The hand-held jigsaw has been around a long time. While the original jigsaws had a lot of problems, modern versions of the same power tool have corrected these and added numerous features that make using this tool a breeze. Precisely because there are now so many features and so many makes and models, some homework is advised before making a purchase.
Let's get some terms straight first so we are both on the same page concerning the subject of this article: jigsaws. It’s a bit confusing but traditional “jigsaw” puzzles were originally cut out on a “scroll saw” which used to be called a “jigsaw.” Today, the term “jigsaw” refers to a hand-held portable woodworking power tool while the words “scroll saw” refer to a stationary woodworking device. Another way to look at it that in the case of a jigsaw, the tool is brought to the work piece and in the case of the scroll saw the work piece is brought to the machine. Another name for a jigsaw is “sabre saw.”
I’ve been using jigsaws longer than I’d like to say. I found the first one being used in my dad’s woodworking shop in the basement of my childhood home. A few years after that, I purchased a cheap one from Sears. That jigsaw gave me the quick usefulness that all jigsaws give but there were continual and frustrating dysfunctions without perceptible solutions: First, The blades had no guides so they would continuously wander away from the cut line, especially when I was trying to track curved pencil lines. Second, when cutting curves in thick lumber, the jigsaw blade would bend toward the outside of curves. Third, early jigsaws did not have orbital pendulum action and so they would load up and burn in thick materials. Changing blades required a screwdriver and you had to be careful not to lose the set screw.
Today’s top-quality jigsaws have conquered all of those problems and are, by comparison to the earlier models, a vast improvement. I will confine my remarks to better quality jigsaws because there are still poorly designed models out there with the difficulties I just discussed. Having said that, here are the central things that should come along within your next jigsaw: At the top of my list are the subjects of blade tracking and blade guides. Take a close look at how each jigsaw supplier has approached these challenges because you are probably not going to get a chance to try out your next jigsaw before buying it. Look for specifics: Some designers simply say something like “outstanding blade tracking” without saying how this is accomplished. Others are believably descriptive.
Another concern with all jigsaws is lumber splintering. Most, but not all, jigsaw blades are manufactured to cut on the upward stroke which means that the splintering often occurs on the good side of the board or plywood. Splintering can be prevented in two ways: (1) fine-cut blades and (2) anti-splinter inserts snapped into in the saw foot immediately next to each side of the blade. Fine-cut blades cut gradually and so if speed is a necessity and you are using a more aggressively-toothed jigsaw blade, a splinter insert is an absolute need unless you plan to sand and/or rout away the splintered area later on.
Frequent blade changes are normal with all jigsaws. Regarding production efficiency, this process should be as speedy and easy as possible. Gone are the days of screwdrivers, Allen wrenches and set screws. You require a jigsaw that lets you remove and replace blades rapidly.
If you are health conscious and want to decrease airborne sawdust in your work area, you may want to remove dust right at the source by connecting a vacuum hose to the jigsaw. In that case, check for a dust port and make sure that it is compatible with your vacuum hose. Personally, I like to wear a good dust mask and thus eliminate the problem of dragging a vacuum hose along with the machine when I am trying to control the machine along curves.
I mentioned orbital pendulum action above and I would not even ponder buying a jigsaw that didn't include it. My first orbital machine was a Bosch barrel grip model. I was allowed to try one out in a woodworking store while I was on a business trip and it flew home to Hawaii in my suitcase. Here’s why: The salesman had a plank of eight-quarter white oak and encouraged me to cut some curves in it. There were four orbital settings on that machine with the first being “no orbital action” and each one after that being more aggressive than the one before. With the orbit in the off I position, I began a cut. As I expected, the machine slowly labored through the cut and I knew that if I pushed it more forcefully, the jigsaw blade would either burn or break. Then, at the suggestion of the salesman, I put the orbit lever in position “4”, the most aggressive, and made another cut. The blade flew through the thick Oak as if it were butter. There was a bit more splintering than before but not really that much. Sold, American!
An additional plus of an oscillating jigsaw is additional blade life. When a blade is stuck inside a cut, it has nowhere to go to release the heat. The pendulum action shifts the blade in and out of the cutting face, permitting cool air in while the blade is momentarily positioned away from the cut. Concurrently, the accumulated sawdust is allowed to leave out of the cut so the blade is always cutting new wood, not old sawdust. That’s why it can cut quicker and cooler.
Most good jigsaws, but not all, have Electronic Speed Control (ESC) which is an significant benefit. ESC is like the cruise control on your car: It maintains a stable speed with changing resistance. The harder you push the jigsaw, the more electrical power is delivered automatically to the motor so that the saw blade will not slow down. The analogy is your car on cruise control going up a hill.
Many jigsaws today are sold in two different body styles: Barrel grip and top-handle (sometimes called D-handle). I have used both and I have a personal preference for the barrel grip style because it is easier to turn when making fine cuts. Just like when using a router or any hand power tool, a low center of gravity and a solid grip deliver better control. With a top-handle jigsaw, your hand is at the top of a taller machine and the tendency to roll over is more likely. With a barrel grip jigsaw, the center of gravity is as low as it can be. There is a knob on top, right over the jigsaw blade, for your other hand for better control. The big, round barrel is easier to hang onto than the thinner D-Handle.
Jigsaw manufacturers usually determine motor power in terms of amperage, rather than horsepower. This is fine because amperage is a more reliable indication of actual power than horsepower. The more amperage, the more power and power is important when cutting thick or dense materials.
The speed of the jigsaw blade is expressed in “strokes per minute” or “SPM." The more, the better.
Cutting depth is something you will want to consider when dealing with very thick or dense materials. In soft wood, cutting depth refers to the maximum distance between the bottom tooth on the blade and the foot plate of the jigsaw when the blade is fully extended. In metal, plastic or other materials, cutting depth is based on the ability of the saw and blade to cut through dense or resistant materials.
Jigsaws are often used to cut pricey and delicate materials such as veneered plywood panels and a standard, steel foot plate may leave marks as it travels along behind the blade. Some designers offer coated foot plates, some provide an “overshoe” for the foot plate and some completely fail to tackle this issue. If you cut delicate materials that can be easily marred, pay careful attention to this feature (or lack of it.)
Machine weight is the next consideration. My knee-jerk reaction is to look for the lightest machine so that I won’t tire so easily during a long day of cutting. On second thought, the light weight is nowhere near the advantage as it would be in, say, an impact driver or electric drill because the jigsaw’s heaviness is almost always resting on the material being cut. Further, light weight could mean that the manufacturer skimped on construction materials, possibly substituting plastic parts for metal as a cost savings.
Stroke length is the distance the saw teeth travel up and down while cutting. This is almost typically one-inch and so it is not a useful number when comparing designs from different makers. Generally speaking, the longer the stroke, the faster the cut and the shorter the stroke, the smoother the cut.
Jigsaws can make bevel cuts, usually up to 45 degrees from vertical, both left and right. The more bevel, the thinner the material that can be cut. Adjusting the bevel can be difficult or trouble-free. Some jigsaws require you to use a screwdriver, hex wrench or Allen wrench to loosen or tighten a set screw that holds the foot in a particular position. Other jigsaws are designed with the adjusting device built-in and, thus, requiring no tools. Opt for the latter when possible, everything else considered.
All jigsaws shake and make noise. Obviously the less vibration and noise the better. Vibration is transmitted to the point of cutting and affects your ability to control the cut. More importantly, vibration is tiring when it goes into the operator’s hand and arm. Various jigsaw designers have approached this problem in different ways but the most common anti-vibration technique is to “counterbalance” the motor. The other way is to put vibration-absorbing material on the outside surfaces of the machine that come into direct contact with the hand(s) of the operator. Padding will not, of course, minimize the vibration delivered to the jigsaw blade at the point of cutting. Noise reduction varies by machine design and the only way to make this comparison requires running the jigsaws you are considering for purchase.
Some jigsaws come equipped with a variable speed wheel to set the maximum speed of the tool for better cutting results in different materials. This is different than the speed control of the variable speed trigger. Full speed on the trigger will always be limited by the setting of the variable speed wheel. Most jigsaw triggers have a lock-on feature because holding the trigger on from morning to night can actually make your hand go numb. Barrel grip jigsaws do not have a trigger but use a lock-on type thumb switch instead. If you have the variable speed set at half-speed and you lock the trigger or thumb switch, you will get half-speed at full trigger deflection until you vary the setting on the wheel.
Most jigsawws include some sort of air blower to keep chips away from the cut line. The air blower on the earlier machines was located half-way between the operator’s chin and nose. Some designers mount the blower nozzle near the point of cutting, others on the top of the machine. Some have adjustable nozzles. The important thing is effective chip and dust removal so you can see where you are supposed to cut.
Another aid to clear vision of the cut line is a built-in light. LED lights are best because they are bright white and last virtually forever. Just in case they don’t, see if they are replaceable and available.
There are several types of jigsaw blades to be had and you will have to use the kind that your jigsaw is designed to accept. There is a difference in blade types. The T-shank is my preference because it stays locked in the saw plunger. Other types include tang shank and U-shank. Once you know what type of blades your jigsaw needs, be sure to check for the availability of blade designs appropriate to the work you will be doing. Rough cut blades power through thick and coarse materials but leave a lot of splinters.
Fine-cut blades have many more teeth, leave fewer and smaller splinters but cut more slowly and are generally shorter in length. They also may be thinner (front to back) to allow for tighter turns around sharp curves. They will break more easily than a coarse blade. Metal cutting blades are also obtainable. Use these only for metal because they will not cut wood very easily and they will load up and burn in wood. On the other hand, a wood-cutting blade will not be able to cut metal effectively. Depending on the designer, there are many other specialized types of jigsaw blades available. Make sure you always have plenty of extra blades on hand to avoid unexpected trips to the store right in the middle of a job.
Bob GillespieWoodworker
JIGSAW REVIEWS:http://www.perfectwoodworking.com/jigsawreviews/
WOODWORKING TOOL REVIEWS:http://www.perfectwoodworking.com/woodworkingtoolreviews/
© 2010 Robert M. Gillespie, Jr.
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