How to choose an electric jigsaw for your home

Hand jigsaws - make up the majority of tool models and are used for simple cuts. The principle of operation is that the workpiece is rigidly fixed, and the tool itself moves freely along it.

Desktop jigsaws - used for work of high complexity and precision. They are capable of making cuts of any shape and making patterns. In addition, benchtop tools are suitable for working not only with plywood and wood, but also with copper, iron, steel and brass. Installed in special rooms (for example, a carpentry workshop).

The principle of operation is the opposite of a manual one: the workpiece itself moves, which allows for greater cutting accuracy than with a hand tool. In addition, working with benchtop tools is more convenient and safer. The main disadvantage of such models is their large size, which makes them difficult to use in domestic conditions.

• Hand jigsaw

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  Bench jigsaw

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Purpose

Household jigsaws - used for simple and short-term cutting work, mainly wood, which is due to the low engine power (it is possible to cut wooden blanks with a thickness of no more than 70 mm, as well as steel up to 2-4 mm). Household jigsaws have low cutting accuracy, so they are not suitable for solving a wide range of tasks.

Professional jigsaws – used for precise and long-lasting work. The power of such tools is much greater than that of household ones, which allows you to work with materials that are thicker (wood - up to 80-135 mm, aluminum - up to 20 mm, steel - up to 10 mm).

They are equipped with a number of additional devices that facilitate use and increase productivity (for example, backlight, vacuum cleaner, etc.). As a rule, professional jigsaws have a long power cord, and some models can be battery-powered. Naturally, professional tools are much more expensive than household ones.

Purpose and operational capabilities of a jigsaw

The functional purpose of an electric jigsaw is to perform longitudinal, transverse and shaped cutting of sheet materials of various types.

Using a jigsaw, you can give the edges of a wooden surface any shape.

There is a misconception that positions a jigsaw as a tool suitable exclusively for processing wood and its derivatives. However, this is not at all true; it is also used for other purposes.

Using jigsaws offered by modern manufacturers, an extremely wide range of construction, finishing and repair work is performed. Here are just a few of them:

• laying flooring made of laminate, parquet, parquet boards, etc.;
• installation of door and window blocks;
• roof installation;
• creation of plasterboard structures of various levels of complexity.

The design of a jigsaw equipped with an electric drive allows not only to make straight (curvilinear) cuts in most known building materials (pressed and ordinary wood, drywall, sheet metal, plastic), but also to create holes in them of various sizes and shapes (round, square, triangular etc.).

Working with a jigsaw is easy and convenient

Blade stroke frequency

This value expresses the number of translational movements of the saw per unit of time (usually 1 minute). The speed and quality of the cut directly depends on the frequency of the saw stroke.

Most tools are equipped with a special speed regulator, which greatly facilitates work and increases the productivity of the jigsaw. The choice of stroke frequency depends on the material being processed. So, for wood you should choose a higher stroke frequency, and for metal - a lower one.

In modern models, the stroke rate ranges from 2000 to 3000 strokes/min.

Main technical characteristics

Obviously, the more powerful the model, the faster and more productive it is, that is, it is able to cope with greater thickness of the part. But this is not the only important parameter:

• Possible motor power ranges from 300 to 1000 W. It is this run-up that determines whether the model belongs to household or professional. In the first case, the best option would be jigsaws with a power rating of 400-500 W. Such a tool can cope with most household needs, for example, cutting sheet steel with a thickness of 2 to 4 mm. Models with a power of over 700 W are considered professional tools and are capable of cutting through steel up to 10 mm thick or aluminum up to 20 mm thick;
• Stroke frequency. This parameter determines the performance of the tool and is measured in the number of reciprocating movements performed by the saw blade in 1 minute. The frequency can be adjusted using a button on the body, both before turning on the device and during its operation and usually ranges from 300 to 3000 times/min;

• The amplitude of the cut depends on the jigsaw model. The standard value is 18 mm, for powerful models it is 26 mm;
• Cutting depth. Wood cutting for medium power models can be carried out with a thickness of up to 65 mm, for more powerful models – up to 130 mm. Metal cutting is possible with a thickness of about 6 mm, for powerful models - up to 10 mm.

Modes

Pendulum stroke mode with additional saw movements: horizontal. Increases the service life of the files and the productivity of the jigsaw. When working with different materials, it is necessary to select the optimal amplitude of movement of the pendulum. The more steps by which this amplitude is adjusted, the higher the quality of work.

Sometimes it is recommended to turn it off, since when working in simple cutting mode, it degrades the quality of work.

Soft start - allows you to reduce the current when turning on the jigsaw, that is, reduce the load on the electrical network, protect the engine from burnout and increase the service life of parts. In addition, a smooth descent allows for more precise cutting.

Design features of an electric jigsaw

Every home craftsman knows what a jigsaw looks like. But it makes sense to understand how it works. The basis of this equipment is an electric motor, which rotates an eccentric wheel (a roller with an offset center) through a gearbox. It is the eccentric that transmits reciprocating movements to the canvas.

Various accessories help you make perfectly straight cuts with a jigsaw.

An electric jigsaw for wood or metal is equipped with an electronic rheostat to regulate speed. This is necessary - the same speed will not work for different materials. Some models of household jigsaws are equipped with LEDs to illuminate the cutting area, as well as a bag for collecting sawdust that appears during work.

Sole

Cast sole - is characterized by increased rigidity, does not deform during operation, but is quite expensive and can be damaged if the tool falls. A cast sole is more reliable and easier to use than a stamped one.

A stamped sole is lighter than a cast sole, as it is made of thin metal. As a rule, it is installed on inexpensive models.

Adjusting the inclination of the sole is necessary for oblique cuts. In this case, the sole must be properly secured so that the angle of inclination does not change. Modern models have angle locks: usually at 15o, 30o and 45o.

TOP 5 jigsaws

Now let’s try to apply the information described above in practice and try to compare the TOP 5 most popular models of jigsaws, comparing their characteristics, parameters and configurations.

Comparison table of characteristics of jigsaws

Equipment

Battery operation provides additional freedom of movement, which is especially important for work in areas where there is no possibility of supplying electric current. However, cordless jigsaws have little power and are not designed for long-term operation.

Quick-release fastening of the file allows you to quickly change the file and thereby saves time and effort for the operator. During operation, saw blades often wear out and break, and they also need to be changed depending on the material being processed.

Laser pointer – allows you to accurately make a cut along the intended line. To do this, you need to align the laser beam with the cutting line.

Backlight is a special flashlight that illuminates the cutting area, which is mounted on the body of the jigsaw. It improves the visibility of the cut and is especially useful in low light conditions. The backlight can be turned on either automatically or using a special button.

Sawdust blowing is created using an engine cooling fan and provides good visibility of the cutting line and makes working with a jigsaw more comfortable.

Vacuum cleaner - some jigsaws provide the ability to connect an external vacuum cleaner, the function of which is the same as blowing away sawdust. This is especially important for working in enclosed spaces.

Rubberized handle makes work more comfortable, as it prevents the jigsaw from slipping in your hand.

Anti-vibration system – reduces tool vibration during operation. This includes a system of counterweights, special damping elements and more.

A table for attaching a jigsaw to the workplace - allows you to move workpieces, not the jigsaw. Very convenient when working with small parts.

Case – designed for easy storage and transportation of the jigsaw.

Jigsaws: characteristics, types, types

- Smooth start. During normal startup, the jigsaw motor reaches operating speed very quickly. A sharp jerk of the tool can ruin the work and increases the risk of letting go of the jigsaw, which is fraught with various unpleasant consequences. In addition, high starting currents, characteristic of modern electric motors, increase their wear and are undesirable for the electrical network. The soft start system allows you to avoid the troubles described above: the speed increases smoothly, the tool jerk is minimal, and the starting currents are low. This function is especially important for high-power jigsaws (from 600 W). — Adjustment of speed. This function allows you to select the optimal stroke frequency for different types of materials: for example, with soft materials such as wood you can work at high speeds, and for hard materials (metal, ceramics, etc.) low speed is recommended. For details, see “Min. frequency" and "Max. frequency".

— Maintaining speed. An electronic system that regulates the power supplied to the working tool in such a way that its operating speed is constant regardless of the load. This increases the quality and productivity of work, as well as the service life of the tool and the jigsaw itself.

— Brushless motor. The jigsaw has a brushless electric motor. Carbon brushes used in...traditional electric motors operate with high friction, get very hot, tend to spark, and wear out relatively quickly. Accordingly, brushless motors are safer, more economical and durable. Their main drawback is their high cost.

— Keyless blade replacement. The ability to replace a jigsaw blade without the use of special tools (keys, screwdrivers, etc.) - thanks to a special mount that can be opened and closed by hand. This function greatly simplifies and facilitates the process of changing the blade.

— Anti-vibration system. A mechanism or system of mechanisms designed to reduce vibration of a tool during operation. Strong vibrations not only deteriorate the quality and accuracy of cuts, but also increase tool wear, lead to rapid fatigue of the operator, and during long-term work they also negatively affect health. To prevent all this, various designs are used in the form of shock absorbers, counterweights, etc.

— Sawdust blowing system. Possibility of blowing sawdust from the cutting site directly during the operation of the jigsaw. It is usually implemented using a fan that provides cooling to the electric motor: the air flow is directed to the canvas, and the resulting waste is immediately blown away. Thus, the sawdust does not cover the marking line, which greatly facilitates the work, especially with complex shaped cuts.

— Connecting a vacuum cleaner. Possibility of connecting an external vacuum cleaner to the jigsaw; For this purpose, the tool is equipped with a special pipe. The role of such a vacuum cleaner is similar to the blowing system (see above): it is primarily designed to clean the cutting line from sawdust and other debris. However, at the same time, the vacuum cleaner also additionally ensures cleanliness: sawdust does not scatter throughout the room, but is collected in the dust collector. At the same time, there is a drawback: the tool becomes more cumbersome and less suitable for complex work.

— Built-in lighting. The jigsaw has its own lighting system in the form of a flashlight aimed at the area of ​​work. This tool allows you to work in low light conditions without any additional light sources.

— Laser marker. The jigsaw has a laser marker-designator: during operation, such a marker projects a light mark onto the workpiece, which indicates where the cut will go. This significantly improves the accuracy of the work.

Manufacturer

The group of budget instruments consists of products from Einhell, Zenit, Interskol, RYOBI, MONOLITH-Kharkov, Proton, Elprom. The brands are not the most famous or popular. Jigsaws of these brands are often very poorly assembled and quickly fail. Some models are not even worth their low price. It should be noted that it is most often comparable to the cost of junior household models from the best manufacturers.

High-quality tools today are represented by the brands AEG, Black&Decker, Bosch, DeWALT, DWT, Hitachi, Makita, Metabo, Milwaukee, Sparky, Kress, STERN. Oddly enough, jigsaws from the Crimean manufacturer Fiolent can also be classified as quality products. The range is small, but the tool is durable and durable, and is in demand among builders. Almost all of the above brands specialize in the production of construction equipment. They produce both household and professional equipment. It should be noted that even the cheapest models have power reserves. At the same time, they are light, compact and very convenient to use. Therefore, they can easily be used even on construction sites by professional builders. Well-known brands usually provide excellent service support, and authorized points of sale also allow testing of the tool before choosing.