Metabo Corporation is a company weโre at least familiar with, though we havenโt done too much hands-on with their tools to-date (something we hope to remedy soon). The German company has been around for decades and specializes in pro-grade electric and cordless power tools and abrasives forย the industrial, construction and welding industries. Theย Metabo STA 18 LTX 18V cordless jig sawย is part of the companyโs PowerMaster Series of 18V lithium-ion cordless power tools.
Metabo is focusing on power and runtime, stating that the new saw can cut more than 98 feet of chipboard with a single battery pack charge. The tool seems ideal for all the expected roles of a jig saw, like cutting HVAC ducts, making and fitting cabinets, and just about any plywood application.
Metabo STA 18 LTX 18V Cordless Jig Saw Features
The Metabo STA 18 LTX 18Vย cordlessย jigย saw looks like it has a solid design, with a similar feature set to other 18V cordless jigsaws weโve tested and used extensively. The guide roller for the blade is low and positioned to ensure a solid and stiff connection to the workpiece for a wobble-free cut, and there is a 4-position orbital mode that will allow you to cut with incrementally more aggressive blade strokes for applications where you need either precision or speed (or a combination of both). The shoe is adjusted for bevel cutting and has positiveย stops at 15, 30, and 45 degrees via a hex wrench (included on the bottom of the tool). Like most cordless and corded jigsaw models, the Metabo STA 18 LTX has a tool-free blade change system, but this one actually ejects the blade โ perfect for swapping hot blades.
In terms of performance specs, Metabo claims the new 18V Jig Saw can cut wood up to 5-5/16โณ thick, non-ferrous metals up to 1-3/8โณ in, and 10 gauge (~3/8โณ) sheet metal. Those are bold claims, but the Metabo STA 18 LTX 18V jigย saw is built with an advanced gear housing and motor design and puts out up to 2,700 strokes per minute. It also comes with a removable protective shoe sleeveย and anti-splinter insert to prevent chipping when working on more brittleย materials like laminate countertops.
The tool itself looks comfortable to use, with an ergonomic rubber-coated top grip and a convex handle. An adjustable blower keeps the cutting line free of debris, and an integrated LED work light ensures that you stay on your mark, even when the lighting isnโt optimal. Metabo is also selling the Metabo STA 18 LTX as a tool-only kit, so you can add it to your collection of LTX cordless tools fairly inexpensively. As part of the PowerMaster Series, the jig saw can handle Metaboโs 1.3Ah, 2.6Ah, 3.0Ah, or 4.0Ah 18V lithium-ion batteries.
