Rules for working with a hand jigsaw

A jigsaw is a universal device designed for shaped sawing of various materials. The device easily copes with wooden, plastic, tile and even metal products. You can understand how to use a jigsaw by studying in detail the operational and technical features of the tool.

Depending on the area of application, jigsaws are divided into two main classes - household and professional. Regardless of the type, the design of the tool is equipped with a saw mounted in a special frame.

For home use, small devices for cutting materials are used. These jigsaws can be manually or electrically controlled. Each type of tool has its own technical and design characteristics.

Manual

This tool is of the simplest type. It consists of a frame, a saw blade with clamps and a handle. A manual jigsaw is used mainly for small jobs that require a certain precision of cutting.

The bottom tool allows you to perform artistic cutting of the material. But using it requires patience and skill. The sawing speed of a manual device is low, so it is not practical to use it for large volumes.

Electric

A jigsaw powered by an electrical network is considered the most convenient tool. It allows you to quickly and efficiently cut any material. The depth of the cut mainly depends on the power of the device. For modern devices, this figure can range from 200 to 900 watts.

Electric jigsaw 620 Watt

Low-power jigsaws are suitable for household use. They have a relatively low cost and do an excellent job of sawing wood products up to a depth of 50 millimeters, and metal ones - 23 millimeters. More complex work requires the use of tools with the highest technical parameters.

Nuances of an electric jigsaw

Modern manufacturers produce various models of jigsaws. The design of any type of tool consists of the following basic elements:

Cutting blade. All electric jigsaws are equipped with a special file, which is used to cut the material. The processing process is carried out due to the rapid reciprocating movements of the cutting element. Moreover, depending on the model, the device makes from 43 to 58 revolutions per second.
Support sole. This design detail ensures cutting accuracy. For most manufactured electric jigsaws, the guide plane rotates at any convenient angle up to 45 degrees. Some models have a fixed slope value.
Engine. An electric tool is necessarily equipped with a special driving system that drives the rotating mechanism. The greater the power of the device, the higher its operational capabilities.
Holder. This element allows you to keep the tool in the correct position during the entire working process.

Some models of electric jigsaws have additional equipment. This could be a backlight or devices for automatic chip removal. Many tools have cut regulators, which make it possible to independently set the rotation speed of the cutting element for each individual type of material being processed.

Kinds

For home use, small devices for cutting materials are used. These jigsaws can be manually or electrically controlled. Each type of tool has its own technical and design characteristics.

Manual

This tool is of the simplest type. It consists of a frame, a saw blade with clamps and a handle. A manual jigsaw is used mainly for small jobs that require a certain precision of cutting.

Electric

Electric jigsaw 620 Watt

General rules and operating features

The quality of cutting products with both a manual and electric jigsaw depends on its correct use. Each type of tool has its own operational characteristics that should be taken into account during the work process.

Hand jigsaw

There are several points to consider when cutting material with a simple jigsaw:

All movements of the tool must be vertical. The jigsaw should be held straight, otherwise the saw will quickly deteriorate, and the cutting process itself will be somewhat delayed. Movements are performed in only two directions - up and down.
Do not press hard on the tool. Excessive force can significantly reduce the quality of the cut. You need to lower the jigsaw with gentle and light pressure, and when lifting it, it is recommended to be completely free.
When cutting out a design, only the blade is rotated. The jigsaw should remain in its original position. In this case, it is necessary to hold the tool with one hand, and with the other to ensure the rotation of the material according to the intended sketch.

Do not press too hard on the hand jigsaw.

It is recommended to place the cutting blade at the edge of the cut line. This will ensure the accuracy of cutting curly lines.

Electrically controlled jigsaw

Using a jigsaw requires compliance with its own rules, which will help you cut the material efficiently:

To put the tool into action, you need to connect it to the network and press the start button.
Always press the support plate against the material while cutting. This will allow you to cut the canvas exactly along the intended line.
The support bar must always be perpendicular to the material being processed. Incorrect placement of the guide sole can lead to damage to the product and the cutting element itself.
When cutting the fabric into shapes, you should use a minimum of effort. Any excessive pressure on the tool can damage the workpiece.
If it is necessary to make cuts at an angle, you must first adjust the support sole.
When working with an electric jigsaw, you should take short breaks of ten minutes every half hour. This action will help protect the device from overheating and will greatly extend its service life.

When using an electric tool for the first time, you should set the speed to low. This will allow you to feel how the jigsaw works and get used to it.

Sawing with a hand jigsaw (step by step instructions)

Any creative work, in any industry, requires certain knowledge and skills. If an author wants to create something truly valuable, his technique must be honed to the appropriate level. Working with a hand jigsaw can easily be classified as such an activity. In skillful hands, this seemingly simple device can create real works of art. Fortunately, it takes quite a bit of time to master figure sawing. All you need is a desire, and we will be happy to provide detailed instructions for action.

Electric jigsaw technology

Using a jigsaw, you can cut through various materials without much effort. But still, the quality of work requires a special approach to each type of canvas.

Selection and preparation of material sheet

A jigsaw can be used to cut blades of varying densities. The material for cutting can be wood products, plastic or tiles. You can also cut metal using a power tool.

Workpieces for sawing must have a homogeneous structure. If wood panels are used, the presence of knots or metal elements such as staples, nails or screws should be excluded. Wood blanks are used for cutting only in dried form. To cut out a design, it is recommended to select a material with a flat surface.

The canvas selected for processing is fixed in a horizontal position. Cutting lines are drawn on its surface using a pencil.

Cutting down a tree

To work with wood materials, special files with fairly large teeth are installed in the tool - from 2 to 6 millimeters. The more complex the shape of the cut, the smaller their size should be.

Straight cutting of wooden panels can be carried out at the highest speeds. For more precise cutting of products, the rotation speed of the cutting element can be reduced.

To work with wood, you will need files with large teeth.

To increase the speed of material processing, it is recommended to turn on the pendulum stroke. It is used if the quality of the cut is not particularly important.

You should cut smoothly without much effort. During operation, the tool must be pressed evenly against the surface of the workpiece.

Metal processing

In this case, the cutting blade should have small teeth, the distance between which does not exceed 1-2 millimeters. During the process of sawing metal blades, the pendulum stroke is completely switched off. Material processing is performed at the lowest speed.

You need to move the jigsaw very slowly, avoiding any pressure on the tool. Before processing, the material is fixed so that the cut line is as close as possible to the support.

We cut plastic

A cutting blade for plastic workpieces is no different from a saw for metal. During the sawing process, the minimum position of the pendulum stroke is established. For smoother cuts, turn it off completely.

Plastic processing is performed at low speeds. The tool is pressed tightly against the blade and moves smoothly along its surface.

Sawing tiles

Such products require a special file with abrasive material applied in place of the teeth. In this case, the pendulum stroke is not used. The entire work process is carried out at the maximum set speed.

Cutting tiles with an electric jigsaw is used only when small cuts are necessary. This is due to the fact that saws deteriorate quickly and require frequent replacement.

Why is a jigsaw better than a saw?

The work for which both tools are used is essentially the same, but the result is different. A jigsaw has an order of magnitude higher qualities that a saw hardly has:

Thanks to the jigsaw, a smooth cut is ensured, which is especially convenient when further grinding and polishing of surfaces is necessary. The saw usually leaves a rough cut that has to be processed in several passes.
The jigsaw has a replaceable blade, which makes replacing or selecting a tool faster, while the tension of the blade practically does not have to be changed during work.

A jigsaw is much safer than a saw and can often only cause scratches, while at the same time a saw can seriously damage skin and clothing.

By using a small amount of raw material to make a jigsaw, it also costs much less than a regular saw.

Electric jigsaw diagram

But it is worth considering that these tools are designed for various jobs. For example, a thin jigsaw blade will not be suitable for sawing a large log. You should not try to use it to cut down a tree, even a small one. In addition, under heavy loads, a jigsaw can overheat and even burn out, and the blade can break. A large saw can handle a log much easier. Therefore, although there is a difference between the tools, the main difference between them is their functional purpose.

Features of sawing

An electric jigsaw easily copes with straight-line sawing. Also, using the tool, you can make various cuts at an angle and cut an oval or circle in the workpiece. Each type of cut has its own characteristics.

Round and oval elements

The outline of the figure is applied to the prepared canvas. After this, using a drill, a hole is made in the workpiece into which the cutting element of the jigsaw is installed.

The cutting process begins and ends at the hole made. If you drill several holes, then a circle or oval can be cut out in parts.

Straight-line

An electric jigsaw is the easiest to handle this type of cut. Markings are made on the canvas along which the tool is smoothly guided.

For straight cutting of material, you can set the highest speed. It is recommended to secure the workpiece before starting work.

At an angle

Such cutting of the material is carried out by first installing the sole at the required degree of slope. After fixing the required angle, the same actions are performed as for straight cutting.

Sawing with a jigsaw at an angle

Malfunction or other emergency

Before direct use, it is important to critically inspect the device. Cracks or discontinuities, heavy soiling and obvious missing parts are not allowed. Before actively affecting the material, it is important to check the electric motor by starting it at low speed.

If a discontinuity in the insulation of the supply cable is detected, it must be restored. Insulating tape will help with this (and even better - the services of an electrician).

If there are signs of breakage of the cutting blade or failure of the structure, you should stop working immediately. Place the device aside and turn off the power. It must be taken to a qualified technician for repair.

The process of working with a jigsaw

Also, work should be stopped immediately if:

fire (visible on the manifold), sparks or smoke appears from the housing;
grease begins to leak from the housing or gearbox;
a smell unusual for normal operation has appeared - burning of structural materials and insulation;
increased vibration or noise appears;
the control buttons are too loose or have fallen out altogether;

The nuances of straight cutting

To cut material in a straight line, a guide rail or rip fence is often used. Such additional devices greatly facilitate the work process and improve the quality of the cut.

Guide rail

This auxiliary device is a metal ruler containing a groove for installing a special sole and a jigsaw.

Before starting work, the material is marked. After that

Initially, the material is marked. After this, a tire is fixed along the line. The electric tool moves easily along the device, making precise and even cuts.

Rip fence

All models of electric jigsaws have a special hole in the support base for installing a special rip fence. The device can be purchased at a specialty store, but is often included with the tool.

The parallel fence ensures even cutting of various workpieces. But the use of such a device requires certain conditions:

when moving the tool along the canvas, it is necessary to press the sole firmly enough;
The surface on which the device will move must be absolutely flat.

The structure of the rip fence must be sufficiently strong and robust. Installing the device on devices that can move to the side when cutting is not recommended.

How to cut correctly

Before moving on to the cutting technique, we should say a few words about the workplace. Of course, you can work by simply pressing the plywood to the edge of the table or your knee, but it will be more effective to use a simple device called a “dovetail” (not to be confused with the type of connection). It is a regular rectangular surface with a wedge-shaped cutout, where a round hole is located in place of an acute angle. You can easily make such a platform yourself or ask the store where you purchased the jigsaw. The device is attached to the table with a clamp and makes sawing with a hand jigsaw much easier.

During figure cutting, you will often encounter the same types of figures. Despite the fact that the technology for sawing with a hand jigsaw is quite simple, it will be useful to know a few nuances:

The most common breakdowns and methods for their prevention

High-quality jigsaws have a fairly long service life. But even the best models can suddenly fail. The most common tool parts that fail are:

Start button. Basically, such a design element stops working when metal dust gets into the housing. To eliminate the problem, you need to perform simple cleaning using a special vacuum cleaner. With prolonged use of an electric jigsaw, the button fails as the mechanism wears out.
Mechanical connections. Most often the rod gets damaged. This element is most affected by mechanical loads. The locking device, which is connected to the rod, often fails. This is all due to dust getting inside the housing while cutting various materials. But if the instrument has a high-quality body, then such problems practically do not arise.
Engine. Stopping the electric driving mechanism can occur when the stator or rotor burns out. Also, sometimes the problem occurs due to wear on the notch on the shaft. In order for an electrical device to work long enough, its power should always be taken into account before setting certain tasks.

How to apply a design to a workpiece

Not everyone, even a creative person, can boast brilliant artistic skills. For some, cutting with a hand jigsaw itself is a much simpler task than drawing the outline of a future craft. Fortunately, applying a pattern to a surface can be done in several basic ways that are accessible to almost everyone. Transfer the outline of the model using carbon paper. You can find one in office supplies, at an average price of 150 rubles for a pack of 50 sheets, which is enough for several hundred crafts.

Glue the patterned paper with double-sided tape or glue. In the second case, after cutting, the glued paper will have to be removed with sandpaper. Double-sided tape, can be carefully peeled off.

Safety precautions

A jigsaw is one of the tools that is fairly easy to use. But still, the presence of a sufficiently sharp cutting element requires compliance with certain safety rules:

Cutting any materials should be done on a flat, stable surface with the blade first secured. In this case, cutting parts in midair is completely eliminated.
The workpieces should be cut at a distance of at least 40 centimeters from the eyes. For protection, it is recommended to use special glasses.
Before work, you should make sure that the file and other parts adjacent to it are firmly fixed.
Before connecting the jigsaw to the network, you must check the integrity of the electrical cable.
The handle of the cutting device must be securely fastened. Otherwise, the tool may slip and cause injury.

When cutting workpieces from various materials, you should always take into account the technical capabilities of the tool. Proper use of a jigsaw and compliance with all safety rules during its operation will allow you to cut any part according to the intended sketch without any problems.

Connoisseurs of unusual design solutions often look with delight at photographs with beautiful rounded elements of furniture, stairs and structures decorating the interior of houses. At first glance, such details are inaccessible to ordinary users. But, having special electric tools and learning how to work with them, you can create interesting interior items that emphasize the uniqueness and individuality of the style of the room.

One such hand tool is a jigsaw. This article describes how to work with a jigsaw for novice craftsmen, how to set it up, choose files and get the desired result.

Replacing the file

A great danger lies in replacing the replacement nail file. It does not matter what design or model of jigsaw is in the reader’s hands.

When changing the blade, you should carefully hold it with your fingers, trying not to press on the sharp edges of the teeth. When installing into a mount, it is important to place it correctly, according to the instructions (usually mounted with the tips of the teeth towards the tool).

The thrust and screw parts of the shank should have an optimal, not excessive, degree of fit. Otherwise, the canvas will vibrate excessively, which can lead to its breakage.

If skin damage occurs, provide first aid: disinfect and close the wound.

Features of preparing a jigsaw for work

Choosing a file. One of the main parameters of high-quality sawing is a correctly selected file. For each material, a corresponding type of cutting tool is provided:

If you need to make a straight cut in wood, you should choose a blade with medium (or large) teeth. This saw can be used to cut parquet, laminate, and boards. It is better to use files with a wide blade. On some models of saws you can see a special icon - clean for wood - this is how manufacturers mark products for wood processing. They are easier to manage without expending excessive effort. The soft start function will help ensure an even cut - the engine accelerates gradually, without jerking;
For metal, it is better to take a narrow saw with fine teeth. The thickness of the cut in metal is usually from 3 to 5 mm. The most durable alloys and stainless steel are easier to cut with a blade with the finest teeth. And for durable plastics and non-ferrous metals, you can choose a larger tooth size. Files for such operations are marked with the inscription - for metal;
Ceramics or tiles are treated with a toothless cloth. Instead, the file is coated with an abrasive compound, most often diamond coating. The tool carefully rounds the edges and makes a straight cut. It's not difficult to recognize the painting. In addition to the absence of teeth, the side surface has a marker - special for ceramics;
The easiest way to perform figured sawing is to use a narrow and thin file with a fine tooth. This blade is not clamped during turning operations, which contributes to accurate, error-free cutting. The Hitachi CJ65V3 is considered one of the best tools for shape cutting - this jigsaw can even handle carved furniture.

Read also: Voltage regulator for DC motor

How to insert a file into a jigsaw. Properly securing the file is necessary not only for accurate cutting, but also to prevent injuries during work. Jigsaws are available with different types of saw blade mounts:

Kolodochnoye. The most commonly used type of clamp. The blade is inserted into the block and clamped until it stops with two screws. The screws must be tightened carefully, avoiding distortion of the file. Replacing a dull blade is just as simple - loosen the screws, pull out the file, and insert a new one in its place.
Screw. In such devices, the file is placed in a clamp and tightened with one screw. The canvas changes quickly and effortlessly. The main thing in installation is to check the angle of the inserted saw. Experts recommend not tightening the screw to the limit - this will lead to excessive vibration of the blade.
Quick-clamping. Not universal. This fastening is used only for a certain type of files. In addition, users have complaints about the reliability of the file’s fixation. Installation and replacement of the blade is carried out as follows: the lever on the clamp is pulled out, the dull blade is pulled out, a new one is inserted, it snaps into place, the lever returns to its place.

Instruction “Sawing with a hand jigsaw”

Introduce students to the basic techniques of cutting with a hand jigsaw

Viewing the contents of the document “Instruction “Sawing with a manual jigsaw””

Public lesson. Sawing with a hand jigsaw.

Introduce students to the basic techniques of cutting with a hand jigsaw

To familiarize students with the methods of setting up and adjusting a jigsaw; teach how to carry out final processing of a product using sandpaper and a needle file.

Review occupational safety rules; cultivate thrift in the use of materials, accuracy and precision in work.

Tools and equipment:

carpenter's workbench, jigsaw, cutting equipment, clamp, blanks, needle file, sandpaper, copy paper, pencil, compass, awl, template, drawing.

for the teacher: projector, laptop, multimedia presentation “Sawing with a jigsaw”, samples of sawn products, lesson plan, cutting albums;

for students: jigsaw, files, plywood blank, sawing table, textbook notebook, sandpaper, files of different sections.

Chalkboard design:

topic of the lesson, new words, homework.

Object of work:

“Elephant”, “Parrot”, “Combined stand” - “Towards the Universiade 2013” (souvenirs)

organizational moment 1-2 minutes;

communicating the goals and objectives of the lesson to students 2-3 minutes;

communication of new material when viewing a multimedia presentation 7-10 minutes;

introductory briefing on safety and definition of the task 3-4 minutes;

independent work of students, ongoing instruction 20 min;

summing up, final briefing 4-5 min.

1. Introductory part.

At the beginning of the lesson, the teacher reminds students that straight cutting of wood can be done using a hand saw. After this, it is necessary to show beautiful products of complex shapes made with a jigsaw. Students examine the products (“Elephant”, “Parrot”, “Combined stand – “Towards the Universiade 2013”) and note their beauty. (slide No. 1)

The teacher and students recall where else they encountered products made with a jigsaw (platbands on a house in the village, household items, boxes, etc.) Then they are asked to pose the question: “How can this result be achieved?” “Which tool is best to use for the job?” “What devices should I use?”

2. Presentation of new program material.

Now let's start looking at the tool with which we will cut our products today. I am showing a sample. I disassemble and show individual parts).

The jigsaw consists of a handle, frame, upper and lower clamps and a file (5 frame of presentation).

Pay attention to the angle of the saw teeth. They should be tilted towards the handle, since when cutting the jigsaw is held vertically, which means cutting occurs when the jigsaw moves downwards.

Now, perhaps, the most difficult moment for you: installing the file. It can be tensioned by hand or using a cam clamp. We will install manually. To do this, you need to loosen the clamp on the jigsaw handle, insert the saw with the teeth tilted down and tighten the clamp nut. After this, you need to insert the file into the upper clamp, but before tightening it, you need to squeeze the jigsaw. The file must be installed with tension, otherwise it will not cut along the intended line, but will bend and break. Look how the file is tensioned (I show techniques for tensioning the file).

Let's try installing the saw. (Practical work of students on installing a saw). I go through the rows and check the correct installation and tension of the saw.

When cutting with a jigsaw, a special device is used to support the plywood - a sawing table (photo in the presentation). It is secured in a clamp. (demonstrating)

How to work with a jigsaw: features and rules

When making straight cuts or sawing circular holes, it is important to choose the right mode. Both the quality of cutting and the safety of the tool itself depend on this. Experienced craftsmen intuitively feel the operation of the tool, but there are basic recommendations for working with various materials.

Working with wood. It seems obvious to many craftsmen how to work with a jigsaw on wood. But there are nuances. For example, for soft wood, it is more advisable to cut at high speed. The denser and harder the wood, the lower the speed of movement of the saw should be. The pendulum stroke of the 1st stage should be connected when working with workpieces more than 3 cm, and if the thickness of the board is more than 5 cm, then it is better to switch to the 2nd stage and higher. For example, the GRAPHITE 58G061 model in pendulum mode can handle boards up to 65 mm.

Interesting fact: many models of jigsaws, for example, Sparky TH 60E, are equipped with a pendulum function. This function allows the file to move not only up and down, but also slightly to the sides. Multi-stage pendulum movement is used only for straight cutting, for large workpieces or large volumes of cutting, when productivity is needed, but the cleanliness of the cut can be neglected. The speed of sawing operations in pendulum mode increases significantly with a slight loss of quality.

Metal cutting. Metal cutting is carried out at low speed without the use of a pendulum mechanism. To improve the quality of the cut and reduce the load on the tool, it is recommended to supply a special composition to the cutting line - water mixed with machine oil. In addition, it is imperative to pause while working to cool the tool. The Makita JV0600K has proven itself to be excellent for such operations - you can connect a vacuum cleaner to it to collect sawdust.

Cutting plastic. The difficulty of sawing plastic and similar materials, such as plexiglass or textolite, lies in the fragility of the materials being processed. Despite their low hardness, they can become deformed, crack or chip. Therefore, it is better to saw them slowly, using a fine-toothed file.

Working with other materials . A household jigsaw is often used for cutting or rounding tiles and ceramic tiles. Its strength is low, so the processing speed must be set low, avoiding shock loads.

In any case, when trying to cut a material whose “behavior” is unknown, you need to take into account its strength, thickness and hardness. To understand how best to set up a jigsaw for this material, you need to try different modes on non-critical areas of the workpiece, and the operation of different files.

Here you can see the key parameters of jigsaws from leading companies:

Safety precautions

You should not neglect the rules for working with such a tool - this can lead to injury. Therefore, it is important to know how to use a jigsaw correctly and safely. Some tips for use:

Be sure to wear safety glasses and a respirator;
Do not lean on the jigsaw, achieving more significant pressure on the material;
During any pause, the jigsaw should be turned off;
Do not dismantle the protective screen;
Reliably fix the processed material;
Turn off the tool if smoke, sparks or unusual noise appears.

Sawing with a saw table

This design allows you to significantly simplify the process of cutting different materials. When using, you need to move not the tool, but the workpiece. This allows you to control the marking line without much difficulty. But at the same time, increased forces on the surface being processed should be avoided.

You can buy a saw table or assemble it yourself

Choosing a jigsaw

We talked in detail about how to choose a jigsaw, how they differ and what to pay attention to in a separate article. Let us briefly repeat the main points.

The power of a jigsaw affects its performance. The more power, the thicker the workpieces it can handle, and the faster the work.

Adjusting the speed of the electric motor and pumping up the blade is absolutely necessary if you work not only with soft wood, but also with other materials.

For one-time, simple work, any jigsaw model will do. But in general, the statement “more expensive is better” is true for jigsaws.

Do you need a jigsaw in the house, which one is better and how to choose

Before purchasing the tool you like, there are several parameters to consider. Among them it is worth highlighting:

weight and power . Powerful tools have a lot of weight, which requires a lot of effort during operation. For home use, a household-grade jigsaw will be sufficient;
purpose . If you need a tool to make repairs easier, you should buy a household-grade electric one. Buying a professional jigsaw will be advisable only if it is used constantly, and a stationary one – only for mass production of furniture;
brand . The name of the manufacturer directly affects the cost. You can often find a cheaper option that will not be inferior to the branded one in either quality or performance.

We also recommend reading interesting articles about how to choose a jigsaw and about the rating of the most popular jigsaws this year.

A jigsaw is a tool that every owner should have. Its use will facilitate and speed up construction and repair work. After reading the article, understanding its classification and basic technical parameters, it will be easier for each of you to choose the necessary tool.

Principles of correct operation

After a jigsaw is purchased, the master must learn how to use it. A jigsaw is a simple tool. But even a hammer - which is easier - can be used in different ways.

There is a rule that knows no exceptions: there are no bad tools, only misused tools.

When using a jigsaw, the master has “three degrees of freedom.” The master must:

Choose the right equipment (file).
Set the optimal pumping amplitude and motor rotation speed.
Use the most appropriate working methods.

We can talk about each point for a long time, but we will try to highlight the main points.

Selection of equipment

A great variety of files are produced and sold. They differ in the type of steel from which they are made, the length and width of the blade, the shape and size of the tooth:

The harder the material that needs to be sawed, the smaller the tooth on the selected file should be.
For a curved cut, you need to choose a narrow file. For straight cuts - as wide as possible.
The length is selected based on the thickness of the workpiece that needs to be cut.

There are especially many different saws produced for working with wood. For quick cross cuts, choose a saw with large, set teeth. A large pitch allows you to cut very quickly, but it causes a lot of chips. For a clean cut, the tooth must be smaller.

Metal cutting files are very similar to a regular hacksaw blade for metal.

The files must be sharp. For important and large work, stock them in sufficient quantities.

Paging and speed

Pumping can significantly increase cutting speed. It is usually turned on when you need to quickly saw a large piece of wood straight. In other cases, it doesn’t really help and can even make work difficult or worsen the quality of the cut.

Figure cutting is done with paging completely disabled. It is impossible to give general recommendations here. You need to try different modes. The best solution is to first practice on some scraps of material.

Inexperienced craftsmen tend to work with a jigsaw immediately at maximum speed. It is not right.

When cutting plastics, the file can become very hot at high speed and the plastic will begin to melt. Not all metals like high speeds.

Start at low speed and increase it, carefully monitoring the result. If the quality of the cut deteriorates - the number of chips increases, the file overheats, etc. - reduce the speed of the file.

Working methods

As has been said many times, an electric jigsaw is a tool for many uses. However, the variety of situations comes down to just three cases: straight sawing, curved cutting and cutting holes.

Straight cut

This is the simplest case. Draw a line with a pencil and smoothly move the jigsaw along it. The built-in laser pointer will be more than useful here. Sometimes, for such work, a parallel stop, which is attached to the jigsaw frame, can be useful.

The saw blade speed can be set to maximum. Pumping will further increase cutting speed.

To maintain a straight line, you have to constantly “steer” the jigsaw. But even the most thorough “guidance” gives a mediocre result. In this type of work, a jigsaw is inferior to a circular saw in both cut quality and speed.

If straightness and evenness of the cut are critical to you, use a circular saw instead of a jigsaw.

Curvilinear cut

Such cuts are the native element of electric jigsaws. They were “born” for this.

The main secret of success is not to rush. Carefully mark the part. It is convenient to stick masking tape on the surface of the workpiece and draw lines with a pencil. Guide the jigsaw along the marking line, turning it slightly ahead. Small radius bends must be made especially slowly so that the forward movement for each saw stroke is minimal.

Cutting holes

This is one of those operations in which the jigsaw has no competitors. Typical examples: cutting a hole in a countertop to install a hob or sink, making a hole in a cabinet wall for an outlet, and thousands of other similar cases.

To cut a hole in a part, you first need to drill one or more “starter” holes using a drill. A jigsaw file is placed in them and the cut begins and ends in this hole.

If you have to cut a very large window, it is more convenient to cut it in parts.

Sawing at an angle to the surface of the part

All the cuts described above can be made not only perpendicular to the surface, but also at an arbitrary angle up to 45 degrees to the plane of the part. The need for such cuts arises, for example, if you need to connect two parts “on the mustache”.

Purpose

Apartment renovation involves the use of sheet materials: plywood, laminate, plasterboard, fiberboard, MDF. Behind their inner surface, voids often form, which are used for laying electrical wiring and installing lamps, switches and sockets at different heights.

Cutting such sheets with a jigsaw file turns out smooth and is done quickly along the marking line. Rounding corners on homemade furniture and creating shaped cutouts without the use of complex cutters and templates are also within the capabilities of the home craftsman using this tool.

Special brands of diamond-coated files allow you to use an electric jigsaw to make shaped cuts on ceramic tiles while laying them on the floor or walls.

Beautiful openwork designs and patterns of various shapes from building materials can be easily made with a hand jigsaw.

Wood carving will give them additional reliefs and a decorative look.

A simple jigsaw, thanks to the availability of different types of files on sale, allows you to process parts not only from wood, but sheet metal and plastics.

Some useful tips

The working stroke of the jigsaw file is from bottom to top. On wooden workpieces, this causes chips to appear on the surface facing the jigsaw. To avoid them, turn the part face down.
Sawing parts from the “wrong side” is not always convenient. In this case, there will be fewer chips if you cover the cut line with masking tape.
Another way to avoid chipping is to use files with a special “reverse tooth”. However, with them the recoil becomes very noticeable and additional physical effort is required to hold the jigsaw.
The jigsaw file is a very elastic element. Because of this, it bends during cutting, which, in turn, leads to the cutting plane moving to the side. The thicker the workpiece being cut, the greater the slip. To reduce it, use the sharpest saw blades and feed the jigsaw forward as slowly as possible.
Thin metal, thin plywood, hardboard can rattle a lot during operation. Such parts need to be placed on a sheet of 10-12 mm plywood and this “sandwich” must be cut.

What is a wood jigsaw?

The jigsaw appeared during the development of applied carving from thin plates of precious woods, which later became known as intarsia. Bow saws were already known to mankind, and by analogy with them, a jigsaw was created - a file stretched into a wooden frame. Jigsaw files are wood saws, but their dimensions were quickly reduced and the number of teeth increased.

A hand jigsaw is a very popular device. Despite the existing disadvantages, which are associated with a low level of productivity, as well as the inability to solve a large number of tasks assigned to it, for example, sawing thick wood, precise cutting and adjusting edges, straight cuts, this tool is still very popular today. Probably the main reason for its popularity is its low cost. Today, you can buy a good manual jigsaw for about 2-3 dollars, and a professional tool for 6-7 dollars.

The design of all manual jigsaws is similar. The main components are:

wooden handle
saw clamp
metal case
file

Several photos of a jigsaw for wood are presented below.

There are two main types of blades, which differ in their shape and arrangement of teeth:

blade with straight double teeth. With this blade you can make a straight cut in a short time. Its length reaches 130 mm, while the working length is approximately 85 mm. Excellent for sawing both wood and plastic
spiral. Features a twisted shape and is ideal for creating a variety of circles and sinuous lines.

Don't forget about safety precautions

This is important, so it would be a good idea to reiterate the basic precautions.

Observe all normal requirements for working with electrical appliances.
Don’t be lazy to keep your workspace tidy: don’t keep unnecessary items at hand, remove accumulated sawdust and scraps more often, make sure there is good lighting.
If you don't like pulling splinters out of your fingers and removing sawdust from your eyes, use personal protective equipment: gloves, glasses or a protective mask.

Pay close attention to workplace organization. And the work will go faster, and your fingers will be intact.

Jigsaw care

Like any mechanism, a jigsaw requires care and maintenance. Especially if you use it frequently and intensively.

Practice shows that to increase the service life of a jigsaw, you need to regularly lubricate the gearbox and rod. In addition, lubricated tools are quieter and smoother.

The jigsaw motor shaft rotates on ball bearings. They are durable and can work without additional lubrication for the entire service life of the tool. But a jigsaw is not only an electric motor.

The rotation of the shaft is converted by a special mechanism into a reciprocating movement of the jigsaw rod. The pumping device adds longitudinal vibrations of the rod back and forth to these up and down movements. All this complex mechanics is assembled on plain bearings. The loads from the working nozzle are transferred to them. It’s a no brainer that lubrication is a vital component here.

For jigsaws, consistent types of lubricant are used. They must be sufficiently refractory. During operation, the mechanism heats up from friction in the nodes and from nearby electrical windings of the motor. In this case, ordinary lubricants are liquefied and squeezed out of the friction pairs.

We have selected a video for you that shows disassembling a jigsaw for subsequent lubrication: