Thread: Jigsaw power question

I could be wrong here (now that would be novel !), but I reckon that a hand-held jig-saw's power is mostly limited by what one can safely hang on to The manufacturers could possibly make a 2Kw model, but I'm not sure that I'd want to be the one hanging onto it...

When it comes to cutting thick and/or dense timbers, then blade selection (probably a low number of TPI, eg 2 or 3) and slow rate of cut will be the main factors IMO

Originally Posted by Auld Bassoon

I could be wrong here (now that would be novel !), but I reckon that a hand-held jig-saw's power is mostly limited by what one can safely hang on to The manufacturers could possibly make a 2Kw model, but I'm not sure that I'd want to be the one hanging onto it...

At which point they become chainsaws....

Al

A jigsaw for 2" of very hard wood?

Tell 'im he's dreamin'...

A reciprocating saw (bigger, angrier and uglier jigsaw-esque device) would prolly work though. Not as delicate as a jig saw though.

If it's for finer work or resawing, then a bandsaw would be the ticket.

Here is what the Dewalt recirpo saw line up looks like to give you an idea. Not that I like Dewally very much, it was just the easiest place to find these things.

Originally Posted by Schtoo

A jigsaw for 2" of very hard wood?

Tell 'im he's dreamin'...

I was afraid of that...

If it's for finer work or resawing, then a bandsaw would be the ticket.

I've used a bandsaw for the task I'm thinking of (cutting electric guitar bodies), but I don't have room for one currently.

What the rest said...unfortunately. Ive got the top Bosch jobbie, the blades are nice too. Ive tried to cut thick Keiyaki (Zelkova wood) with it. Impossible task Need a bandsaw mate and so do I...
Cheers. Gary.

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER- 1px inset; BORDER- 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">Schtoo said: A jigsaw for 2" of very hard wood?
Tell 'im he's dreamin'...
and Rockola replied: I was afraid of that...
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

I beg to disagree. Mounted upside down under a table with the right blade, speed and pendulum action my Bosch (I've had it more than a few years now, but it's basicly an earlier model of the GST85PE) will cut 2". My dad's Metabo STE70 will easily cut 2" softwood – hand held.

If you're prepared to lash out for a Festo you can go even thicker.


<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER- 1px inset; BORDER- 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">Schtoo also observed: If it's for finer work or resawing, then a bandsaw would be the ticket.
and Rockola replied: I've used a bandsaw for the task I'm thinking of (cutting electric guitar bodies), but I don't have room for one currently.
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have you investigated a bench top model like the Scheppah 8"?
http://www.carbatec.com.au/store/ind...80_320_470_480 cutting capacity is said to be 4in and at &#189; a horse it's not that far behind a 14" in terms of power

ian<!-- / message -->

One of the Problems I had when trying to cut thick hardwood is the bending of the blade. You end up with an angled cut. Softwood, I suspect would be a different matter. I used the New bosch jigsaw, new blade etc... I didnt have it mounted under a table though I could have gotten a better cut with a handsaw, although it would have taken longer.
All in all, for a one-off cut its acceptable, but if you'll be making cuts in thick hardwood on a regular basis, IMO a jigsaw is the wrong tool for the job.
Cheers. Gary.

Originally Posted by ian

<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="alt2" style="border: 1px inset ;">Schtoo said: A jigsaw for 2" of very hard wood?
Tell 'im he's dreamin'...
and Rockola replied: I was afraid of that...
</td></tr></tbody></table>

I beg to disagree. Mounted upside down under a table with the right blade, speed and pendulum action my Bosch (I've had it more than a few years now, but it's basicly an earlier model of the GST85PE) will cut 2". My dad's Metabo STE70 will easily cut 2" softwood – hand held.

<!-- / message -->ian

And there you go. My cheapo thing (Bosch knockoff) will also do 2" of softwood without a hiccup.

If you have ever used maple, especially the hard stuff, no jigsaw will cut through 2" worth without killing the blade, killing the saw or killing the operator within a minute or two at best.

Even on the bandsaw, 2" worth of maple and the saw knows it's working. Not too hard, but not like slicing up big slabs of softwood.

A jigsaw is just the wrong tool for the job. A darkside coping saw would be a better option, simply because it might actually do it.

A few years ago I made six dining chairs with blackwood. The back legs were curved, and i rough cut them from 30mm boards with a small makita jigsaw, and yes, it was hard to get the cut square to the face, because the blade bent and i followed the curve. Took ages to straighten it up on the belt sander.

The top rail in the backs were from 50mm boards, so i chickened out and got them CNC cut to a template in a cabinet makers factory