The subtleties of choosing and operating Hitachi jigsaws

When the construction process requires delicate sawing work, a jigsaw comes to the rescue. Of all the variety of models on the power tool market, jigsaws under the brand name of the Japanese company Hitachi attract much attention. The renowned conglomerate Hitachi is renowned for its quality innovative products. The assortment is represented by a wide range of tools for industrial and domestic use with electric or gasoline engines. Japanese quality, high technology and fairness of prices make tools under this brand in demand among consumers.

In order to choose the right tool, it is important to determine what kind of work it will be needed for. The more massive and harder the material to be processed, the more powerful the model you need to choose. It should be borne in mind that the more powerful the model, the heavier the instrument. The shape of the handle of the device is of no small importance for the convenience of work. For example, a mushroom-shaped handle is preferred for making curved cuts.

For household tools, special attention should be paid to the quality of the support platform. It is better if the platform is one-piece made of aluminum with the ability to rotate 45 degrees to ensure the quality of the bevel cuts.

For the convenience of changing files, you should pay attention to the fastening method. Convenient quick-clamping device will allow you to quickly and easily change the working blade. And also the cross-section of the rod is of no small importance. The least susceptible to breakage is a square or round stem.

Adjustment of the blade speed for different models is carried out in different ways: by pressing the trigger or by a wheel with fixation at a certain speed. Everyone can choose a convenient way to control the speed of work. But it must be remembered that the higher the speed, the stronger the vibration, and working with materials such as plastic at low speeds is impossible. Many models of jigsaws are complemented by features such as lighting, blowing or collecting chips, tilt lock and the ability to rotate the platform.

The following well-known models are worth considering:

• almost all of the above requirements are met by the model with a mushroom handle Hitachi CJ90VAST-NS with a power of 705 W, which is classified as professional;
• related to the above model Hitachi CJ90VAST, which is also supplemented by the pendulum movement of the blade, which increases the intensity of work;
• among household models, the jigsaw is the most famous Hitachi CJ65V3 power of 400 W with a minimum set of accessories, which are quite enough for work;
• among the cordless models it is worth noting a professional jigsaw Hitachi CJ18DSL; a rotary cast platform with a choice of an angle of inclination, a keyless file clamp, four pendulum positions, illumination, the ability to connect a vacuum cleaner, blowing off sawdust from the cutting line, two lithium-ion batteries with a capacity of 3 Ah are the indisputable advantages of this tool.

Among the large family of Hitachi jigsaws, you can choose a model for every taste and wallet with various additional functions. But all these functions will be useless without the right files. When choosing a saw blade, it is important to pay attention to the shank of the product.For Hitachi jigsaws with quick-release fastening, T-shank files, also called Boshevsky, are suitable. For models with a shoe or screw mount, a blade with a U-shaped shank is suitable.

The correct selection of the working blade will provide a beautiful and even cut, therefore the choice of the file is determined by the material to be processed. Files can be divided into the following types:

• on wood;
• for metal;
• for polymeric materials;
• for specific tasks;
• universal.

In addition to the material, the thickness of the workpiece and what cut needs to be made is important for the choice of the blade. The thicker the workpiece, the longer the saw blade. For thin, fragile materials, use files with a short blade. The thickness of the processed surface depends not only on the length of the blade, but also on the power of the tool. It is more convenient to make straight cuts with a canvas with a wide back, and narrow blades are suitable for making a figured cut. The quality of the cut depends on the thickness of the file itself, since a thicker file deviates less from the cutting line.

For the convenience of determining the type of file, a special marking is applied to the tool blade. Shank data indicates the following characteristics:

• letter - shank type, T or U-shaped;
• the first number is the length of the panel in ascending order from 1 to 4;
• the next two numbers indicate the purpose of the file, which is additionally duplicated in various inscriptions on the panel;
• the letter immediately after the numbers indicates the size of the teeth: A - fine teeth, B - medium, C and D - large;
• the last letter - carries additional information about the file.

The shank color indicates which material the file is suitable for, namely:

• gray - wood;
• blue - metal;
• white - metal and wood;
• red - plastic;
• black - all other materials.

When purchasing a new tool, it is important to remember one thing - if there are many rubbing parts, the device needs running-in, and to increase the service life - changing the lubricant and replacing worn-out parts from time to time. The running-in is carried out at low idle speeds so that all the elements fit into each other. Some users recommend immediately replacing the factory grease with a new one with additional additives to reduce wear of rubbing parts. But if the device is under warranty, then it is better not to work with the internal parts yourself, but entrust this to the specialists of the service center.

If the warranty is irrelevant, you can change the lubrication of the parts yourselfusing a proprietary version designed for gearboxes and grinders. To do this, the tool is disassembled, the working parts are cleaned of dirt and remnants of old grease, and checked for wear. If necessary, it is better to replace worn-out parts immediately. After inspection and processing, all parts are put in place. The friction points are abundantly lubricated.

During operation, some parts of the jigsaw may fail and need to be replaced. Some parts break from wear and tear and some require replacement due to misuse. Most often, due to the incorrect selection of the blade, the support roller of the jigsaw suffers. To avoid its breakage, you need to choose the right file for work. Dust and dirt that gets into all holes during operation will break the quick-release device and the inner filling of the tool.

Only regular cleaning of the equipment and connecting the vacuum cleaner to the jigsaw during operation can help. If you start work before the tool reaches full working speed, then quick wear of the worm gear and the main helical gear is ensured. For replacement of worn or damaged parts, it is best to use spare parts purchased from specialized stores or service centers.

An overview of the Hitachi CJ110MVA jigsaw, see below.