Sometimes it’s difficult to envision how the little differences between power tools will affect your work. While these two corded jig saws from Makita seem very much alike, they aren’t quite the same. Let’s take a look at both of them to see which will be the best for you.
Makita 4350FCT Top Handle Jig Saw with LED Light
If you do intricate cuts, you need to have a clear line of sight. In that case, the Makita 4350FCT may be the best fit for you. It comes with a built-in dust blower as well as an LED light. These two features make it a lot easier to view where you’re working.
Other important aspects of the 4350FCT saw are its low vibration and low noise. Less vibration makes it more comfortable to use for long periods of time. It also cuts down on the risk of injury from hand-arm vibration syndrome, or “whitefinger.”
So not only can you see where you’re working and enjoy using the saw more, you’ll also have electronic soft start.This also improves control and handling of the jig saw.
The 4350FCT also includes features like three orbital settings plus straight cutting. If you want to do a bevel cut, simply use the hex wrench to adjust the base to any angle up to 45 degrees. While the range of stroke speed is smaller than that of the JV0600K saw described below, it’s good for most materials. Just select between 800 and 2800spm with the dial mounted above the base.
Speaking of materials, this jig saw has a one-inch long stroke that can cut steel up to 3/8-inches thick at 90 degrees. But its capacity in wood is outstanding at 5-5/16-inches. That’s much higher than the wood-cutting capacity of the JV0600K below. And when you want to switch blades to suit the work you’re doing, you won’t need any tools to make the change.
Finally, Makita includes a variety of accessories in the box. The 4350FCT saw comes with an anti-splintering insert, a cover plate for the base, a hex wrench (for beveling the base), a tool case, and a selection of T-shank blades.
More features of the Makita 4350FCT Jig Saw:
- Covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee and a one-year limited warranty
- One-year warranty requires purchaser to send the complete tool to a factory authorized service center by pre-paid freight
- 6.3Amp motor
Makita JV0600K Top Handle Jig Saw
What are the differences between the Makita JV0600K and the 4350FCT jig saws? The JV0600K saw has a slightly more powerful motor with a wider range of stroke speeds. But it doesn’t have a dust blower or LED illumination. Instead, it has a through-body dust extraction port for use with a shop vacuum.
The stroke speeds on this saw go from 500 up to 3100spm, giving you a lot of control for cutting a wide variety of materials, from plastics to woods and metals. But the stroke length is a little shorter at 7/8-inch. While the steel-cutting capacity is the same at 3/8-inch, the maximum capacity for cutting wood is smaller at only 3-1/2-inches. And it’s simple to swap blades with Makita’s tool-less blade change design.
To help you work with a variety of materials, there are three orbital settings as well as straight cutting. If you use the included hex wrench, you can bevel the base left or right to cut at an angle up to 45 degrees.
Like the other saw described above, the JV0600K has reduced vibration. The ergonomic grip, large trigger, and internal counterbalances make it comfortable to use. And if you have a big cut to complete, the saw has a lock-on button to keep your hand from getting tired.
More features of the Makita JV0600K Jig Saw:
- 6.5Amp motor
- Weighs 5.2 pounds, measures 9-1/4-inches long
- Comes with one T-shank blade, a tool case, and a hex wrench for adjusting the base
- Covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee and a one-year limited warranty
- 1-year warranty requires purchaser to send the complete tool to a factory authorized service center by pre-paid freight
Recommendation
A decision between these two saws comes down to a few details. Let’s see if these help you decide:
If you want maximum speed range and control plus an integrated dust extraction port, get the Makita JV0600K jig saw.
If you want maximum cutting capacity in wood, plus LED illumination and a dust blower, get the Makita 4350FCT jig saw.
Click here to purchase Makita 4350FCT on Amazon.com!
Click here to purchase Makita JV0600K on Amazon.com!