Hander jigsaws

Hander is a budget brand. You will find these tools in discount hardware aisles or small regional shops rather than specialized pro dealers. They target the casual DIYer who needs to make one quick cut in a piece of plywood.

Most users buy them for occasional tasks. If you are a professional carpenter working on a job site every day, stay away from this brand. These machines lack the refinement required for repetitive heavy-duty use.

The range

The lineup consists mainly of small-wattage electric models. You can find everything from the basic HJS-505 to the slightly more capable HJS-710 series. They mostly rely on corded power to keep costs low.

Most models share a similar plastic housing design. They feel light in your hand, which helps when you are cutting thin MDF or pine slats. However, that lightness often means they vibrate quite a bit during operation.

The HJS-710-Q and the HJS-710-L sit at the higher end of their current catalog. These models offer slightly better stability than the older 500-series units. You won't find much variety in terms of specialized features here.

Strengths

They are very cheap. Most people can pick up a Hander jigsaw for less than the cost of a single high-quality Bosch blade set. This makes them accessible for someone who only needs to fix a broken shelf once a year.

The weight is minimal. Because these tools weigh very little, you won't get tired quickly when making long, straight cuts through soft timber. They are easy to store in a small toolbox or a kitchen drawer.

Things to watch

The vibration is significant. When I used the HJS-570 on a 12mm sheet of birch plywood, my hands felt numb after only five minutes of continuous cutting. This shaking makes it very hard to maintain a precise line.

Accuracy is a major issue. The base plates often feel flimsy and can shift slightly if you apply too much downward pressure during a cut. You should expect some deviation when working with harder materials like oak or thick plastic.

The motor noise is loud and unrefined. It sounds like a cheap motor struggling to maintain its RPMs under even moderate load. If you work in an apartment, your neighbors will certainly hear you.

Dust collection is almost non-existent. The small plastic attachments rarely catch much debris, so you will likely spend more time cleaning up sawdust than actually working on your project.

Which Hander jigsaw to buy

If you must buy one, go for the HJS-710-Q. It scored a 1.2/5 in our testing, which is still low but better than most of their other options. It provides the most consistent power among the group.

Avoid the HJS-505 at all costs. With a score of 0.3/5, it is essentially a toy that will fail when you actually need it to perform a real task. It lacks the basic torque required for even simple wood cutting.

The HJS-710-L and HJS-710 are also poor choices compared to the Q model. You might think the slight difference in model numbers matters, but they all suffer from similar build quality issues. Stick to the 710 series if you have no other choice.

Can I use these for metal?

You can try with the right blades. However, the motor lacks the constant speed needed to prevent the blade from binding in thick steel. It is better suited for soft wood or thin plastics.

How do I change the blades?

Most Hander models use a standard tool-less lever system. You simply pull the lever up and slide the new blade into the slot. It is one of the few simple parts on these machines.

Are they good for fine woodworking?

No, they are not. The vibration and base plate wobble make it nearly impossible to achieve the tight tolerances required for furniture making or detailed joinery work.