Jigsaw for wood: types, selection and features of operation

Men who, as they say, “with hands,” know for sure that in construction and carpentry work, one cannot do without such a tool as a jigsaw for wood, with which one can not only saw almost any material (plywood, plastic, polystyrene, fiberboard sheets, metal), but also make decorative cuts.

Despite the development of electronics in our time, a hand-held jigsaw for wood is still in great demand, which is explained by the compactness and versatility of the device, which has a rather low price.

Hand jigsaws for wood look, for the most part, the same: it is a tool made in the form of a letter P with a wooden handle on a metal base. To the base, originating from the handle, using special clamps (they can be represented by nuts or special drums) a file is inserted, which can be in two variations.

• With straight double teeth. Due to its length of 130 mm, where 85 mm is set aside for the working length, it is possible to cut not only wood, but also plastic rather quickly.
• With spiral teeth. These saws are characterized by a round shape, which is ideal for cutting circles and curving lines.

The U-shape contributes to the fact that a rather thin file is fixed evenly, eliminating the likelihood of its curvature and fracture during operation. In addition, due to its shape, the hand jigsaw maintains its balance during operation, which greatly simplifies its work.

As for the shape of the nozzle itself (saw), it can be pointed or rectangular. Pointed ones are ideal for cutting straight lines, while rectangular ones are ideal for round shapes.

With the development of technology today, jigsaws for wood have changed significantly and are represented today by a wide range from manual to mechanical. As for the latter, they are represented by numerous types of jigsaws, which are differentiated into amateur and professional.

• Jigsaws are in special demand among consumers, which differ in the ability to cut different material thicknesses. The hobby jigsaw cuts wood that is no more than 70 mm thick, while professional models can cut around 135 mm thick material. Such models are characterized by the lightness of the device itself and ease of use. With their help, you can saw not only wood, but also ceramics. For ease of use, models are provided that can be powered both from the mains and from the battery.

• For people doing construction or wood carving seriously, it is recommended to pay attention to desktop stationary (non-portable) jigsaw modelscharacterized by high power, fast cutting and ease of use. Models are endowed with a special nozzle that blows off the sawdust appearing during operation, and a specific guide for precise carving. As for the cutting guide, jigsaws with a laser guide, the length of which reaches 25 centimeters, are in certain demand. It should be noted that not only large outdoor models are endowed with a laser guide, but also amateur jigsaws.

• For cutting bulk materials in large quantities, it is advisable to use band saw (circular saws), which is represented by a massive machine that in a matter of minutes will turn the material into slats, bars and more.

• To work with decorative art sawing, characterized by small details or figures, manual so-called jewelry jigsaws, which got their name due to the ability to perform delicate (jewelry work). The jigsaw has miniature shapes that allow you to work even under a microscope. They are used directly for art and carpentry work.

Before you go to the store to buy a jigsaw, so as not to be disappointed in it later (in overpaid money or in a purchased low-quality product), you must first decide on your needs.

If the tool is necessary for a certain one-time job, then it is preferable to stay on inexpensive models of compact jigsawsthat are easy to use. And in order not to worry about the low-quality mechanism of a cheap mechanical jigsaw, manual models are quite suitable for one-time small works.

If a jigsaw is bought for regular work on a small scale, then you should pay attention to more powerful electrical models, which are usually more reliable.

In terms of reliability, the most robust are models with a frame made of stronger metal (steel, titanium), while models with an aluminum frame are considered more vulnerable by consumers.

An equally important factor affecting the service life is the clamping device, which can be represented by:

1. nuts;
2. drums.

The blade is a replaceable element, which is represented by a string of different lengths, and the blade, which differs in the length and shape of the teeth, as well as the distance between them. For miniature works, it is worth purchasing blades with barely noticeable teeth, but teeth that reach two millimeters are suitable for cutting, for example, thick plywood. When choosing a blade, it is worth remembering that the more teeth, the less time it will take to cut. But the smaller the teeth, the smoother and more accurate the cutting line will look. Speaking about the choice of canvas, it should be remembered that there are canvases designed for:

• wood and substitute materials (chipboard, fiberboard),
• metal (iron, aluminum, etc.),
• mixed type of canvases - it is more advisable to purchase such files for working with plastic or plastic.

To cut metal, you need blades with a large number of adjacent teeth. For wood, the best option is long set teeth. The structure of the teeth can be traced by the letter markings represented by the Latin alphabet (ABCD).

A is the largest indicator, and further down the alphabet, the indicator decreases. In addition, for cutting curved lines, it is preferable to choose a blade marked with an indicator O, the blade marked with P is considered more durable, which allows cutting at an angle; X is a versatile blade suitable for working with a variety of materials. Well, the NM marking is famous for its special strength.

The point noted above was thought out by the manufacturer, who developed a special marking indicating the recommended choice of the material to be cut:

• white - wood, metal;
• blue - thinner metal blanks;
• red - plastic;
• black - a universal blade for different metals (from thin to more durable).

Equally important is the length of the canvas, which is represented by the following numbering:

• 1 - does not exceed the threshold of 75 mm;
• 2 - about 90 mm;
• 3 - 150 mm;
• 7 - more than 150 mm in length.

For novice craftsmen who decided to get acquainted firsthand with the work of a jigsaw on wood, it is recommended to start by cutting out a simple product (squares, rectangular parts), since sawing carving requires a certain skill.

If the work is one-time and uncomplicated, then it is more advisable to purchase a manual model. When planning to start working with a manual model, you should take care of purchasing a stand (in fact, it is not difficult to make it yourself). The stand is a small rectangular bar that allows you to fix the cut blade so that it does not slip during work.

Well, when it is still supposed to periodically use the device in question, it will be easier to work with a jigsaw, which has a certain set of functions that can significantly simplify the thread.

More experienced users can try to cut out some curly parts. To do this correctly, you need drawings that are applied to the canvas, only after that cutting is permissible. For these purposes, it is better for beginners to purchase a quality electric jigsaw. Moreover, the latest models are endowed with functions that greatly simplify the work (especially important for beginners):

• function that regulates the speed of the notch;
• the function of smooth rotation of the tool, which allows you to change direction or round off during cutting;
• function that fixes the angle of cut, eliminates the appearance of curved parts.

As for the more delicate profile work, then you cannot do without a manual jewelry model of a jigsaw, having mastered the work with which, it will be quite possible to practice cutting according to your own sketches.

It turns out that a wide range of jigsaws for wood has a number of advantages in comparison with the well-known ordinary saw. This is ease of use, wide range of applications and high performance.

How to choose a jigsaw, see below.