by Tom Reindl

Created on: April 18, 2007   Last Updated: November 28, 2009

Jigsaws are useful for nearly every project. As a carpenter by trade, I have used both good and bad jigsaws. Cost is an issue when it comes to these power tools, and you can be certain that you will get what you paid for.
From cutting quickly through three quarter inch stock, to trimming the end off of a 4' wide piece of plywood, there is no safer power cutoff tool than a jigsaw. Routers can spit debris out at a user at high rates of speed, whereas circular saws can get jammed and kick back; when they do, no one can tell where they will land. I've seen people lose fingers and hands due to common uses of circular saws. But jigsaws are by nature more safe. They usually come with a stable base and a blade guard, and the blade is small enough that a jam won't throw the entire tool at you.

That's why I always recommend that if you are going to buy a power cut-off tool, your first one should be a good jigsaw. Always wear safety glasses, as debris from the material you are cutting has a tendency to fly straight up. A jig saw is a reciprocating saw, thus, the saw blade moves straight up and down. That's why debris has a tendency to shoot straight up.

There are many common uses for a good jigsaw. I have used mine to cut through two inches of stock, as well as saw through fiberglass, Plexiglas, aluminum, metal, and Corian. Are you installing a new countertop? A jig saw coupled with some tape to protect the surface, will cleanly cut out the hole required for your new sink. And there is no better, more efficient tool available for any quick cut in the field. Some say use the Sawzall, but really, on a 1" board? Others say you should get out the miter saw. Again, why would you for something so small?

Every saw has a use it was specifically designed for. The jigsaw, however, seems to have been designed to cut nearly everything. You can't say that about table saws and miter saws, and who wants to carry around all that extra equipment when a simple general cut is all you need?

Furthermore, when it comes to versatility, the jigsaw has every power saw beat hands down. From rough cutting to fine finish cutting, there's almost no limit to types of blades one can purchase for nearly every project. If you have a cut that requires your saw to make a tight turn, use the thin blade with lots of small teeth. That blade is also effective for cutting metal. For general cuts, use a thicker blade with larger teeth. This type of blade will readily all lumber. For more dense materials, such as plastics and metals, I recommend a thin blade with many small teeth.

There are simply too many uses to list for my jigsaw. It is easily the tool I use most in my shop. Even my table saw plays second fiddle to a good jigsaw. I hope you enjoy yours as much as I enjoy mine. It was one of the best purchases I ever made in my shop.

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