The up-and-down motion of a jigsaw blade is activated by pulling a trigger on the saw's handle. Most models are variable speed, meaning that the speed of the reciprocating action depends on how much pressure is placed on the trigger. Releasing the trigger will slow or stop the saw blade.
Now you're up to speed, push your jigsaw firmly – but slowly – into your workpiece. Guide your jigsaw blade around its path by gradually twisting the back of your saw in the opposite direction to the one you want the blade to travel. You'll know if you're pushing too hard because the saw will feel as if it's straining.
Finally, familiarize yourself with teeth direction: A standard jigsaw blade has teeth pointing upward to cut on the blade's upstroke—it's the best choice for all-purpose cutting.
Worn, bent or poor quality blades can cause the jigsaw to vibrate and jump all over the place, making it hard to handle and giving you a poor cut. Replace the blade with a good quality blade by removing the screw securing the blade in the jigsaw.
Most jigsaw blades can cut to a maximum depth of 1-1/2 inches, which is well below the depth needed for cutting through a 4×4. And, since a jigsaw blade is perpendicular to the saw's guard and cuts using an up and down motion, it cannot cut through material thicker than the blade like a circular saw or miter saw can.
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Which side goes up with jig saw?
Cut With the Good Side Down
Most jigsaw blades cut on the upstroke, so chips and splinters occur mostly on the top of the wood. So if you value one side of a board more than the other, make sure you keep the good side face down, and mark and cut the less important side.
Your jigsaw may not be cutting straight because it's outdated, lacking guide bearings necessary for straight cuts. Components such as blade clamps and guide bearings can also get damaged or worn. It's also possible that human error is to blame, and you need a better straight edge or technique.
How do you cut a plywood with a jigsaw without splintering?
Use transparent masking tape for ease of use and mark your cutting line on the tape. Now cut along the line normally. The masking tape ensures that the veneers remain intact with the wood and thus there is no splintering.
thick and hardwood up to 3/4 in. thick. Jigsaw blades tend to bend when cutting curves in thicker boards, leaving a beveled edge rather than a square one. To keep the cut square, use a sharp blade and avoid forcing the saw through the cut.
Hold the saw with both hands and position the front end of the footplate firmly on the work piece. With the blade positioned nearly 90 degrees to the work surface and set for vertical cutting action (not orbital), start the saw and slowly tilt the blade back to a flat position, penetrating the material.
Saw blades in general are designed to do the work of cutting wood for you. You only need to apply enough pressure to keep the jigsaw moving forward. Pushing too hard can overwhelm the ability of the blade to cut and remove wood. Just let the blade do its job while you hold it straight and steady.
Check the underside of your cutting surface for any obstructions that could cause kickback. If your jigsaw is corded, make sure the cord and extension cord are out of the way.
Jigsaws are capable of making rip cuts, cross cuts, miter cuts and bevel cuts in a wide array of materials. A jigsaw is even capable of starting an accurate straight line cut from the middle of the material, if you have a need for a plunge cut.
Want To Share This? A jigsaw is a precision tool with a thin blade, which makes them ideal at cutting intricate designs on thin material. If you ever had to cut a 2x4 piece of framing lumber with a jigsaw and thought to yourself... "there's no way", you might be surprised!
You're most likely going too fast, applying too much pressure, and the tension might be off. If you're going too fast, the blade is going to bend and eventually break. You might be using the wrong sized blade, which again goes back to blade quality.
Out of the box, jigsaws are easy and straightforward to use regardless of your experience level. Insert the blade, plug in the tool (or pop in the battery if it's cordless), and you are ready to start cutting. Jigsaws can be used in a workshop of any size and don't take up much space on your shelf.
