MakitaM4301 Jigsaw-Red/Black, 21.4 x 7.5 x 20.2 cm

It arrived on time Set up was easy Although the blade was a bit course (But not a problem) Finished the job easily after an hour and now ready for the next challenge -- Good product

Not expensive, simple, but did what I wanted.

This was a bit of an impulse buy given the price. It turned out to be extraordinarily in breaking up my garden decking. Went through aged 2x6 with relative ease (it wasn't quick - but it was safe and effective - when my chop saw gave up the ghost. Really impressed. I haven't tried it on anything that requires a deft touch, but it feels good in the hand (of this occasional DIYer) and did the job. Has blades, which I didn't find until I went out and bought some. Blade change easy enough. Highly recommended.

I had been considering a 520w Bosch PST 800 PEL to replace my existing 19 year old jigsaw which I only used for the odd DIY job around the house. When I saw the 450w M4301 drop to thirty squid direct from Amazon UK, I decided to order one. It was half the price of the Bosch pendulum model.First impressions were the Makita is heavy and feels well made with rubber grip around the handle. It doesn't have quick blade changing system and there is no carry case unlike the Bosch models. The mains cord is unusually thick and is 2 metres long. The unit I received appeared to be made in 2017. ie. old inventory?When I examined the jigsaw more closely, I was disappointed the blades weren't parallel with the plunger shaft, or perpendicular to the foot plate. Perhaps the blades were all bent and/or the foot plate just needed adjustment. No, it wasn't either. When I fitted the jigsaw blades back to front, the blades were still leaning to the left. The blade holder was clearly misaligned. Adjusting the footplate to compensate wasn't the solution. To adjust the blade holder, it required disassembly of the jigsaw to reach the adjustment screws.After removing all the philips screws and foot plate, the cover popped off without much effort. I was able to remove the plunger shaft. After slackening the two screws with an allen key (The allen key supplied with the M4301 does not fit), I was able to re-align the blade holder on the end of the plunger shaft.I briefly tested the Makita and it cuts straight and with less vibration than my previous jigsaw. In pendulum mode, it cuts through wood much faster but also tears the edges. I tested the free B-10 saw blade included with the M4301 and Bosch T101B clean cut wood jigsaw blades. In straight-cut mode, they produced a nice clean cut.When registering for the 3 year warranty, you can find the serial number of the jigsaw printed on the side of the original cardboard box. It should match one of the numbers printed on the jigsaw's ratings plate.The M4301 I received was made in China for for Makita Europe and comes with a red coloured body. There are blue coloured versions of the M4301 also made in China, and sold in other continents when you study some youtube videos.I note there is also a 4329 jigsaw model but in familiar blue Makita livery and costs considerably more than the 4301. The spec appears to be virtually identical to the M4301. ie. 65mm in wood and 6mm in steel. The plunger shaft and blade holder look identical too. Apart from the die-cast foot plate, speed setting dial, and transparent chip guard, it isn't clear what other improvements the 4329 offers - it wouldn't surprise me if it uses same internal components as the 4301.Very happy with M4301 for the price. No one else has reported misaligned blade holder with their M4301, so I was perhaps just unlucky?Update (July 2023):I've only used the jigsaw infrequently in past 3 years since purchase. Today, I was using the jigsaw with a straight edge, and I noticed the cuts using Bosch T101B blades through laminated chipboard were veering to the left of the marked line by about 1mm over 25cm cut. Normally, I would use a circular saw.Upon further investigation, I discovered I now have to aim the jigsaw perhaps 5 degrees to the right, for the blade to stay in a straight line.Unfortunately, I don't know if this issue existed from new. It is also possible I may have damaged the jigsaw when I recently used it to cut through a 'tough' old shower tray which I later discovered had a 6mm thick concrete/cement layer in its construction.Googling suggests jigsaws are not the best tool for cutting straight lines. Using a straight edge is supposed to help.Looking at the construction of the Makita, I suspect the simple 'rectangular hole in plate' bearing for the shaft holding the blade is not perfectly aligned inside the plastic case or there is play in the bearing. More expensive professional jigsaws use diecast metal construction.

Overall, this jigsaw is a great value tool that can help during DIY projects. I have used this multiple times over the last couple of weeks and have noticed a couple of minor issues:The metal guide on the bottom of the unit has fallen off twice since the first use. It is not a major problem as there is an Allen key attached to the back of the jigsaw which can be used to tighten, however it is a minor inconvenience.The blade that came with this unit is below average. I had also purchased a set of Makita replacement blades alongside this product and they haves lasted noticeably longer than the original for woodwork (included blade lasted 2 days).Overall I cannot fault the cost to quality of this product as it is obviously targeted to the consumer market for light use. As long as you aren't purchasing for heavy duty/ commercial reasons this is a fantastic purchase, and would highly recommend.

Cracking bit of kit,Very well made,and compared to my last one ,very quiet,,Definitely recommend.

Got this over a month ago now and have used it a good few times and have to say I'm very impressed with it. Pair it with a good jigsaw blade and it will have no problem cutting through most wood. One problem i had is that the base plate came loose and needed a good tighten. But other than that would highly recommend.

This is a basic jigsaw but works well. I am used to using a pro-quality Bosch jigsaw but needed an extra tool when away from home. This worked perfectly, produced a good cut and is very good value for money.