Bosch 12-Amp Reciprocating Saw Marches Toward the Decade Mark
The RS325 Bosch 12-amp reciprocating saw is pushing the 10-year mark, but does that mean it’s time for it to retire? We tested it head-to-head against other models in the same power class to see if it still has the chops to keep up.
Pros
- Excellent metal-cutting speed
Cons
- Poor vibration control
Cutting Speed
As we moved through our cutting speed tests, the Bosch 12-amp reciprocating saw proved to be a bit of an anomaly compared to traditional thinking. It has a 2800 SPM stroke rate that’s on the lower side, but still in the range of its competition. Most of the saws in this class have a 1-1/4″ stroke length where Bosch goes for 1″.
To help, the Bosch RS325 has orbital action built-in. The possible issue is that it’s a constant orbital action—you can’t turn it off for metal cutting. As one of just three saws in this class that have the orbital motion, it should help make up some ground in wood cutting but hurt in metal cutting when you can’t switch it off.
In our nail-embedded wood test, Bosch was one of the slower models, taking an average of 22.99 seconds per cut. Most of the group is in spitting distance of that time except Milwaukee on the slow end (28.86 seconds) and Metabo HPT on the fast end (12.86 seconds). Metabo HPT wrecked the curve on this one, but Bosch is right in line with the performance we expect at this power level.
Shifting to metal cutting, Bosch’s ratings improved drastically rather than dropping because of the constant orbital action. With 2″ EMT, it needed 7.19 seconds, just under a second away from Milwaukee’s 6.36-second average.
The saw gained even more ground in our #5 rebar cutting test. At 9.47 seconds, it joins Makita (8.23 seconds) as the only saw to make the cut in under 10 seconds. Bosch was more than 2 seconds ahead of Ryobi (11.73 seconds) as its next-closest competitor.
If you can look past Metabo HPT’s blazing-fast wood-cutting speed, the Bosch RS325 is pretty solid across all the materials we cut in. Even though constant orbital action might seem like a negative in metal cutting, this saw manages to dial it in just right.
Vibration Control
Even though orbital action is a big benefit on some cuts, its aggressive motion adds vibration to the cut and that’s something we saw in our vibration testing. The Bosch 12-amp reciprocating saw finished with the lowest vibration control score of the entire group.
Like all reciprocating saws, you can mitigate some of that by keeping the shoe firmly engaged against the material you’re cutting. However, you’re going to feel it.
Size and Weight
The 10 – 12-amp class is a pretty tight group when it comes to size with all of the saws within a 2″ range. Bosch is one of the longer ones at 18.9″. It doesn’t feel like an obstacle, though. So while it’s worth noting, we don’t think it’s detrimental.
As the most compact saws in the corded group, weight is a bigger factor. With its cord, the Bosch 12-amp reciprocating saw weighs right at 8.0 pounds. The group ranges from 6.8 pounds (Ridgid) to 8.7 pounds (Metabo HPT), putting Bosch in a comfortable middle position.
You can get more compact and lighter weight if you really want it. Just weigh that (pun intended) against the cutting performance to make sure that’s a trade-off you want to make.
Additional Features
Most saws in this lower power class don’t add a lot of bells and whistles. Outside of the orbital action we already discussed, Bosch only adds a pivoting shoe, but it’s not adjustable. Here are some of the features you can find on other saws:
- Variable speed dial (Metabo HPT only)
- Tool-free shoe adjustment
- Lever blade release
- Rafter hook (Metabo HPT only)
There are a few others that none of the saws in this class include:
- Brushless motor (cordless only)
- LED light
- Blade ejection
- Smart controls (Milwaukee One-Key only)
If you want to learn more about the benefits of these features, check out our buying guide.
Pricing
One of the reasons saws in this class are so popular is their budget-friendly prices, even for Pro-level models. The Bosch RS325 retails for $119. Its normal retail price matches the most expensive of the group, even Milwaukee’s $119 price tag.
The Bottom Line
Looking at the final scores, the Bosch 12-amp reciprocating saw is pretty average. Its excellent metal cutting speeds are offset by vibration control that needs some help. In the end, it’s not going to blow your socks off, but it’s a saw that’s going to show up to work every day and get the job done.
Buy it if you’re looking for a good, solid everyday workhorse of a reciprocating saw. Pass if you’re looking for top-tier cutting speeds and vibration control.
Bosch 12-Amp Reciprocating Saw Specs
- Model Number: Bosch RS325
- No-Load SPM: 0-2800
- Stroke Length: 1″
- Orbital Action: Yes
- Variable Speed Trigger: Yes
- Height: 5″
- Length: 18.9″
- Width: 4.75″
- Price: $119
