How to choose and buy a jigsaw

Currently, a wide range of jigsaws of different brands and models is on the market, which differ in technical characteristics, design features, equipment and cost.

In this case, to select and buy a jigsaw that would serve long and faithfully, it is necessary to determine and take into account the nature of the intended work. It is important to imagine at once whether the jigsaw will be used occasionally with a short duration of continuous work or daily for a whole working shift, or even two.

The following parameters and features are used to make the best choice of jigsaw

  • jigsaw motor power;
  • saw blade clamp;
  • swing mechanism;
  • support soleplate;
  • stroke frequency adjustment capabilities;
  • possibility of making oblique cuts;
  • system for clearing the cutting zone of sawdust and sawdust.
  1. From motor power of the jigsaw depends on the maximum thickness of material that the jigsaw can cope with, as well as the performance, or simply the cutting speed.
  2. Jigsaw clamp – is the device of the jigsaw with which the saw blade is fixed on the drive shaft. The saw blade is secured by a screw or by means of a quick clamping mechanism that does not require the use of additional tools. In this case, the saw clamping can be universal or involve the use of saws with a certain shape of shank. The most common is the cross shank, introduced by Bosch. If your jigsaw clamp will be compatible with Phillips shanks, you won’t run into any difficulty in acquiring saws.
  3. The essence of pendulum stroke is the horizontal feed of the saw blade by the drive mechanism superimposed on the vertical stroke. This feature increases saw life and cutting speed to the detriment of clean edges. Note that this feature is not available on all models.
  4. The base plateor panel, should be sufficiently rigid to ensure that it glides over the surface to be cut. The best type of sole is a solid piece, acceptable is a stamped sole made of thick metal.
  5. Adjustment of saw blade stroke frequency is necessary to set the optimal cutting mode, taking into account the density of the material. Thus, the harder the material, the lower the stroke frequency should be. As a rule, the frequency regulator is executed as a limiter and with the help of a special knob it is possible to set the upper limit of frequency.
  6. The ability to change the angle of cut is due to the design of the base plate and significantly expands the potential of the jigsaw.
  7. The system for freeing the cutting zone The system for freeing the cutting zone from sawdust implies blowing and/or suction with a vacuum cleaner connected through a special spigot of the jigsaw. The presence of such a system increases the accuracy and comfort of the work.

Manufacturers of electric jigsaws

If we talk about trustworthy brands, you can cite a number of names of firms that have a reputation for reliable manufacturers: Bosch, Hammer, Hitachi, Makita, Metabo, Dewalt and some others.

Recommendations for choosing a jigsaw of a certain model

Even when the optimal jigsaw model in terms of parameters is chosen, it is too early to relax. The human factor does not sleep, and different instances of the same model can differ significantly in operation.

Ask to turn on the copy offered by the seller, run the jigsaw a few times yourself. The working noise should be uniform, without irregular sounds, knocks and rattles. There should not be any attention-grabbing vibrations. What you should pay attention to is the smoothness of the saw’s stop, which indicates the correct adjustment.

A sharp stop of the saw is a sign of non-compliance with the regulation norms. At the same time assess the convenience of the location of the buttons and controls, convenience of the handle. If you are not satisfied with anything, do not hesitate to ask for another copy and do not limit yourself to one model. Good luck with your purchase!

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