Bosch Router Table

Includes Jigsaw Plate for XBench Workstation - 3100-09, Mounting Hardware

Amazon Sales Rank: #30973 in Home Improvement Brand: Skil Model: 3100-09 Adds scroll saw functionality Attach Jigsaw to insert plate then load by simply dropping into X-bench tabletop Accepts Skil jigsaw models 4280, 4380, 4390, 4480, 4490, 4540, 4580, 4581, 4680, 4681, 4690

Most helpful customer reviews 12 of 12 people found the following review helpful. It's OK, you can do better for le$$, By G. Conner I saw this at a trade show and had a chance to try it out. It works OK. If you already have the Skill bench, it would be a handy accessory for light duty sawing. The real advantage of mounting a jig-saw upside down in a table is that it pulls the work toward the table, and so, provides stability. Because jig-saws (typically) cut on the up-stroke, an inverted jig-saw cuts downward. Normally, you must put the good face of your work down, so that the upright jig-saw does not splinter the cut. That means you are working blind and have to make an allowance for "blade-wander" especially when cutting curves. You must cut a little wide of your mark or you risk drifting into the mark or beyond. By cutting upside down with a table-mounted jigsaw, you can see exactly what you are doing to the good face. It's just like a mini band-saw. Because the blade now cuts DOWNWARD, most of the sawdust goes through the kerf, so visibility is decent. You can improve that by adding a little fan or compressed air nozzle to blow dust away from you, ideally into a dust-collection port or exhaust fan. Reasons I give this accessory only two stars: 1- It is only convenient if you already have (or plan to purchase) the associated skill bench. 2- It is thin and flimsy, so it flexes somewhat, removing any chance at precision. 3- It is ( like most plastic gimmicks) overpriced. So, cutting upside-down with a table-mounted jig-saw is a good idea, but this particular item is not the best way to do that. Solution: Assuming you do not already have the bench that this fits, or that you are too cheap to spend $25 bucks for a piece of flimsy plastic, or your need greater precision, try this... Get your local glass store to cut a chunk of 1/4" or 3/8" LEXAN polycarbonate. You can use any dimensions you like. Mine is 4" x 8". Cost: $4 bucks plus tax. (You might pay double that in a big city.) With a decent straightedge, it is a simple matter to attach your jig saw to the plate and hold it in place with C-clamps so that it is perfectly parallel to the lexan-plate edges. While the saw is clamped securely, drill mounting holes, countersink them and attach the plate with machine screws and bolts. Un-clamp and voila! ... you have a convenient base-plate that is much better than this one for less money. I like this system because it allows me to make a custom plate for my table. My lexan plate is FAR more rigid and precise and it just drops in to a routed rabbet in my table in seconds. I can instantly remove the saw for normal use. Gravity, plus pressure from the work-piece hold the saw in place. Each down-ward cutting-stroke pulls the saw (with the plate) into the work, so the saw is trapped and held securely; no jumping around, no dangerous drama. Caveat: because I am a compulsive safety-nerd and precision addict, I sometimes use a clamp to hold this base-plate and saw in place. I would recommend that for ANYONE who is not familiar with jig-saws. I find this is only necessary when cutting thicker material like 3/4 " plywood or HARD woods. ANYTIME you table-mount ANY hand-held power-tool, ALWAYS connect it through a emergency cut-off power-supply. You can easily wire these up yourself for custom workbenches, or you can simply plug the tool into a power-strip that has an ON-OFF switch. Or just have the plug where you can reach it quickly in an emergency without letting go of your work. So long as you have one free hand (or foot) to unplug the saw, you can ameliorate or prevent nasty accidents. Jig-saws can do surprisingly unpleasant dances if you are not well-prepared, conscious and careful. You do not want to be forced to hold your work AND reach under a table to find the switch on a jumping jig-saw! A GOOD FEATURE of the Skill X-Bench: It already has the cut-off switch with an integral lock-out key. Skill's designers obviously added that at the