

[keith micinski]

Wonder if it uses slotted screws for fasteners. That'd really put you into tractor crushing mode lol.

Hehe I wouldn’t put it past this thing to have some on it.

[scott vroom]

I bought my son a Bosch 4100-09 with the gravity stand in 2010. He's a full time construction carpenter and uses the saw occasionally on site for small work...trim, dimensional lumber short cuts, rips, ply....not the best saw but the portability is nice. They sell for $499 today including that nice gravity stand. Put on a thin kerf blade and it performs well enough for the price. Seems lots of folks expect too much from a low cost job site saw.

[Robin Dobbie]

I don't know that dado blades are illegal, but they are certainly not common here and I can't use them on my Minimax SC2.

I'll admit my knowledge is second-hand at best. What I understood is that in order to be safety compliant in completing any given task, a shop has to use the safest operation possible. If the shop has a router, that's decidedly safer, so that's one way dados could be construed as illegal. Another way their use is illegal is that in order to be safety compliant, any saw in a production shop has to be able to brake completely in 10 seconds. The weight of a dado blade might extend that.

[Mike Henderson]

I have to say that I laughed when reading many of these post. The best was Mark's comment about the slotted screws:)

Mike

[Jacques Gagnon]

Fred:


A quick search online indicates that one of the "big boxes" (RONA - now owned by Lowe's) is selling the Bosch REAXX for $C2K. The cartridges are also available ($C130).

This would confirm my understanding of the situation, namely the legal dispute between SawStop and Bosch in the US.

[Frederick Skelly]

Thank you Jacques!

[Mike Delyster]

Fred:


A quick search online indicates that one of the "big boxes" (RONA - now owned by Lowe's) is selling the Bosch REAXX for $C2K. The cartridges are also available ($C130).

This would confirm my understanding of the situation, namely the legal dispute between SawStop and Bosch in the US.

It shows up as "temporarily out of stock" for me on Rona's Canadian website.
https://www.rona.ca/en/brand/bosch-reaxx

Maybe Canada is to small of a market for it to be feasible for Bosch.
All so unavailable at Amazon.ca and Elite Tools.
https://www.amazon.ca/Bosch-GTS1041A-09-Jobsite-Gravity-Rise-Wheeled/dp/B013UBT4ES
https://www.elitetools.ca/en/product/reaxx-gts1041a-safety-table-saw-bosch-gts1041a/#

[Peter Christensen]

There is one in the Saskatoon store at the moment and at one point before Christmas they were on sale for 20% off ($1600Can). That might be why they are low/out of stock. They are usually $2000Can where the SawStop is roughly $1600Can in the Lee Valley Catalogue. Since I have the industrial SawStop I've never bothered to look at either contractor saw beyond a cursory glance so won't comment on the merits or demerits of one over the other.

[Mike Delyster]

That could very well be the case. I've never even looked at them or the Sawstop version so know nothing about either.
I never noticed the Rona link was for a specific store.

[Nick Decker]

I've owned the SawStop Jobsite saw for a little over a year, and can tell you that it doesn't suffer from the maladies that Keith listed. It's not a cabinet saw, but it's a very good saw in its class (safety features aside).

[Mike Delyster]

I’m surprised the cost of the Bosch is another 25% more than the Sawstop, at least in Canada.

[Mike Heidrick]

If you get twice as many fires out of a brake and you dont ruin a blade then they figure you will be money ahead. Usd it was $200 more when it was sold here. $1299 for ss and $1499 for reax.

[Peter Kelly]

I really want to try the Mafell one out, but that thing costs more than most cabinet saws.I can assure you, the Erika saws are absolutely as good as a cabinet saw as well as being easily portable. 220v can be a bit of a challenge on jobsites but there are lots of 110v - 220v converters out there that will work.


https://www.elektrowerkzeug-shop.de/mafell
US Shipping available.

[Martin Wasner]

I can assure you, the Erika saws are absolutely as good as a cabinet saw as well as being easily portable. 220v can be a bit of a challenge on jobsites but there are lots of 220v converters out there that will work.

https://www.elektrowerkzeug-shop.de/mafell
US Shipping available.

The 70 is 120v. I haven't seriously entertained buying one, I hardly use the jobsite saw that I've got.

$3500 (https://www.timberwolftools.com/mafell-erika-70ec-pull-push-saw)

[Mark Bolton]

Martin. Did you seriously pay 3500 for a job site saw that you "hardly" use? That really has me scratching my head. I mean I can see the euro romance but that is beyond gross unless your working in 12 million dollar homes for Brittany spears and that sort of ilk. In a competitive market... ummmmmm

[Martin Wasner]

Martin. Did you seriously pay 3500 for a job site saw that you "hardly" use? That really has me scratching my head. I mean I can see the euro romance but that is beyond gross unless your working in 12 million dollar homes for Brittany spears and that sort of ilk. In a competitive market... ummmmmm


No, I have a Bosch that I hardly use. Tough to justify the Mafell, when I'd hardly use it.

I just work in the $1-2 million dollar homes. ;). If I ever walk into a $12m, I'll snatch up the Mafell.

[keith micinski]

If you get twice as many fires out of a brake and you dont ruin a blade then they figure you will be money ahead. Usd it was $200 more when it was sold here. $1299 for ss and $1499 for reax.

This logic is flawed because your not taking into account the constant misfires and then leaving me stranded on a job site without a working table saw.

[keith micinski]

I bought my son a Bosch 4100-09 with the gravity stand in 2010. He's a full time construction carpenter and uses the saw occasionally on site for small work...trim, dimensional lumber short cuts, rips, ply....not the best saw but the portability is nice. They sell for $499 today including that nice gravity stand. Put on a thin kerf blade and it performs well enough for the price. Seems lots of folks expect too much from a low cost job site saw.

The 4100 and the Reaxx share almost no parts except the stupid fence. That nice stand you were talking about is a piece of junk and way to lightly made for the Reaxx which must be substantially heavier then the 4100. The Ridgid and Dewalt stands I have are much better. This is one area that surprised me because I have read so much about this vaunted gravity rise stand and how amazing it is. It's a rickety frame with some wheels slapped on it and it has to be permanently bolted to he saw doubling the size and adding a bunch of weight effectively making it less portable in my opinion.

Some one implied earlier that to use a table saw you should throw away the built in scale and do a bunch of hand measuring transferring and then setting up fences to try and match. I'm not sure why you would even own a table saw if you were going to do it that way. I have a really nice cabinet saw and I have owned multiple job site saws that have functioned ok to really good. This idea that a job site saw can't be portable and mostly accurate is absurd. Most of the sub 500 dollar ones do an ok job of it. I was damn sure expecting at least that quality with the added safety feature ,even though I don't really care about it, but to be honest with you I was really expecting substantially more saw then those because I figured no one would have the hubris to make a piece of junk and charge triple for it. Jokes on me.

[keith micinski]

Get over your grudge for one man and buy the better product. I've never read a negative review of the SawStop jobsite saw
This is probably what is going to happen and it will be bitter but as much as I don't want to support that knucklehead in anyway it really has more to do with how disappointed I am in how incredibly terrible the Reaxx is in every way.

[Greg R Bradley]

Get over your grudge for one man and buy the better product. I've never read a negative review of the SawStop jobsite saw
I will give you a negative review as it's pretty horrible in many ways. They did an amazing job of designing an easily movable stand that will move around that heavy pig. That's about the end of the "good" unless you consider the excess weight helping make smooth cuts. Weight is not exactly what you want in a jobsite saw.
The fence and the throatplate are beyond horrible. Nobody is making a ZCI for that stupid throatplate. I'm not a Dewalt fan in general but they make the best jobsite saws. The fence really makes or breaks a jobsite saw and they really nailed that. Dust collection is quite good also.
Now if they just gave it a deeper distance to the blade, an induction motor, and a standard sized miter slot..........

[Simon MacGowen]

<p>

This is probably what is going to happen and it will be bitter but as much as I don't want to support that knucklehead in anyway it really has more to do with how disappointed I am in how incredibly terrible the Reaxx is in every way.For the record, SawStop is now part of the Festool family.</p>
<p>
I have used the SS jobsite saw only a couple of times (I use the SS industrial or PCS most of the time), but have not experienced anything remotely close to what you shared about the Reaxx. The SS jobsite fence is filmsy compared to the one on the industrial/PCS saw, but it does not require constant corrections as you described. In the review quoted below, its fence is considered the best among those tested. The throat plate or insert was flush on table but I don't know if it is difficult to get it that way.</p>
<p>
Unless lack of space is the reason or movability is the argument, I would not advise anyone to take either the jobsite or the contractor SS. Any serious woodworkers, hobbyist or production, would do themselves a favor to get a PCS or Ind. if SS is being considered.</p>
<p>
SS has a way to test the wood to see if a misfire could happen.Does your Reaxx have that feat ure?</p>
<p>
If you are still considering to get a jobsite saw, this review might be of interest to you: https://www.protoolreviews.com/tools/power/corded/saws/best-portable-jobsite-table-saw-shootout/24024/</p>
<p>
Simon</p>

[Peter Kuhlman]

I have the Dewalt DWE7491RS and agree with Greg. I am no fan of Dewalt tools normally but wanted a portable table saw and thought this was the best of the affordable ones. I am impressed with it for the price. Yea a larger table surface, normal miter slot and real motor would put it over the top but I can live with that for the 500 I paid. I looked at the SS unit and was not impressed. Looked at the Bosch and Rigid but the Dewalt seemed better designed. Easy to move and load, easy to erect.

[Mike Kees]

Kieth I have a solution for you. I have used most of the small 'jobsite' saws and was never really impressed with any of them. I bought a Delta contractor saw and built my own plywood base under it on 6'' casters. the saw has a Biesmeyer fence and a two horse motor. I also installed a good switch and a built in heavy gauge cord about 15' long. I have a space at the back of my tool trailer the saw rides in. Works awesome,great fence,accurate,powerful,stable. Only thing wrong is a bit heavy but I would never go back. We pull the motor off to put it in the trailer. Mike.

[Patrick Curry]

This by far makes the most sense to me. I'd prefer the weight of a better tool/machine than the frustrations of compromised work and wasted time.

I don't have any experience on job site saws but they don't sound inviting, or like a tool that lasts for long. Seems like a better investment would modifying a contractor saw for mobility and then the truck/trailer for loading & transportation would be a better long term decision. My field work experience was in warehouse equipment and we lugged around heavy equipment all the time. Flat bed trucks and dock levelers made it possible though. Not sure what would be feasible for residential work but those job site saws sound like a pain in butt.

[keith micinski]

The now discontinued dewalt 744 was the best job site saw ever made and the fence is amazing on it. I wish they would have made an upgraded version of that saw. That table on the 749 just seems so small to me. The only other complaint I have is that the fence has no support underneath of it once it leaves the table and when your cutting 1/4 inch material which is a lot of what I do it sags underneath the fence and becomes a problem. I thought about making my own piece to attach to it but never got around to it. If I decide to run the saw over or shoot it to pieces I will make sure to make a video of it and post. I'm heavily leaning that way as I had to use it today and for the fourth day in a row I had to readjust the fence after gently caring it from the trailer to the house and setting it up it was off by an 1/8the of an inch.

[Phil Mueller]

Keith, I am very sorry to hear, but I must admit I am lol at your post. Honestly, I didn’t read through all 4 pages of responses, but if you do go at it with your tractor, could you post video? Please!

[Mike Cutler]

I don't know why Bosch didn't manufacture the saw with a longer power cord, but this statement is more likely a liability clause required by the attorneys. With a short power cord, Bosch cannot possibly test every combination of extension cords that owners might use and still retain the various certifications for its consumers.

I do not have a way to compare tools between the two markets, but all of my European Bosch and Dewalt corded tools have very long power cords and I rarely need an extension cord. The REAXX saw is not sold in Europe, most likely because there is no market for it.

Mike
You are correct. It has everything to do with liability. The stuff I've seen done with extension cords is amazing. :eek:
The 24" length of the cord is more than likely based on the wire gauge of that cord, the maximum length it can be, and still carry the required current. This would probably be part of the machines UL rating here in the US. I was just looking at the absurdity of only having 24" of cord length between the machine and any given available outlet. That would be very constraining.
I bought a 5HP air compressor that was required to be hardwired into the panel to maintain it's warranty. It's on a 25' 8/3 SO cord cable, with a 30 amp twist lock plug. That warranty was voided before the end of the first day I had it.;) I suspect the same is true with this saw.

[Nick Decker]

I'm trying to visualize using a table saw that has to be within two feet of an outlet, and it ain't pretty.

[lowell holmes]

I have a ten year old 10" Delta table saw that runs on 220 volts. It has the wide table with a uni-fence. It takes no prisoners. :).
I bought it new. My grandchildren will probably use it some day.

Buy cheap toy and cry every time you use it. Buy a good toy and cry when you pay for it.

[keith micinski]

I'm trying to visualize using a table saw that has to be within two feet of an outlet, and it ain't pretty.

Full disclosure, in all of my venting I may have exaggerated this cord length, I have never actaully measured the cord but it can't be longer then 36" it's just not long enough to ever be used without an extension cord where as my dewalt I rarely use an extension cord.

[scott vroom]

The 4100 and the Reaxx share almost no parts except the stupid fence. That nice stand you were talking about is a piece of junk and way to lightly made for the Reaxx which must be substantially heavier then the 4100.

Total BS. I've owned a 12" Bosch miter saw mounted on the gravity stand for about 6 years....that stand is awesome.

Next time you make a purchase consider a warranty...highly recommended for avoiding high blood pressure.

[Andrew Joiner]

I really need a nice job site saw and I really can't stand Steve gass or "sawstop guy" so I found a reaxx unopened for a grand.

Sorry about your frustration Keith. All the googling I do says the Reaxx comes with a 6 foot cord. So if the box was unopened somethings wrong if it's got a 2 or 3 ft cord. Maybe someone carefully opened it, abused it and resealed it?

[Dave Sabo]

Keith , I'm not going to tell you what's best for you or what you should like , but from your comments and observations in this thread it sure seems like you're a bit uninformed and perhaps introduced user error into some of the issues you experienced with the Bosch saw.
Already pointed out is the reason they stopped selling it ,which was not because of the issues you experienced.
Then the cord length which you didn't describe accurately.
Miter gauges on portable saws stink (even Mafell's) in comparison with precision ones guys have for shop saws. Ditto with the blades that come with jobsite saws. They stink in comparison to quality aftermarket blades and shouldn't be relied on to make smooth cuts on cabinet grade sheetgoods or hardwood.
The dewalt fence has a folding/articulating portion to support material once it leaves the table. It has since the 744 rollout decades ago. The one I had turn of the century needed calibration out of the box before it would cut square.
I think many will disagree with you on the fence cursor thing too. If it's absolutely critical , it gets measured from the blade tooth to the fence. No matter if the fence is on a ryobi, unisaw, or a Martin slider. The notable exception is a digital motorized fence that's calibrated each session like a Tigerstop. Cursors on jobsite saws are notorious for getting moved, bumped ect. especially if there are multiple users. Then your calibration and expensive sheet of mahogany ply are off and you're pulling out the tape measure anyway.
Plus a few more.
I understand it's not the best saw out there , but this is a bit if a hatchet job.

[Kelby Van Patten]

Keith, page 6 of the owners manual (available online) has a section that explains the proper use of extension cords with the saw. It explains that you can use extension cords, but that you need to use the right gauge. It then includes a chart that shows what gauge of wire must be used for a given length of cord (measured in both feet and meters to make it as simple as possible for those too lazy to convert). While many manuals are difficult to follow, this section of the Bosch manual is very clearly laid out in simple-to-understand terms and charts.

And if someone doesn't have time to read the whole manual (or do a search for the word "extension," which brings up the desired section immediately in the online manual), then the troubleshooting section at page 36 clearly explains that if you are having problems, you need to make sure you are using the proper gauge extension cord.

In these and many other places, the manual makes it clear that extension cords are OK. If someone from Bosch told you otherwise, then they were clearly wrong. Which is why, when it comes to technical information, I usually RTM before calling customer service. And, if some customer service rep tells me something that is clearly absurd (like, "you can't use extension cords with our jobsite tools"), then I usually go back and RTM once again to see if they are right.

I don't own a Reaxx and am not interested in buying one. However, it may be possible that you would find solutions to some of the other problems you describe solved if you read and followed the directions. Just a thought.

Here is a link to the owner's manual in case you have had difficulty finding it: https://www.boschtools.com/us/en/ocsmedia/2610014415_GTS1031.pdf

[Dick Cox]

Not surprised to hear this. I’ve been very disappointed with Bosch tools in recent years. For example, I bought a jig saw that broke in the first few days of light use, and a high end stud finder that couldn’t find a stud.

[keith micinski]

[QUOTE=scott vroom;2759235]Total BS. I've owned a 12" Bosch miter saw mounted on the gravity stand for about 6 years....that stand is awesome.

Next time you make a purchase consider a warranty...highly recommended for avoiding high blood pressuresure

not sure how comparing the stand that holds a mitre saw to a stand that holds a table saw and is falling apart after being moved around a few times because it’s not built to handle the weight is the same thing. I also wonder if the people that say the Bosch stand is amazing I’ve ever used any other stands because of the three that I’ve used it’s easily the third best and it’s the only one currently falling apart

[keith micinski]

Keith , I'm not going to tell you what's best for you or what you should like , but from your comments and observations in this thread it sure seems like you're a bit uninformed and perhaps introduced user error into some of the issues you experienced with the Bosch saw.
Already pointed out is the reason they stopped selling it ,which was not because of the issues you experienced.
Then the cord length which you didn't describe accurately.
Miter gauges on portable saws stink (even Mafell's) in comparison with precision ones guys have for shop saws. Ditto with the blades that come with jobsite saws. They stink in comparison to quality aftermarket blades and shouldn't be relied on to make smooth cuts on cabinet grade sheetgoods or hardwood.
The dewalt fence has a folding/articulating portion to support material once it leaves the table. It has since the 744 rollout decades ago. The one I had turn of the century needed calibration out of the box before it would cut square.
I think many will disagree with you on the fence cursor thing too. If it's absolutely critical , it gets measured from the blade tooth to the fence. No matter if the fence is on a ryobi, unisaw, or a Martin slider. The notable exception is a digital motorized fence that's calibrated each session like a Tigerstop. Cursors on jobsite saws are notorious for getting moved, bumped ect. especially if there are multiple users. Then your calibration and expensive sheet of mahogany ply are off and you're pulling out the tape measure anyway.
Plus a few more.
I understand it's not the best saw out there , but this is a bit if a hatchet job.

If you honestly take every measurement by hand and transfer it to the table saw fence then I can’t help you. I own plenty of table saws I set and never take a measurement again. Matter of fact going on 15 years on two of them.

[Wade Lippman]

This is the most disappointing realization ever as far as tools goes for me. I really need a nice job site saw and I really can't stand Steve gass or "sawstop guy"

He doesn't lose a lot of sleep over your dislike, but you are stuck with a crappy saw. You do the math.

He invented something and is certainly entitled to do what he wants with it. If inventors had to to give it up for free, like you want, there would be no inventions.

[keith micinski]

He doesn't lose a lot of sleep over your dislike, but are stuck with a crappy saw. You do the math.

He invented something and is certainly entitled to do what he wants with it. If inventors had to to give it up for free, like you want, there would be no inventions.

Shocked it took this long for sawstop guy to chime in smugly:)
Giving it up for free and suing everyone else to force them to have to pay you are not the same thing, thats not an opinion, it's a fact. As far as there being no invention if you couldn't monetize it, well you should do a little reading about inventors and you would learn otherwise. As near as I can tell his saws are very good I can't argue that. I hoped the Bosch would be a good saw also, for me it has not been.

[Dave Sabo]

Not surprised to hear this. I’ve been very disappointed with Bosch tools in recent years. For example, I bought a jig saw that broke in the first few days of light use, and a high end stud finder that couldn’t find a stud.


Bosch makes 6 or 7 different jigsaws and they vary widely in quality and price. I'd guess the one you had was an Asian made cheapie. Their Swiss made top of the range is a very fine a robust saw. Even if you did manage to break it during normal use , it'd still be under warranty and you'd get a replacement. And they invented the jigsaw so their is pride at stake too.

Electronic stud finders are notoriously temperamental. I've had just about all of them and the same finder will work differently depending on the wall composition.

Those two examples aren't indicative of a company's competence. Their 12v drill lineup is well regarded around sites I visit and their new cordless planer is a real treat. They may not be the best but they are certainly on par with Makita, Dewalt, and Milwaukee.

[Joe Tuminello]

Interesting thread. I like the airbag concept behind the reaxx technology. Just replace a gas cartridge, It doesn’t ruin a blade or brake cartridge and I’m sure it would be a contender in a cabinet saw. I have a feeling sawstop thinks so too. Also less stress on the saw itself. I have to question how many fires the little sawstop will take before it’s toast.
As far as the 4100 with the gravity stand I own one at home. I do have access to cabinet saws where I work so I can attest that the Bosch cuts just fine. I always measure from tooth to fence there too. I did make a crosscut sled for it , modified the crosscut guide to take up much of the slop, added side and rear extensions and a Freud thin kerf blade. The dust collection is adequate if hooked to a vacuum. The gravity stand works great. It has a nice size table for a bench top saw with a universal motor. Just be sure to blow the motor out after use. Keep the fence rails waxed and the fence adjusted it does what it was desiigned to do.I chose this saw over the dewalt because I just wheel it out to the driveway when I need it and am not transporting it every day. If I was I’d might have bought the dewalt.
Sorry you didn’t like your reaxx though. I too hate being disappointed . I think Bosch has a better solution though. I hope it comes to market in a satisfactory way.

[Julie Moriarty]

Pretty much what Martin said, it is a jobsite saw. Basically like every other jobsite saw. Piece of plastic box, housing an upside down skilsaw, with a metal top and fence mounted above. I have used the Bosch, Makita, Dewalt, Ridgid, and several others. That level of quality is par for the course, across the board. When I was younger, we bought the makitas, because they were readily, and cheaply available, and it was known by my boss that they lasted about a year, then you got another one.
Reminds me of a conversation I had with a carpenter on the job once. He had a brand new Dewalt 18v drill and said the contractor just gives it to them to keep. I thought he was pretty lucky until he said that on the jobsite they last about a year. When they fail, turn it in to the boss for a new one.

When I was an apprentice all the tools were 120v. The best tools were Milwaukee and I saw some that were 30 years old. Now tools are just disposable.

[Randy Heinemann]

Pretty much what Martin said, it is a jobsite saw. Basically like every other jobsite saw. Piece of plastic box, housing an upside down skilsaw, with a metal top and fence mounted above. I have used the Bosch, Makita, Dewalt, Ridgid, and several others. That level of quality is par for the course, across the board. When I was younger, we bought the makitas, because they were readily, and cheaply available, and it was known by my boss that they lasted about a year, then you got another one.
I have that exact Bosch you speak of, minus the special Reaxx safety feature. It is a $300-350.00 saw if I remember, with a $650 add on safety feature.
Any of them are a very miserable substitute for a proper shop saw.
They are all made to rip plywood, framing lumber, and other typical housebuilding jobsite materials, including Boral, Azek, and all the composite decking. Basically turning 1 piece into 2 or more. They don't do it well, and they don't generally do it for long.
It also makes just about no sense to put a good blade on it. There is so much runout on the arbors, that it doesn't justify the expense. The lipstick on a pig situation all over again.
All that said, when I finally broke down and bought my Bosch about 5 years ago, after hemming and hawing about wasting that kind of money on a machine with all those miserable attributes, and poor cut quality, I was thankful at the end of the day and job that I could just pick it up and slide it in the truck by myself. And it got the job done, more or less.
I hate using it, compared to any of my shop saws- Whitney, Greenlee, Martins, etc... but I can't cart any of them around.
It is not, in my mind anyway, intended as a precision instrument. It gets banged and tossed from job to job, and you toss it when it dies

I know I'll take heat for this but I bought the Sawstop Jobsite Saw when it first came out and love it. None of the problems noted with the Bosch nor what people indicate is normal for a job site saw have happened to me. Of course, I don't throw it in and out of a truck or van nor use it in all sorts of tough wear circumstances on a job site. I'm not sure how any table saw would stand up to that type of wear and use. I just use mine in my shop and bought it because I can move it out of the way when I want for more floor space. Never have had a misfire. The rip fence stays the way I set it up on the first day I used it. The mite gauge sucks but only the most expensive table saws have a miter gauge that has a chance of being use. I know people hate the Sawstop developer, but I can't say enough good things about their joisite saw.

[glenn bradley]

Oh, so what you're saying is, it's a jobsite saw.

Ding, ding, ding, ding.

[Jim Dwight]

I own three table saws. I had two before the current three. My first was a AMT that didn't tilt the motor when the blade tilted. I built a bigger top and it worked, kind of. My next was a wooden based saw made from a kit of metal parts. I used that for 5-10 years. Worked but was sort of crude. I built furniture with it. Then I bought a Ryobi BT3100. I used it until recently and still use it for dados. It has no miter slot, it has a small sliding table that I find inaccurate, but it works pretty well. I built a lot of furniture on it in over a decade of use. The fence stays parallel to the blade and the blade stays perpendicular to the top. I measured the front edge of the fence to the blade for cuts with a steel ruler. It could be put on a movable base and be a pretty good jobsite saw if you can deal with no miter gauge.

Most recently I bought a SawStop PCS. I think Steve Gass is a bad human being too but he doesn't own the company any more and I guess I kind of got over it. It is a MUCH nicer saw. But I still check the fence position with a steel ruler. It sits on top of the fence. It isn't perfect either, however. The miter gauge is a piece of junk. I already had an Osborne gauge so that isn't a big deal. The riving knife is too thin in my opinion. I am using full kerf blades and the wood closes up on the blade sometimes, I think the riving knife should prevent that. I will probably make a thicker one and then have to deal with getting it in position. The blade that came with the saw is worth about $20. Rough cuts. The saw height is too short in my opinion but I solved that by making my own custom base. My blade was not parallel to the miter slots but it was only about half a mil off which is the same amount it moves when you tilt the blade to 30 degrees to access the left rear bolt (guess I know how they set parallel at the factory). I would have left it but it was towed in and my new Infinity blade was burning the wood a little (but cutting very smooth). I made it towed out about the same amount but the small amount of burning persists. I need to try one of my other blades, I think that is probably the cause. The stock throat plate is also not so great but I got one from Infinity that I like better and when I get some hardwood inserts made I think I will be completely satisfied with it.

I am confident you can do good work with even the cheapo Ryobi direct drive saw - I have one of those two due to a divorce settlement. But it easier with a nicer tool. I made anything I needed, including half a dozen bedroom sets, with my cheap saws. But it is much easier with a PCS. I am finishing up my first bedroom set with it now. But I have some more tuning to do on it before I am completely satisfied. The REAXX isn't cheap but it is still a jobsite saw with the limitations required for weight and size considerations. Bosch's 1250DEVSS is a very nice sander, their flexiclick 12V drills are great (I have both) and their top jigsaw is at the top of that market. Doesn't sound like the REAXX is an equivalently designed tool.

[Bill Space]

A year has gone by since the original post.

What I want to know is if the OP did crush that saw with his tractor.

AND...what brand tractor? :D

[Kyle Iwamoto]

A year has gone by since the original post.

What I want to know is if the OP did crush that saw with his tractor.

AND...what brand tractor? :D

LOL! That's my question too!
Another option could have been to drag it out in the boonies with said tractor, and use a 12 ga.
J D tractor maybe?

[keith micinski]

Bad news, that piece of crap sat around for the last year mocking me and one of the guys that works for me finally decided he had to have a table saw at his house to start getting into woodworking and doing general projects around the house. It’s Christmas and I thought, what the hell as much as I want to run it over he could use it more. The good news is I replaced it with the Milwaukee cordless saw and it’s the greatest tool I have ever owned. Couldn’t ask for more from a job site saw and it’s cordless to boot. Been bouncing around in my trailer for 6 months and every time I use it that fence is dead nuts on. By the way, I love all the guys that kept replying it’s a job site saw so it can’t be any good. Makes me wonder what they do for a living because it can’t be working on a job site. I also agree that any body can do just about anything on a cheap Ryobi but after 15 years of struggling to get by making things work with cobbled together tools I won’t be going back to working with junk no matter what the cost. Plus I’m obviusy not good enough to work with junk tools and will take any advantage I can get :)

If anything that saw taught me a valuable lesson. In the past I would have struggled along with that worthless piece of junk because I paid so much damn money for it and been unhappy using it and the product I produced with it. I ate it moniteraliy on that saw but learned working with the tools I want to use makes a job feel better while doing it and after it’s over, at least for me it does anyway.

Also my tractor has been sick for most of the year with carberator problems because I have been so busy with work so it would have been hard to run it over. It’s a 1959 Ford 850

[Phil Mueller]

Dang it man. When I saw this post pop back up, I was soooo hoping to see a video of you running it over with your tractor.

[keith micinski]

Listen, I’m not ruling it out, if he gets frustrated with it I told him at any time let me know and we are bringing it back and running it over. I did put a new carb on the tractor and am hoping to have some more time coming up.

[Phil Mueller]

That’s the spirit!

[Rich Engelhardt]

Makes me wonder what they do for a living because it can’t be working on a job site. LOL! Yep - been there/done that :D :D Being constrained by the demands of a "job site" - is something you really can't appreciate until it happens to you.
I had a Festool track saw that worked flawlessly on the job site for crosscuts & ripping sheet goods - up to a certain point.
The wheels fell off that when it came to ripping 2.5" T&G flooring to fit that last row by the wall.....
Had it no been for the plunge feature, I could probably have gotten around that by just screwing it upside down on a sheet of plywood....


BTW - when "Tractor Time" comes around - - take pictures :D

[Charlie Jones]

LOL! Yep - been there/done that :D :D Being constrained by the demands of a "job site" - is something you really can't appreciate until it happens to you.
I had a Festool track saw that worked flawlessly on the job site for crosscuts & ripping sheet goods - up to a certain point.
The wheels fell off that when it came to ripping 2.5" T&G flooring to fit that last row by the wall.....
Had it no been for the plunge feature, I could probably have gotten around that by just screwing it upside down on a sheet of plywood....


BTW - when "Tractor Time" comes around - - take pictures :D

This reminds me of my first “Table Saw”. It was a skil saw screwed to a piece of plywood. I screwed a 2x4 to the plywood for a fence. It was almost as good as the old Sears tablesaw I borrowed from a friend to build my first boat.

[Kyle Iwamoto]

Vintage Ford 850! Sweet!

[keith micinski]

Now you guys are making me regret not just buying him a saw and running that one over.

[Martin Wasner]

Now you guys are making me regret not just buying him a saw and running that one over.

Ha!

Comment of the week

[Frank Pratt]

This reminds me of my first “Table Saw”. It was a skil saw screwed to a piece of plywood. I screwed a 2x4 to the plywood for a fence. It was almost as good as the old Sears tablesaw I borrowed from a friend to build my first boat.

Mine was a super crappy old circ saw clamped to the underside of a Black & Decker Workmate. It's a wonder I still have all my digits cause that was very dodgy. I still have that Workmate though, almost 40 years later. It's are amazingly versatile & durable tool.