Thread: Jigsaw

I have a B&D jigsaw, not that particular model, and using it is like trying to ride a wild horse. I have since got hold of a Ryobi model and it is much easier to tame, I mean handle.

I have a Ryobi. It cuts straight enough providing I have the blade aiming at approx 25 degrees off centre from the base plate.

It works good if you are cockeyed. I am used to it now but unfortunately cannot use it with a straight edge.

I bought a dewalt cordless thinking it would replace my hand saw collection

WRONG

it didn't cut at all straight until I splashed out on some expy Bosh stiff blades. Even using a guide, its ability to track off centre is amazing. It now gets used for rough cut outs only - a job it does pretty well.

One day I am sure I will have a large circle to cut out of 3mm ply. Until then, this jigsaw ranks as one of my more disappointing buys.

heh fellas i'v been looking at lower end jigsaws for awhile and after reading these comments you have put the frighteners on me ,sounds like they can shie like a wall eyed horse think i will wait a while before i mount up.lloyd.

I have a Bosch green Jigsaw and for rough cuts, yes it'll do better than the Coping saw I used to use. Anything requiring a little bit of finesse the bandsaw gets hooked up to the dusty and away I go. 3mm blades are great for fine work

I have an AEG jigsaw but rarely use it. Oddly enough I'm working with it right now cutting trellis which is springy and has staples often on the cut line. I'm using it because it is light and easy to use compared with my power saw. The AEG is absolutely controllable. In tools you get what you pay for.

However my advice to you is that unless you need to cut holes in wood you should save your money and go for a bandsaw. It is, without doubt, the most versatile power tool in the workshop. I started years ago with a radial saw which the hype said was the bee's knees . Actually it was the horse's a***e. Then I got a table saw. OK machine. But the bandsaw is the greatest. You say you want to build guitar's. Quite a lot of guitar makers resaw the wood for their sound boxes from thicker planks. I did a job for a friend who was making a harp and the sound box I cut was about 3 mm thick. At the moment another job I have to do calls for two strips 2 metres long by 150 mm wide by 5 mm thick to go either side of an oven. These I have cut out from a plank of jarrah.

In these hard times spend wisely.

Jerry

I've had a Bosch "barrel grip" Jigsaw for years — the current model is the GST 85PE
It's a great machine, but you need to remember that >50% of the cut quality is in the blades you use — really good ones are not cheap

Also, Bosch make an accessory table for the jig saws that allows you to mount them upside down and use the saw like a bandsaw to cut out shapes


ian