| Review by DannyBoy | posted 346 days ago | 747 views | 0 times favorited | 9 comments |  |
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- DeWalt DW331K
- Brand: DeWalt | Category: Jig Saws
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I know, we all give the big box stores crap for having shoddy this, that, and the other. But let’s face it, we nearly all shop there. Lowes has always been a good place and I continue to love buying from there. I was lucky enough to get offered a bit of a shopping spree from my father for my birthday (a bit belated) and Lowes was just down the street.
For the past 6 months I had been cursing myself for spending $30 on a crappy Black your Decker saw that was mostly plastic. I bought it over two years ago and at the time was spending every dime I had on it. Awe the good old days. So during this time I had been looking at the $150 or so models at every store I went do trying very hard not to drool. So, when my opportunity came, I jumped at getting this little baby.
So far, only minor work done with it. I’ve cut long straight cuts and some complicated curves and the saw does wonderful. I paired it with the Bosche blades (is that sacrilegious?) that are available at Lowes as well and I’ve simply melted through oak plywood.
Pros:- Good dust control with the blower.
- Nominal vibration keeps it easy to control.
- Quick release is very convenient.
- Included case has room for attachment and blade storage.
- Would have liked a dust collection attachment to be included.
- Quick release takes a second to understand how to seat the blade (listen for the click).
Overall, a good deal if you need one. Dewault has always made good tools for me and I’m glad to see this one is no different.
~DB
-- He said wood...http://hickbyassociation.blogspot.com/
9 comments so far
Todd A. Clippinger
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5631 posts in 992 days
posted 346 days ago
Thanks for the review. I have been drooling over this one for a long time.
I have used it on jobsites due to being around other contractors and it is a sweet cutting machine. I love anything with quick change blades. Changing blades with an allen wrench is no fun when you know this is an option now.
-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com
Hawkins
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3 posts in 720 days
posted 346 days ago
Hope this is OK to post…I noticed that this is for sale on http://tooliday.com/ today…12/11/2008.
No affiliation, also know nothing about the tool…just saying…
DannyBoy
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442 posts in 758 days
posted 346 days ago
That’s great! (Other than just kicking me in the pants on how much mine cost!!!)
-- He said wood...http://hickbyassociation.blogspot.com/
davidroberts
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242 posts in 379 days
posted 346 days ago
The deal that Hawkins posted at Tool King is a no brainer. Run as fast as you can for that one. Sale over in 6 hours. I have a barrel handled bosch and it too leaves a glass finish cut using sharp bosch blades. I’ve been a DeWalt fan for a loooong time. The first power tool I bought in the mid 80’s was a DeWalt 1/4 sheet sander, from one of the first HDs on the west coast. Good times.
-- david roberts, houston area, "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but that has never been a problem for me."
Pabs
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50 posts in 347 days
posted 346 days ago
that is a great deal! too bad they can’t ship to Canada…. ah well, easy come , easy go
I can’t stand the tool… flimsy, cuts poorly…never accurate..the base plate comes out of alignment in mid-cut…by that I mean the angle of the bed changes during the cut… .one of the worst tools I have…
not sure why they make this crap…waste of materials
I have a cheap black and decker model as well.. my wife bought it for me a while back…she (or I) didn’t really know what I needed….
-- Pabs
mrsawdust
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47 posts in 460 days
posted 344 days ago
good review. i almost bought that same saw after many $29 black and deckers. i ended up with the Bosch “barrel” jig saw and absolutely love it. good luck with it…...
mike
-- mrsawdust, pittsburgh,pa.
tadpole76
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6 posts in 344 days
posted 343 days ago
I have the exact same saw and it is by far the best jig saw ihav ever owned. I too have gone through a few of the B&D $30 models.
tommyt654
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6 posts in 341 days
posted 341 days ago
I recently purchased a rebuilt saw from Harbor Freight online for 65 dollars it is about 1 amp difference in power and does not have the padded handle but it works great.I had a coupon for 20% off. It normally list for 79.97 so I got a pretty decent deal vs the old B+D I have.The model you have I,m sure your model is much nicer but I think I may have gotten the better deal price wise, Wewill just have to see if this rebuilt holds up BTW it is model no. DW317KR
grovemadman
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558 posts in 665 days
posted 341 days ago
I like the Bosch myself, my friend has one and Once I used it I knew I had to have it! Thanks for the review, haven’t tried the DeWalt yet, I’ll have to try to find someone who has one before I buy another jigsaw. The one I have now is a very old B&D that my grand father passed down through the years. It doesn’t cut as nice as the newer jigsaws, but it does work better than anything B&D makes now! The all metal construction of the older tools I find are near indestructable…
-- --Chuck