How to use an electric jigsaw properly. Changing the rod

How to use a jigsaw properly

It is not uncommon for old things that have no use in modern life to end up in a landfill. At best, they live out their days in closets or attics. In fact, they can be used, and for a completely different purpose. One such example may serve as a conversion of an old mechanical sewing machine into a modern stationary electric jigsaw, about which the article by Victor Albertovich Samokhin from the city of Kirovo-Chepetsk will tell.

Sometimes it’s helpful to sort out the stash of various spare parts in the garage. I have had this urge. All that was available (at first glance) unnecessary, I decided to put on the workbench in order to sort out afterwards: immediately send these parts to the dump or out of them still possible to “squeeze out” something. The bulk of the parts were still thrown away, but for that home-built tool, the thought of which occurred to me, I still chose the right one. Especially since in the corner I had a reinforced school desk, which I used at one time instead of the workbench. And I had the idea to make a stationary jigsaw from an old mechanical sewing machine. In the end, without finishing cleaning, I started to implement it. What happened at the end of the article will become clear to everyone.

While cleaning up, I found all the parts I needed to make an electric jigsaw

How to use it properly. tips for beginners

Using the jigsaw does not require special professional skills that are gained over the years. During the first cuts the jigsaw master examines the capabilities of this tool in terms of cutting speed, saw behavior, weight, power, etc.д. Then all that is necessary for work. to hold the tool and accurately direct the saw along the kerf line.

It is not a good idea to rush or press the saw before it has made a cut in the area being cut. The saw has to have time to cut through the area, throw the sawdust out of the kerf completely and only then move on. Therefore the jigsaw should be moved smoothly and calmly without reducing the speed of the motor.

Most models have a reciprocating or rocking mode to make it easier to make straight cuts. When you switch it on, the saw not only moves up and down, but also back and forth, which makes the cut easier and faster.

Use reciprocating sawing only for straight cuts where speed is essential and where material tearing and chipping along the edge of the cut is not important.

We also recommend reading the helpful tutorial article about how to saw with the jigsaw, which describes all the possible and necessary situations when working with this tool, and details safety precautions.

Sawing techniques depending on the material

Let’s consider in more detail, the main types of work performed by the hand electric jigsaw, depending on the type of material to be sawed. Also in each paragraph will be given its own nuances and peculiarities of working with a particular material.

How to cut a countertop under the sink at home with an electric jigsaw

Saw blades and cutting speeds are selected according to the material of the table top (Laminated chipboard, hardboard, wood, etc.).д). For round sinks, the cut is made with a circular saw, which can be included in the kit or made on their own. As an example,

There are jigsaws with slots for a parallel stop at the front of the platform. For these, you can make a compass out of a metal strip, like a skewer.

Working with a complete compass

For square basins with rounded corners, a marking-projection of the basin is made on the material, and a cut-out is made according to it.

Working with plywood

Pendulum stroke (saw swing) is not used when cutting plywood. In the rocking mode, the edges of the kerf tear more, splinters are formed. Start sawing at maximum rpm. If the material begins to burn (blacken) from the strong friction, the speed must be reduced to the optimum by testing.

How to cut plywood without chipping

There are many ways to avoid chips in the kerf line, the most popular are: gluing of kerf line with masking tape, use of an anti-slip sole, lining of the second plywood layer, etc.д. All of them have disadvantages. they require consumables, protect only one side, are labor intensive.

The most effective way. selecting the right saw.

The most fine-toothed saws on metal, marking Metal, T118G (tooth pitch 0,7 mm) practically do not tear plywood. Their disadvantage is that they are slow, but they are not designed for plywood.

Wood and plywood saws labeled Wood T101AO offer a good combination of speed and clean cut. HCS steel. The tooth is considerably coarser than that of a metal saw, so it saws faster. Does not tear plywood on top or bottom due to teeth positioned straight, not angled up or down, but perpendicular to blade (straight-toothed saw).

What you can cut from plywood

It is possible to cut elements of any complexity from plywood. ornaments, platbands, patterns, details for machines, models, furniture, etc.

As an example, a photo of a shaped piece

Curved table legs, simpler curved details are even easier to cut.

How to cut boards

You can also do this type of work with the jigsaw if the kerf size is small. But it is convenient to make short rectangular hacks in a board for groove/slash, quarter, “half a tree” joints. Also, the jigsaw is indispensable when you need to make a curved cut board, cut an oval or a large hole, etc.д.

Jigsaws are not well suited for making long cuts along a board. To open the board on a bar, trim the outline is better on stationary, at most, hand circular saws.

The board is sawn in the usual way. Saw blades for soft (Wood ) or hard (Hard Wood ) of appropriate length are chosen.

The most popular soft woods: lime, alder, aspen, all conifers.

Hardwoods: oak, beech, dry birch, ash, maple, pear.

How to saw Particleboard and Laminated Particleboard without chipping

Sheet material tears out the most from underneath. There the saw passes over the hollow, and the particles of material have no support and backing as at the top. To reduce undercutting, sometimes a saw with backward tilted teeth is used, with the tip pointing upwards. This saw carries the sawdust upward and tears less of the underside.

By the way! Straight-toothed files are also used for a clean cut. For example, marked T101AOF in bimetal (BIM). It can also be used for hardwood, which is why it is designated Hard Wood. If chips remain, select a blade with a finer tooth.

In the photo below, an example of cutting a laminated chipboard.

In addition to the proper selection of saws, other techniques are used:

• Laminate on Laminated chipboard is pre-cut along the kerf line with a mounting knife, one or two strips according to the thickness of the kerf;
• Along the kerf line glue a painter’s tape;
• the jigsaw is equipped with an anti-splinter platform made of thin plastic.

It completely encloses the work space, only a narrow band is left for the saw. The platform presses on the material when cutting and prevents particles from tearing out of the solid. Protects only from chips from above. effective when using a saw with the teeth tilted backwards (upside down).

We also recommend reading an interesting article on how to saw laminate and other laminate materials with an electric jigsaw.

Can a hand jigsaw cut tiles, porcelain tiles

For cutting these materials other effective tools are most often used: tile cutters, cut-off machines, angle grinders with special discs. But, sometimes you need to cut a tile on a curved line, cut a semicircle, etc.д. A medium to high-powered jigsaw with a special saw blade (Special marking) is well suited for this task. This saw has a diamond coating and can cut ceramic and porcelain stoneware.

Plexiglas

These materials can be sawn using the same methods and techniques as any other sheet material. The most important thing is the correct selection of the saw blade.

The difficulty is that under the general name “plexiglass” can be a variety of materials. transparent acrylic, monolithic polycarbonate, different types of plastics and rigid polyethylene and even sheet mica for fireplace screens and t.д.

They all have different formability, flexibility, strength, density and can be sawn in different ways.

FYI! As a reference saw, the MPS3108 can be recommended. Although it is marked Wood, black means versatile, suitable for different materials. Blade for wood only or for wood and metal in other colors. Has a medium pitch and backward slant of the tooth, pointing upwards, so it tears material out from underneath less.

What affects cutting accuracy

To obtain a straight cut, it is necessary to choose an electrical device suitable for the material to be cut. Here is a list of things to consider.

• Machine power. The higher it is, the less effort is required to cut. Vibration is reduced, reducing the risk of the saw bending and moving sideways.
• RPM or stroke rate. Select low values for hard metal, e.g. steel, and high values for soft wood.
• Length of chain saw. The wider the workpiece, the longer the blade must be. Mismatch between these dimensions provokes vibration, peaks in the jigsaw. Often the seam breaks. irregular edges and chips are formed, its width increases.
• blade thickness. Determines its rigidity. The thicker the element, the better it keeps perpendicular to the workpiece, increasing the quality of the cut, reducing the risk of “drifting” to the side.
• Saw blade width. The wider the workpiece, the easier it is to maintain cutting direction. Wide blades are used for straight cuts, narrow ones are used for curved cuts.
• Tooth pitch. Tailored to the type of material. For example the step up to 1 mm is meant for metal, in the range of 2-3 mm. for furniture boards, laminate or parquet board, in the range of 3-6 mm. for rough treatment of wood.

The material of the blade can be different. This affects its rigidity, strength and sharpness of the teeth. Saw blades are available with different parameters for work with metal, wood, ceramics, plastic.

Working with metal

Metal is sawn with fine-toothed saws. Frequency of movement is chosen low, the pendulum stroke is not used at all. In the process of work metal vibrates, so it is pressed by clamps to plywood or clamped inside two sheets of plywood, forming a “sandwich”.

To reduce friction and prevent overheating of the material, literally a drop of oil is applied in the course of the electric jigsaw saw movement. This improves speed and cut quality, and makes the work process easier.

Step by step instructions for curved sawing

If everything is more or less clear with a straight cut, then for sawing you will have to “sweat” a little.

• Choice of saw. When the degree of rounding is not particularly large, then the standard variant of the blade will do. In case of a sharper rounding it is necessary to use narrower blades. But here too it is important to find the golden mean, because too narrow blade will resist sideways withdrawal in the process of sawing.
• As mentioned earlier, the cut begins with drilling a hole under the saw.
• If the radius is small, you have to keep a reference point depending on the position of the blade, because all kinds of marking points can throw you off the desired course.
• Moving along the marking, the jigsaw is guided by pivoting around the axis of the workpiece. No lateral forces are required. Do not push the tool forward. it must run smoothly.

What you need it for

The jigsaw is indispensable for cutting and shape work on wood. It is plywood, particle board and fiberboard, other sheet wood derivatives. The peculiarity of the tool is to do the finest work in its geometrical dimension. The ridge. the execution of closed openings of complex configuration.

Despite the small size of the blade, the jigsaw has long been a staple of any woodworker. Also used in the processing of other sheet materials: glass, tiles, plastics and mild steel. Hard blades with a dusting of abrasive grit are available for this purpose. Metal blades have finer teeth.

Safety precautions

The jigsaw is a fairly simple tool to use. But still the presence of a fairly sharp cutting element requires compliance with some safety rules:

• Sawing any material should be carried out on a flat, stable surface with the blade previously secured. Cutting workpieces by weight is completely eliminated.
• Saw blanks should be at least 40 cm away from your eyes. For protection it is recommended to use special glasses.
• Before working, make sure that the saw blade and other adjoining parts are firmly fixed.
• Before plugging in the jigsaw, check that the electric cable is intact.
• The handle of the cutter must be firmly secured. Otherwise the tool can slip and cause injury.

When sawing workpieces made of different materials you should always consider the technical capabilities of the tool. Competent use of a jigsaw and observance of all safety rules in the process of its operation will allow you to cut without problems according to the planned sketch of any detail.

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Using an additional locking device instead of a supporting roller minimizes saw blade backlash and ensures optimal cutting quality.

We also recommend reading about this year’s best jigsaws and how to choose the right one.

The electric jigsaw is an indispensable tool in the home and professional workshop. It allows you to cut any material quickly and accurately, as well as to perform shape sawing. After reading the article, everyone will be able to understand how to make straight and curved cuts with it.