Bosch JS120 Operating/safety Instructions Manual

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Operating/Safety Instructions
Consignes de fonctionnement/sécurité

Instrucciones de funcionamiento y seguridad

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JS120

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-2-

Work area safety

Keep work area clean and well lit. Cluttered

or dark areas invite accidents.

Do not operate power tools in explosive
atmospheres, such as in the presence of
flammable liquids, gases or dust. Power

tools create sparks which may ignite the dust
or fumes.

Keep children and bystanders away while
operating a power tool. Distractions can

cause you to lose control.

Electrical safety

Power tool plugs must match the outlet.
Never modify the plug in any way. Do not
use any adapter plug s with ea rthe d
(grounded) power tools. Unmodified plugs

an d matching outlets will reduce risk o f
electric shock.

Avoid body contact with earthed or grounded
surfaces such as pipes, radiators, ranges
and refrigerators. There is an increased risk

of electric shock if your body is earthed or
grounded.

Do not expose power tools to rain or wet
conditions. Water entering a power tool will

increase the risk of electric shock.

Do not abuse the cord. Never use the cord
for carrying, pulling or unplugging the power
tool. Keep cord away from heat, oil, sharp
edges or moving parts. Damaged or entangled

cords increase the risk of electric shock.

When operating a power tool outdoors,
use an extension cord suitable for outdoor

use. Use of a cord suitable for outdoor use

reduces the risk of electric shock.

If operating a power tool in a damp location
is unavoidable, use a Ground Fault Circuit
Interrupter (GFCI) protected supply. Use of

an GFCI reduces the risk of electric shock.

Personal safety

Stay alert, watch what you are doing and
us e common sense when operatin g a

power tool. Do not use a power tool while
you are tired or under the influence of drugs,
alcohol or medication. A moment of inattention

while operating power tools may result in
serious personal injury.

Use personal protective equipment. Always
wear eye protection. Protective equipment

such as dust mask, non-skid safety shoes, hard
hat, or hearing protection used for appropriate
conditions will reduce personal injuries.

Prevent unintentional starting. Ensure the
sw itch is in the of f-position be fore
connecting to power source and / or battery
pa ck, picking up or ca rrying the tool.

Carrying power tools with your finger on the
switch or energizing power tools that have the
switch on invites accidents.

Remove any adjusting key or wrench before
turning the power tool on. A wrench or a

key left attached to a rotating part of the
power tool may result in personal injury.

Do not overreach. Keep proper footing and
balance at all times. This enables better

control of the powe r tool in unexpe cted
situations.

Dress properly. Do not wear loose clothing
or jewelry. Keep your hair, clothing and
gloves away from moving parts. Loose

clothes, jewelry or long hair can be caught in
moving parts.

If devices are provided for the connection
of dust extraction and collection facilities,
ensure these are connected and properly
used. Use of dust collection can reduce dust-

related hazards.

Power tool use and care

Do not fo rce the po wer tool. Use the
correct power tool for your application. The

correct power tool will do the job better and
safer at the rate for which it was designed.

Do not use the power tool if the switch does
not turn it on and off. Any power tool that

can not be c ontr olle d wi th t he s witc h is
dangerous and must be repaired.

Read all safety warnings and all instructions. Failure to follow the warnings
and instructions may result in electric shock, fire and/or serious injury.

SAVE ALL WARNINGS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE

The term “power tool” in the warnings refers to your mains-operated (corded) power tool or
battery-operated (cordless) power tool.

!

WARNING

General Power Tool Safety Warnings

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Safety Rules for Cordless Jig Saws

Hold power tool by insulated gripping
surfaces, when performing an operation
where the cutting accessory may contact
hidden wiring. Cutting accessory contacting a

"live" wire may make exposed metal parts of
th e pow er to ol "live" and c oul d give the
operator an electric shock.

Use clamps or another practical way to
secure and support the workpiece to a
stable platform. Holding the work by hand

or against your body leaves it unstable and
may lead to loss of control.

Do not drill, fasten or break into existing
walls or other blind areas where electrical
wiri n g may exist. If this sit u ation is

unavoidable, disconnect all fuses or circuit
breakers feeding this worksite.

Di sconnect battery pac k from t ool or
pla ce the swit ch in the lock ed or off
position before making any assembly,
adjustments or changing accessories.

Such preventive safety measures reduce the
risk of starting the tool accidentally.

Never lea ve the trigger loc ked "ON ".
Before inserting the battery pack, check
that the trigger lock is "OFF". Accidental

start-ups could cause injury.

Keep hands away from cutting area. Do
not reach under the material being cut.

The proximity of the blade to your hand is
hidden from your sight.

Keep hands f rom be t ween th e gear
hous i ng a n d saw blade holder . Th e

reciprocating blade holder can pinch your
fingers.

Do not use dull or damaged blades. Bent
blade can break easily or cause kickback.

Before starting to cut, turn tool "ON" and
allow the blade to come to full speed.

Tool can chatter or vibrate if blade speed is
too slow at beginning of cut and possibly
kickback.

-3-

Disconnect the plug from the power source
and/or the battery pack from the power tool
before making any adjustments, changing
accessories, or storing power tools. Such

preventive safety measures reduce the risk of
starting the power tool accidentally.

Store idle power tools out of the reach of
children and do not allow persons unfamiliar
with the power tool or these instructions to
operate the power tool. Power tools are

dangerous in the hands of untrained users.

Maintain power tools. Check for misalignment
or binding of moving parts, breakage of
parts and any other condition that may
affect the power tool’s operation. If damaged,
have the power tool repaired before use.

Man y accidents are c ause d by poorly
maintained power tools.

Keep cutting tools sharp and clean. Properly
maintained cutting tools with sharp cutting
edges are less likely to bind and are easier to
control.

Use the power tool, accessories and tool
bits etc. in accordance with these instructions,
taking into account the working conditions
and the work to be performed. Use of the

power tool for operations different from those
intended could result in a hazardous situation.

Battery tool use and care

Recharge only with the charger specified
by t he manufacturer. A charge r that is

suitable for one type of battery pack may
create a risk of fire when used with another
battery pack.

Use power tools only with specifically
designated battery packs. Use of any other

battery packs may create a risk of injury and
fire.

When battery pack is not in use, keep it
away from other metal objects like paper
clips, coins, keys, nails, screws, or other
sma l l m e tal objec t s t hat can make a
connection from one terminal to another.

Shorting the battery terminals together may
cause burns or a fire.

Under abusive conditions, liquid may be
ejected from the battery, avoid contact. If
contact accidentally occurs, flush with
water. If liquid contacts eyes, additionally
seek medical help. Liquid ejected from the

battery may cause irritation or burns.

Service

Have your power tool serviced by a qualified
repair person using onl y i dent ical
replacement parts. This will ensure that the

safety of the power tool is maintained.

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Secure material before cutting. Never
hold it in your hand or across legs. Small

or thin material may flex or vibrate with the
blade, causing loss of control.

Make certain all adjusting screws and the
blade holder are tight before making a
cut. Loose adjusting screws and holders

can cause the tool or blade to slip and loss of
control may result.

When removing the blade from the tool
avoid contact with skin and use proper
pro tect ive glov es when gr aspi ng the
blade or accessory. Accessories may be

hot after prolonged use.

Additional Safety Warnings

GFCI and personal protection devices like
electrician’s rubber gloves and footwear will
further enhance your personal safety.

Do not use AC only rated tools with a DC
power supply. While the tool may appear to

work, the electrical components of the AC
rated tool are likely to fail and create a hazard
to the operator.

Keep handles dry, clean and free from oil
and grease. Slippery hands cannot safely

control the power tool.

Develop a periodic maintenance schedule
for your tool. When cleaning a tool be
careful not to disassemble any portion of
th e too l since internal wires may be
misplaced or pinched or safety guard return
sp rings may be improperly mounted.

Certain cleaning agents such as gasoline,
carbon tetrachloride, ammonia, etc. may
damage plastic parts.

Ensure the switch is in the off position
before inserting battery pack. Inserting the

battery pack into power tools that have the
switch on invites accidents.

Some dust created by

power sa nding, saw ing ,
grinding, drilling, and other construction
activities contains chemicals known to
ca use cancer, bir th defects or other
reproductive harm. Some examples of
these chemicals are:

• Lead from lead-based paints,

• Crystalline silica from bricks and cement and

other masonry products, and

• Arsenic and chromium from chemically-

treated lumber.

You r risk f rom the se exposures vari es,
depending on how often you do this type of
work. To reduce your exposure to these
chemicals: work in a well ventilated area, and
work with approved safety equipment, such
as tho se dust mas ks that are specially
designed to filter out microscopic particles.

!

WARNING

-4-

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-5-

IMPORTANT: Some of the following symbols may be used on your tool. Please study them
and learn their meaning. Proper interpretation of these symbols will allow you to operate the
tool better and safer.

Symbol Name Designation/Explanation

V Volts Voltage (potential)

A Amperes Current

Hz Hertz Frequency (cycles per second)

W Watt Power

kg Kilograms Weight

min Minutes Time

s Seconds Time

Diameter Size of drill bits, grinding wheels, etc.

n

0

No load speed Rotational speed, at no load

n Rated speed Maximum attainable speed

.../min Revolutions or reciprocation Revolutions, strokes, surface speed,

per minute orbits etc. per minute

0 Off position Zero speed, zero torque...

1, 2, 3, ... Selector settings Speed, torque or position settings.
I, II, III, Higher number means greater speed

Infinitely variable selector with off Speed is increasing from 0 setting

Arrow Action in the direction of arrow

Alternating current Type or a characteristic of current

Direct current Type or a characteristic of current

Alternating or direct current Type or a characteristic of current

Class II construction Designates Double Insulated

Construction tools.

Earthing terminal Grounding terminal

Warning symbol Alerts user to warning messages

Li-ion RBRC seal Designates Li-ion battery recycling

program

Ni-Cad RBRC seal Designates Ni-Cad battery recycling

program

Read manual symbol Alerts user to read manual

Wear eye protection symbol Alerts user to wear eye protection

Symbols

0

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-6-

This symbol designates that this tool is listed by Underwriters Laboratories.

This symbol designates that this tool is listed by the Canadian Standards
Association.

This symbol designates that this tool is listed by the Canadian Standards
Association, to United States and Canadian Standards.

This symbol designates that this tool complies to NOM Mexican Standards.

This symbol designates that this tool is listed by the Intertek Testing
Services, to United States and Canadian Standards.

Symbols (continued)

IMPORTANT: Some of the following symbols may be used on your tool. Please study them

and learn their meaning. Proper interpretation of these symbols will allow you to operate the
tool better and safer.

This symbol designates that this component is recognized by Underwriters
Laboratories.

This symbol designates that this tool is listed by Underwriters Laboratories,
to United States and Canadian Standards.

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Model number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JS120

Maximum Capacities

Stroke length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/4" (18 mm)

Wood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1/2" (70 mm)

Aluminium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1/8" (3 mm)

Mild steel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1/8" (3 mm)

-7-

Functional Description and Specifications

Disconnect battery pack from tool or place the switch in the locked or
off position before making any assembly, adjustments or changing

accessories. Such preventive safety mea sures reduce the risk o f starting the tool

accidentally.

!

WARNING

Cordless Jig Saw

SLIDE ON-OFF SWITCH

BLADE ORBIT SELECTOR LEVER

BLADE

GUIDE ROLLER

FOOTPLATE

FINGER

GUARD

BATTERY

PACK

RELEASE

TABS

BATTERY PACK

ALLEN WRENCH
& STORAGE AREA

BATTERY CHARGE
INDICATOR

TEMPERATURE

OVERLOAD PROECTION

INDICATOR

FIG. 1

Battery Packs/Chargers

Please refer to the Charger Manual included with your tool.

NOTE: For tool specifications refer to the nameplate on your tool.

LED

RUBBERIZED

GRIP

LED WORKLIGHT
ON/OFF SWITCH

VARIABLE SPEED DIAL

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BLADE INSTALLATION AND REMOVAL

To prevent damage, do not

turn blade ejector lever when
there is no blade in the blade clamp or when
inserting the blade.

BLADE INSTALLATION

Insert the saw blade (teeth in cutting direction)
into the slot in the blade clamp until the blade
ejector lever rotates to the LEFT, indicating that
the clamp has engaged. (When inserting the
saw blade, the back of the blade must rest in
the groove of the guide roller Fig. 2.)

BLADE EJECTION

The tool should be held so that the blade is
safely ejected. To remove the saw blade, rotate
the blade ejector lever to the RIGHT to the
center stop; this releases and ejects the saw
blade (Fig. 3).

BLADE CLAMP RESET – There are two
situations in which it is necessary to reset
the blade clamp:

RESET Type A: If the blade ejection lever is

rotated improperly, the “fingers” within the
clamp may slip into the blade insert slot. To
reset the clamp:

Step 1 – Using a a screwdriver, push down on
blade clamp fingers (as viewed from the bottom
of the jig saw), until clamp can be rotated.

Step 2 – Rotate blade ejector lever to the
RIGHT until it locks into place.

The clamp is now ready for use.

RESET Type B: If the two fingers inside the
blade clamp accidentally get pushed too far into
the plunger, they will prevent insertion of a
blade. To bring the fingers bac k to their
correction positions:

Step 1 – Turn the blade ejector lever to the
RIGHT (as viewed from the bottom of the jig
saw)

Step 2 – Continue the rotation unto fingers will
snap into the correct open position.

The clamp is now ready for use.

-8-

Assembly

!

CAUTION

FIG. 2

FIG. 3

BLADE

CLAMP

LEVER

BLADE

CLAMP

LEVER

FINGERS

BLADE CLAMP IN OPEN POSITION

(As viewed from the bottom)

BLADE CLAMP IN LOCKED POSITION

(As viewed from the bottom)

BLADE

BLADE

BLADE

Disconnect battery pack from tool or place the switch in the locked or
off position before making any assembly, adjustments or changing

accessories. Such preventive safety mea sures reduce the risk o f starting the tool

accidentally.

!

WARNING

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ATTACHING NON-MARRING

OVERSHOE

Your tool is equipped with a protective plastic
overshoe that protects finer surfaces.

To attach, hook overshoe over front of metal
fo otplate and snap int o place at rea r of
footplate (Fig. 4).

ANTI-SPLINTER INSERT

To minimize splintering of the top surface of
the material being cut, place the anti-splinter
insert in the blade opening of the footplate, or
the non-marring overshoe (Fig. 5).

Note: This insert will only work with blades
that have ground sides such as T301CD,
TB1B, T101D, and T101DP.

-9-

1

2

FIG. 4

FIG. 5

NON-MARRING

OVERSHOE

ANTI-SPLINTER

INSERT

FOOTPLATE

INSERTING AND RELEASING

BATTERY PACK

Release battery pack from tool by pressing
on both sides of the battery release tabs and
pull downward (Fig. 6).

To insert battery, align battery and slide
battery pack into tool until it locks into position.
Do not force.

If battery release tabs are
cracked or othe rwi se

damaged, do not insert into tool. Battery

can fall out during operation.

!

WARNING

FIG. 6

RELEASE
TABS

BATTERY

PACK

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SLIDE ON-OFF SWITCH

The tool is switched “ON” by the switch button
located at the side of the motor housing. The
switch locks in the “ON” posit ion , a
convenience for continuous operation (Fig. 1).

TO TURN THE TOOL “ON” slide the switch
button forward.

TO UNLOCK THE SWITCH, slide the switch
button backward.

BRAKE

When the trigger is released it activates the
electrical brake to stop the blade quickly. This
feature is especially useful when making
repetitive cuts.

BLADE ORBIT SELECTOR LEVER

Maximum cutting efficiency can be obtained
by adjusting the blade orbit selector lever to
suit the material being cut.

The following chart will help you determine
which setting to use for your application. This
chart is intended as a guideline only, and test
cuts in scrap material should be performed
first to determine the best setting.

Setting O

Hard mater i als s uch a s
metals or thin sheet metals.
This setting can be used with
knif e blades, g rit edg e
blades, rasp work. and down
cutting blades.

Setting 1

Soft materials where cleaner
cutting or delicate scrolling
work is performed.

Setting 2

Med ium den sity mat eria ls
such as harde r woods or
particle board. Soft materials
such as wood, plastics, etc.
and when fast cutting is more
important than a clean cut.

WORK LIGHT

Your tool is equipped with a work light for better
visibility during operation. Once the tool has
been turned on, the light can be turned on by
pressing the LED switch. When the tool is
switched off, the light turns off. (Fig 1)

Operating Instructions

PLUNGER SPEED

The jigs aw cut ting spee d or str oke ra te
required depends on the material being cut,
the type of blade being used, and the feed rate
preferred by the operator.

The best speed for a particular application is
largely determined by experience though as a
general rule, slower speeds are for denser
materials and faster speeds for softer materials.

Note: that when the jigsaw is used at low
speed settings for an extended length of time,
the motor temperature will rise due to slower
speeds of the internal cooling fan. In such
cases, it is necessary to occasionally run the
tool at full speed for a few minutes to keep the
motor running at high efficiency.

VARIABLE SPEED DIAL

Your Jigsaw is equipped with a variable speed
dial. The blade stroke rate may be adjusted
during cutting operation by presetting the dial
on or between any one of the six numbers.

SPM rating

Setting (strokes per minute)

1 1500
2 1800
3 2050
4 2300
5 2550
6 2800

Disconnect battery pack from tool or place the switch in the locked or
off position before making any assembly, adjustments or changing

accessories. Such preventive safety mea sures reduce the risk o f starting the tool

accidentally.

!

WARNING

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FOOTPLATE ANGLE ADJUSTMENT

The footplate may be tilted to allow angle cuts
up to 45° in either direction (Fig. 7).

Note: before adjusting the footplate, remove
anti-splinter insert if used.

Open the lock lever to unlock footplate. Push
and hold the footplate firmly towards the back
of tool as shown. While holding the footplate
backwards tilt footplate to desired angle on
bevel scale, then release pressure on footplate
so it engages into detent at desired angle (Fig. 7).

Your tool has detent slots the footplate will
engage at 0° & 45°, and there are additional
position marks for 15°, 22.5° and 30° angles.

Close the lock lever slowly to assure that
footplate is locked at the desired angle.

TOOL TIPS

Always be certain that smaller workpieces
are securely fastened to a bench or other
support. Larger panels may be held in place
by clamps on a bench or sawhorses.

To begin a cut, clearly mark the cutting line,
and rest the front of the footplate on the work.
Engage the switch, and move the blade into
the work using only enough forward pressure
to keep the blade cutting steadily. Do not
force, as this will not make the saw cut faster;
let the blade do the work.

Choose blades carefully, as the ability of the
jig saw to follow curves, provide smoother
finishes, or faster cutting is directly related to
the type of blade used (See your Bosch Dealer).

For tight curves it is best to use a narrow or
scroll blade.

When sawing metal or similar materials, apply
coolant/lubricant alongside the cutting line.

Use of reverse-tooth blade such as the Bosch
T101BR requires the orbital setting to be “0”
and that downward pressure be applied to the
top of the saw.

PLUNGE CUTTING

Plunge cutting is useful and time-saving in
making rough openings in softer materials. It
is not necessary to drill a hole for an inside or
pocket cut. The longest blade to be used for
plunge cutting is 3-1/8" (80 mm). Footplate
must be set 0° setting.

Draw lines for the opening, hold the saw
firmly, tilt it forward so that the toe of the saw
foot rests on the work, but with the blade well
clear of the work. Turn the tool on and run at
top speed, and then very gradually lower the
blade (Fig. 8).

When it touches, continue pressing down on
the toe of the saw foot slowly pivoting the saw
like a hinge until the blade cuts through and
the foot rests flat on the work. Then saw
ahe ad on t he cut ting line. We do n ot
recommend plunge cutting with a scroll blade.
Do not try to plunge cut into hard materials
such as steel.

To make sharp corners, cut up to the corner,
then back up slightly before rounding the
corner. After the opening is complete, go back
to each corner and cut it from the opposite
direction to square it off.

-11-

FOOTPLATE

SCREW

FIG. 7

BEVEL
SCALE

FOOTPLATE

FIG. 8

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-12-

TEMPERATURE-DEPENDENT

OVERLOAD PROTECTION

In normal conditions of use, the tool cannot
be overloaded. However, if the power tool is
overloaded or not kept within the permitted
battery temperature rang e, the speed is
reduced or the power tool switches off. If the
tool speed is automatically reduced in such
situations, the tool will run again at full speed
once the permitted battery temperature is
rea ched or the lo ad is redu ced. Dur ing
automatic shut-down, switch off the power
tool, allow the battery to cool down, and then
switch the power tool back on. (Fig. 1)

TEMPERATURE-DEPENDENT OVERLOAD

PROTECTION INDICATOR

The red L E D indi c ator w ill h elp y o u in
protecting the battery against overheating
and the motor against overloading. (Fig. 1)

When the LED indicator continuously lights
up red, it means that the temperature of the
battery is too high and the tool switches off
automatically.

– Switch the power tool off.

– Allow the battery to cool down before

continuing to work.

When the LED indicator flashes red, it means
the tool is plunger mechanism has been
sto p ped by t he w orkpi e ce a nd t he tool
switches off automatically.

– Remove the tool from the workpiece.

– As soon as the plunger mechanism has

been freed, the tool will continue to work at
the set stroke rate.

RESTART PROTECTION

The res tart pro tect ion feat ure prev ents
uncontrolled starting of the machine after a
power failure. Once the restart protection
feature is active, the temperature overload
pr otection indicator blinks c ontinuously .
(Fig. 1)

To restart the operation, switch the On/Off
switch to the Off position and start the tool
again.

Note: When switching off and on again very
qu ickly, it is possi ble that the restarting
protection will be triggered; this will prevent
the power tool from starting, even though the
On/Off switch is actuated. Set the On/Off
switch to the off position, and then switch the
tool on again.

PROTECTION AGAINST DEEP

DISCHARGING

The lithium ion battery is protected against
deep discharging by the “Electronic Cell
Pro tect ion (ECP )”. When th e b atter y i s
empty, the machine is switched off by means
of a protective circuit: The inserted tool no
longer rotates.

BATTERY CHARGE-CONTROL

INDICATION

The three green LEDs of the battery charge­control indicator show the charging status of
th e battery. (Fi g. 1) The batt ery ch arg e
cont r ol ind i c ator o nly i l luminat e s for 5
seconds after start-up.

LED Capacity

Continuous lighting 3 x green 2/3

Continuous lighting 2 x green 1/3

Continuous lighting 1 x green <1/3

Flashing light 1 x green Reserve

Flashing light 3 x green Empty

When no LED lights up after switching on,
then the battery is defective and must be
replaced.

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-13-

JA1010 CIRCLE AND PARALLEL

CUTTING GUIDE

The JA1010 is used for fast and accurate
straight and circle cutting. It includes the
guide, two clamps for attaching it to the jig
saw (A), and a center pin for guiding circle
cuts (B). The clamps and the centering pin
can be stored on the guide (Fig. 9).

One end of the clamp is used to attach the
guide’s bar to jig saws that have narrow tops
on their footplate mounting slots (C) and the
other end is used to attach the guide’s bar to
jig saws that have wide tops on their footplate
mounting slots (D) (Fig. 10).

When possible, attach the bar to the jig saw
using both clamps for enhanced grip and
precision.

ATTACHING GUIDE TO JIG SAW

1. Orient the blade clamp so that the proper

end is placed on the jig saw foot from
either side of the tool.

2. Insert guide bar through a clamp, then

through the slots provided in foot, with the

guide’s fence orientated correctly for the
intended application, parallel cutting or
circle cutting. (If possible, place second
clamp on bar from opposite side of jig
saw.)

3. Pla ce lock knob(s) o n proper side of
clamp(s) and securely tighten lock knob(s)
on the clamp(s) (Fig. 11).

PARALLEL CUTTING

Parallel cuts can be made from 5/8” to 6” in
from the edge of the workpiece.

1. The guide fence surface needs to be
positioned ALONGSIDE the workpiece
(Fig. 12).

2. Hook clamp(s) onto footplate, adjust fence
to desired width and place lock knob(s) on
proper side of clamp(s)

3. Securely tighten lo ck knob(s) on th e
clamp(s) (Fig. 11).

4. Insert jig saw plug into power source, hold

the saw firmly, squeeze trigger and slowly
push the saw forward (Fig. 12).

A

B

D

C

1

3

2

FIG. 9

FIG. 10

FIG. 11

FIG. 12

BAR

LOCK KNOB

CLAMP

EDGE GUIDE

DOWN

BM 2610033457 06-14_JS120 6/5/14 12:02 PM Page 13

-14-

CIRCLE CUTTING

Circle cuts can be made from 5” to 16-1/2” in
diameter

1. Determine the center point of the desired
circle.

2. Drill a 3/16” (5 mm) center hole 7/8” (23
mm) deep in workpiece. (For enhanced
precision, drill the hole using a drill press, if
possible).

3. Drill or plunge cut near the circle’s edge,
turn saw off, and disconnect the plug from
power source.

4. Insert guide bar through a clamp, then
through the slots provided in foot, from
either side of foot (Fig. 13). (If possible,
place second clamp on bar from opposite
side of jig saw).

5. Remove guide pin from end of guide, push
pin through proper hole provided in guide,
then into center hole of workpiece. (When
used with a Bosch JS572 jig saw --- or the
JS180 cordless jig saw --- the holes labeled
for the JS572 should be used.) For other jig
saws, one of the other holes should be
used.

6. Measure the distance from the center of the
hole to the desired circle radius. Adjust that
measurement as necessary to account for
the width of the blade:

- When cutting a hole, cut from inside the
intended radius.

- When cutting wheels or discs, cut from the
outside the intended radius.

7. Hook clamp(s) onto footplate, and position
the guide to that a dju sted radius
measurement.

8. Place lo ck kno b(s) o n proper sid e of
clamp(s) and securely tighten lock knob(s)
on the clamp(s) (Fig. 11).

9. Insert jig saw plug into power source, hold
the saw firmly, squeeze trigger and slowly
push the saw forward.

CIRCLE-CUTTING TIPS:

• Place small wedges in the cut as shown in
Fi g. 14, to ke ep th e inn er circle fro m
spreading when near the end of the cut.

• Use a thick jig saw blade, such as the
Bosch T101TP or T144DP wheneve r
possible.

• Make sure that the jig saw orbital setting is
at 0 (zero)

• Cut slowly so the blade will stay straight in
the cut.

FIG. 13

FIG. 14

GUIDE

PIN

LOCK
KNOB

CLAMP

WEDGE

BM 2610033457 06-14_JS120 6/5/14 12:02 PM Page 14