Thread: Is there a way to cut 2 parallel, straight angled edges with a jigsaw?

Run the jigsaw base along a battern clamped to the workpiece. It helps massively if it is a decent quality tool with the pendulum action switched “OFF” and use good blades; x-cut or rip as appropriate for each cut rather than a “combination”.

I have a fairly simple Makita but run good blades with it, I can get a cut nearly as good as from a table saw.

In addition, cut as slowly as possible! If you push the jigsaw too hard, the blade will bend in the wood and the result will not be vertical and square. Let the machine do the work.

Regards from Perth

Derek

It also helps if, instead of cutting triangular fillets as in the diagram, you move the cuts in from the edges a few mm so the jigsaw is cutting full depth across the board.

When cutting a triangular fillet, if the blade bows 'outward' slightly for whatever reason then - because there's more wood on one side of the blade than t'other - it's likely to exaggerate the bow and make a straight, planar cut difficult, if not unlikely.

It's a bit more wasteful of wood, but increases the chance of success.

Welcome to the Forum, jeyversee.

That is actually quite a difficult project as it requires very accurate cutting of the angled trench to house the legs. Have you thought about how you might cut it?

Perhaps you might like to consider simplifying the design a little and make the legs perpendicular rather than splayed. Then : -

1. If you do not already have one, get a straight cutter or spiral bit for your router,
2. Cut the legs about 1 mm oversize with your jig saw,
3. Route to the line using a straight edge as a guide,
4. Route the trench in stages - only take out a maximum of 3 mm on each pass, 1 mm on the final pass.

Do the legs as Chief explained, but how do you plan to cut the sides of the grooves in the seat, that's an even trickier cut to get right? The angles need to be close to perfect, or perfectly the same for each groove and the gap needs to be perfect to take the leg. You'll have to use the hand saw if that's all you have. I would mark the line for the inner cut and clamp a straight edge on the line, mark the line deeply with a sharp knife. Then hold a leg up to the straight edge and lightly mark the outer cut with a knife. Take away the leg and straight edge and use it to score the outer line more deeply. Lay a leg on the seat so that one of the 45º ends you cut with the jigsaw sits on the knife cut for the outer line and clamp it in place. Use the edge as a saw guide to cut the outside 45º cut of the groove. Then move the leg guide close to the inside line, but set back a little so the saw cuts just leaving a hint of the knife cut. This should ensure a tight fit. Then carefully chisel out the waste or use your router freehand to remove most of the waste and chisel the rest out. Be careful to use thick enough and strong enough timber for the project, for without a stretcher between the legs, it can fail on a slick surface (don't ask me how I know). Good luck!