CRAFTSMAN V20 Brushed Jig Saw (CMCS600B) review

The CRAFTSMAN CMCS600B is the tool-only package for the brushed CMCS600 V20 jigsaw body. It is not the same purchase configuration as the CMCS600D1 kit: CRAFTSMAN's exact -B page says the battery and charger are sold separately, while the -D1 page itemizes a 2.0Ah battery and charger with the same CMCS600 saw. The tool-family evidence supports one saw assessment and two package choices, not two different cutting mechanisms. This is a source-based assessment of manufacturer pages and the linked manual; I have not used, owned or test-cut with this saw.

Check the suffix before assuming what is in the box

For the CMCS600B, the official US page lists a CMCS600 jigsaw and one wood blade. It calls the unit tool-only and warns that battery and charger are sold separately. The CMCS600D1 page describes the same saw body and lists one CMCB202 V20 2.0Ah lithium-ion battery, one CMCB102 charger and one wood blade. That is a meaningful first-purchase distinction: the kit arrives with charging equipment, while the bare tool makes sense only if you already have a compatible CRAFTSMAN V20 battery and charger or intend to acquire them separately. The page does not give a runtime promise, and 2.0Ah is a capacity label, not a prediction of cut time.

The official images corroborate the package difference without proving every carton item: the CMCS600B product image shows the jigsaw by itself; the CMCS600D1 image shows the saw, battery and charger. Neither exact package list names a case or bevel wrench. The shared manual describes a hex wrench for bevel adjustment, so check the seller's exact box contents and have the appropriate tool available rather than assuming it is included.

Three total action positions, not three orbital modes

CRAFTSMAN lists a variable-speed trigger up to 2,500 SPM and three cut-action positions. The linked CMCS600 manual makes that count precise: position 0 is straight cutting, while positions 1 and 2 are orbital. Orbital movement adds a forward component, which the manual describes as more aggressive but less smooth than straight action. The manual says orbital action is for soft materials such as wood or plastic and explicitly says not to cut hardwood or metal in orbit. Accordingly, the documented hardwood and metal arrangements here use straight action; the exact sources do not justify assigning this model to every metal category or inventing a maximum thickness.

For metal, the manual calls for a blade suitable for metal and warns that metal takes longer to cut than wood. It discusses thin-metal setup, including supporting the work with scrap wood, and refers to aluminum. Those instructions are useful for planning a cautious soft-metal job; they do not establish a hard-metal or cast-iron endorsement. The sources also do not publish a cut-depth table, tool weight or stroke length for this version, so those fields remain unclaimed.

Blade, blower and bevel considerations

The exact -B page says the clamp accepts both T- and U-shank blades. That is broader than a single-shank-only saw, but it does not mean every blade length or profile fits; check the blade's purpose and seating against the manual. The page lists one wood blade but does not identify the included blade's shank. The integrated blower is intended to clear debris from the cutline. Neither the exact page nor linked manual establishes a vacuum adapter or dust-extraction arrangement, so a blower match should not be mistaken for dust collection.

The manual says the shoe can be set to a left or right bevel angle up to 45 degrees. Unlike the CMCS650B's keyless lever, the CMCS600 shoe adjustment uses a clamping screw and hex wrench. That difference may matter if you plan frequent bevel changes or expect an accessory in the box. The CMCS600 manual does not list a set of detent angles, so the site's facts do not invent one.

Where this body sits in CRAFTSMAN's cordless range

The brushed CMCS600 is simpler on paper than the separate brushless RP CMCS650B: its cited page lists up to 2,500 SPM and the manual describes two orbital positions plus straight action, whereas the CMCS650B page lists up to 3,200 no-load SPM and its manual describes three orbital positions plus straight. Both are CRAFTSMAN V20 top-handle saw bodies with T/U-shank support and bevel capability, but the CMCS650 adds brushless motor, LED, tool-free blade release and a keyless bevel lever. Those are documented feature differences, not proof of greater cut quality or longer runtime. Both -B listings are tool-only; the CMCS600D1 kit is the named exception for the CMCS600 body.

Choose the CMCS600B if you want the brushed CMCS600 body and already have the battery equipment, or compare the D1 package if you need a listed 2.0Ah pack and charger included. Before ordering, confirm the exact suffix, blade shank, included accessories, battery compatibility, return terms and any wrench needed for bevel setup. No price, stock, customer rating or hands-on result is asserted here.

Primary-source notes

• CRAFTSMAN CMCS600B exact US product page
• CRAFTSMAN CMCS600D1 exact kit page
• CRAFTSMAN CMCS600 instruction manual
• CRAFTSMAN US jigsaw category