Additional accessories
Also, in order to figure out which jigsaw is better to buy for the home, it is recommended to study the additional equipment. The most common additional tool elements are:
- Clamping table - makes it possible to move not the tool, but the material. Useful for small parts.
- Replaceable Plate - Locks onto the support platform to provide the best glide.
- Storage case - for easy storage and movement of the instrument.
In addition to the above, the set of a jigsaw for the home may include screwdrivers, replaceable cutting elements, lubricant and other useful things.
File
This question will be relevant for those who are interested in what kind of jigsaw files there are. Saw blades come in a variety of materials, sizes, teeth and colors, and shank shapes.
Blade material
Most often, saw blades are produced either steel or bimetallic.
- Carbon steel - used in the processing of soft types of wood, as well as in some artificial materials.
- High Speed Steel - Used with harder materials such as aluminum, steel, plastics, non-ferrous metals, etc.
- Bimetallic - universal. They have a distinctive feature of high elasticity and long service life. Great for cutting in hard-to-reach places.
Shank
The shape of the end of the saw blades, just the so-called shank, is also different. This will not affect the work process in any way, but problems may arise with the acquisition of replacement canvases when a rare form comes across.
Saw shanks can be of the following shapes:
- Cruciform (has one stop) is the most common. It is used by major manufacturers (Bosch, Makita, Hitachi, Metabo, DeWalt, etc.).
- A shank with two stops - may be available on some Bosch models.
- Universal shank ¼ with a semicircular notch. Distributed in Skil, DeWalt models, and also found in other manufacturers.
- Smooth - you can choose from Bort, DeFort, Hander models.
- With round holes. Common among Makita models.
Saw blade sizes
Consider what kind of jigsaw files are in terms of size. The most popular file lengths are from 50 to 105 mm. However, there are canvases and the length, for example, the universal for wood Wilpu, which has a length of 155 mm.
Cutting elements can be for straight cutting, as well as for curved cutting of materials. Always narrower for curved cuts.
The colors of the files will also speak of their purpose. Alas, there is no single marking and therefore different manufacturers use different color coding. So, for example, let's analyze the models of Vlask & Desker and Bosch. The blue coloring of the canvases from these companies means that the file is intended for cutting non-ferrous and ferrous metal. But at the same time, gray colors in Bosch models mean cutting in wood, plastic and fiberboard, while in Vlask & Decor it means cutting only wood.
Saw blade teeth
Depending on the material being processed, the teeth can be of different sizes, shapes, and also have an unequal pitch. Usually, the packages indicate the purpose of the cutting blade and based on this, you can choose what you need. On individual blade models, the teeth are set, which allows to increase the productivity of the work, but to a certain level will reduce the quality of the cut. Therefore, this should also have an impact on how to choose a jigsaw for the corresponding work.
For cutting glass or ceramic tiles, elements without teeth are used, which are sputtered from hard metal alloys or a diamond surface. We hope that we have answered the question of how to choose jigsaw files.
How to choose?
In order to choose the right tool, it is important to determine what kind of work it will be needed for. The more massive and tougher the material to be processed, the more a powerful model to choose
It should be borne in mind that the more powerful the model, the heavier the instrument. The shape of the handle of the device is of no small importance for the convenience of work. For example, a mushroom-shaped handle is preferred for making curved cuts.
For household tools, special attention should be paid to the quality of the support platform. It is better if the platform is one-piece cast aluminum with the ability to rotate 45 degrees to ensure the quality of oblique cuts
For the convenience of changing the files, you should pay attention to the fastening method. Convenient quick-release device allows you to quickly and easily change the working blade
And also the cross-section of the rod is of no small importance. The least susceptible to breakage is a square or round stem
Adjustment of the blade speed for different models is carried out in different ways: by pressing the trigger or by a wheel with fixation at a certain speed. Everyone can choose a convenient way to control the speed of work. But it must be remembered that the higher the speed, the stronger the vibration, and working with materials such as plastic at low speeds is impossible. Many models of jigsaws are complemented by features such as lighting, blowing or collecting chips, tilt lock and the ability to rotate the platform.
Parameters influencing the selection
The main selection parameter is the power of the device. Remember, that:
- the power of household jigsaws is in the range of 650-500 W;
- the power of professional devices exceeds 700 watts.
Power determines the depth of cut, durability and trouble-free operation of the unit
It also affects the weight of the tool - an important parameter in the course of manual work.
When choosing a device, the speed of the saw is also important, which determines the cleanliness of the cut, which is important for, for example, the speed of work.
The composition of the kit is also an important point. Although many consumables can be freely purchased at retail outlets, it is convenient if tools necessary for its maintenance, special oils, files and other small items are sold along with the jigsaw.
How to choose the right electric jigsaw
To choose the right jigsaw, you need to analyze all of its characteristics in aggregate.
Speed control as an aspect when choosing
The number of revolutions, which determines the frequency of the stroke, is set depending on the material of the workpiece. So, for a tree, you should choose the maximum number of revolutions in order to get an even and neat cut. For plastic and metal - on the contrary, the minimum, in order to avoid overheating of the blade and material, respectively.
Electric jigsaw thread
Pendulum stroke adjustment
Choose a model with a pendulum stroke if you have a large number of straight cuts. The pendulum motion, or additionally the oscillation of the blade back and forth with a small amplitude, can significantly increase the cutting speed, while reducing the surface quality. True, now it is already difficult to find a model without a pendulum motion.
Replacing the file
The method of replacing the blade greatly affects the convenience of working with an electric jigsaw, and if a large volume of various cuts is planned with frequent changes of material and cutting method, then it directly affects productivity. For the European-style chucks and files with a cross-shaped file head that are common in our country, there are two ways to change the file:
- Screw clamp - the file is fixed in the chuck with a hexagon socket screw.
- Quick-release clamp - the file is fixed using a special lever that is squeezed out with a finger. The blade change takes place in a couple of seconds.
Sawing the workpiece at an angle function of the rotation of the sole
Adjusting the angle of installation of the sole also allows two ways of fixing - with a wrench screw - hexagon or in a keyless way, by pressing the lever.
The keyless method is much faster and more convenient, but it requires careful checking of the quality of fixation in the selected position in order to avoid backlash and rattling during operation.