As with any renovation, home project, or carpentry job, choosing the right tools will help you accomplish your goals easier and with better results. Tools do not always make the craftsman, but not having the right tools at all certainly makes for a bad craftsman! Knowing this means knowing that you need the proper tools and not just any saw will do the job.
Picking the proper jigsaw for your project or job is going to make life much easier for you. With these tips, you can be sure you are picking the right one to match the requirements to complete your job with precision and professionalism.
Power and Functionality
When it comes to jigsaws, power and functionality are key. Different cuts or materials are going to require different levels of power to get the job done. Corded jigsaws have more power, as they are connected to their power source directly. These corded saws are useful for heavy-duty work. When it comes to the power level, measured in amps, higher than 5 is a powerful saw that is more than capable of a heavy job. Smaller saws are usually between 3-5 and upwards of 8 for really strong saws. Functionality also includes the blade movement. Orbital action is a good way to get the most function out of a saw for less straightforward cuts.
Saw Speed
Determining the speed of a saw is another important thing to consider when choosing a jigsaw for your next project. Variable speed settings are not available on all jigsaws but if you use a saw for multiple different jobs that range in materials then you can use this helpful guide to determine if cutting speed, amps, and other settings might help you. The saw speed can help you upgrade from merely cutting wood to allowing you to work with metals like aluminum. Higher the saw speed, the more possibilities you will have for your saw needs.
Lights and Cutting Assist Features
Higher-end saws should come with lights for help cutting in low lighting situations or when you need to illuminate the materials to get a precision cut. This is also true for saws that now come with built-in laser lines to give you the most precise of cuts. These features are not only available on higher-end or expensive jigsaws, which is good news for the novice craftsman who does not do much serious work. Having lights or laser lines will give you confidence in your cuts and provide you a much-needed guide regardless of your skill level.
Size and Weight
As mentioned earlier, there are corded and cordless saws. These are going to depend on how much you can handle and whether or not the size of the saw really matters to you. Corded saws can be stronger in amp power but that does not mean that cordless cannot do the trick either. Cordless saws are heavier because they contain the batter on the saw itself which will obviously mean bigger dimensions and weight which might be a problem for you. These heavier saws that are cordless are also usually considered not as powerful as the corded variety for understandable reasons. Corded is preferred because the speed and power allow for more possibilities while a cordless might be an option if you already own a variety of saws and do not rely on your jigsaw as your primary cutting tool.
Other Features
Lastly, these features are all important but not necessarily mandatory when looking for a jigsaw for your cutting needs. Some saws have dust blowers to help clear off your cutting surfaces to keep the work tidy so you can see your cuts easier. Blade changing technology without the need for additional wrenches is another possible feature that might be attractive to you for quick changing. Shoe bevels for angled cuts and splinter control shoes might be things to look for too to help reduce wood splintering for even more control over the cutting process. Again, these features are definitely useful and very handy for many, but they are not mandatory.
Making sure you have the right tools for the job is important for getting the work you desire. The good craftsman can make do with most tools but tools sometimes make the good craftsman better. When it comes to jigsaws, you can see what kind of things you need to look for to help you be the better craftsman and ensure that whatever your next job is, that the features and functions will help you achieve it easily.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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