How to choose the right jigsaw for your jigsaw. Chip Blowing

Top 10 best jigsaws for home and professional work, rating popular for quality, price and reliability

Electric jigsaw is not a luxury. It is an essential tool for every craftsman. It is compact easy to use, and most importantly. can cope with the tasks that are beyond the capabilities of another tool. Especially when it comes to carving in wood, cutting circular holes, cutting sheet metal quickly. We have prepared for you an honest rating of the best inexpensive jigsaws for your home based on analytics of Yandex.Market and reviews of real customers.

As usual, the leaders in quality are such global manufacturers as Makita, Bosch and Metabo. But their price is also high, sometimes differing from cheaper and less well-known counterparts by 2-2.5 times.

The most popular tools for home use are tools of the key players in the market such as DeWALT, Zubr, Interskol, Kolner, BLACKDECKER, PATRIOT, Bort.

Not bad proved itself household jigsaws company Fiolent. Renowned for their smooth cut, good performance and affordable price. From the disadvantages. the quality of components. A lot of defects.

Construction and principle of operation

This is a relatively simple tool that consists of the following components:

But despite the fundamental simplicity, the product uses many of the latest developments and inventions in the field of mechanics, materials science, electronics and electrical engineering. That is. alloys, powder metallurgy, plastics, devices for speed control and motor protection, on some models LED backlight, laser pointers, etc.д.

The transfer mechanism converts the rotational motion of the electric motor into reciprocating. The result is that the saw moves up and down and performs exactly the same sawing motion as a hand saw, sabre saw or jigsaw. The saw blade is short, but operates at a very high sawing speed of 500 to 3500 strokes/min compared to a hand-held tool.

Most models have a more complex transmission unit, which is equipped with a pendulum stroke. In addition to the reciprocating motion it sets the saw blade to oscillate back and forth. This promotes sawdust emission, increases sawing speed and reduces the chance of the saw blade jamming.

Design and operation of the jigsaw and important components

The main working element of the jigsaw is the saw blade that is secured to a rod located at the front of the body. Plunger, driven by electric motor, with high speed makes reciprocating movement in vertical direction, and together with it the saw moves, forming in the work material narrow kerf. Most jigsaws have a pendulum function to speed things up. When it is activated, the saw not only moves up and down, but also back and forth.

The design of a jigsaw is relatively straightforward (if you do not go into the technical details). However, if you plan to buy this tool, you need to pay close attention to a number of its structural elements.

Electric cord.2. Handle.3. The trigger.4. Speed adjustment.

Backlighting. 6. gearbox housing.7. safety stop.8. Spindle on which the saw blade is mounted.

Saw blade support roller.10. Foot.11. The electric motor.12. The tube for connecting a vacuum cleaner.

Saw and its mounting mechanism

The jigsaw blade is consumable and must be replaced as it wears out. It has to be done even if the processed material, its thickness, and cutting quality requirements change. Thus, the more intensive and diverse the work is, the more often it is necessary to change the saw blade, so the question about the mechanism of its fixation is not idle at all.

Jig clamping. In low-cost jigsaws the saw blade is often clamped with a special kerf. This block is clamped with two frontally arranged screws. The main advantage of the block clamping is its universality. all types and sizes of blades can be inserted in such a block holder. However, you should understand that unequal tightening of clamping screws will lead to distortion of the saw with all the ensuing consequences.

Screw clamp. The screw clamp is a more reliable solution. The saw blade is locked in place with one screw on the side of the blade clamping the shank of the saw.

Quick-action clamping. And finally, the last and most popular method of securing the saw is the quick clamping mechanism. About its reliability there is no consensus, but the fact that it is much more convenient than other mechanisms is indisputable. To change the saw blade on a jigsaw with a quick-clamp mechanism you do not need tools, and the whole process takes literally a few seconds. Their only disadvantage is that they are only compatible with the original, i. e.е. with a certain shape of shank saws, as well as some limitation on the thickness of the clamped blades.

The two types of saws are the most common today:

with T-shank (often called Bosch, European or simply cruciform).

with U-shank (or American).

If you buy an electric jigsaw designed to work with these types of saw blades, you will not have problems with consumables. such saws are easy to find in any tool store.

Saw blades differ not only in the type of shank, but also in the thickness, the type of steel they are made of, the size of the teeth and the distance between them. Depending on this, they are categorized according to their purpose. for wood or metal, for a quick and coarse cut, or for slow but clean cut, etc. д. etc. п. The purpose of the saw is indicated both on the packaging and on the blade itself.

soleplate

The metal plate that supports the jigsaw, called the soleplate, can be either cast or stamped. Metal soleplate made of cast metal has better durability and better resistance to deformation, which gives exactness of saw’s positioning and thus high quality of cut. Cast-in-place platforms are installed on high-end tools designed for professionals.

Molded soleplate.

Inexpensive models for home use often feature a stamped soleplate. Theoretically, stamping is easier to deform under the influence of static and dynamic loads, but in practice it happens very rarely, of course, if the tool is used as intended and all the rules of its operation are observed.

Stamped soleplate.

Handle

There are two varieties of electric jigsaw handles. crampons and mushroom-shaped. The latter is not particularly popular, although, to be fair, it should be noted that when performing curvilinear cuts it is much more convenient. Ideally all handles, whatever shape, should have an anti-slip coating.

Scoop handle.

What criteria should be used when making your choice??

In order to choose the most successful model, it is necessary to ensure a combination of several conditions:

As a rule, a jigsaw is bought to perform a variety of works, not limited to any particular task. It is more important to be informed about the parameters and special features of the offered products. Let’s consider them in order:

There are different types of electric jigsaws, which can be conditionally divided into groups.

Usually the power of such tools does not exceed 350 W, and the maximum depth of cut does not exceed 70 mm in wood or 2-4 mm in metal. Not long life. not more than 20 hours of continuous work.

Designed for cutting of wood 80-135 mm thick, can work with steel up to 10 mm or aluminum 20 mm thick. Have more power. in the range of 580-750 watts. No time limit for these tools.

Professional jigsaws are noticeably more expensive than utility models because of their higher performance and additional features.

• Soft start. Allows you to start cutting more accurately, reducing the starting load on the power grid.
• Pendulum stroke. This feature makes it easier to cut through hard materials and reduces the stresses on the saw blade, thereby reducing its heat.
• Variable stroke speed. This feature is present in almost all modern tools, but the first models did not have this ability.
• Backlight, laser sight. Convenient features that improve control when cutting along pre-determined markings and make it easier to cut straight through the two outermost points.
• Quick-change clamping mechanism for changing cutting tools. To remove or install the saw blade, simply press the special lever with your finger. Very handy, but hard to replace if it fails. It is often necessary to remove it and install a conventional screw clamp.
• Mechanism for saws rotation around vertical axis. This is useful when sawing circles in a fixed center.
• Changing the angle of the sole. Almost all modern jigsaws have this feature, but not the older models. Allows you to cut material at an angle to the plane, which is sometimes necessary for making special joints.

In addition, there are special tables to which the tool can be clamped. This creates a kind of stationary machine, which is considered by many users as a more comfortable and productive option. However, working with a jigsaw fixed in this way is more dangerous than normal use of the device.

According to the type of power supply there are:

Useful when you need to work in difficult conditions. cut materials on the floor, at height, under the ceiling, etc.п. But the battery life is limited. If you need to work long hours, it is necessary to have extra batteries on charge all the time.

They work in a stable mode, but require constant power supply, which is not always convenient. the wires get in the way, create unnecessary pressure on the jigsaw when working, are pulled out of the socket when straining.

Einhell BPS 600E

The Einhell BPS 600E jigsaw came to us by chance and left us very quickly. It seemed to have everything for success: three-mode pendulum stroke, 600-watt motor, speed regulator, good frequency, traditional design, the German name. But the quality of workmanship fails the manufacturer irrevocably. The button is broken, the rubber from the handle is peeling, the shaft is sticking, the sole is bent, the block that fixes the saw is torn, the very stiff cord is cracking. Only the motor keeps on working. This is an example of how you should not do electric jigsaws, it is a complete failure. There is no point in buying such a tool, no matter how cheap it would cost.

To summarize. To choose the right jigsaw, you need to consider a number of nuances. Based on the practical experience of professional builders, some general recommendations can be formulated:

Additional “chips

Additional functions simplify your work and increase its quality. A good craftsman knows that there is no such thing as too much extra. It’s just that not everyone knows what they’re for!

Included with an electric jigsaw can go some useful in certain situations additional devices. They expand the possibilities and convenience of working with it.

When it is necessary to make a straight cut parallel to the edge of the workpiece, /fretsaws/ is used?filter[3364][]=9077filter[sa]=Safety guard ensures master safety when working.

An electric jigsaw can include

Characteristics and selection criteria

Electric jigsaws can be divided into three categories: household, professional and industrial. Most often choose from the first two options, with the main criterion for choosing between these categories is the frequency of use, which is absolutely true. Now let’s talk about the main characteristics that are worth considering regardless of the choice of professional or home electric jigsaw.

Power

The power of an electric jigsaw indicates its performance. The higher the value, the faster it will cope with the same work. Also more power allows you to work with thick or very strong materials like metal. Low-power models are also capable, but the speed of work will decrease very much. Of course, there is a direct correlation with the price. The more powerful, the more expensive.

But power has a downside: the more powerful the jigsaw, the heavier it will be. In addition, it is not a fact that you need high power at all, it depends on the types of materials with which you have to work. We can conventionally distinguish three groups:

Up to 400 W. work with wood up to 60-70 mm thick and metal sheets (steel) up to 2 mm;

400 to 600 W. metal up to 5mm, works well with chipboard, fibreboard, etc.д.;

Above 600 watts can saw wood up to 80-90 mm and metal up to 8 mm.

A reminder that this does not mean that a 350 W electric jigsaw cannot cut a 4 mm thick sheet of steel, but it will be slower. Also manufacturers have to indicate such parameter as maximum kerf. But these values are very relative, for example the same cut can be specified for 400 W and 600 W models. It’s just that different companies have different estimates of optimum performance.

Also do not forget that it also depends on the type of wood (if we are talking about it), the type of saw blade, whether there is a pendulum stroke and other parameters. That is, the given values should be considered conditional. They can be guided by them, but we should not forget that they are not accurate. Note that manufacturers are often simply over-insured. Why they do it? It’s simple. If you try to saw thick wood with a low-powered jigsaw, it will mean a high load, which will lead to overheating and possible engine failure.

Often the following formulas are used: power/10 = maximum thickness of wood, power/100 = maximum thickness of metal. But, taking into account the above, it is also very conditional.

Saw’s stroke length

The stroke (also sometimes said “stroke amplitude”) of the jigsaw also has a significant impact on performance. Simply put, the longer the measure, the faster the jigsaw will run. But it is important not to forget the correspondence between stroke length and power, if the latter is not enough, there will be no increase in productivity. However, manufacturers try to keep the normal proportions. Three groups can be distinguished:

Stroke from 15 to 17 millimeters in low-performance household tools. Below 15 this figure happens, but problems with increased wear of the saw blade begin.

15 to 20 millimeters. universal models.

19-26. provide the highest productivity, used in manufacturing.

The stroke of the electric jigsaw blade does not always have to be as large as it may seem. The smaller the stroke, the lower the productivity and the higher the wear, yes, but it increases the accuracy and precision of the cut. That in certain cases is very important. This is also something to keep in mind when choosing a jigsaw.

Frequency of jigsaw strokes

Can also be referred to as “number of strokes”. The parameter is important, because less resistant materials need a larger stroke frequency (for an efficient cut), and lesser ones need a smaller stroke frequency for tougher materials. For example, for metal usually choose a range of 600 to 800, for hard wood from 1600 to 2000, well, for soft wood, the more the better, you can use 3000 strokes per minute.

Fortunately, this indicator was relevant in the old days, and modern models have adjustable stroke frequency, which allows you to choose the optimal mode of operation. Therefore it is worth to look at this characteristic only in the context of maximum value. 2800-3100 is a good range.

Pendulum stroke

Almost all models of modern electric jigsaws have this function, if it is not present, it is better to refuse to buy. Although, you may not need it, it is up to you to decide. The meaning of the pendulum stroke is to reduce the wear of the saw, reduce the load on the motor and increase productivity. The downside is a decrease in the quality of the cut, so the pendulum stroke is useful when there is a large amount of work, but the accuracy and precision are not important.

By the way, many beginners who first pick up an electric jigsaw often make this simple mistake: turn on the pendulum stroke and wonder why the cut is not very clean. You can find similar things in product reviews, but in the end it turns out that people just do not understand how to use this function.

Type of power

Distinguish between cordless and corded. What the main difference we dealt with in this article, where we compared cordless and corded power tools. Here you have to make a choice based on what is important to you. If you need autonomy, the choice will be a cordless tool, in all other cases, usually choose cordless.

Additional parameters and functions

Electric jigsaws have a number of additional parameters, some of which can be very important in certain cases, and some are not of fundamental importance, just slightly increase the convenience of work.

Smooth start. Almost all modern power tools have this function, but its absence is found even in expensive models. It is needed for two things: to reduce the load on the engine when starting, as well as to reduce the load on the power grid. This is especially true for

Adjustable soleplate tilt is needed for cutting at an angle. But keep in mind that a certain skill is required when tilting, because if you make too much effort, the cutting angle will be broken. In addition, an even feed of the jigsaw is required, especially when turning.

In the top 10 electric jigsaws, which please acceptable cost and high quality, it is worth to refer to the models described below.

• Hitachi CJ90VST with good power, excellent functionality, quality construction and ergonomic handle.
• Zubr L-710-80. a model that allows you to cut wood, metal sheets and plywood. Power is equal to 710 W.
• The Fiolent PM5-750E M Case. The manufacturer has equipped the model with an improved blowing system, reliable bearings. In the process of operation there is practically no vibration. Power 750W.
• Bosch GST 850 BE Professional. The tool can be used for professional activities. The equipment is reliable and quite powerful (600 W). With this jigsaw master can cope with the sawing of non-ferrous metals, composite material.
• Makita BJV 140 RFE. The tool copes very well with cutting steel sheets and wooden bars with a thickness of 135 mm. A significant advantage is considered the presence of the pendulum mechanism and the ability to change the angle of the sole.
• BlackDecker BDCJS18. This model is more suitable for home use. The manufacturer has placed the start button and the stroke frequency regulator on a convenient rubberized handle.
• The Makita 4351FCT with a powerful motor (720 W). During operation, there is a low level of vibration and no loud noise. Work area illumination option and electronic stroke frequency control are considered a significant advantage. The model will look compact.
• Metabo STE 100 Quick. Power of the equipment is 710 W. Pendulum motion and spring-loaded blade support make for the most accurate cuts.
• The Proxxon DS 230/E is the budget model, which pleases craftsmen with its compactness and light weight. With the Proxxon DS 230/E it is possible to cut sheets of metal, plastic and wooden bars. In the process of operation there is no vibration.
• Zubr ZSL-250. Massive tool that allows craftsmen to work with bulky materials. Power equipment is not high enough (250 watts), so with this jigsaw can perform sawing wood, the thickness of which does not exceed 51 mm. Best choice for home use.

Each of the models described above has advantages and disadvantages. It is important to think in advance about what purpose the tool is purchased for, and what work is planned to perform. This will give the opportunity to choose the most suitable variant for yourself.

Classification

In order to choose the best tool for you, you need to understand how it is classified, what parameters you should pay attention to in the first place, and what functionality is not necessary at all.

Stroke frequency

Indicates the frequency at which the jigsaw blade moves. For domestic use, it is recommended to choose in the range from 2500 to 3200 revolutions. An even better option is to buy a model with adjustable frequency, but these cost a bit more.