Selection of jig saws: how to choose the right saw for your needs
Obviously one of the first things many people want to know when they start out on the go as a hobby is which saw to buy. Whether you’re looking to purchase your first jig saw or looking to upgrade to a better one, there are many things to consider. In this article I will try to touch on all aspects so that you can make an informed decision. I will also make some recommendations based on personal experience and what I believe to be the general consensus of the scroll sawyers I have discussed the matter with.
Important considerations
Changing blades and blade holders: The saw should accept standard 5″ non-pinned blades. A lot of offset work simply cannot be done with a saw that requires pinned blades. While pinned blades have some advantages, they have one very big disadvantage: they don’t small internal details can be cut as you have to make a very large hole for the blade pin to go through.
Also, how easy is it to change a blade? Is a tool required for this? Some jig saw projects have hundreds of holes. This means you have to remove one end of the blade from the holder, run it through the wood, and re-mount it into the holder more times than you can count. Make sure the process is comfortable and relatively easy to perform. A saw where the arm can be raised and held in this position is more desirable, as it makes this process much easier than tool-less blade holders.
variable speed: Many saws offer variable speed and you shouldn’t have a problem finding this feature in any price range. Sometimes you’ll want to slow down the blade just to cut slower, other times you’ll want to slow down to prevent the blade from burning the edges of the wood as it cuts. Some jig saws require a belt change to change speed. Personally, I would highly recommend a saw with electronic speed control.
Vibration: Vibration is very distracting when cutting and should be kept to a minimum. Some saws inherently vibrate more by design. This feature tends to depend a lot on the cost of the particular saw. Vibration can be reduced by mounting the saw on a stand. A sturdy mount saw and a heavier saw/stand combination will reduce vibration. Many companies offer specially designed stands for their saws.
Size Specifications: Manufacturers often list the maximum thickness of cut for their saws. Since it’s always more than 2″, you can ignore this, since you probably never want to cut anything thicker than that on a jig saw.
However, the depth of the throat is something you may want to consider if you think you are going to be cutting very large projects. A small throat will limit the size of a piece that you can balance on the table as you cut. For many, this is not a big deal, as it is somewhat difficult and unpleasant to balance a large piece of wood on a jigsaw. This limit can also be circumvented by using spiral knives that do not require the work to rotate at all.
The size of the table should also be considered, as it is very difficult to work on a project when most of the wood is hanging over the side of the jig saw table.
overall layout: It is very important to note the general layout of the controls and adjustments on the saw. Ideally, the power switch, tension lever, and speed control should be located at the end of the saw arm, within easy reach. Since with most offset jobs you have to stop and feed the blade through a hole dozens or even hundreds of times, the tension lever and power switch are much more convenient if they are near the top brackets. the sheet. (Most, but not all, people disengage the blade from the top bracket to feed the blade through a hole. However, some people find it easier to undo the bottom bracket.) Also, you may occasionally want to adjust the speed control or increase the tension while in the middle of a cut, so it’s good to have these controls within easy reach.
Some people find it easier to use a foot switch instead of the power switch on the saw. If you buy one of these make sure it is simply an on/off switch and not a variable speed foot pedal like those used on a sewing machine as this can damage some motors.
Price: Of course, most of us are limited in how much we are willing or able to spend on a jig saw. Buying a good used saw can allow you to get more for your money than buying a cheap new saw. By buying used, however, you are taking a higher risk and have many additional factors to consider. Is the saw still being made? Will you still be able to buy parts if needed? How much has this saw been used? Is the seller’s asking price appropriate? I generally wouldn’t recommend buying a used saw unless the saw is in very good condition and the selling price is significantly cheaper than buying the same saw new.
One thing to keep in mind when deciding on price is that jig saws are generally a “you get what you pay for” type of tool. Getting around should be a pleasant pastime; if you have to wrestle with a saw that is hard to use or malfunctions, you won’t have any fun.
Other considerations: Some other things to look out for are manufacturer support and service. Will you be able to get the saw serviced locally? How long is the guarantee? What is the reputation of the manufacturer in general? Does the saw have any extras or special features that you think might be useful?
Some saws come with lamps, magnifying glasses, stands and most come with dust blowers. All of these features add value to the saw and dust blower that most would consider a necessity.
Most, if not all, jigsaws come with a clamp to hold your work to the table. It’s worth mentioning that the vast majority of people, myself included, remove these supports because they feel like they’re just getting in the way. As long as you keep pressure down on your work at all times, this is a relatively safe practice. However, if you remove the hold, please note that you do so at your own risk.
Notable Saws
In my opinion, to get a saw that you’re happy with in the long run, you’re going to have to be willing to spend at least around $500. I really think if you can’t afford to spend that much, you should seriously think about saving up for a time until you can pay it off. With that being said, I’ll mention a saw in the sub-$500 range that recently garnered some praise.
CB370SS Porter Cable I have not used this saw personally and cannot speak to its durability, however it does look good on paper. All controls on this saw are conveniently located and it comes with a light and stand. At a retail price of $180, if you can’t spend more, this saw may be a good option for you.
Dewalt DW788 This is the saw I personally use and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone. My private saw is over 12 years old. It has seen countless hours of use and is still going strong. At the time, the only parts that ever needed to be replaced were the blade holders.
In recent times Dewalt has chosen to make their tools in Asia and the quality has suffered a bit. Of course, with this transition, the price of this model has also dropped significantly. Dewalt offers a light and stand for this saw, but they are usually sold separately. This is a widely used saw and if you have any difficulties there are plenty of people who can offer advice.
This saw does not hold its upper arm upright when changing or feeding blades, however there is a widely used “easy lift” system that works very well and currently sells for $19.95. You can find this riser at http://www.jimdandy.com. If you don’t mind shopping online, Grizzly Tools has a great price on the saw/bracket/light combo that may be cheaper than you can find on the comparable Delta Scroll. saw pack. Grizzly is a reputable dealer with very good customer relationships and I have no hesitation in recommending them.
Delta 40-690 This is the latest jig saw from Delta. This saw is functionally an exact replica of the DW-788 and comes with a light and stand. If you need the light and bracket, this complete package can sometimes be found cheaper than buying all three separately from Dewalt. The Delta name has recently been sold by Black and Decker, so please be aware that this may cause changes.
Excalibur EX-16, EX-21, EX-30 The Excalibur series of jig saws has always been praised by its users. The EX-16 can be had for a few dollars more than Dewalt/Delta saws and the EX-21 and EX-30 are approximately $200 and $350 more than the 16″ model, respectively. Brackets and a magnifying lamp are available. available for the Excalibur line of saws. The stand can be purchased separately or as a package with the saw.
One more notable difference between the Excalibur and other saws is that the saw head tilts instead of the table. This is a nice advantage if you intend to make a lot of angled cuts. The only feature I’m personally wary of is that it only has a quick release for the tension on the front of the upper arm of the saw and the fine adjustment is on the back of the arm. This is a relatively recent change in the sierra; however, I have not seen any negative feedback on this setup. Theoretically, once you’ve set the fine adjustment, you don’t have to adjust it very often and just need the quick release when undoing/redoing the blade to feed it through your project.
These saws are manufactured by General International, which has a reputation for quality.
Other notable mentions RBI and Eclipse offer high-end saws with great performance and low vibration. You may want to look at these saws if you can afford them. Since they’re out of most people’s price range, I haven’t heard a lot of feedback on them. However, in my opinion, many of these models have inconveniently located controls and/or require tools to change the blades, which worries me.
Hegner offers four different models from around $700 to $2,400. The lower end model “Multimax 14-E” is a single speed, which I would definitely stay away from. In my opinion, there are several better options for a comparable or cheaper price. The $2400 “Polymax” industrial model requires changing the belt to change the speed, which is inconvenient. Due to this problem and the high price, I would only consider this model for a truly industrial purpose. This leaves us with the Mutimax 18-V and 22-V models to consider.
All Hegner saws require tools to change blades. This fact, plus what I personally would consider an inconvenient control layout, would make me think twice about a Hegner. With that being said, most people who own Hegners are very happy with the quality and ease of use of their saws. Since I haven’t personally used one, I’ll leave this matter for your further consideration if you can afford a saw in this price range.
Conclution
I hope this article has given you enough information to enable you to make the best bang for your buck so you can get started or upgrade to a jig saw that will give you years of scrolling pleasure.