What Makes a Great Jigsaw? Part Two.

Let's review specific characteristics of great that produce consistently great performance. Electronics: Believe it or not, the electronics in jigsaws have a lot to do with its performance. To be more specific, the electronics in various models allow for different performance benefits. The best models contain electronics that can sense if the speed of the blade decreases during difficult cuts and will automatically increase the motor's power output to maintain a consistent blade speed. Also, the high quality jigsaws have stouter electronics capable of taking a beating without damage. With a tool like the jigsaw, which may experience a few hard knocks, having robust wiring and electronics is very important. Another aspect of professional jigsaw electronics their adjustment dials and knobs, an example of which is speed adjustment dial and triggers found in variable speed models. Such dials, triggers, and knobs won't easily develop "shorts" or break. More advanced electronics also allow "soft-start" in some professional jigsaws, which is a nice feature to help ensure smooth and accurate starts to cuts. I would suggest that you don't let Laser cutting guides and LED lighting mislead you to think that a cheap jigsaw is better than it actually is. Laser cutting guides on budget jigsaws usually aren't useful or precise. An LED light does not indicate a jigsaw is great. Many poor performing jigsaws have a LED light. Motors: Simple power ratingsis not the only variable by which jigsaws can be compared. Budget models have around 3 to 4 amps, which isn't adequate for heavy-duty use and difficult cuts through thick material. Having a motor rated at 6 amps or higher is useful for using longer blades and cutting thicker stock. Yet, a jigsaw that produces a lot of vibration and/or has low quality cutting mechanisms, the extra power can just make it more frustrating to use for accurate cuts. For this reason, the power rating of motors should not be the only consideration in rating or choosing a high quality jigsaw. The super durable motors found in professional quality jigsaws are worth the higher price tag. Blade Guide Mechanisms: Great jigsaws help blades to cut better and with precision. Some incorporate small metal guides on either side of a cutting blade close to the base of the jigsaw, and top-notch saws stronger blade attachment arms and mechanisms. This helps to minimize how much a blade flexes or strays. You will also find better quality rollers behind the blade on a great jigsaw, which guide and support the blade better. The blade holding mechanism can affect performance too, as blade locks that don't hold the blade firmly and securely may produce poor cuts, premature failure of blades, and injuries. Orbital cutting saws have become the standard for jigsaws. Very few high quality jigsaws will lack this feature, which allows for more efficient cutting. At least three orbital cutting settings are common. While orbital cutting can be a great feature, the design of orbital cutting mechanisms put in budget saws can make the saw less accurate and rougher cutting than it might be otherwise. Vibration Dampening: One huge difference between a budget jigsaw and a professional jigsaw is the vibration felt during use. Some people think their $35 jigsaw is good and doesn't vibrate all that much until they use a good professional model. Great jigsaws are designed to be balanced and have dampening systems built-in. the casing on such saws is designed to significantly reduce vibration. When there's very little vibration, getting true and clean cuts is much easier. This is a thing a person has to experience to understand. The Base: Lower quality jigsaws will have formed steel bases rather than the more desirable cast base. High quality saws also usually have some sort of "shoe" or protective cover that fits over the surface of the base that ensures protection to the surface of the material being cut. A formed steel base may be acceptable, but may flex under heavy use, bend, or even warp. Steel sheet metal bases can somewhat magnify vibration issues. Accessories: You may want to avoid saws that cost less than $50 that have a number of accessories included, such as parallel cutting guide or circular cutting guide. Many budget jigsaws tend to wander a little which means they will require greater effort and attention to obtain accurate cuts. The addition of a guide to one of these may lead you to believe perfectly parallel cuts are guaranteed, but a saw that doesn't cut straight may fight against the guide and cause frustration. Some top-notch saws do not come with guides such as these. This is because the saws cut smoothly and accurately making such a guide lessimportant. There are other differences between a budget jigsaw and a professional quality jigsaw. However, you certainly understand the key aspects to look for in a jigsaw. All jigsaws are NOT created equal, and much of the time you truly do get what you pay for. Exceptions may existin that there are $75 jigsaws that may perform better than saws that cost $150 or more, but if you aren't buying used or refurbished, a great jigsaw will cost you at least $125. You'll notice the quality difference as soon as you use a great saw. The brands associated with making great jigsaws are: Bosch, Dewalt, Festool, Milwakee, Metabo, Hitachi, and Porter-Cable. Of these brands, Bosch and Festool tend to get the highest praise and ratings, but Festool is usually the most expensive of the options. Occasionally even a great brand can have a dud model, but usually even the cheaper models from Bosch or Dewalt are very capable saws that will more than meet the needs of an individual just starting to get involved in woodworking. So, what makes a great jigsaw? A great jigsaw runs and cuts smoothly, cuts straight as needed, has durable and heavy duty motor and electronics, will function fine after being dropped, and last for many years. Of course, your personal skill level will play a role outcomes; even an awesome jigsaw may not compensate for terrible cutting technique.

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