metabo 601100500 Review

Cutting curves, scribing worktops to uneven walls, and making plunge cuts in the middle of a panel are jobs that a circular saw cannot do and a hand saw does too slowly. A jigsaw fills this gap — its narrow reciprocating blade follows curved cut lines, enters the material from above without a pilot hole, and handles materials from thin plywood to thick hardwood and even sheet metal with the right blade. The key to a good jigsaw is not just motor power but blade control: a tool-free blade change system saves time, variable speed lets you match the cutting action to the material, and pendulum action — where the blade moves forward on the cutting stroke as well as up and down — dramatically increases cutting speed in wood. A quality jigsaw earns its place in every carpenter's, kitchen fitter's, and serious DIYer's toolkit, handling the curved and awkward cuts that every project eventually demands.

Metabo, the German power tool manufacturer based in Nürtingen, has built a reputation for professional-grade tools that prioritise durability and performance over flashy features. The STE 100 Quick is their mid-range corded jigsaw, combining a 710-watt motor with variable speed control, four-stage pendulum action, and the Metabo Quick tool-free blade change system. Before choosing a jigsaw, consider the types of cuts you make most often: if your work involves mostly straight cuts in sheet material, a circular saw with a guide rail is faster and cleaner. If you regularly cut curves, internal cut-outs, and scribed edges, the jigsaw is the right tool — and the STE 100 Quick brings professional German engineering to the task at a price accessible to serious DIYers and semi-professional users.

In this review we test the Metabo STE 100 Quick across the jigsaw's core capabilities: curved cutting in plywood and MDF, straight cuts with the parallel guide, scribing to uneven surfaces, and plunge cutting. We assess the Quick blade change, pendulum action effectiveness, vibration levels, cut quality, and how it compares to the Bosch GST series and Makita equivalents.

The Metabo STE 100 Quick (model 601100500) is a corded jigsaw with a 710-watt motor delivering variable stroke speed controlled by a trigger with an integrated speed dial. The saw weighs 2 kg and measures 30.8 × 11.2 × 37.9 cm — compact and light enough for one-handed curved cutting without arm fatigue. It takes standard T-shank jigsaw blades up to 100 mm in length, and the stroke rate adjusts from a slow, controlled start to full speed for rapid cutting in softwood and sheet materials. The base plate tilts to 45 degrees for bevel cuts, and a transparent blade guard improves cut-line visibility while containing some of the sawdust.

The Metabo Quick blade change system is genuinely tool-free: you push a lever on the side of the blade housing, the old blade ejects, insert the new blade until it clicks, and release. Blade changes take under 5 seconds with no tools and no fiddly clamping mechanism — a significant workflow improvement when switching between a coarse wood blade for fast cutting and a fine metal blade for sheet steel or aluminium. The system accepts all standard T-shank blades, giving you access to the full range of Bosch, Metabo, and third-party jigsaw blades for wood, metal, plastic, laminate, and ceramic.

The four-stage pendulum action is what separates the STE 100 Quick from entry-level jigsaws. Setting 0 (no pendulum) gives the cleanest cut with minimal tear-out — ideal for veneered panels, laminates, and fine crosscuts. Setting 1 introduces slight forward movement for faster cutting in softwood. Settings 2 and 3 progressively increase the pendulum stroke for maximum cutting speed in thick timber, where cut quality is less critical than speed — demolition work, rough framing cuts, and garden timber. The variable speed dial works in combination with the trigger, letting you set a maximum speed ceiling and then modulate within it — a system that gives you precise control when starting a plunge cut or following a tight curve.

The base plate is die-cast aluminium — more rigid than the pressed steel plates on budget jigsaws — and this rigidity translates into better blade control and cleaner cuts, especially when the saw is tilted for bevel cuts. The plate has an insert for reducing tear-out on the top surface of the workpiece, and the included parallel guide fence attaches for straight rip cuts. A dust blower keeps the cut line visible by clearing sawdust, and a dust extraction port accepts a vacuum hose for cleaner working — particularly appreciated when cutting MDF indoors. The soft-grip handle and well-balanced weight distribution reduce vibration transmission to the hand.

The STE 100 Quick holds an excellent 4.7 out of 5 stars from 287 customer reviews and ranks #149 in the Jig Saws category on Amazon.fr. At €149.94, it sits in the upper-mid-range of corded jigsaws — above the entry-level DIY models from Bosch green and Black & Decker, but below the top-tier Festool Carvex and Mafell P1 CC. For a professional carpenter who uses a jigsaw regularly but not as a primary tool, or a serious DIYer who wants a saw that will perform reliably for years, the STE 100 Quick offers the build quality, pendulum action, and tool-free convenience that justify the step up from budget alternatives.

A professional-grade corded jigsaw for carpenters and kitchen fitters who need precise curved cutting, worktop scribing, and tool-free blade changes backed by German engineering.