If you are a weekend warrior trying your hands on woodwork then jigsaw is surely the tool to use. But if you are a first-timer learning to handle the jigsaw can be intimidating as you need more practice to gain confidence in using the electric-powered jigsaw.
Before you learn to operate the product, I highly recommend you to read, understand and follow the safety instructions given by the manufacturers. Here are some of the safety measures that I follow while using the jigsaw.
- Before you start working with the tool, ensure that you wear protective equipment such as safety goggles, mask and ear plugs (if your jigsaw is loud) to prevent the minute dust particles from entering your lungs and other sensitive areas.
- It is a good practice to trace cutlines in pencil before you make shapes out of the wood.
- You also need to have a steady surface such as a workbench to ensure good stability while maneuvering with the tool.
- The next step is to insert the right kind of blade that is suitable for the job, but before making changes on the jigsaw you need to ensure that the jigsaw is disconnected from the power source to prevent accidental startups.
- Always set the speed of the device according to your requirement. For example, set slower speeds for curved cuts, and faster speeds for straight lines.
- It is a good approach to move the blade slowly before going into the piece of wood and once it starts to cut into the wood, press the trigger harder to speed up the blade.
Are Jigsaw Safe?
The rugged design of a jigsaw tool can be scary and make you all nervous at the beginning, but the truth is jigsaws are absolutely safe and easy to operate.
I would like to point you to the working of the sewing machine to get a better understanding of the working of the jigsaw as the principle behind the functioning of the jigsaw is similar to that of the sewing machine.
Jigsaws are the only power tools that are child-friendly, meaning even children can use the device at ease with proper guidance and supervision from the adults.
I searched the internet to find out the safety issues related to the product and found that the most common injuries are lacerations where the worker places his hand close to the blade causing mild tear on the skin.
If you suffer from concentration lapses while working, then it is recommended you use Kevlar-lined cut-resistant gloves that protect your hand from cuts.
Other important things to keep in mind include avoidance of wet environments as it increases the risk of electrocution and keeping the blades properly lubricated.
There are hundreds of jigsaws available to buy, but it can be a tough task for a beginner to pick a jigsaw, but we have found a detailed article about the best jigsaws for the novice by Tools Territory, there you can read about everything that a beginner needs to learn before buying a jigsaw.
Do you push or pull a jigsaw?
If you are a less-experienced user of the jigsaw then you are most likely to lose patience, especially when making circular and orbital cuts as it is time-consuming.
When I started as a newbie I used to push and pull the jigsaw to make quick cuts and soon realized that it was a flawed approach, moreover such practices can significantly dent the performance of the equipment causing it to bounce back more often.
If you are like me then I suggest you be patient with the device and follow the blade when making finer cuts and elliptical cuts as it is time-consuming and requires more precision to get the job done in a neat way.
Another drawback associated with forcing the jigsaw is that such a practice can cause fatigue to your hands and result in inaccurate cutting.
Similarly using blunted jigsaw blades can also cause a bouncing effect on your tool which can significantly slow down the cutting process.
And for those who are looking for suitable jigsaws to kickstart their first carpentry work, here are some recommendations for you.
My first product on the list is the Dewalt DCS331B JigSaw, it is one of the best battery-powered jigsaws in the cordless category, perfect tool for newbies who enjoy spending a huge amount of time on carpentry. The price of the product is around $146 and it is worth a buy.
The second on the list is the BLACK+DECKER BDEJS300C Jig Saw, one of the most affordable electric corded jigsaws in the segment.
The tool is best suited for entry-level woodworkers and hobbyists who are itching to have their hands on one of these products. The BDEJS300C is priced around $43 which is not very expensive with the kind of quality it brings to the table.
What are jigsaws good for?
Jigsaw can be used for many other purposes such as cutting curves, angled cuts or beveled cuts, etc. The primary purpose of a jigsaw is to cut a variety of shapes, especially the curved ones that can be used for your home interiors.
I found its usefulness even while cutting curved lines across different materials such as thin metal, laminate, plastic, ceramic tile, and of course wood.
Most jigsaws come with advanced features such as orbital blade action, blade-steadying guides, and variable speed controls that help cut various shapes across a variety of materials.
How does a Jigsaw work?
The jigsaw works in a rapid up and down motion which when used with appropriate blades can produce great results when it comes to shaping and creating different types of designs.
The jigsaw is fired by an electric motor which transfers the power to the eccentric gear causing the up and down motion of the blade.
If you want to get the best out of the tool then the choice of blade is of utmost priority. For example, if you are looking to cut a metal sheet, a finer blade with 21 to 24 inches is appropriate to produce smooth cuts.
And the next most important factor in producing desired results is the choice of speed. From my understanding, most professionals use greater speed for straight cuts and lower speed for a more defined and precise cut.
Finally, a sound knowledge of the tool along with its proper usage techniques and maintenance activities will result in the efficient working of the tool.