It seems like jigsaws have been a point of focus for many brands over the past couple years, with Ridgid and Ryobi bringing out new brushless top handle jigsaws and Milwaukee, DeWalt, and Makita, who all have brushless top handle, as well as barrel grip models. Hikoki / Metabo HPT doesn’t usually have as high a volume of new tools, as the other major brands, but they seem to take their time and make a really solid tool even if they’re a bit late to the game. The good news for Hitachi / Metabo HPT / Hikoki tool users is they have two new 36v MultiVolt jigsaws, with the CJ36DA featuring the top handle design, and the CJ36DB featuring a barrel grip design. One thing I want to note is the CJ36DB barrel grip has not been announced as coming to North America, as it was spotted on the Hikoki Germany website. The top handle CJ36DA should be available in February 2020 in North America under the Metabo HPT name, and after reaching out to Metabo HPT, they did not say if/when the CJ36DB barrel grip model will be making its way to North America.
My thoughts: My first impressions just by looking at these, they look well designed and appear to have good battery positioning, and an ergonomic design. Obviously real world experience will tell the tale but from what I’ve seen Metabo HPT / Hikoki has done well in ergonomics in the past so I can only assume they’ll do the same with these new jigsaws. Features that they both share are a tool-less blade change, variable speed dial, 4 orbital settings, brushless motors, and a 1 1/32” stroke length. The CJ36DB barrel grip model won’t be available in Germany until April 2020 (the Hikoki Germany site is the only place with specs at the time of writing) so limited specs are available, but I’ll put everything I can in the Features and Specifications section.
Features and Specifications:
Hikoki / Metabo HPT Top Handle CJ36DA:
- Stroke: 1 1/32” (26mm)
- Top handle design
- Variable speed dial
- 4 position orbital adjustment
- Stroke per minute: 800-3,500 spm
- DC brushless motor
- Voltage: 36v DC
- Bevel capacity: 0-45 degrees left to right
- Weight with battery: 5.95 lbs (2.7 kg)
- Rated capacity in wood: 5.3” (135mm)
- Rated capacity in steel: 0.4” (10mm)
- Rated capacity in stainless steel: 0.13” (3.2mm)
- Length: 10.9” (277mm)
- Width: 3.18” (81mm)
- Height: 8.2” (206mm)
- Price at the time of writing: not yet announced
- Warranty: not yet announced
Hikoki / Metabo HPT Barrel Grip CJ36DB:
- Sliding power switch
- Stroke: 1 1/32” (26mm)
- Barrel grip design
- Variable speed dial
- 4 position orbital adjustment
- DC brushless motor
- Voltage: 36v DC
- Weight with battery: 5.95 lbs (2.7 kg)
- Rated capacity in wood: 6.3” (160mm)
- Length: 11.73” (298mm)
- Width: not listed
- Height: 6.9” (175mm)
- Price at the time of writing: not yet announced
- Warranty: not yet announced
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Where is this in North America. You said you thought February but I have been on Metabo hpt site weekly and aside from the ‘buy local’ link which offers nothing or any option to buy it has been non existent. I would buy both or either variant in a heartbeat as I run almost every Metabo hpt they currently make. Would love an update on possible availability.
I was able to find the top handle variant in stock and added a new buy now link to where you can find it. Thanks for bringing it up. In regards to the barrel grip model, we don’t know estimated availability other than was mentioned in the article since they have not mentioned anything regarding a USA release at the time of writing.