Cordless Jig Saw
A cordless jigsaw is pretty much essential to every toolbox, for both home DIYers and professional tradesmen. A jigsaw can be used to make straight, curved and internal cuts in materials such as wood, ceramic tiles, metal, etc. Cordless jigsaws are lightweight and portable so they are easy to manoeuvre, unlike heavier circular saws that can only cut straight lines.
Jigsaws work by using a small, vertical blade that moves up and down very rapidly. They are precise and easy to use tools, and you can get cordless or mains operated jigsaws. Cordless jigsaws are generally more manoeuvrable and agile than mains jigsaws, as there are no leads to get in the way, but they tend to use more power when cutting through tougher materials.
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Cordless jigsaws tend to be used for softer materials such as soft wood as the harder the materials the quicker the battery will drain. Mains operated jigsaws have historically been used more for cutting materials such as harder wood, thick boards, metals and for continuous use.
Nowadays with the introduction of Lithium-ion batteries, which provide longer continuous use, constant power output, rapid charging times and powered retained for longer, cordless jigsaws can be used for any job.
Manufacturers such as Makita now make Lithium-ion battery powered cordless jigsaws that are lightweight, compact and provide smooth and powerful cutting for any materials, even those that usually require a mains powered jigsaw.
The more power a jigsaw has the faster and deeper the cuts it makes, up to 70mm in wood or 8mm in steel. The power of a jigsaw is measured in Voltage for cordless and Wattage for corded. Makita make 14.4v and 18v cordless jigsaws, as do Bosch, Ryobi, DeWalt and other power tool manufacturers.
A jigsaw’s speed is measured in RPM, which stands for Rotations Per Minute, and jigsaws usually operate at up to 3,000 RPM. Some jigsaws offer multi-speed settings but for occasional home use and less demanding materials a single speed might be enough.
A cordless jigsaw with a variable speed setting can be adjusted to suit different jobs, as some materials such as wood benefit from a faster speed to reduce vibration. Some materials need a slower speed as they can get too hot, and a slower speed also offers more control.
It is also important to select the correct blade for a jigsaw for the job at hand.
You can get fine, medium or coarse blades with a variety of teeth per inch (tpi) to suit different materials. For wood and light metal high speed steel and bi-metal blades are suitable; Cobalt steel blades are harder and more durable, but they are also used for wood and metal; while Carbide grit blades are used for masonry board.
Some jigsaws have a quick release blade feature, which enables a quick blade change if you’re working with several different materials on a job. Other features to look out for when choosing a cordless jigsaw are an adjustable base plate, which enables you to make bevel cuts up to 90°, and a dust bag, which collects sawdust and stops it obscuring the cut line.
Some jigsaws even have a laser generator that creates a laser line on the material you’re cutting to give you a guideline to help you cut a straight line. It’s also important to look at the safety switch or lock off button when choosing a jigsaw, and some have a soft start feature so the jigsaw starts slower for safety. If you’re inexperienced at using jigsaws this is a good safety feature. You can also look out for blade guards that shield you during use.
If you’re looking for a cordless jigsaw for use at home or for professional use it’s worth considering the different features offered by different manufacturers and models to get the one most suitable for your usage.
