What To Know About Jigsaws & Woodworking
Let’s get some phrases straight first so we’re each clear about what we’re speaking about. It’s kind of complicated however conventional “jigsaw puzzles” had been initially minimize out on a “scroll saw” which was once known as a “jigsaw”. As we speak, the time period “jigsaw” refers to a hand-held portable woodworking power tool whereas the time period “scroll saw” refers to a stationary woodworking machine. One other method to take a look at it that within the case of a jigsaw, the tool is delivered to the workpiece and within the case of the scroll saw the workpiece is delivered to the machine. One other name for a jigsaw is “sabre saw.”
I have been utilizing jigsaws longer than I might prefer to admit. I discovered the primary one mendacity round my dad’s woodworking store within the basement of my childhood home. A number of years after that, I bought an inexpensive one from Sears. That jigsaw gave me the short usefulness that every one jigsaws present however there have been persistent and annoying issues with out obvious options: First, The blades had no guides so they’d at all times wander off from the minimize line, particularly once I was making an attempt to trace curved pencil traces. Second, when chopping curves in thick materials, the jigsaw blade would bend towards the skin of curves. Third, early jigsaws didn’t have orbital pendulum motion and they also would load up and burn in thick supplies. Altering blades required a screwdriver and also you needed to be cautious to not lose the set screw.
As we speak’s top-quality jigsaws have eradicated all of these issues and are, by comparability to the sooner fashions, revolutionary. I’ll confine my remarks to higher high quality jigsaws as a result of there are nonetheless discount basement fashions on the market with the issues I simply outlined. Having stated that, listed here are the essential issues that you need to be in search of in your subsequent jigsaw:
On the prime of my checklist are the topics of blade monitoring and blade guides. Take an in depth have a look at how every jigsaw producer has approached these challenges since you are most likely not going to get an opportunity to check out your subsequent jigsaw earlier than shopping for it. Search for specifics: Some producers merely say one thing like “superior blade monitoring” with out saying how that is achieved. Others are convincingly descriptive.
One other subject with all jigsaws is wooden splintering. Most, however not all, jigsaw blades are designed to chop on the upward stroke which signifies that the splintering usually happens on the nice aspect of the board or plywood. Splintering could be minimized in two methods: (1) fine-cut blades and (2) anti-splinter inserts mounted within the saw foot instantly adjoining to every aspect of the blade. Fine-cut blades minimize slowly and so if pace is a requirement and you might be utilizing a extra aggressively-toothed jigsaw blade, a splinter insert is an absolute necessity except you propose to sand and/or rout away the splintered space later.
Frequent blade adjustments are a truth of life with all jigsaws. Within the curiosity of manufacturing effectivity, this course of needs to be as quick and simple as doable. Gone are the times of screwdrivers, Allen wrenches and set screws. You need a jigsaw that allows you to pop blades out and in in speedy vogue.
If you’re health acutely aware and wish to reduce airborne dust in your work space, it’s possible you’ll wish to accumulate dust proper at its supply by connecting a vacuum hose to the jigsaw. In that case, verify for a dust port and be sure that it’s suitable together with your vacuum hose. Personally, I choose to put on dust mask and thus keep away from the inconvenience of dragging a vacuum hose together with the jigsaw when I’m making an attempt to regulate the machine alongside curves.
I discussed orbital pendulum motion above and I might not even take into account shopping for a jigsaw with out it. My first orbital machine was a Bosch barrel grip model. I used to be allowed to attempt one out in a woodworking retailer whereas I used to be on a business journey and it went home to Hawaii in my suitcase. Here is why: The salesperson had a chunk of eight-quarter White Oak and inspired me to chop some curves in it. There have been 4 orbital settings on that machine with the primary being “no orbital motion” and each after that being extra aggressive than the one earlier than. With the orbit within the “off” place, I started a minimize. As I anticipated, the machine slowly labored by way of the minimize and I knew that if I pushed it any more durable, the jigsaw blade would both burn or break. Then, on the suggestion of the salesperson, I put the orbit lever in place “4,” probably the most aggressive, and made one other minimize. The blade flew by way of the thick Oak as if it had been butter. There is a little more splintering than earlier than however not likely that a lot. Offered, American!
A aspect good thing about an oscillating jigsaw is prolonged blade life. When a blade is caught inside a minimize, it has nowhere to go to dissipate the warmth. The pendulum motion oscillates the blade out and in of the chopping face, letting cool air in whereas the blade is momentarily positioned away from the minimize. On the similar time, the amassed sawdust is allowed to drop out of the minimize so the blade is at all times chopping new wooden, not old sawdust. That is why it may go sooner and cooler.
Most good jigsaws, however not all, have Digital Pace Management (ESC) which is a crucial nicety. ESC is just like the cruise management in your car: It maintains a relentless pace with altering load situations. The more durable you push the jigsaw, the extra electrical power is delivered mechanically to the motor in order that the saw blade won’t decelerate. The analogy is your car on cruise management going up a hill.
Many jigsaws immediately can be found in two totally different body types: barrel grip and top-handle (generally known as D-handle). I’ve owned each and I’ve a personal choice for the barrel grip model as a result of it’s simpler to regulate when making fine cuts. Identical to when utilizing a router or any hand power tool, a low middle of gravity and a strong grip equate to higher management. With a top-handle jigsaw, your hand is on the prime of a taller machine and the tendency to tip over is bigger. With a barrel grip jigsaw, the middle of gravity is as little as it may be. There’s a knob on prime, proper over the jigsaw blade, in your different hand for higher management. The large, spherical barrel is less complicated to hold onto than the thinner D-Deal with.
Jigsaw producers normally measure motor power when it comes to amperage, moderately than horsepower. That is fine as a result of amperage is a extra dependable indicator of precise power than horsepower. The extra amperage, the extra power and power is essential when chopping thick or dense supplies.
The pace of the jigsaw blade is expressed in “strokes per minute” or “SPM.” The extra, the higher.
Chopping depth is one thing it would be best to take into account when coping with very thick or dense supplies. In soft wooden, chopping depth refers back to the most distance between the underside tooth on the blade and the foot plate of the jigsaw when the blade is totally prolonged. In steel, plastic or different supplies, chopping depth is predicated on the flexibility of the saw and blade to chop by way of dense or resistant supplies.
Jigsaws are sometimes used to chop costly and delicate supplies akin to veneered plywood panels and a normal, metal foot plate might depart scratches because it travels alongside behind the blade. Some producers supply coated foot plates, some present an “overshoe” for the foot plate and a few utterly fail to handle this subject. For those who minimize delicate supplies that may be simply marred, pay cautious consideration to this function (or lack of it.)
Machine weight is the subsequent consideration. My knee-jerk response is to search for the lightest machine in order that I will not tire so simply throughout an extended day of chopping. On second thought, the light weight is nowhere close to the benefit as it could be in, say, an influence driver or electric drill as a result of the jigsaw’s weight is sort of at all times resting on the fabric being minimize. Additional, light weight may imply that the producer skimped on development supplies, presumably substituting plastic elements for steel as a value financial savings.
Stroke size is the space the saw enamel travel up and down whereas chopping. That is nearly universally one-inch and so it’s not a helpful quantity when evaluating fashions from totally different makers. Usually talking, the longer the stroke, the sooner the minimize and the shorter the stroke, the smoother the minimize.
Jigsaws could make bevel cuts, normally as much as 45 levels from vertical, each left and proper. The extra bevel, the thinner the fabric that may be minimize. Adjusting the bevel could be arduous or straightforward. Some jigsaws require you to make use of a screwdriver, hex wrench or Allen wrench to loosen or tighten a set screw that holds the foot in a specific place. Different jigsaws are designed with the adjusting mechanism built-in and, thus, requiring no instruments. Go for the latter when doable, all the things else thought-about router bit set B09TR8Z82F TOOLDO.
All jigsaws vibrate and make noise. Clearly the much less vibration and noise the higher. Vibration is transmitted to the purpose of chopping and impacts your capacity to regulate the minimize. Extra importantly, vibration is tiring when it goes into the operator’s hand and arm. Numerous jigsaw producers have approached this downside in several methods however the commonest anti-vibration method is to “counterbalance” the motor. The opposite method is to place vibration-absorbing materials on the skin surfaces of the machine that come into direct contact with the hand(s) of the operator. Padding won’t, after all, reduce the vibration transmitted to the jigsaw blade on the level of chopping. Noise discount varies by machine design and the one strategy to make this comparability requires operating the jigsaws you might be contemplating for buy.
Some jigsaws come geared up with a variable pace wheel to set the utmost pace of the tool for higher chopping leads to totally different supplies. That is totally different than the pace management of the variable pace set off. Full pace on the set off will at all times be restricted by the setting of the variable pace wheel. Most jigsaw triggers have a lock-on function as a result of holding the set off on all day lengthy can really make your hand go numb. Barrel grip jigsaws should not have a set off however use a lock-on kind thumb swap as a substitute. When you’ve got the variable pace set at half-speed and also you lock the set off or thumb swap, you’re going to get half-speed at full set off deflection till you modify the setting on the wheel.
Most jigsaws come geared up with some type of air blower to maintain chips away from the minimize line. The air blower on the sooner machines was positioned half-way between the operator’s chin and nostril. Some producers mount the blower nozzle close to the purpose of chopping, others on the highest of the machine. Some have adjustable nozzles. The essential factor is efficient chip and dust removal so you may see the place you might be supposed to chop.
One other support to clear imaginative and prescient of the minimize line is a built-in light. LED lights are finest as a result of they’re shiny white and final nearly eternally. Simply in case they do not, see if they’re replaceable and accessible.
There are a number of kinds of jigsaw blades accessible and you’ll have to use the type that your jigsaw is designed to just accept. There’s a distinction in blade sorts. The T-shank is my choice as a result of it stays locked within the saw plunger. Different sorts embody tang shank and U-shank. As soon as what kind of blades your jigsaw requires, you should definitely verify for the provision of blade designs acceptable to the work you can be doing. Tough minimize blades power by way of thick and coarse supplies however depart a whole lot of splinters.
Fine-cut blades have many extra enamel, depart fewer and smaller splinters however minimize slower and are typically shorter in size. Additionally they could also be thinner (entrance to again) to permit for tighter turns round sharp curves. They may break extra simply than a rough blade. Steel chopping blades are additionally accessible. Use these just for steel as a result of they won’t minimize wooden very simply and they’re going to load up and burn in wooden. On the opposite hand, a wood-cutting blade will be unable to chop steel successfully. Relying on the producer, there are numerous different specialised kinds of jigsaw blades accessible. Be sure to at all times have loads of additional blades on hand to keep away from sudden journeys to the shop proper in the midst of a job.