All about jigsaws

Among the wide variety of tools, jigsaws are not the last. They are in the arsenal of every master. The jigsaw is indispensable during home repairs, in artistic cutting. With him, both construction and leisure will be interesting and exciting.

The jigsaw is a tool for straight and curved cuts. It consists of a cutting blade capable of cutting not only wood, but also plastic or ceramic parts. It is also used for cuts and cutting out cuts and shaped holes.

It is widely used in everyday life, construction, art, for example, for art carving. It is simple and easy to use, even a schoolchild can handle it.

Its difference from conventional saws is obvious. Saws make straight rough cuts, and jigsaws make curly cuts. With the help of its structural element, you can make almost any complex cuts, as well as straight accurate ones. Its mechanism of action is designed to cut surfaces of any complexity. The convenient shape of the blade ensures longitudinal cutting, starting from the end, with a gradual deepening into the material.

The jigsaw is convenient for making miniatures - blanks, and due to the maneuverable passage of the tool, you can easily cut rounded elements in the product. With its help, carved pieces of furniture and decorative interior details, as well as all kinds of crafts are made. It is irreplaceable in construction and renovation work. Each workshop has its own set of "running" tools, which necessarily include a jigsaw.

Jigsaws are divided into classes of hand and power tools:

• manual jigsaws are used for precise work on cutting out small elements that require special skills;
• Jigsaws are used to create curly and straight cuts, holes and openings.

A hand tool consists of several structural elements.

• A metal frame made of durable steel, a feature of which is the working gap between the cutting blade and the surface of the frame itself. Therefore, it easily bends around the materials being processed, without resting or touching them.
• A working blade consisting of a toothed cutting element. It is attached and fixed to the frame. The blade is rather fragile, has low strength, and it is also quite difficult for them to cut in the middle of the product. But there is no better tool for sawing around the edges than a jigsaw.
• Handle elements designed to support and hold the tool during operation. They come in several types: wood, plastic, rubber or metal.

A conventional jigsaw consists of:

• from the case with a handle and a push button, where the electrical elements are located;
• stock;
• cutting saw;
• motor and gearbox;
• a plane guide located at the bottom of the body.

The basic principle of its operation is the fast and accurate operation of a seated cutter, which is fixed in a rod moving from the engine through a gearbox. The process is carried out strictly perpendicular to the working surface.

The dimensions and weight of a jigsaw can be very diverse, with an average weight of 290 grams, they have a blade length of 130 mm and a processing depth of 300 mm. Professional models are more overall: with a weight of 450 grams, the length of their blade is 300 mm, they cut in depth - up to 400 mm.

Electric models weigh from one and a half kilograms and more. Some stationary instruments weigh up to five kilograms.

There are a lot of varieties of jigsaws. There are professional jigsaws, cutting without chips, carrying out a vertical figured cut, nichrome, with a special coating of the cutting blade, with a pneumatic mechanism and other features.

By the type of drive, jigsaws are divided into manual, mechanical and electrical.

This class of jigsaws belongs to the simplest, performs work with rotational-translational movements performed with the help of hands.

The tool is similar to a machine tool and is used on an industrial scale, performing a figured step on various products. Its device includes beds, saws, drive, tension shafts and swivel devices. Has movable and fixed saws.

Jigsaws are divided into ordinary and professional. Often, it is professional models that are used, the power of which averages 600 watts. They are able to cope with metal and durable wood, operate on a mains or battery. According to their design features, these tools are subdivided into stationary, hand-held and bench-top.

These types of jigsaws are similar to machines that are fixed to a flat table surface with clamps, like a clamp. The tool clamped in this way cuts the workpieces. The working blade turns perpendicular to the vertical direction and the jigsaw becomes horizontal.

These mini jigsaws are hand tools. They are small in size, designed for particularly precise work with miniature elements. Instead of cutters, the blades are equipped with special strings.

According to the functions of the working part, jigsaws are classified:

• classic - a case with a canvas;
• tape - with a circular blade (produced in the form of independent machines).

Depending on the purpose, jigsaws are:

• for woodwork;
• metal;
• plastics and polymers;

• for complex specific alloys and compounds with tungsten carbide;
• for glass and ceramic objects, with diamond dusting;
• universal, suitable for almost all tasks;

• transformers, which are subspecies of jigsaws;
• mushroom jigsaw with a characteristic shape (specially designed for work in a specific space);
• laser tool designed for precise cutting of workpieces (equipped with a special laser pointer with illumination of the working area).

All jigsaws are equipped with additional devices for ease of use, including accessories:

• case - case;
• a set of nozzles;
• stable outsole;
• parallel compass with emphasis;
• clamp;

• adapters for electric models;
• anti-slip liners;
• protective tiles;
• devices from the ingress of shavings;

• grease pencil for blades, fasteners and crowns;
• LEDs to illuminate the cutting line;
• parallel stop with a drive;
• anti-chipping liner;
• guide rail;

• a ruler with an electric drive;
• nozzles for electric jigsaws;
• multifunctional miter box;
• adapter;
• diamond strings and other additional elements.

According to consumer reviews, hand-held and desktop professional household jigsaws are considered the best models.

• In the first place is the western brand Dewalt. Produces closed jigsaws with an extended range of functions. Additional features include a protective screen, brakes and a metal sole. It has a significant weight, so it is better for them to work on a carpentry table. Its cost on the market for this type of product is 12,000 rubles.
• In second place is the Metabo professional electric jigsaw. It is equipped with a lightweight body, although it is quite heavy itself: its weight can be 3 kg. Sold in stores without a charging kit and battery, they will have to be purchased separately. High-performance, works well on horizontal surfaces, comfortable in the hand. Costs from 10,000 rubles.
• From desktop electric jigsaws - "Bison" is considered to be of the highest quality. It ranks third in the ranking of the best models in this series. It is versatile and easy to use. Its main feature is the presence of a tension belt adjustment with fixation. Equipped with a plastic shaft for cutters and sanding blades. Has a branch pipe and a vacuum cleaner for sawdust. The cost reaches 18,000 rubles.

• DeWalt imported model - a household three-pendulum electrical appliance with a light metal body - in fourth place. Easy to adjust without a key, has a protective surface and brackets, well-equipped. Powered by mains, equipped with a long power cable and backlight. Price - from 5120 rubles.
• In fifth place is the electric German Bosch jigsaw. It is specially designed for domestic use, has a powerful 500 W motor, low vibration, secure fit and light weight. Compact and multifunctional at the same time. It cuts wood and steel equally well. Of the additional options, it has a blow-off phase. It belongs to the universal, works with wood and metal blanks. There are varieties of models from this manufacturer that are powered by a backlit battery. They have a set of interchangeable blades designed for different materials. Price - 5600 rubles.
• The sixth place is occupied by the Japanese brand Makita, which differs in several modes of travel, has a comfortable grip covered with rubberized material. It is a pleasure to work with this tool. This is a powerful and rather heavy apparatus, so it is convenient for them to work in the workshop. It costs 4500 rubles.

• On the seventh - a Ryobi jigsaw. It is suitable for construction and renovation work. The tool has a large number of auxiliary functions and is relatively lightweight. Additionally equipped with a laser guide. It can be operated from the mains and the battery, which is sold separately. The price of the instrument is 5000 rubles.
• The eighth place belongs to the domestic instrument Interskol. It is affordable, resistant to overloads, has a cast gearbox, engine folding surface. It costs about 4800 rubles.
• On the ninth line - the Russian jigsaw "Fiolent". The tool has a beautiful design, provides ease of use, has an adjustable blade stroke. The body is made of an alloy of aluminum and durable metal. Has angular and perpendicular operating modes, dictating roller and side inserts. Additional functions include a vacuum cleaner that can be connected to the jigsaw using a nozzle. It ensures a clean cut and protects the craftsman from harmful dust. In addition, it is completed with a ruler and an overlay for working with smooth sliding surfaces. The price of the device is 2500 rubles. Auxiliary elements are purchased separately and are not included in the price.

The line of popular brands has many different models from one manufacturer or another. All of them are designed for a wide consumer, have their own characteristics and price category. Therefore, everyone will be able to choose an instrument in accordance with their needs and taste.

To choose the right tool, you need to study its characteristics, properties, and also take into account a number of nuances. Adhering to the advice of specialists - professionals in the construction business, you can make a choice of a convenient and suitable tool for both professional activity and for home.

All characteristics indicate the class of the device, so first you need to decide on the purpose of the tool: for what and how it will be used.

• Before choosing a manual jigsaw, you need to take into account its cutoff limit, as well as the tension of the blade.
• Taking into account the parameters of the mass, the performance is determined. The hand will get tired faster from a heavy instrument.
• It is necessary to calculate and estimate how quickly the canvas is installed, the ways of its connection.
• Try to get embossed fasteners with hardened metal inserts - they are more reliable and last longer.
• Note that thin blades are good for tricky cuts, but take care and skill as it can be difficult to maintain direction.
• Try to purchase quality tools from trusted and reliable manufacturers with a guarantee. A good tool cannot be cheap.

When buying a jigsaw, you should consider its parameters.

• A tool with high power will weigh several times heavier than its lightweight and low-power “colleagues”.
• The mushroom tool requires a two-handed grip and, in turn, needs fixation. Therefore, it is advisable to use it as a professional.
• D-handle tools are mobile and suitable for domestic use. They can be easily operated with one hand or on the knee. They are convenient and indispensable when performing construction and repair work in the house, in the country or in the garage.
• Reciprocating machines with stepped speed control are preferable as they increase productivity.
• It is necessary to check that the sole is securely attached, as well as the presence of fixing elements, for example, a rubber pad.
• Please note that a low amount of lutes on the rod and roller will result in cleaner work.
• Some tools have a bolt as a lock, others have clamps. Quick clamps often impose restrictions on the size of the web. Therefore, it would be more correct to use a screw block.
• The power consumption directly affects the progress and quality of work. The weight and work of the jigsaw depends on this indicator.
• Consider the number of approaches per minute. Some models can do up to 3200 per minute.
• The ability to quickly change cutting elements is an important factor. It is clear that the working blade sooner or later fails and needs to be replaced.

Many shops and shopping centers that sell this type of product willingly allow a test drive of instruments. For this, there are special niches where everyone can test a particular model of jigsaws before making a purchase.

For information on how to choose a jigsaw, see the next video.