Thread: Cutting with a jigsaw

HI Fanlee no such thing as a dumb question is it something as simple as overworking the tool, I have had similar issues when try some different cuts and went back to basics and went for little at a time at a slower speed.
Another way I find out if things will go pear shaped is to try a practice cut or two to see how the tools and the timber react.

accepting that you don't want to buy a table saw, what you can do is mount the jig saw upside down in a table -- Bosch used to make one for their jig saws that clamped to a bench
then with the saw fixed in place you can use two hands or a fence to steer the cut along your cut line.

G'Day "fanlee",
The other tool to consider is a small bandsaw or a scroll saw to help with neater cuts;
otherwise slow the jigsaw down, maybe use a different blade and do a few practices on a scrap of similar timber before the real deal, always ensuring the material being cut is firmly clamped.
NO SUCH THING AS A DUMB QUESTION; but maybe stupid answers and I hope mine isn't one.
Cheers, Crowie.

Cut slightly oversize, and sand or plane to the work line.

Cheers,
Joe

I would be starting with a thicker and longer blade for less distortion whilst
cutting. The slightest movement either side to correct your tracking can push your blade off vertical and the best way to allow a straight cut with a jigsaw is with the above.
You can get very robust blades that cut the flex down substantially.
After that, you're basically using typical fence adjustments similar to a bandsaw where you adjust your tracking and offset your fence. It's much easier to set up on a bandsaw from my experience.

BTW There are stupid questions out there ..........just none here.

I've never had much joy cutting a straight line with a hand held jigsaw. Bit better using it like Ian suggests. Otherwise cut oversize and plane to the work line. If you have a circular saw mounted upside down it makes a reasonable bench saw.

Hi Fanlee,

I bought a Festool Trion jigsaw and whilst it was expensive it does a pretty good job of keeping to the line particularly when using a track guide. I have occasionally also put a fence on either side of the desired cut line. The jigsaw shoe can then cut through the middle of the channel. You have to be very careful with the measurements though and you need to leave the slightest gap to allow free movement of the saw. Keep in mind that this isn't practical on thin pieces of wood.

Probably the best overall option is to cut slightly outside the line and use a flush trim router bit with a bearing and clean it up with a straight edge template. Go nice and slow with the jigsaw. It will take longer however if you force it though you will start straying pretty quick. Let the saw do it's job and just guide it with some weight towards the fence.

cheers
Andrew

1 Clamp a straight edge to the job parallel to the line you want to cut and at a distance from the line that matches the guide on your jigsaw .
2 Whats the longest straight line you want to cut , add 20 cm to that length , take a piece of 3 ply that long and about 150mm wide. Make a piece of quad or 25mm wide flat as long as its stratight, the same length, Put your Jig saw on the ply at one endwith the blade just touching the edge put your strip of quad/flat against the guide on the jig saw, move the saw to the other end of the ply and repeat till you get the stripof quad/flat lyying parallel to the edge of the ply ,screw/glue/nail whatever to attach to the ply

Now when you want to cut lay the jig down with the edge of the ply on the line to cut , clamp and run your jig saw down with the guide on the jig saw against the quad/flat strip, straight cut every time

Jigsaw is difficult, really to do a straight cut with a jigsaw you need a stablisiser for the other end of the blade, I think triton used to do one for there table jigsaw kits.

Bandsaw is what I and most others use

the jigsaw is a handy tool but is pretty crude for straight work.

Tip: I often put metal cutting blades when I want to use it for more 'careful' wood work. It won't jump around so much - but I takes ages to get anywhere.

I think it depends on your jigsaw, dont expect a cheap or worn out jigsaw to cut straight!
That said, the best way like others mentioned would be use a bandsaw or cut away from your work line and sand/plane to it
theres nothing stopping you cutting oversize and using a guide rail and a trimmer either, use what you have to get the job done