This blog is about how to use jigsaw cutter. If you haven’t already grabbed your saw, grab some safety glasses. So, the jigsaw, also known as the saber saw is a fantastic tool for the carpenter because it’s great for cutting irregular shapes and curves. It’s great for cutting notches and framing and lumber and decking for making curved cuts and plywood and it works really well for cutting circles.
How To Use Jigsaw Cutter?
Jigsaw is similar to a circular saw and the way that it actually has a blade that has a handle and a trigger and it has an adjustable base plate. But the jigsaw has a straight blade and unlike the circular saw blade, this blade cannot be adjusted for the depth of cut.
Types Of Jigsaws:
The two most common types of jigsaws in the market for residential construction are the top grip. And the other type has a barrel grip that puts your hand behind the motor and behind the blade for more control. Both are a great options. In my opinion, it just all depends on feel and your personal preference.
Blade Selection:
Either way, you go be sure that you buy a jigsaw that accepts T-shank blades. Trust me on that. So with that blade selection is really important. First, before you buy a blade, you need to ask yourself, What am I cutting? And how do I want that cut to turn out? So for instance, if you’re cutting framing lumber and you need that cut to be fast and not so clean, then choosing a blade with a lower TPI is what you’re going to need. Now, on the flip side of that, if you’re choosing to make a really clean cut more precise cut, then choosing a blade with a higher TPI is what you’re going to need.
What is TPI?
TPI stands for teeth per inch somewhere on the packaging, it’ll note the teeth per inch. Sometimes some packaging not only shows the teeth per inch, but also gives a description of what it’s used for.
Blade Length:
And second, be sure to choose the right blade length, you need to make sure that the blade is at least an inch or really more than the depth of your material. And then third, I would buy blades that only cut on the upstroke. This represents really the majority of the blades out there, but you can buy blades that cut on the downstroke.
Why is This Important?
Well, to answer that question, you first have to understand the cutting action of the jigsaw is up and down. When the blade is cutting on the upstroke the base plate is being pulled in tight to the material. And then when the blade is cutting on the downstroke, it actually wants to lift the base plate off the workpiece creating a better opportunity for kickback an injury.
But as long as you use caution these blades can be very very beneficial. The other thing you need to understand is that when the blade is cutting on the upstroke it creates terror on the top side of the material, which could actually be your finished surface. And that’s exactly why some people like to have blades that cut on the downstroke because really the majority of the time when you’re laying something out or drawing something, it’s on the finish side of the wood.
Base Plate, Trigger & Adjustment:
Next is the adjustable base plate, which then can be beveled to a 45-degree angle for making bevel cuts. And then third, the trigger is variable meaning that the harder that you depress it, the faster the blade will go. This gives you a lot of control when making cuts.
And lastly, the adjustment for the amount of reciprocation. What this means is set to zero reciprocation, the blade tracks perfectly up and down. But with different levels of reciprocation added the blade will actually travel more in an oval-shaped pattern sort of lunging forward which produces a more aggressive cut. Speed and quality really are the two main things that are affected by these adjustments.
Types Of Cuts:
There are three types of cuts to the circle saw first is a short straight cut which is common for this song because long cuts are not. So, you can be used in finished carpentry and installing some cabinets. The regular cuts are very common and may be one of the biggest uses of the saw. Great for cutting curves. And with a thin scrolling blade, you’re able to make some really tight curves.
Lastly, cuts in the middle of the material things like circles, squares, or any other shape that you need. Now to do this you need help from a drillbit you simply drill a hole insert the blade and make your cut for anything other than circles sometimes multiple holes make the job much easier. And if you need to the jigsaw is great at nibbling away material. I do this all the time.
Now I can’t leave out the plunge cup The plunge cut is a faster way to get the blade into the material without using a drill bit. Now it’s gonna leave a really rough cut, but that’s what the plunge cuts all about. It’s all about speed. And it’s all about I don’t have a drill bit, and I need to get this cut done.
Caution:
Two things of caution. First, the plunge cut is a little sketchy, the SAU will want to kick back on you, if you don’t come down just right or have the right angle, or if the blade is too short, and that’s what I’ve found that the longer the blade, the better this punch cut goes.
Second, in regards to using the tool in general, always take the time to look under what you’re cutting. It’s so easy to forget about the rest of the blade that’s traveling beneath the material. I’ve cut extension cords, I’ve cut its own cord, I’ve cut plumbing, let’s just say I’ve cut a lot more than just wood over the years of using saw. But with a little bit of practice, you can get really good at this and it’s a great asset to your toolbox.
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