Bauer 6.5 Amp Jigsaw (64290) Review: Specs and Limits (2026)

The Bauer 6.5 Amp Orbital Variable-Speed Jig Saw with Laser (Harbor Freight item 64290) is still on sale at $39.99, but it is a corded 120-volt saw with a short 5/8 in. stroke and no blades in the box. That combination makes it a fair choice for occasional plywood and trim cuts, and a weak one for thick lumber or daily use.

One correction up front: older versions of this page said the Bauer corded jigsaw works with Bauer’s 20V cordless battery system. It does not. Harbor Freight’s manual for the 64290 lists an electrical rating of 120 VAC / 60 Hz / 6.5 A, so it only runs from an outlet. If you want a battery jigsaw, that is a different tool.

We have not used this saw in our own shop. Everything below comes from the Harbor Freight product page and the tool’s owner’s manual, both read on 2026-09-30, plus the Amazon listing for the Bosch we compare it to. Where a number is a manufacturer rating or something we calculated from ratings, we say so.

Bauer 64290 Quick Verdict and the Amazon Alternative

The Bauer is the budget end of the corded jigsaw market, and the box above is the model we would price it against if you shop online. Harbor Freight sells the Bauer in its stores and on its own site, so we do not link it through Amazon. The table shows how the two saws differ on the numbers that affect cutting.

Spec	Bauer 64290	Bosch JS365
Price when checked (2026-09-30)	$39.99 (Harbor Freight)	$119.00 (Amazon)
Motor	6.5 amp, 120V corded	6.5 amp, 120V corded
Max speed	3,000 strokes per minute	3,000 to 3,100 strokes per minute
Stroke length	5/8 in.	1 in.
Orbital settings	4 (3 orbital plus 1 straight cut)	4
Wood cutting depth	3-1/8 in. at 90 degrees	3-1/2 in. soft wood
Bevel	0 to 45 degrees left or right	Up to 45 degrees
Laser guide	Yes	Not listed
Blades in the box	None (sold separately)	See the Amazon listing for kit contents
Weight	5.4 lb	5.35 lb
Warranty	90 days	1 year limited

Sources: Harbor Freight 64290 product page and owner’s manual for the Bauer; the Bosch JS365 Amazon listing and our own Bosch JS365 review for the Bosch. The Bosch listing gives 3,000 strokes per minute in its title while Bosch’s spec page is quoted at 3,100 in our review, so we show both.

What the Bauer Does Well

• Price. At $39.99 it costs about $79 less than the Bosch. Harbor Freight shows a crossed-out $59.98 list price, and the item is regularly listed near $40.
• Four-position orbit selector. Harbor Freight describes three orbital settings plus one straight-cut setting. Orbit moves the blade forward into the wood on the upstroke, so more orbit cuts faster and rougher, and straight-cut mode cuts slower and cleaner.
• Tool-free blade clamp. The manual shows a lever-operated clamp for T-shank blades, so you do not need a hex key to swap blades.
• Bevel base plate. The plate tilts 0 to 45 degrees left or right and locks with a lever.
• Dust port and blower switch. The manual describes a dust port for a vacuum or bag (sold separately) and a blower lever that closes the port when you are not using dust collection.
• Laser with its own button. The manual shows a laser on/off button next to the speed dial, so you can leave it off when you do not want it.

What the Numbers Say About Cutting Speed

Both saws are labeled 6.5 amps, and that is where many spec-sheet comparisons stop. Amps describe how much current the motor can draw, not how fast or cleanly the blade cuts. The number that changes cutting behavior is stroke length: how far the blade travels up and down on each stroke.

The Bauer’s stroke is 5/8 in. and Bosch lists 1 in. as the stroke on its JS365. At each saw’s top speed with no load, that works out to about 1,875 inches of blade travel per minute for the Bauer (3,000 strokes times 0.625 in.) against about 3,100 inches per minute for the Bosch (3,100 strokes times 1 in.). That is roughly 65 percent more blade travel on the Bosch. This is our own arithmetic from the published ratings, not a measured result, and real cutting also depends on the blade, the orbit setting and the wood. Still, it explains why two saws with the same amp rating can feel very different in thick stock.

It also fits the depth ratings. Harbor Freight lists 3-1/8 in. of wood depth at 90 degrees for the Bauer, and Bosch rates soft wood at 3-1/2 in. For the boards most jobs use, such as 3/4 in. plywood or 2x lumber that is 1-1/2 in. thick, the Bauer’s rating is more than enough on paper. The gap matters with long cuts and thicker stock, where a longer stroke clears chips better.

Where the Bauer Falls Short

• No blades included. The product page says blades are sold separately and the manual lists T-shank blades as sold separately. Add a pack of blades to the $39.99, and buy a fine-tooth type for plywood and a coarser type for lumber.
• Short warranty. Harbor Freight covers the saw with a 90-day guarantee for defects in materials and workmanship, against one year on the Bosch.
• Corded only. The cord is 6 ft, so many jobs need an extension cord.
• Shorter stroke. See the numbers above. It is built for light to moderate work, not for cutting all day.
• Ratings are user-driven. The Harbor Freight page shows roughly 4.5 stars across about 1,370 reviews. That is a good sign of general satisfaction, but those reviews cannot tell us how it holds up over years of use.

Laser Guide: What It Is and What It Is Not

The laser is the feature in the product name, so it is worth being precise. The manual labels it a Class IIa laser product with a maximum output of 1 mW at a wavelength of 650 nm, and it warns you not to stare into the beam. It also says that using optical instruments with the product increases eye hazard. Treat it like any other laser: do not point it at anyone, including pets.

A laser line is a visual aid for the direction you are feeding the saw. It does not steer the blade. Cut drift in a jigsaw usually comes from the blade flexing or the saw being pushed too fast, so the laser helps only if the blade is cutting straight in the first place. For a truly straight cut, clamp a straightedge or use the rip fence that the manual covers instead of relying on the laser alone.

Safety Notes From the Manual

• Turn the power switch off and unplug the saw before adjusting it or installing a blade.
• After you slide a new blade into the clamp, pull it straight down to check that it is secured. The manual tells you to do that with a gloved hand.
• Close the transparent guard before you start cutting.
• Use the blower or a dust collection setup, and wear eye protection.

Bauer 64290 or Bosch JS365: Which Should You Buy?

Buy the Bauer if you cut a few boards, plywood shelves or trim pieces a year, you want a laser and you do not mind buying blades separately. At about $40 the price is hard to argue with for occasional work.

Step up to the Bosch if you expect to cut regularly, work in thicker stock, or want the 1 in. stroke, the longer warranty and the tool-less blade change that Amazon’s listing highlights. It costs about three times as much, so it only makes sense if you will actually use those differences. Our Bosch JS365 review covers its specs and limits in more detail.

If you are still deciding what a jigsaw is for, our woodworking jigsaw guide explains blade types and when a jigsaw is the wrong saw, and our Harbor Freight electric saws guide compares the other Harbor Freight saws.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Bauer corded jigsaw still sold?

Yes. Harbor Freight lists the Bauer 6.5 Amp Orbital Variable-Speed Jig Saw with Laser (item 64290) at $39.99 as of 2026-09-30.

Does the Bauer corded jigsaw use Bauer 20V batteries?

No. It is a corded tool with a 120 VAC, 6.5 amp rating in the manual and a 6 ft cord, so it plugs into an outlet. A cordless jigsaw would be a separate model.

Does the Bauer 64290 come with blades?

No. The Harbor Freight page and the manual both say blades are sold separately. It takes T-shank blades.

How thick can the Bauer 64290 cut?

Harbor Freight lists a wood cutting depth of 3-1/8 in. at 90 degrees. Its stroke length is 5/8 in., shorter than the 1 in. stroke on the Bosch JS365.

Can the Bauer jigsaw make bevel cuts?

Yes. The manual says the base plate tilts 0 to 45 degrees to the left or right and locks with an angle adjustment lever.

Is the laser on the Bauer jigsaw safe?

The manual classes it as a Class IIa laser with a maximum output of 1 mW at 650 nm. It warns you not to stare into the beam or use optical instruments with it.