Bosch Professional corded plunge saw GKT 55 GCE (1.400 Watt, incl. 1 x circular saw blade, Top Precision Best for Wood, 165 x 1.8/1.3 x 20 mm, 48, Hex key, L-BOXX 374N)

Product Information

Bosch has a long history of making some of the most innovative and advanced tools available today. I recently spoke to a group of people and mentioned that Bosch has never disappointed me in terms of their quality and performance. When manufacturers market their tools, it’s fairly common to have some things you feel a bit let down on. This just isn’t the case with Bosch in general. Their tools are designed for the most discerning professionals and they know their obligation is ultimately to provide the best tools for their users.

The system avoids the need for frequently connecting rails—saving downtime during cut setup. Plus, a solid rail always provides straighter cuts than a rail with joinery. If you do need to connect the rails to rip 4×8 sheet goods, Bosch makes connectors.The plunge saws can be used not only with Bosch guide rails, but also with many competitors' rails. All of the plunge saws can also be connected to a dust extractorto ensure a clean working environment. Bosch designed this saw to have two adjustment clamping screws at either end of the saw body. The adjustment scale is at the front of the saw. That scale shows the adjustment will range from -1 degree for undercuts to 47 degrees. Interestingly, the detent that allows for increasing the range from 45 to 47 degrees is a button on the front scale that needs to be pressed to engage the extra degrees. The detent that allows for the -1 degree cut is in a similar position on the rear of the saw. Bob Vila has been America’s Handyman since 1979. As the host of beloved and groundbreaking TV series including “This Old House” and “Bob Vila’s Home Again,” he popularized and became synonymous with “do-it-yourself” home improvement. Additionally. the saw has a speed adjustment to vary the speed for different materials from 3,200 to 6,250 rpm. Oh, and the window drops down past the edge of the workpiece improving dust collection. Very useful. Blade Runner

Each rail includes a little plastic end cover which is more clever than it seems. While it protects the end of the aluminum rail from dents and dings, it also rounds off the edge of the rail. This lets the 12-foot power cord or dust extraction hose slide more easily over the rail. It reduces a major source of interference and distraction. There was zero vibration with a nice, upright handle position, sensible switches, and easily the most power. Plus, it can provide -1 to 47-degree bevel cuts. This saw delivered on all counts.The GKT 55 GCE Professional corded plunge saw delivers highly precise, clean cuts in a variety of materials. Its high-quality machine components, precision saw blade, and matching guide rail system ensure extremely precise results. The saw’s efficient dust extraction system and noise-reduced blade make work comfortable, especially indoors. Furthermore, its adjustable speed setting enables cuts in a multitude of materials. Equipment & Application

This battery-powered plunge saw from Makita runs off two 18-volt batteries for a total of 36 volts of power, meaning that this is no weakling when it comes to slicing through plywood and other materials. While the manufacturer doesn't give an expected runtime for the batteries, many buyers specifically mentioned that even after multiple cuts, the battery charge was still at more than 50 percent. When the batteries do finally run down, it only takes around 45 minutes to recharge them. The saw has a 6 1/2-inch blade and variable speeds of 2,500 rpm to 6,300 rpm with a soft-start that lets you ease into cutting. It also has Makita's Automatic Speed Change Technology, which automatically adjusts the saw's speed and torque to best suit the performance of the tool. You can even use this plunge saw to cut through aluminum, man-made countertop materials such as Corian, and melamine, but you'll need to swap out the blade for an optional, material-specific blade to do so. There are specific machine cleaning instructions that come with the product. You must completely understand and follow all these to be able to clean this in the most efficient manner. ProsThere's a swiveling, 1 1/2-inch dust port that can be connected to your shop vac to keep sawdust under control; a welcome feature, as these types of saws can create a lot of dust. A few buyers felt that the 7.9-foot electrical cord was a bit too short—some other brands have cords that are 12 feet long—but that might not be an issue for you, depending on the size of materials you normally cut and the placement of electrical outlets in your workshop. The saw comes with a 55-inch guide rail. If you need longer rails, Makita sells a connector separately that lets you connect multiple rails together. You also get a sturdy plastic carrying case for the saw. Stan has been involved with Design and Construction in the commercial industry since 1975. He is currently the President of Design and Construction for a major St Petersburg, FL developer. Before that, he was a Project Executive for a prominent Boston Construction Manager, building high-rise apartment and office buildings. One of the hallmarks of his career has been innovative problem-solving. As Assistant Secretary of Transportation for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Stan was instrumental in bringing the hydro mill slurry wall machinery and technology to Boston in the 1990s for use on the Central Artery Third Harbor Tunnel Project. Stan has been an avid woodworker since college and brings an innovative point of view to this field. Before Florida, he owned an 1886 farmhouse near Concord, Mass, and his skills and time were never idle for long. His barn and attached spaces serve as his ever-expanding workshop. Stan is a self-avowed tool hound. In 2013, Stan decided to design and build his own CNC router. This machine has become a centerpiece of his woodworking and craft focus. Stan will share many of the ways that this innovative technology has solved many current problems and how CNC will begin to impact the woodworking and home renovation businesses. If you work with delicate materials like melamine plates, laminates or vinyl then a saw with a scoring feature is a good choice. A scoring feature will create a very shallow pass on the material to be cut. The next pass will cut the material completely. Scoring the surface protects the delicate material from breaking. Safety features matters for all tool users One customer who bought this saw to replace an old electric circular saw that they had been using for over a decade wrote, “The Worx circular saw is a great tool. The battery power is great. The absence of an electrical cord also makes the saw much more maneuverable, and I can work on projects in remote parts of my property because I don't need to be near an electrical outlet. Great buy!”