Among hand-held power tools, a jigsaw in popularity takes third place after a drill and grinders. This is not surprising, because it allows you to saw a wide variety of materials - wood and its derivatives (particleboard, MDF, plywood, laminate, etc.), non-ferrous and ferrous metals, plastic, ceramics. In this case, unlike other tools for sawing, jigsaw can perform not only straight, but also curved cuts.
Choosing a jigsaw is not an easy task. On the one hand, I want the new tool to meet your expectations from it, on the other hand, there is a desire to keep within the budget allocated for the purchase. This means that you should analyze in advance what materials you plan to saw with a jigsaw, how important the quality of the cut is for you, how often and how intensively the work will be done.
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Household or Professional
Like other power tools, jigsaws in accordance with their capabilities are divided into household and professional. Electric jigsaws designed for home craftsmen are the most inexpensive, but they have a relatively small power and limited resource.
When choosing a professional tool, you need to forget about saving for a while, and first of all think about reliability, because such a jigsaw has to work smoothly for several hours a day. Decent technical specifications and the presence of all the necessary functionality - this is what a professional will pay attention to when buying a tool for everyday work.
There are also industrial jigsaws, the safety margin of which is designed for continuous operation in a small woodworking enterprise. In fact, these are mini-machines for straight and curved cutting.
Next, we will try to focus on how to choose a jigsaw for the home. It is assumed that professionals are well versed in the matter under discussion, but among amateurs there are inexperienced beginners.
The device and principle of operation of the jigsaw and important components
The main working element of the jigsaw is a saw blade, which is mounted on a rod located in front of the housing. The rod, driven by an electric motor, at a high speed performs reciprocating motion in the vertical direction, and the saw moves with it, forming a narrow cut in the processed material. To speed up the process, most jigsaw models have a pendulum function. When it is activated, the file begins to move not only up and down, but also back and forth.
The jigsaw device is relatively uncomplicated (unless, of course, you go deep into technical details). However, if you plan to purchase this tool, you need to pay close attention to a number of its structural elements.
1. Electric cord.
2. Lever.
3. Trigger.
4. Speed adjustment.
5. Backlight.
6. Gear housing.
7. Protective limiter.
8. The rod on which the file is attached.
9. Support roller file.
10. Sole.
11. Electrical engine.
12. Branch pipe for connecting a vacuum cleaner.
File and mechanism of its fastening
The jigsaw blade is a consumable and must be replaced as it wears.This will have to be done when changing the material being processed, its thickness, and requirements for the quality of the cut. Thus, the more intense and diverse the work, the more often you will have to change the file, so the question of the mechanism of its fixation is not at all idle.
Shoe clip. In low-cost models of jigsaws, the file is often fastened by means of a special block with a slot. This block is clamped by two front-mounted screws. The main advantage of the shoe clamp is its versatility - in such a file holder you can insert blades of any type and size. However, it should be understood that uneven tightening of the clamping screws will cause the file to skew with all the ensuing consequences.
Screw clamp. A more reliable option is a screw clamp. In this case, the saw blade is fixed with a single screw located on the side, clamping the shank of the file.
Keyless Mount. And finally, the last, most popular method of attaching a file is a quick-clamping mechanism. There is no consensus about its reliability, but the fact that it is much more convenient than other mechanisms is undeniable. To replace the file on a jigsaw with a quick-clamping mechanism, you will not need tools, and the whole process will take just a few seconds. The only drawback of such a mechanism is compatibility only with "native" ones, i.e. having a certain shape of the shank files, as well as some restriction on the thickness of the clamped paintings.
The most common today are two types of files:
with a T-shaped shank (often called Boshevsky, European or simply cruciform).
with a U-shaped shank (or American).
Having acquired a jigsaw designed to work with these types of saw blades, you will not experience problems with consumables - such files are easy to find in any tool store.
Files differ not only in the type of shank, but also in thickness, the type of steel from which they are made, the size of the cloves and the distance between them. Depending on this, they are divided according to their purpose - for wood or metal, for quick and rough cutting, or for a slow but accurate, etc., etc. The purpose of the file is indicated on the packaging and on the canvas itself.
Sole
The metal support platform of the jigsaw, called the sole, can be cast and stamped. The sole, made of cast metal, has the best strength characteristics and greater resistance to deformation, which ensures the accuracy of the positioning of the file, and hence the high quality of the cut. Cast platforms are installed on high-end tools designed for professionals.
Cast outsole.
On inexpensive models for domestic use, you can often see stamped soles. Theoretically, stamping is easier to deform under the influence of static and dynamic loads, but in practice this happens extremely rarely, of course, if the tool is used for its intended purpose and all the rules for its operation are observed.
Stamped sole.
Lever
There are two varieties of hand saws - staple and mushroom. The latter is not very popular, although, in fairness it should be noted that when making curved cuts it is much more convenient. Ideally, the handle, whatever shape it may be, should have a non-slip coating.
Bracket handle.
Mushroom handle.
Branch pipe
Most of the electric jigsaws produced today are equipped with a pipe for connecting an external dust collector, however, there are exceptions here, so you should pay attention to this when choosing a tool. The pipe is designed to connect the hose of a vacuum cleaner or a bag specially designed for this, which allows you to capture the dust generated during operation of the processed material.
Technical characteristics that must be considered when choosing a jigsaw
So, we will consider that the first acquaintance with the instrument took place. However, in order to answer the question of which jigsaw to choose, this is not enough. It remains to be understood in its technical characteristics, to understand what they affect and what they depend on.
Power consumption
The capabilities of the jigsaw are largely determined by the power of its electric motor. So, for example, a 600 W jigsaw can easily cope with a wooden blank 80-85 mm thick and even with a 6-8 mm stainless steel sheet, while a 400-watt tool can only have 60-65 mm of wood or 4-6 mm stainless steel layer.
Power jigsaw can vary depending on the model from 350 to 1000 watts. The best option can be considered the middle of this interval - 500-600 watts. Weaker models are suitable only for solving simple domestic problems. More powerful ones are designed for professionals, and their presence in a regular home workshop is unlikely to be justified.
Maximum stroke rate
By the value of such a parameter as the stroke frequency of the rod, it is possible to evaluate the speed of the jigsaw. The more reciprocating movements the saw blade makes per unit time, the faster the cut. For most jigsaws, the maximum frequency ranges from 2500 to 3200 strokes / min. (although there are deviations in both directions), the models with a frequency of 3000-3200 strokes / min are the most popular and widespread.
Many jigsaws have the ability to adjust the frequency. This useful feature allows the tool to work with materials of different properties. The harder the material of the workpiece, the lower should be the speed of movement of the file. For example, it is necessary to work with wood at the maximum frequency, then the saw surface will be perfectly smooth, but when cutting metal, on the contrary, the revolutions need to be reset to the limit - this will protect the saw blade from premature failure.
Adjusting the stroke frequency for different models of jigsaws can be implemented in different ways. For some, the required speed is set by a special switch before starting work. For others, the speed of the file is regulated along the way by pressing the start button. If you intend to engage in figured cutting, then the second option will be preferable for you.
Cut depth
Cutting depth is a parameter that determines with which blanks the maximum thickness a given jigsaw can work with. Of course, the maximum depth of cut of different materials for the same tool will vary. As a rule, several values of this parameter are indicated in the documentation for the jigsaw - for wood, aluminum and steel.
The depth of cut depends on the power of the jigsaw. For household tools, the saw depth is 50-120 mm for wood and 5-10 mm for aluminum. In professional models, these values can reach 150-160 mm and 30-35 mm, respectively.
Type of power jigsaw
Like other hand-held power tools, jigsaws are available in two power options - wired and wireless. The former require a connection to a conventional single-phase 220 V electrical network. The latter, as you might guess, operate on battery power. Most models of cordless jigsaws are designed to operate on batteries with a voltage of 18 V or 10.8 V, jigsaws with a battery of 14.4 V and 12 V are less common, and 24- and 28-volt are very rare.
The only advantage of cordless jigsaws is their mobility. Alas, there are more drawbacks, and the main one is the very limited tool operating time on a single battery charge. It follows that it would be nice to have a replaceable battery on hand.However, for those who are asking about battery models, it should be borne in mind that in most cases the battery is not included in the package of the new jigsaw, and its cost is often comparable with the cost of the tool itself. All of the above should not be regarded as anti-advertising of cordless jigsaws: if you have to work in places where access to the mains is impossible or very difficult, then the cordless tool will become your indispensable assistant.
Additional functions of jigsaws and their significance
The cost of the jigsaw depends not only on its technical characteristics, but also on the availability of certain additional functions designed to facilitate the work with the tool. If you do not aspire, regardless of the price, to buy the most “sophisticated” device, stuffed with a wide variety of functions, you should figure out which ones you really need.
Pendulum stroke
Today the pendulum move (sometimes called swap) can hardly be considered an additional function, since it is available in most modern models of jigsaws. When this function is activated, the saw blade, in addition to vertical reciprocating movements, also begins to oscillate back and forth. This allows you to significantly increase the cutting speed, however, at the cost of lower quality.
Swap adjustment is done using a three- or four-position switch. The amplitude of the pendulum stroke is selected depending on the task. The smaller it is, the slower the process, and the more accurate the cut is, and vice versa.
This function is necessary for large volumes of work associated with the direct sawing of wooden workpieces, i.e. when not cleanliness and accuracy are important, but high performance. If you want to perform a curved cut, the pumping will have to be turned off, otherwise a file bend is very likely, which threatens to jam or break.
Sole angle
Changing the angle of the sole is a very useful feature. With its help it is possible to make a cut at a certain angle to the surface of the material, which greatly expands the range of problems solved with the use of a jigsaw. Relatively inexpensive models, as a rule, have only two sole positions - 0 ° and 45 °. Professional tools have more - 0 °, 15 °, 30 ° and 45 °. In addition, pay attention to the fact that some models have this adjustment without a key, while others require an additional tool to change the position of the sole. If you need to change the angle of the sole so often, it is best to pay attention to those models in which this adjustment is carried out without a key, using a special lever.
Smooth start
The soft start function provides a gradual set of revolutions by an electric motor. As a result, there is no sharp jerk of the tool at the moment of its inclusion. Thanks to this, it becomes easier to “saw” the saw blade into the workpiece and not damage the material. The soft start function is necessary when high precision saw is very important.
Maintenance of turns under load
With increasing load on the jigsaw inevitably occurs "braking" of the engine. The function of maintaining speed under load will save the cutting speed (and hence the quality of sawing) and protect the engine from overload. The need for it arises when you have to work with hard-to-work materials, in particular with metal.
Chip blowing
When making complex curly cuts, good visibility of the planned line is very important, and it directly depends on the cleanliness of the working area. To remove dust from the working surface during work, a directed air flow will help.
Backlight
To improve the visibility of the cutting line, and therefore to increase the accuracy and accuracy of cutting, a function such as backlighting has been created. This function is also in demand in battery models, since the latter are often used in rooms with poor lighting.
Laser pointer
When you have to perform a large number of direct cuts and want to save time on preliminary marking of the material, the laser pointer built into the jigsaw is useful, the beam of which will serve as a guide line.
Jigsaw Tools
The manufacturers of jigsaws, trying to attract the attention of potential buyers to their products, are constantly developing and introducing into the production various auxiliary devices that make it easier to carry out this or that type of work. As a rule, such additional accessories are not included in the jigsaw kit, but they can easily be found in specialized stores. To the list of the most popular auxiliary devices for jigsaws include:
#1. Parallel emphasis (designed to make straight cuts parallel to the edge of the workpiece).
#2. Emphasis compass (necessary to increase the accuracy of the cut around the circumference).
#3. Guide rail (a kind of rail that allows you to make straight, straight cuts where the parallel emphasis is not able to help).
#4. Splinterproof liner (a small plate fixed on the sole that prevents lateral withdrawal of the saw and the formation of chips along the saw when processing brittle material).
#5. Detachable sole pad (a plastic or metal pad that improves platform sliding and prevents scratches on the surface of the processed material during operation).
