Jigsaw - what am i doing wrong?
Discussion
I had to cut some kitchen worktops at the weekend. Bought some new blades from B&Q (power performance - tenner for 10 mixed blades as they didn't have any suitable single blades).
My jigsaw is donkeys old, inherited from my dad and the bit that holds the blade has a bit of play in it. The first couple of cuts were along the line ok but started with the jigsaw pointing along the line and ended up with the blade at a crazy angle to the body of the saw and the cut was like / and \. Nipped out and bought a new jigsaw, put a fresh blade in (the first one went zinging out halfway through a cut never to be seen again) and it was still a bit wonky, though not as bad.
Bad technique or rubbish bendy blades?
My jigsaw is donkeys old, inherited from my dad and the bit that holds the blade has a bit of play in it. The first couple of cuts were along the line ok but started with the jigsaw pointing along the line and ended up with the blade at a crazy angle to the body of the saw and the cut was like / and \. Nipped out and bought a new jigsaw, put a fresh blade in (the first one went zinging out halfway through a cut never to be seen again) and it was still a bit wonky, though not as bad.
Bad technique or rubbish bendy blades?
hazard of jigsawing thck stuff lke worktops. If it is a join, best to use a circular saw, but cut from the correct side to avoid chipping the surface, ie blade cutting downwards onto the laminate surface. Same goes, incdently, for a jigsaw, you need a reverse blade that cuts on the down stoke, not the up stroke.
Be particularly careful of this when cutting the hole for a sink from the underside of the worktop. It looked fine from the side I viewed when cutting it, but when I flipped it back right side up I discovered that the blade had gone on the slant and the opening was half an inch larger all round. I managed to get the sink to fit but it was close run thing...
I now cut sink openings using a circular saw for the straight bits and just finish off the corners with a jigsaw.
I now cut sink openings using a circular saw for the straight bits and just finish off the corners with a jigsaw.
Trevelyan said:
Be particularly careful of this when cutting the hole for a sink from the underside of the worktop. It looked fine from the side I viewed when cutting it, but when I flipped it back right side up I discovered that the blade had gone on the slant and the opening was half an inch larger all round. I managed to get the sink to fit but it was close run thing...
I now cut sink openings using a circular saw for the straight bits and just finish off the corners with a jigsaw.
LOL sounds familiar, i cut the sink opening from the top, tried to knock it out and discovered that the cut had run off by about an inch underneath, cut it from underneath to join the 2 cuts together and ended up with a cut outside the sink hole, luckily enough at the back where it can't be seen and easily filled with sealant to keep the water out.I now cut sink openings using a circular saw for the straight bits and just finish off the corners with a jigsaw.
There's a reason why it's called a jigsaw...Yes in thick materials the bottom of the blade can wander.
The effect is far worse when you run the top along a straight edge, a jigsaw needs to 'steer' through wood, it cannot cut sideways although a rough-cut blade with teeth that splay out are better at this.
A good handsaw as noted above is good - bear in mind however it will be a little blunter at the end. Handsaws however have come up in the years, now they are extremely sharp and fast for little money - often faster and more accurate than reaching for the power saw.
The effect is far worse when you run the top along a straight edge, a jigsaw needs to 'steer' through wood, it cannot cut sideways although a rough-cut blade with teeth that splay out are better at this.
A good handsaw as noted above is good - bear in mind however it will be a little blunter at the end. Handsaws however have come up in the years, now they are extremely sharp and fast for little money - often faster and more accurate than reaching for the power saw.
Fume troll said:
There's a reason why it's called a jigsaw...
Though to be fair seeing as most blades are 1/4" wide you couldn't cut a jigsaw with them either!They're very handy tools but not accurate, in that they cut neither straight nor square. Great for quick work in thin sheets where you can plane the cut straight if needed.
Simpo Two said:
Fume troll said:
There's a reason why it's called a jigsaw...[/quote
They're very handy tools but not accurate, in that they cut neither straight nor square. Great for quick work in thin sheets where you can plane the cut straight if needed.
jigsaws will cut perfectly square and reasonably straight if you have the right jigsaw and are you are capable, I should know by nowThey're very handy tools but not accurate, in that they cut neither straight nor square. Great for quick work in thin sheets where you can plane the cut straight if needed.
m4ckg said:
Simpo Two said:
Fume troll said:
There's a reason why it's called a jigsaw...
They're very handy tools but not accurate, in that they cut neither straight nor square. Great for quick work in thin sheets where you can plane the cut straight if needed.I had to cut some wood for a boat I am restoring. Needed to cut a teak plank to size, then shape one end, then cut another complex shape out of the long edge. I thought about my previous jigsaw experience, looked at the expensive jigsaws on sale, shook my head, gave the plank to a local cabinet maker and watched as he cut everything perfectly in less than a minute using proper industrial tools, handed him a few dollars (MUCH less than the cost of the cheapest jigsaw blade. Wisdom from experience!
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