Tools that can cut through metals, concrete, bricks, wood, tiles, plastic and other materials are essential across many industries, as well as for hobbyists who love DIY projects. There are many different types of power saws, with different characteristics and uses, they come in different sizes, with different strengths, different qualities, etc. They use sturdy blades, wires, chains, and so on to cut all the different materials and to perform many different tasks. Nevertheless, if you are a DIYer, the best power tool to look for is a jigsaw.
In fact, you can say that jigsaws are essential in every workshop, and there isn’t a better power tool for beginners and even people who don’t have any experience using them, at all. One of the most important reasons why you should invest in a quality power jigsaw if you have a home workshop is that they are quite easy to use, so much so, that they can even be used by kids, with supervision and with proper instruction, of course. But the ease of use doesn’t mean that they can only do simple tasks. On the contrary, they give you more control over the cutting process, which is why they are the best choice for cutting curved lines, circle cuts, templates, complex patterns and shapes, for making short crosscuts, and straight cuts in wood, metal, or other materials, and so much more.
The fact that they are portable is one of the best things about them. And more than that, a jigsaw tool can be cordless, which can give you even more freedom when it comes to cutting curves, and it can give you more precision for more elaborate cuts. Jigsaws are also quite slim and lightweight, which is another thing that makes them perfect for DIY project enthusiasts.
Things to Consider
Because there are many types of jigsaws, choosing one can be daunting, especially if you aren’t too experienced with power tools. So, in order to narrow it down to the tool that’s perfect for your projects, you should take several things into consideration, and choose. Before doing that, you should think about what kind of projects you need it for so that you can make the right choice when it comes to strength, power source, speed etc.
With or Without a Cord?
The first decision you have to make is whether you are going for a battery jigsaw or you prefer a corded model. Typically, cordless jigsaws can weigh a little bit more, because of the battery, but with the advancement of technology, batteries don’t way as much as they once did, so the difference isn’t huge. A cordless jigsaw is of course very convenient, especially if you want to be able to use your tool away from any sources of electricity.
How Strong Is Strong Enough?
Once you’ve narrowed it down to cordless or corded power jigsaw, another important thing you should determine is the strength of the motor that runs the power tool. The thing that most influences the strength of the jigsaw is the amp rating of its motor. Different models feature motors that range from 4-amp to 7-amp motors. This also usually affects the price of the jigsaw, so more expensive ones are often also more powerful.
How Fast Can the Jigsaw Cut?
Jigsaws commonly offer various speeds for the blade’s movements. The speeds are measured in SPM (which is short for strokes per minute), which tells you how many times maximum can the blade complete a circuit (an up and down movement) in one minute. While most models offer various speeds, better quality jigsaws will of course offer more options, which can exceed 3,000 SPM.
How Deep Can the Jigsaw Cut?
The stroke length, or how far the blade travels with each stroke, is another thing that is different in different models and qualities. The longer the stroke the deeper and faster the cuts that the jigsaw can make. But stroke length also plays a part in the strength of the jigsaw, because longer stroke length also allows the tool to cut through tougher materials, unlike models with short stroke length. Nevertheless, shorter stroke lengths are considered to be better for cutting lines that require more precision.
Are Up and Down Movements of the Blade Enough?
In a way, power jigsaws are a type of reciprocating saw that can be held in one hand – or in other words, a saw that uses push-and-pull motions of the blade. Nevertheless, unlike reciprocating saws, these portable saws protrude downwards from the saw, because they feature a blade that is perpendicular to the tool. However, even though jigsaw blades move up and down, there are also models that also allow forward and backward movements. These so-called orbital jigsaws also make for more powerful models that can add to the strength and allow you to cut through tougher materials, but they aren’t the best option if you want to cut more detailed or curved lines.