Bosch Pneumatic Barrel-Grip Jigsaw (7561-118) review

The Bosch 7561-118 is a pneumatic barrel-grip jigsaw, not a battery tool or an ordinary mains-corded saw. It belongs to a very different workshop setup: Bosch’s 2012/2013 U.S. catalog specifies compressed air, while a former Lowe’s page identifies the exact 7561-118 model and also exposes an inconsistent “corded” heading. Bosch’s U.S. catalog and shared operating manual differ on air consumption; a later regional Bosch datasheet for the same part number publishes another figure. Treat this as a reference for people who can verify the particular saw and compressor—not a plug-in substitute for Bosch’s electric JS models.

Start with the compressor, not the cut

Bosch’s U.S. catalog lists 90 PSI and 27.5 CFM for the 7561-118. The Bosch-authored shared air-jigsaw manual’s exact type-118 column instead gives 6.3 bar (91 PSI), measured at the inlet with the tool running, and 25.4 CFM under load. A Bosch product sheet dated 2017 for the same part number, hosted by a French tool supplier, lists 17.5 L/s; because that is a regional sheet rather than a U.S. unit nameplate or a version bridge, it should not replace the U.S. instructions. None of the documents explains the airflow discrepancy. These are maker-published specifications, not measurements from this assessment. Do not size a compressor from one number alone: check the individual tool plate, exact manual edition, regulator and fitting, and whether the system can maintain pressure and flow at the tool under load. The manual calls for a 10 mm / 3/8-inch hose, 1/4-inch NPT thread, a hose no longer than 4 m, clean dry air and a maintenance unit. Verify the actual hose and coupler rather than assuming a common shop-air connector fits.

That air demand is the central tradeoff. A compressor’s tank size or maximum pressure by itself does not establish sustained flow, and a long or undersized hose can complicate delivery. Follow the manual’s air-preparation and disconnection instructions for the exact tool; do not adapt an electric saw’s setup guidance. Disconnect the air line before blade changes, adjustment or storage, and use the safety procedures stated for a pneumatic cutting tool.

Blade interface and control

The historical Bosch catalog calls the tool a barrel-grip jigsaw and describes a toolless blade-change system. Bosch’s shared air-jigsaw instructions are more specific than the Lowe’s listing: they state that only T-shank blades fit this jigsaw. That is a real interface boundary, not a general brand assumption. It still does not mean every T-shank blade suits every cut; check the blade maker’s selection guidance and the 7561-118 manual before choosing length, tooth pattern or blade for a particular stock.

The manual identifies the 0 607 561 118 as a paddle-style lever-switch type: press and hold the lever to run, then release it to stop. That is different from the locking-slide and deadman-switch versions in the same Bosch manual. The tool has orbital action, with settings 0 through III. Bosch’s guidance distinguishes no orbit for thin sheet work, small orbit for hard nonferrous material, medium orbit for hard wood and plastic, and larger orbit for soft wood or ripping. These are operating directions, not test results; the guidance itself leaves the blade choice and workpiece setup important.

Materials and listed limits

The U.S. catalog lists capacities of 2-3/8 inches in wood, 1-1/4 inches in plastic, 3/4 inch in aluminum and 3/8 inch in mild steel; it also lists stainless steel at 1/8 inch. The shared manual’s exact type-118 table prints those same inch labels beside metric figures of 85, 30, 15 and 10 mm. Those pairs are not exact conversions (85 mm, for example, is about 3-3/8 inches), so do not treat the manual’s paired units as interchangeable. These remain maker-published reference figures, not cut tests or guarantees for a used specimen, blade or material setup. Check the actual tool plate and supplied instructions before planning near a listed maximum. The manual’s intended-use passage also mentions ceramic plates and rubber, but the reviewed record does not establish a dedicated blade/capacity setup for those questionnaire choices, so this assessment does not match them.

The U.S. catalog and the exact type-118 manual column both give 2,200 no-load strokes per minute, a 26 mm / one-inch stroke and a 45-degree maximum cutting angle. Lowe’s older data card lists 2,400 strokes per minute, so I rely on the Bosch documents for the 2,200 figure and disclose the retailer mismatch rather than merging them. The manual and catalog also differ on tool weight (3.3 versus 3.5 pounds); that does not change the air-system requirements.

Air exhaust is not dust extraction

Bosch’s catalog says room air is not drawn through the unit, describing that design as useful when cutting abrasive materials. That statement concerns the pneumatic motor; it is not evidence of dust capture. Neither the exact listing nor the reviewed catalog identifies a compatible vacuum connection for the 7561-118. Do not equate an exhaust-air routing line with a dust hood, chip blower or external vacuum. If debris collection matters, verify an exact Bosch-approved arrangement rather than assuming a nearby model’s attachment fits.

Package, status and buying checks

Bosch’s 2012/2013 U.S. catalog lists three assorted blades and an anti-splinter insert, JA1002. Lowe’s marks its exact-model listing as no longer sold there and says no case is included. Those records describe an older listing and historical catalog entry; they do not prove the contents, completeness, condition or availability of any current secondhand offer. Ask for a clear image of the 7561-118 nameplate, the individual tool’s air connection and clamp, and a written inventory of the actual seller’s box. Confirm that any compressor, hose, regulator and coupler meet the exact tool requirements before buying; inspect the blade clamp, footplate, switch and hose fitting on the item offered.

This is a narrow fit for a buyer who already has suitable high-flow compressed air and wants an older Bosch pneumatic jigsaw. Someone needing a simple extension-cord setup, battery-platform compatibility, a documented vacuum route or a readily verifiable current package should compare the electrical models in this library instead. The figure below is a retailer specimen photo for the exact 7561-118 listing; it identifies the tool’s form, not its current condition.

Sources and assessment limits

This document-based assessment uses the Bosch 2012/2013 Power Tools & Accessories catalog, page 207 (a Bosch catalog copy hosted by a third party), the Bosch air-jigsaw instructions (shared manual covering types 114, 116, 118 and 120; model-specific data and T-shank rule appear in the English section), Lowe’s former exact 7561-118 listing, the 2017 regional Bosch product sheet for type 0 607 561 118, and Bosch’s regional after-sales record. The after-sales page is for India and the 2017 sheet is hosted by a French supplier; neither is treated as proof of U.S. availability or an exact U.S. retail revision. The U.S. catalog and manual print the same inch capacity labels, but the manual's paired metric figures do not convert exactly to those values; the airflow and weight figures also differ, while regional sources add unresolved airflow and weight variation. The catalog and manual agree on 2,200 no-load strokes per minute, unlike Lowe's older speed card. No personal use, ownership, hands-on test, measurement, price, stock, rating or customer experience is claimed.