The main way that you can do with an electric jigsaw is associated with a figured cut. The tool is also used for a classic straight cut. But more often they make round cuts, a complex contour of various parts. The basic rules for working with plywood, chipboard and other wooden blanks are described in detail in this material.
The content of the article
- Purpose of the tool
- How to use a jigsaw
- 10 useful tips for quality cutting
Purpose of the tool
Before you understand how to use a jigsaw, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the purpose of the tool. Unlike saws that make straight cuts, this tool is able to form rounded and shaped cuts.
This is due to the special shape of the frame, which resembles a bow saw. It allows you to make an accurate cut, delving into the canvas. Therefore, if you know how to use a jigsaw correctly, you can skillfully make not only curly, but also classic straight cuts.
Most often, the device is used to work with wooden blanks, including:
- plywood;
- fiberboard;
- Chipboard.
With this device, curvilinear cuts are mainly made. Moreover, you can work with a jigsaw both with wood and with other materials, for example, with metal, plastic and even ceramics.
The tool is also used for figured cuts, with its help they give shape to even miniature details, and also round corners. It can be used in furniture production, for domestic purposes and even for the manufacture of clothing accessories.
How to use a jigsaw
Unlike manual, using an electric jigsaw is easier because less effort is required. Many models are powerful enough to work even with ceramics and fiberglass. Understanding how to work with a jigsaw is easy. Each model has its own characteristics, but in general the rules are the same:
- Set the pendulum mechanism to the desired position. For example, if you put it in the “0” position, as in the photo, then the file only moves up and down. This means that the saw will be of very good quality, but the work will be slow.
- It can be set to other positions - "1", "2" or "3". Then the file will go forward with more and more speed. The saw will be of less quality, but the work will go much faster.
- Further, it is easy to understand how to use a wood jigsaw. You need to adjust the frequency of the saw blade.
- Install the device on the surface of the part, while not pressing hard, otherwise the file will start to move to the side. It is enough to hold with 3 fingers without much effort.
- Press the start button.
- Start drinking.
- When figuring out how to use an electric jigsaw, you may encounter such a problem - the device has gone beyond the intended line. To eliminate the violation, you need to steer a little with your right hand from behind, working with literally one finger.
- Continue sawing to the end.
10 useful tips for quality cutting
Now it’s clear that you can cut with an electric jigsaw. They work mainly with wooden parts, making both straight and figured cuts. Models can be equipped with a guide, have different power and other indicators. Much depends on the quality of the saw blade, that is, the cutting blade. At the same time, there are several cutting principles that should be observed regardless of these parameters:
- When sawing, do not make any effort. And practically none. Many novice users think that you need to apply pressure to the saw to improve the cut, but in fact this leads to the opposite situation. Work should be slow, but high quality. Thanks to this, you can do anything with a jigsaw, including complex cuts.
- It is necessary to choose the correct stroke frequency, that is, the number of engine revolutions. It should be based on the thickness of the part, the structure of the material, the type of cutting blade. As a rule, this indicator is selected empirically.
- If you think about how to use a jigsaw correctly, you may be faced with a choice between quality and speed. If you work slowly, the cuts will be of high quality, but on the other hand, you will have to spend more time.
- The file must be perfectly sharp. Even if it becomes a little dull, the use of a jigsaw will be accompanied by difficulties. Therefore, in stock you need to have a set of several files.
- It is necessary to work with constant breaks, which is especially important if a large volume is planned. It should be noted that strong overheating leads to tooth wear, because the metal becomes softer.
- You can learn how to work with a jigsaw correctly, but you must first choose the right model. There are quite a few criteria, and the most important is power. It depends on it what material you can work with, and at what depth it is really possible to cut.
- If we talk about what you can saw with a jigsaw, you can choose a variety of parts from wood and other materials. But under them it is necessary to select different files. They have a special marking, which is worth studying in advance. For example, how to cut metal or ceramics with a jigsaw are different tasks for which different blades are suitable.
- It is important to understand what can be done with an electric jigsaw, as well as with what thickness it is permissible to work. To do this, pay attention to the dimensions of the saw teeth - the larger they are, the greater the depth of the cut. In this case, the maximum thickness should correspond to 3-4 teeth of the cutting element. In this case, it is easy to understand what a jigsaw is doing and how to work with the tool.
- To figure out how to work with a jigsaw on wood, it is recommended to use auxiliary devices - a side stop or a guide rail. They help to make an even cut without much effort. Thanks to this, it is possible to cut metal with a jigsaw, as well as other materials.
- If you give one more piece of advice on how to cut metal with a jigsaw, we can say about the engine speed. When processing soft metal like copper or aluminum, it is better to increase the speed. If you work with a harder, for example, steel surface, the speed, on the contrary, is reduced.
You can independently figure out how to work with a jigsaw. The tool is quite simple, and even a novice master can master it. It is first recommended that you carefully study the instruction manual for the jigsaw and practice on rough workpieces. After that, you can start processing the main details.