How to choose a jigsaw. Tips and Tricks

The electric jigsaw can be called one of the most frequently used tools for performing various kinds of work. Almost completely replacing the usual hacksaw, it allows you to perform straight or curved cuts not only on wood, but also on other materials: plastic, metal, ceramic tile, glass, brick. In the modern market there is a large assortment of this type of products, and therefore, even before choosing a jigsaw for the house, it is necessary at least superficially to get acquainted with its device and operating features.

How to choose a jigsaw ?

Electric jigsaws come in two types - professional and household. The latter, as a rule, have less power, resource and a limited set of additional functions. Usually they are used for cutting wooden products up to 7 cm thick and steel sheets no thicker than 4 mm. How to choose a jigsaw, what type - it is purely individual. Everything depends on the nature of the upcoming works.

How is the device arranged?

The saw is made by a special saw, which, by special guides, performs reciprocating movements with a frequency that can be adjusted. In this case, the actual working process (sawing) occurs when the saw moves in the upward direction. Due to this, when cutting material with a particularly sensitive surface, there are no burrs and chips at the cutting site. Some models have a transparent protective screen covering the file.

The handle of the jigsaw can be stapled or mushroom-shaped. Which electric jigsaw to choose is a matter of taste. With a staple-shaped handle, the cutting line is best seen, and the mushroom-like is more convenient when working on inclined planes.

The entire mechanism is located on the support platform, which is a guide, and allows you to perform complex and accurate cuts, while keeping the distance to the surface being treated constant. The platform can be rotated by up to 45 degrees to set the desired angle of incline.

How to choose a jigsaw? It is necessary to acquire a model equipped with a multi-stage pendulum mechanism. By informing the file of additional horizontal movements, it not only increases the productivity of the work, but also prolongs the lifetime of the saw blade. However, the quality of the cut surface is thereby deteriorated.

Among the additional functions can be noted the illumination of the working area for easy operation, automatic blowing of sawdust, as well as connection to a vacuum cleaner.

Recommendations for the operation of electric jigsaw

• No need to press the saw blade. From this it only gets stronger and can break.
• If the jigsaw works at a low stroke frequency, the cooling of the motor is significantly impaired, and therefore it must be cooled as often as possible.
• Straight and long incisions are better to saw with a wide canvas, so the cut is obtained evenly.
• To the file does not "jerk" the material, you need to change the canvas more often.
• When working with metal, polystyrene, organic glass , additional cooling of the file is necessary (water, machine oil or soap solution is suitable).
• To reduce vibration when working with a metal less than a millimeter thick, a plywood sheet must be placed under it.

To this device lasted a long time, it is not enough to know how to choose a jigsaw and how it works. To do this, it is necessary to strictly follow the instructions, regularly clean and lubricate it. And do not neglect the requirements of security measures.