The facts about Jigsaw
Let’s first clarify some terms so that we are both clear about what we are talking about. It’s a bit confusing, but traditional “puzzles” were originally cut into a “jigsaw” that used to be called “puzzles.” Today, the term “jigsaw” refers to a portable power woodworking tool, while the term “jigsaw” refers to a stationary woodworking machine. A way of looking at it is that in the case of a jigsaw, the tool is brought to the workpiece, and in the case of the jigsaw, the workpiece is brought into the machine. Another name for a jigsaw is “saber saw.”
I’ve been using puzzles more than I care to admit. I found the first print run in my father’s carpentry shop in the basement of my childhood home. A few years after that, I bought a cheap one from Sears. That jigsaw gave me the quick utility that all jigsaws provide, but there were nagging and nagging problems with no apparent solutions – first, the blades had no guides, so they always drifted away from the cut line, especially when it was trying to trace curved pencil lines. When cutting curves in material, the jigsaw blade bends to the outside of the curves. Third, early jigsaws did not have an orbital pendulum action, so thick materials were loaded and burned. Changing the blades required a screwdriver and care had to be taken not to lose the set screw.
Today’s high-quality jigsaws have eliminated all of these problems and are, compared to previous models, revolutionary. I will limit my comments to higher quality jigsaws because there are still inexpensive basement models with the problems I just described. With that said, these are the important things to look for in your next puzzle:
At the top of my list are sheet tracking topics and sheet guides. Take a close look at how each puzzle maker has tackled these challenges because you probably won’t have a chance to try out your next puzzle before you buy it. Look for specific details – some manufacturers just say something like “top sheet tracking” without saying how it is accomplished. Others are convincingly descriptive.
Another problem with all jigsaws is wood chips. Jigsaw blades design to cut on the upward motion, which means that chipping usually occurs on the good side of the board. Chipping can be minimized in two ways: (1) fine cut blades and (2) anti-chip inserts mounted on the saw foot immediately adjacent to each side of the blade. Fine cut blades cut slowly and so if speed is a requirement and you are using a jigsaw blade with more aggressive teeth, a chip insert is an absolute must unless you plan on sanding and/or cutting the chipped area later on.
Frequent blade changes are a reality on all jigsaws. For the sake of production efficiency, this process should be as quick and easy as possible. Gone are the days of screwdrivers, Allen keys, and set screws. You want a jigsaw that allows you to quickly put the blades in and out.
If you concerned about your health and want to minimize airborne dust in your work area, you may want to collect dust at its source by connecting a vacuum hose to the jigsaw. In that case, find a dust port and make sure it is compatible with your vacuum hose. I prefer to wear a dust mask to avoid the inconvenience of dragging a vacuum hose along with the jigsaw when trying to control the machine around curves.
I mentioned the orbital pendulum action earlier, and I wouldn’t even consider buying a jigsaw without it. My first orbital machine was a barrel grip model from Bosch. I was allowed to try one in a woodworking shop while on a business trip, and it went to Hawaii in my suitcase. Here’s why: The salesman had an eight-quarter piece of white oak and encouraged me to cut some curves in it. There were four orbital configurations on that machine, the first was “no orbital action”, and each one was more aggressive than the last. I started a cut. As expected, the machine worked slowly through the cut, and I knew that if I pushed it harder, the jigsaw blade would burn or break. Then, at the suggestion of the seller, I put the orbit lever in position “4”, the most.
Depth
The depth of cut is something to consider when working with very thick or dense materials. In softwood, depth of cut refers to the maximum distance between the bottom tooth of the blade and the base of the jigsaw when the blade is fully extended. In metal, plastic or other materials, the depth of cut is based on the ability of the saw and blade to cut dense or tough materials.
Jigsaws often use to cut expensive and delicate materials such as veneered plywood panels, and a standard steel footplate can leave scratches as it travels behind the blade. Some manufacturers offer coated footrests, some provide a “shoe cover” for the footrest, and some do not fully address this issue. If you cut delicate materials you can easily damage, pay special attention to this feature (or the lack of it).
Weight
The weight of the machine is the next consideration. My knee-jerk reaction is to find the lightest machine, so I don’t tire out so easily during a long day of mowing. On second thought, the lightweight is nowhere near the advantage as it would be in, for example, an impact driver or power drill because the weight of the jigsaw almost always rests on the material being cut. Also, the lightweight could mean that the manufacturer skimped on construction materials, possibly substituting metal for plastic parts as a cost-saving.
Stroke length is the distance teeth travel up and down during the cut. This is almost universally one inch, so it is not a useful number when comparing models from different manufacturers.
Scroll saws can make bevel cuts, generally, up to 45 degrees from vertical, both left and right. The more bevel, the finer the material that can be cut. Adjusting the bezel can be difficult or easy. Other jigsaws are designed with the built-in adjustment mechanism and therefore do not require tools. Opt for the latter when possible, considering everything else.
All jigsaws vibrate and make noise—obviously, the less vibration and noise, the better. Vibration is transmitted to the cutting point and affects your ability to control the cut. More importantly, the vibration is exhausting when it reaches the operator’s hand and arm. Various jigsaw manufacturers have tackled this problem in different ways, but the most common anti-vibration technique is to “counter” the motor. The other way is to place vibration absorbing material on the external surfaces of the machine that come in direct contact with the operator’s hand (s). Of course, the padding will not minimize the vibration transmitted to the jigsaw blade at the point of cut. Noise reduction varies with machine design, and the only way to make this comparison is to run the jigsaws you are considering purchasing.
Speed
Some jigsaws come with a variable speed to set the maximum speed of the tool for best cutting results on different materials. This is different from variable speed trigger speed control. The maximum speed on the trigger will always be limited by the variable speed wheel setting. Most puzzle triggers have a lockout feature because holding the trigger throughout the day can make your hand go numb. Barrel-grip jigsaws do not have a trigger but instead use a lock-type thumb switch. If you have the variable speed set to half speed and you lock the trigger or thumb switch, you will get the half-speed with full trigger deflection until you change the setting on the wheel.
Most jigsaws come equipped with some type of air blower to keep chips away from the cutting line. The air blower on previous machines was located midway between the chin and nose of the operator. Some manufacturers mount the blower near the cut-off point, others at the top of the machine. Some have adjustable mouthpieces.
Hand-cut jigsaws are certainly unique. Usually, only one jigsaw is cut, and certainly, when my father and great-uncle cut their jigsaws by hand, they cut the only copy of the image. These puzzles are unique without a doubt. They meet all definitions of unique. The cutter will choose the cutting line as it cuts. If asked to re-cut the same image, they would take a different path.
The mass-produced press jigsaw cannot be unique even when it has a special image or has limited edition numbers. The cutting pattern is used in many other images, and the quantity produced excludes them from the definition of a single image.
In the middle are laser-cut hand-designed jigsaws. Multiple jigsaws can be done here, but the cutting lines are unique because they are not used for any other image.
By designing the cutting lines by hand, the image is enhanced, and the created puzzle is complicated without being repetitive.
Types of cutting patterns used in hand-cut jigsaws
Interlocking: similar to a normal standard jigsaw, not interlocking: the shapes of the pieces are placed next to each other but do not fit together. A very old traditional way of cutting. This creates a difficult jigsaw as there is no shape recognition involved when assembling the jigsaw.
Color Line Cut – Here cut lines are placed along with colour changes, e.g. cut around a person in an image. This makes a jigsaw difficult because the jigsaw cannot be put together by looking at the colours or the image. The puzzle depends on the shape of the piece to determine where it goes. A small jigsaw can be quite a challenge when cutting this way.
The different cut creates a different puzzle experience for the person putting the puzzle together. When assembling a standard 1000-piece interlocking jigsaw, the jigsaw is very, very difficult at first because the person has to search through hundreds of pieces and may have to try a large number of different pieces before finding the right one. At the end of the puzzle, the last pieces are very easy to put in because the image is usable, and there are only a few pieces to look for.
When making a colour line cutting puzzle, the puzzle is difficult at first, and even when it has 5 or six pieces, it can still be difficult! This is because the image does not help; the color of one piece will not show the color of the next adjacent piece.
The image selected for a jigsaw is extremely important. The image may be unique because it is created from someone’s wedding photograph or family photo or because the image is painted with the puzzle cutter. Otherwise, the image may be from a photographer or illustrator and will be used multiple times. The image should have a lot of interest in the entire area of the jigsaw with many colors and no large areas of one color. It is better to select neutral images, not particularly masculine or feminine. The image must be beautiful. Otherwise, there is no point in recreating it. When looking at puzzles in general, there is laziness when it comes to choosing the image. Many companies produce the same old images that give puzzles a bad name.
Puzzles are made of many different substances these days. Hand cutters still use wood, as it cuts well with a pedal fret saw. Some companies use MDF despite claiming to be wooden puzzles. 3D jigsaws are usually made of plastic since the modelling process requires a material that can be deformed in all planes. With the invention of Yag lasers, metal jigsaws can be produced. Acrylic works great for CO2 lasers as the cutting edge is very smooth when cut this way.
A unique puzzle should be something that the puzzle has not encountered before. New ideas, tricks, and surprises should be included in the cut. The mindset for doing the jigsaw can be unique, a jigsaw with coloured edges requires a change in the way the person performs the jigsaw. Finding the shape rather than the image is unique to the Color Edge Cutter Jigsaw.
Some would say that a very difficult jigsaw is the largest jigsaw in the world or one with a totally repeating pattern, e.g. baked beans. However, a jigsaw for cutting colored edges is cleverly difficult, a small jigsaw with seemingly few parts can be exceptionally difficult but challenging, and a lot of fun to complete.
Facts About Jigsaws
A jigsaw is a versatile power tool used to cut curves and patterns in different materials. From oak, PVC, plywood, aluminium and even concrete slabs, the puzzles are ideal for cutting many different materials. Operators just need to make sure they use the appropriate blade for each application, and a jigsaw will go through most materials. Jigsaws are usually used for more aesthetic purposes and decorations than traditional saws. Most jigsaws are built to cut intricate patterns and have an oblique capacity of 450 to the right or left, sometimes both. Because the tool’s shoe (footplate or saw base) tilts, the blade can be cut diagonally into materials to obtain composite shapes. However, since the jigsaws are designed to move around and stencils, they struggle to cut a straight line, even using a guide.
Jigsaws are fairly safe and generally easy to use and maintain. The blade in the jigsaw only moves up and down about 3/4 “- 1” at a time and moves through the material just as fast as it is pressed; this means that although contact with the blade hurts and cuts you, it is unlikely to result in serious injury or limb loss. Although the safety risks are less with the saw, it is still important to be careful when cutting, touching and changing the blade. During use, the upward and cutting friction causes the blades to become very hot; grabbing hot blades will burn you, be careful too.
The motor power in the jigsaws varies from about 3.6? 6.4 amps. This motor drives an eccentric gear that drives the shaft of the blade holder and consequently moves the blade up and down. A jigsaw consists mainly of a plastic housing, a metal gear housing, a shoe (which serves as a rest for the saw when it is cut), a blade holder and a blade guide. There are two basic designs for the saw: the handle and the upper handle. The top handle design has a handle on top of the tool garage. The barrel is designed without a handle, and the driver drives the saw with his barrel-shaped garage. Each of these designs is popular, but the choice between the two is usually according to personal preference. The important factors in choosing a jigsaw are ease. Ensuring that you can manoeuvre the saw and that it feels comfortable and stable in your hands are important aspects of the right jigsaw. Due to the lower centre of gravity, many craftsmen claim that the upper handle greater controllability.
Variable speed: A variable speed option, most saws can run between 500 and 3000 strokes per minute. In the saw, the variable speed is controlled with a separate knob or by applied trigger pressure. Some puzzles have an individual button with settings from zero, zero, which means that the function with variable speed is not switched on; settings one and higher to produce a gradually aggressive cut. In other models, the variable speed is controlled by the amount of pressure placed on the trigger of the tool.
Orbital action: most puzzles offer an orbital lemming action that allows faster, rough cuts. The rotating motion pushes the blade forward on the stroke (as opposed to up and down) cutting material faster and more aggressively. However, keep in mind that the more aggressively you cut, the greater the chance that you will tear out.
Blow: Many jigsaws offer a blower designed to shoot a stream of air at the cutting point. The idea is that the blower removes any sawdust from the cut so that materials, patterns and cut lines are more visible to the operator. In most models, the blower function can be switched on or off, and in some air pressure can also be controlled. Some chainsaws can also connect in a vacuum, but the collection of dust is notoriously less than this saw.
Blade release:
Almost every jigsaw today offers tools without blade change. A button activates a spring-loaded unlocking mechanism that unlocks the blade from the clamp and releases the blade. Some systems require the blade to be rotated manually to remove it completely, while others eject the blade completely. The blade ejection function keeps fingers safe from possible cuts and burns.
Choosing a jigsaw:
Power: Simply buying the most powerful saw is not always the best answer. Buy the saw with the amperage that best suits the applications you will be using it for.
Comfort and Controllability – Making sure the jigsaw you choose feels good in your hands and is comfortable to push and manoeuvre is critical. Vibration in the tool is an important factor for the comfort and quality of the cut.
Blade Guide System – Because jigsaw blades can drift, a good blade guide system is a vital part of finding the right jigsaw. A rotating blade can easily cut the mark or even result in a kind of inadvertent where the blade bends at a slight. This produces fairly poor cuts, so good blade guidance is essential. All jigsaws have blades from behind and are supported from the sides. However, the amount of lateral support that is provided varies between models and manufacturers.
General maintenance:
Brushes – Because jigsaw action is typically short-lived, the tool’s factory brushes generally last the life of the tool. If your brushes go out, you can simply remove the motor housing to reach them.
Cleaning: Keeping the jigsaw clean is an important component in improving performance and life. Things can get quite dusty inside the saw, and the grease and oil that is used to ensure the blade and parts move smoothly to act as the worst kind of dust and debris trap. Simply cleaning the blade guide and clamping mechanisms (ideally after each use) will save you a lot of headaches. Any accumulated debris can cause the blade to misalign, so keeping it clean will allow you to cut smoothly and accurately.
Shoe or saw base: Keep your shoe in perfect condition. If the shoe buckles, it will disrupt the angle of your cut. Replace the shoe on your jigsaw if, for example, you drop the saw and bend. It is also possible for the surface of the shoe to be scratched or scraped. Sharp, protruding edges can come out of these grooves and damage the cutting surfaces. To keep your materials safe, use sandpaper or a scouring pad to smooth out scratches. Most shoes can be fitted with a plastic shoe cover when working with soft or finished wood, or plastic.
Cord – As with all corded power tools, check the cord periodically for cracks, cuts, or breaks, and replace it if it is damaged.
Cordless – As battery technology gets better and better, cordless power tools are becoming a much more viable resource for craftsmen. Do cordless jigsaws range from 12? 28v; generally, the higher the voltage, the better the performance of the tool. Also, because saw stress occurs over relatively short life spans, jigsaw batteries tend to last longer. This makes wireless technology quite a good and convenient option.
Tips:
When using a jigsaw, take it easy; let the blade do the work. Don’t press too hard, and don’t turn too fast. Also, you should cut at the bottom of your workpiece whenever possible because the blade cuts on the upstroke, cutting at the bottom of the part will reduce visible tearing of the workpiece.
Jigsaw Tips
As with almost any tool, knowing a few “tricks of the trade” will make using your jigsaw easier and safer. Here are some tips that can help:
1. Wear safety glasses when using your jigsaw. You won’t do a lot of “puzzles” in the future if you hurt your eyes. Also, if you are cutting materials that generate a lot of dust, wear a dust mask.
2. Before starting a cut, make sure your cutting line is clearly marked. Simple but important for a good job!
3. If you are cutting small pieces of material, be sure to clamp (for example, with a clamp or clamps) the pieces before you start cutting. If not, the piece of material will probably slip and spoil the cut. Also, if the material you are cutting is soft, similar material between the clamp and the soft material you will be cutting to prevent the tight clamp from damaging the surface of the material.
4. To ensure a smooth and accurate cut, be sure to use the correct jigsaw blade.
5. After “turning on” the jigsaw, allow it to reach the maximum speed it has set before starting to cut. Also, when selecting which speed to set your jigsaw at, the general rule of thumb is faster speeds for softer materials.
6. Just move the jigsaw blade forward with enough forward pressure to engage the blade with the material and allow it to cut steadily. Never force the jigsaw blade forward!
7. When cutting metal or hard materials, you can apply a thin line of lubricant along the cut line to help control cut particles.
8. Always unplug your jigsaw from its power source before beginning any type of maintenance or cleaning.
9. Periodically, during extended use, clean the jigsaw handle/grip to help ensure safe control of the jigsaw.
10. Do not use gasoline, or ammonia to clean your jigsaw, as these chemicals can damage the plastic parts of the jigsaw.
11. When removing a blade from your jigsaw after prolonged use of the saw, be careful not to touch the blade or accessory with your bare fingers, as the blade or accessory will likely be extremely hot. Allow it to cool or put on protective gloves before attempting to remove the blade or attachment.
12. Do not lift or carry the jigsaw by the cord as this could damage the jigsaw cord connection. Damage to the jigsaw power cord connection is best done at the jigsaw factory service centre.
Especially when I see the capabilities of working with wood, with the correct type of blade, a jigsaw can be used for simple cuts, wood art decorating, stencil cutting, and also for making straight or curved lines in the wood. It is apparently one of the most underused tools in woodworking, however useful it may seem. There is a lot to know before tapping it against a piece of wood, so you don’t spoil your expensive wood. As a carpenter, this is of those tools that you would rather have than several different hand saws. It is efficient, lightweight and portable. That makes it very comfortable to use.
Metal
Metalworking is another area where a jigsaw works great. For metal cutting, a 21 tooth blade is primarily used as it provides a finer cut with minimal irregular patterns. It is also used to drill holes through which pipes pass. However, the jigsaw cannot be used to cut straight lines on metal. You cannot perform this task to your satisfaction. It should be noted that when cutting thick metal, a blade used to ensure that the blades don’t bend or slip at the desired angle of cut. Now that metalwork requires more energy in terms of cutting or drilling, orbital speed, thinner blades and pinpoint precision are required to obtain a quality result.
Ceramic tiles
At some point when renovating your home, you may need one more pipe to supply more water to your bathrooms. How do you cut hard, brittle and expensive ceramic tiles? A puzzle is here at your service. With the correct type of blade, you can cut through the ceramic tile and find an outlet for your much-needed extra water line. Although other tools such as a tile cutter could be used, they would not work as well as a jigsaw.
Countertops
Tired of your kitchen counter? Or does your study table have an ugly old rough surface? You will probably need to bring a new counter. Among the most important tools, you will need to carry with you is a jigsaw. Drilling round holes in the new countertop would best be made with a jigsaw with the special downstroke jigsaw blades that are designed to pierce hard surfaces.
Carpet
Carpet cutting requires a high level of precision, which is where the jigsaw comes in. Its special blade made of soft material allows you to make a more exact and precise cut. It can also be used to cut leather with the same special blade. It would be of great importance to use a jigsaw when cutting a carpet or leather material.
Advantages of Using A Cordless Jigsaw
A jigsaw is used to create the desired shapes in different materials such as metal or wood. It evolved over time from the traditional manual model to the versatile power tools on the market today. A jigsaw can be corded or cordless. A corded jigsaw requires a permanent connection to a power source through the use of a cord that is connected to the tool. On the other hand, the cordless uses a battery that is attached for the power supply. These different characteristics make them unique in their operation.
Buying a jigsaw can be less stressful if you understand the type of job you want to use it for. The price greatly influences the type of tool to be purchased. Therefore, it is important to think about the importance in relation to the work to be done and how well it will serve you. A cordless tool is better suited to facilitate movement during work. It also helps prevent accidents when moving compared to a corded tool. Using this tool promotes concentration and therefore, a more satisfying result.
A cordless jigsaw has the advantage of having fewer vibrations when in operation compared to a corded one. This is possible made by the ant vibration mechanism that is available in these tools, which provides comfort during operation. An operator can work longer hours without tiring and can also easily control the tool with less force, providing clean and consistent work.
The power and time required to perform a task help determine the correct tool to use. A cordless jigsaw uses a battery, and for a task that can require a lot of power, then it may be necessary to have a backup battery that interrupts the work process and in the end, is more time-consuming. This battery that is attached to the saw has an additional weight that can make it bulky to carry for long.
These are some of the reasons that make a cordless jigsaw convenient to use despite the battery issue, which fixed by making sure there is always a fully charged spare. For a beginner who wants how to operate a jigsaw, the cordless is easy to handle. It is safe, especially when used at home where there are children.
Features to Look For in Quality Jigsaws
Too many power tool buyers – and you may be one of them – don’t fully take into account how relatively new the technology really is. In fact, the makers of Makita’s jigsaws began selling power tools in 1958. This despite having been in the electric motor business for half a century before that.
What should you look for?
Relatively speaking, if you stop to think about it, all the technological developments in power tools as a whole are relatively new. In short, they have come so fast that most power tool buyers are completely unaware of some of the newer ones. So what should you look for?
Anti-vibration technology in Makita jigsaws
The newer and better units now have anti-vibration technology that makes them much better at cutting. Large and heavy circular saws, for example, have their weight to keep them stable on a cutting surface, but with a jigsaw, it is very different. If it vibrates a lot, it only makes it harder to stay on the cut line.
A chip blower and LED lighting upfront
A chip blower and LED lighting are two more features that can help you stay on your cutting line. This is your first time shopping you may just not know what pesky chips and dust are in front of your saw as you try to cut, especially if you are trying to cut at a reasonable rate.
One of the latest high-tech features
If you are cutting thick, heavy, or sticky materials like plastics, then you should consider the blade speed/resistance monitor feature. What it does is prevent the blade from slowing down when it meets resistance. It allows you to maintain the same pressure and ensures clean cutting edges.
Do you need a powerful motor in your tool?
Try not to get too obsessed with the power of the motor, if you are only going to make light cuts and crafts with the saw. You don’t need the power to cut through some, say, 3/8-inch plywood. On the other hand, Makita jigsaws that are going to get a good workout on a commercial job site need extra power.