How to Use a Jigsaw
Jigsaw woodwork is a form of carpentry that utilizes jigsaws to cut out flat pieces of wood-based on patterns.
And since a jigsaw can cut out any pattern, different pieces of wood can be assembled to form almost anything.
That’s why jigsaws can be used for DIYing projects and even professional carpentry.
The first handheld jigsaw was invented in the late 19th century, and today, it would be difficult to find a craftsman that doesn’t own one,
Many people avoid using jigsaws because they’re not sure how to use them.
With these steps, you’ll be able to use your jigsaw securely and more easily.
Five Major Steps
1. Assemble the parts of the saw. It will usually come in a set of two pieces consisting of the shoe (the base) and the blade holder/guard assembly, which includes the handle.
Make sure that all of the base’s holes are securely tightened with bolts or wing nuts so that it does not slide around when it is in use.
The saw can then attach to any material that has a thickness of at least 1mm thick by placing the foot underneath it with one side protruding slightly past its edge.
clamping down on this protrusion with the adjustable shoe, and then using a clamp to hold it down on the floor or another sturdy object.
2. Set up the saw. This typically involves attaching a blade, tightening a wing nut to hold it in place, and setting an angle guide if you intend to make a mitered cut.
If you are planning on making a square cut, just attach the handle onto the blade holder/guard assembly and tighten it with its wing nuts so that there is some resistance
When you pull it back and forth along your material.
3. Cut into your material. By pulling the jigsaw’s handle backward towards you while simultaneously pushing its base forward away from you so as not to create any pressure points which could potentially damage your saw.
Keep the base about 1mm away from your material so that you don’t damage any surface beneath what you are cutting through or chip/break your blade.
Which will happen if the material is caught between it and the base of the saw.
Pushing too hard can also wear out your saw very quickly because it puts undesirable strain on its motor, armature bar, and drive mechanism.
4. If making a mitered cut. Use an angle guide to line up both sides of the cut so that they meet at a perfect 45-degree angle (or whatever angle you desire).
5. Turn off your jigsaw. When finished using it and unplug its power cord before putting it away to avoid unnecessary wear and tear on its components as well as potential accidents such as tripping over the cord.
Jigsaw Blade and Basics
Jigsaw blades are used for cutting wood, plastic, and metal.
They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes but the most common varieties are circular with attached side guides or semicircular with smooth edges that can be used to make flush cuts without causing splintering.
Circular Jigsaw Blades
Circular jigsaw blades have small teeth which are angled slightly to one side of the blade’s circumference to produce a cleaner cut when pulled through the material at an angle.
Their side guide creates straight lines since it is usually set perpendicular to the blade.
Though some models allow their guide to be adjusted backward or forwards along the length of the blade to better accommodate irregularly shaped pieces of material.
Circular jigsaw blades also have large holes in their center so that they may be mounted onto the drive mechanism of a jigsaw.
Semicircular Jigsaw Blades
Semicircular saw blades are used for flush cuts, which leave no visible splintering at the edges of the material.
They are sharpened on both sides with the teeth only on one side protruding outwards.
This construction makes it easier to cut against walls or other pieces of material since there is less need to reach around them during cutting.
Semicircular jigsaw blades do not come with side guides but some models available for purchase include an adjustable guide that can be attached to their ends for making straight cuts along the circumference of material 1-2mm thick.
Jigsaws are a type of power saw that uses a relatively thin and flexible blade mounted on an armature bar to cut through the material by pulling the handle back and forth.
Parts of a Jigsaw
Handle Assembly
This part is used for gripping the jigsaw while you make your cuts.
Its two handles can be detached from it to make holding the jigsaw more comfortable for those with smaller hands.
It also contains a trigger that controls the power going to the motor as well as a switch that turns off the jigsaw when not in use.
Attached to its underside is the motion limiter, which limits how far back into its handle assembly one must pull their thumb or fingers to activate it. mature Bar.
This part wraps around the blade and is controlled by the handle assembly.
Its armature bar is connected to a drive mechanism (also called an armature), which converts the rotational energy from the motor into linear motion of the saw’s armature bar.
This enables it to move freely back and forth along its length. Blade:
A jigsaw contains one or more blades that cut material through friction as they pass through it, leaving behind cleanly sliced edges with no splintering. Power Cord:
This part carries electricity from a power source to your jigsaw so that it may be powered on and off as desired.
Housing
The housing encases all parts of your jigsaw except for its blade and protects them from any damage.
Which could result if the blade makes contact with any other part of the jigsaw.
It also insulates its internal components to protect your hand from touching them during use.
Handle Lock Knob
This knob is used for locking the handle assembly in place so that it cannot be moved forward or backward,
making switching between straight and diagonal cuts much easier by reducing the need for two-handed operation.
Tips for Using Jigsaws
Since jigsaws are handheld power tools that operate by pulling them back and forth through a material, they require both steady hands and eyes to cut straight lines.
A stiff blade with its teeth pointing towards the handle of your jigsaw is easier to control than one whose teeth point away from it.
When you pull a new, unused blade through material for the first time, it will curve up slightly at each end due to tension on its flat surface.
This can be fixed by setting your jigsaw’s depth so that the blade protrudes about 1-2 millimeters out of the housing.
While making sure not to allow any part of its teeth to touch the material being cut.
Holding material firmly against an immovable surface while cutting allows you to cut it more accurately.
Alternatives to Jigsaws:
Because jigsaws can only make straight cuts, they are not suitable for cutting large pieces of material which require a circular saw or band saw.
However, there exist other tools and machines such as routers, table saws, and lathes that can be used for this purpose.
One should weigh the cost and benefit of using these alternative tools over jigsaws before doing so, however; since specialized power tools come with their risks and take time to learn how to use properly.
A semicircular jigsaw blade is obtained by grinding one side of a conventional flat blade on an oil stone until its profile matches a semicircle.
Jigsaws are useful as they can also cut through more intricate shapes, unlike a circular saw.
Because of the tool’s flexibility and high accuracy, it is often used to make simple cuts in sheet materials such as plywood, particleboard, and MDF.
Using this tool allows for a more accurate cut with less blade deflection compared to a table saw or circular saw.
As its lower power requirements allow it to be corded rather than requiring a large compressor-fed pneumatic air supply like most other cutting tools.
The jigsaw has many uses including carpentry, home renovation, restoration work on old furniture or architectural features such as cornices or ornate plasterwork, etc.,
taking apart machinery for parts (salvage), producing wooden toys or models, picture framing, cutting out raised lettering for signage and decorative work.
Jigsaws are also used in the film industry for making props such as swords, costumes, etc.
Hobbyists use them to cut wood for boxes or model cars, boats, etc.
Jigsaw Safety
Jigsaws are electrical machines designed to cut through metal, wood, and plastic. The correct use of jigsaw requires constant attention to safety procedures.
The following tips should be strictly followed when using power tools:
Always wear the appropriate clothing for any job you do.
To protect your hands, always wear gloves made of leather or thick rubber while doing any type of construction work that involves getting into tight spaces where cuts with a jigsaw blade can occur.
Be sure not to remove these gloves unless it’s necessary because doing so will expose your skin to possible injuries from the jigsaw’s sharp blade.
which was previously mentioned when discussing how important it is for one to secure their material before cutting it with any type of handheld power tool.
Never use both hands to support heavy pieces of material while standing on a wobbly surface; because doing so will cause you to fall if the
Always disconnect your jigsaw from its power source before making any adjustments because this will reduce the risk of accidents that could occur.
Always wear safety goggles during any type of cutting operation.
Whether it’s with a jigsaw or any other power tool because this will prevent foreign objects like dust and small debris from getting into your eyes which can cause damage to them or lead to an infection.
Conclusion
In conclusion, always keep in mind that when power tools are being used it is important to take every precaution possible when using them because little mistakes can lead to accidents that can cause big problems.
It is also important to be aware of your surroundings before cutting with a jigsaw and not to make adjustments while the machine is plugged into an electrical outlet.
If you follow these simple rules and stay safe during any cutting operation with a jigsaw or other handheld power tools, you will greatly reduce your chances of becoming injured drastically.
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