February 21, 2012

Power Jigsaw

How to Use an Electric Power Jigsaw

The power jigsaw is the most fundamental cutting power tool to have in your toolkit. Although it has limitations in terms of material thickness, the jigsaw is a very versatile power tool. The availability of interchangeable blades, depending on the material to be cut, can make your life easier.

Although the power jigsaw is not a high-risk tool, it is still advisable to wear eye protection. Blades can snap and flying pieces of cut material can cause harm.

Instructions:

Position yourself comfortably, legs apart, positioning the metal base, or shoe, on top of the material that you are about to cut and facing the cut you want to make. I find that positioning the work at about knee height works best for me.
Hold the grip firmly, press the power button and begin your cut.
Apply gentle pressure when cutting and do not force the blade. The motor and blade will do the work for you and forcing the cut can bind the saw. The blade of the jigsaw moves very fast in a vertical motion. If forced forward, the blade can snap off completely.
When making a curved cut, follow the line and regulate the speed of your cut according to what the material will allow.
When an absolutely straight cut is required, you will need a guide for the saw to follow. Due to its small size, the jigsaw blade can wander in the cut if not guided. The saw guide can be as simple as a straight piece of wood clamped at both ends onto the work piece. Over and above the gentle push forward, you would now also need to firmly push the tool against the guide. Some power jigsaws come with an accessory known as a rip-guide. Assuming the edge of your work piece is straight and you do not need to cut too far away from the edge, this will work fine.
On completion of the cut, let the blade come to rest before laying the tool down.

Below is a short video clip to demonstrate the basic use of the power jigsaw:

Tips:

Never force the cut as the blade may snap.
The power jigsaw has a limitation as to the thickness (about 35mm) of material that can be cut. Cutting thicker pieces than this can cause overheating of the tool and the cut may not be true.
Jigsaw blades are designed to cut on the up stroke. So, if you are cutting a material that has a finished side, such as laminate or panelling, you should have the finished side facing down.
Make sure the blade is always sharp. Blades are fairly cheap and sharp blades make the saw operate much easier and more effectively.
Should you need to stop midway through the cut, let the blade come to rest before lifting the tool from the cut. Lifting the tool with the blade still running will cause the blade to bend when hitting the top of the work piece on the down stroke.
Should the blade get bent for some reason, it can be straitened quite effectively with a hammer on a metal block.
If possible, invest in a power jigsaw that features variable speed as it gives you better control of the cut.