Cordless jigsaws: characteristics and subtleties of choice

Over the decades of the existence of an electric tool, mankind has not come to a single conclusion as to which one is better - a network one, that is, plugged into an outlet, or a portable battery. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages, but in the case of jigsaws, there is a special specificity.

Traditionally, cordless tools are used when work is performed directly on a construction site, where electricity has not yet been supplied. In the case of an electric jigsaw, the creation of such models does not seem entirely justified, since they are almost always used in an equipped workshop. However, with jigsaws, not everything is so simple.

In particular, while other battery-powered tools have been criticized for the extra weight due to the "extra" mass of the battery, it is often considered a plus in the design of jigsaws.

On the one hand, modern manufacturers are working intensively to reduce the weight of their models, on the other hand, the added weight is usually relatively small and even useful, since the body allows you to act as a stabilizer for a smoother cut.

Both in functions and in performance, the battery jigsaw is practically no different from the network ones. Most materials are available for cutting with such a tool, there are many positive reviews about cutting wood of any kind, gypsum and even plastic.

On the other hand, a quality tool is capable of cutting even steel.

If we talk about the key difference between the battery models and their network "counterparts", then it lies in the duration of battery life. Jigsaws operating from an outlet are completely incapable of working in its absence, and even basic batteries allow you to successfully cut materials for several hours.

These capabilities allow you to use the device in any conditions, for example, during a power outage in the workshop or even outside of it during the whole working day.

Contrary to the seeming uniformity, cordless jigsaws are not in vain produced in a variety of models, an extensive classification allows each model to claim uniqueness. First of all, such tools are divided according to the level of output power, which, in turn, determines the list of materials that can be cut using this particular model.

They are optional, but can greatly improve the comfort of your work.

It should be noted separately that there are also so-called universal jigsaws, which are both battery and mains... Their use is very convenient, since they can be charged during the execution of work when connected to the network, which means that you do not need to constantly remember about the need to charge them "just in case".

On the other hand, the dual power supply system makes the unit body even heavier, and therefore it loses somewhat in ease of use.

Finally, there is another global division of cordless jigsaws - professional and household. The first ones involve regular use for solving even the most difficult tasks, so they are distinguished by high performance, a huge battery charge, and almost always the ability to cut metal pipes.

Naturally, all these impressive characteristics lead to a high price for such a unit, therefore for semi-amateur home use, craftsmen are much more likely to choose household models, their functionality is somewhat more modest, as well as the battery life, and they will most likely only take wood.

Ratings for cordless jigsaws are updated every year, especially since each consumer is based on their specific needs. We will nevertheless highlight several of the most popular household models. At the same time, keep in mind that almost always such devices are sold separately from the battery and charger, so the final price may even be several times higher than the original one.

• Encore AccuMaster AKM1835 - the best budget solution in terms of functionality and price. The unit is assembled in China, the company does not have a special reputation, but reviews indicate that the result is quite good.
• Makita JV100DZ, for comparison, is produced by a much more famous brand, but inferior in all main indicators - this is the simplest device for an amateur. However, it is suitable for cutting as a hobby, and in terms of repair and maintenance, everything is much better here, since the company is recognizable and popular.

• Ryobi R18JS0 Jigsaw interesting in that both lithium and nickel-cadmium batteries are suitable for it. The model is good for its high performance and decent equipment (files and a hexagon are included in the set), but it costs more than the Makita model, and the same nozzle for a vacuum cleaner is not provided.
• Greenworks Model G24JS of all the options described, it is the most expensive, but at the same time the most powerful jigsaw, it can even be called professional with a stretch, although the total cost does not exceed 12-13 thousand rubles.

The choice in all cases depends on the needs of each individual master, so it is impossible to say with certainty which model is uniquely best for everyone. For this reason, you should approach the issue of choice as responsibly as possible, because even a good, highly praised model may not be suitable for you.

• In any cordless jigsaw, attention is primarily paid to the battery itself. Today, almost all units are equipped with lithium-ion batteries, but older nickel-cadmium batteries are still occasionally found. The popularity of lithium batteries is quite justified: their charge lasts for a much longer time, they weigh less, and nickel-cadmium competitors will also have a problem with the "memory effect": in order to avoid a decrease in battery capacity, it must first be completely discharged each time, and then fully charge, which is inconvenient.

Another thing is that, unlike lithium, it can be repaired, and even the latter can be discharged faster and deteriorate at low temperatures, not be charged from "foreign" chargers, or even explode. However, the responsible observance of the operating instructions easily solves these problems.

• Other important criteria for evaluating a battery are its capacity and output voltage. On average, these indicators are 2.5 A / h and 18 V. For domestic use, it will not be entirely logical to chase the maximum indicators, for example, even a 1.3 A / h battery saws 3 meters of boards, whose thickness is 2.5 cm. the same material or its replacement with a denser and more durable plastic or metal will discharge the tool faster, but we took an example with a rather modest charge volume.
• The battery is also often evaluated in terms of size, weight and cost (in most cases it even outperforms the device's body in all these indicators), but we must not forget about several important criteria. So, if it is supposed to work in conditions of significant temperature changes, this should be spelled out in the technical specifications, because usually the range fluctuates within 20 degrees, which is not an indicator for our regions. In order not to wait too long for a hundred percent charge, pay attention to quick chargers.

• If the instrument is not expected to be used regularly and frequently, it will benefit from minimal self-discharge - the average cordless jigsaw loses only 2% of its charge in a month of downtime... Finally, the "life" of the battery depends on the number of recharge cycles, on average there should be about a thousand, after which the battery may need to be replaced.

• The number of sawing strokes indicates the number of reciprocating movements per minute, and the unit with the higher one will complete the task faster. On the other hand, some materials, such as metal and plastic, do not allow the cutting speed to be too high, otherwise the edges will be sloppy. For domestic use, 2400 is considered to be the normal average number of strokes, but professional expensive models can reach almost twice as high.
• The main selection criterion will be the maximum cutting thickness, unless you plan to work exclusively with thin plywood. For each material, this indicator differs, but if it is exceeded, you can simply break a file or a jigsaw. Home models are, on average, designed for a cutting depth of about 6 cm in the case of wood and 6 mm in the case of metal, but for professional models this figure can be two to three times higher.

There are a few other useful features that are desirable but not common. Let's put them in order of usefulness - from most important to minor:

• having the ability to adjust the stroke rate at will, you get the opportunity to accurately cut different materials;
• models with a pendulum stroke cut more roughly and unevenly, but much faster;
• the ability to tilt the sole allows you to more accurately set the cutting angle;
• thanks to the smooth start-up, the wear of all the main units of the unit is significantly reduced;
• the presence of a nozzle for a vacuum cleaner will limit the possibilities of movement with a jigsaw, but it will keep the workshop clean and will help preserve the health of the master;
• built-in backlight is a good bonus if you sometimes have to work in the dark;
• the presence of a laser guide helps to cut complex shapes more accurately.

An overview of the DeWalt DCS331B cordless jigsaw is in the video below.