Among the wide range of cutting tools, electric jigsaws occupy a special place. These are devices designed for cutting building or finishing material. When choosing, the following question arises: "Which electric jigsaw is better?" Reviews and recommendations of manufacturers will help to answer it.
Functional purpose
The principle of the tool is to create translational movements of the blade, as a result of which the material is cut. For this, an electric motor, a rotor for transmitting rotational energy to the pendulum mechanism and control elements are included in the jigsaw design.
When choosing, you should take into account the main characteristics that a wood jigsaw has. An electric motor is an energy source, therefore its parameters determine the power indicator. In addition, the following indicators are taken into account:
- Pendulum move.
- The ability to adjust the power of the tool.
- The presence of emphasis.
- System for removing sawdust by blowing or connecting to an industrial vacuum cleaner.
- Type of power - autonomous or from a fixed network.
- Additional functions: backlight, quick change of blades, etc.
For home use and industrial applications, manual models are often purchased. But in some cases it is advisable to buy a desktop jigsaw, the electric drive of which makes it possible to cut materials with high density.
Power
How to determine the maximum thickness of a wood panel that a jigsaw can cut? To do this, pay attention to the power indicator. The electric motor generates a certain amount of energy transmitted through the pendulum mechanism to the saw.
For example, a tool with a power of 650 W is able to cut a board up to 100 mm thick. An example is the model DW341K from DeWalt. With a rated power rating of 550 W, it is capable of cutting a wooden board up to 85 mm thick. But you should take into account the density of the material.
You want to get an electric fret saw? Which is better? Customer reviews will help to get a real idea of the operational capabilities of a particular model. Even with high rated power, the disadvantages of the blade retainer can become limitations when cutting thick material. It will simply get stuck in the cuts.
A Hitachi product (model CJ110MVA) does not have this problem. At a rated power of 720 watts, the depth of cut significantly increases from 80 to 110 mm for a wooden base.
Pendulum stroke
The presence of this function is indispensable when processing wooden surfaces of high density. Manufacturing companies always provide for its presence when creating a new model of the tool. Each electric Makita jigsaw has this function, since without it the processing speed of the material is significantly reduced.
In such models, the file does not move in the same plane. Translational vibrations alternate with a slight pushing of the cutting part forward. In standard models, the amount of extension is adjusted using the switch located on the side of the tool. The thicker the material, the larger the offset. However, this creates the possibility of burrs. This will be unacceptable if you need a thin detachable seam.
Speed adjustment
The speed indicator is determined by the frequency of translational movements of the cutting mechanism for a certain time. Depending on the set value, a hand-held electric jigsaw can cut the same material for different periods.
To adjust the speed on the tool body there is a lever switch. In some models, a change in the frequency of movement occurs by pressing the power button. The greater the force, the higher the speed. If a manual electric jigsaw is used for cutting metal, it is recommended to set the minimum value. Otherwise, there is a possibility of a file breakage or significant deformation of the cut line. The noise level and the likelihood of deviation from the intended processing boundary also increase.
Emphasis
This simple device can significantly increase productivity and cutting accuracy. The essence of the application is as follows: a small steel plate is mounted on the side with the possibility of fixing a certain length. At the end of the stop there is an angular element that abuts against the end face of the processed material.
After setting the desired stop length, its angular part prevents the jigsaw from moving. Thanks to this mechanism, part of the workpiece can be quickly and accurately cut in a straight line. When choosing, you should pay attention to the mechanism of fixation of the device, the material of its manufacture and the maximum length. Should I buy a similar electric jigsaw, which is better? Customer reviews note that this mechanism is very convenient when processing materials both at home and in production. If the emphasis will interfere with figured cutting, it can always be quickly removed.
Sawdust Removal - Purge
During sawing inevitably a large amount of chips appears. With small volumes, this does not significantly affect the speed of work. However, in production, this factor can reduce the processing time of one product.
To automatically remove emerging chips, some industrial and household models have a special socket for connecting an air hose. It is mounted in the upper part of the body, and the created reverse air flow removes the chips that an electric jigsaw forms. The price of such models is slightly higher than the standard ones (it starts from about four thousand rubles). But a significant increase in productivity and work comfort will be the determining factor when choosing.
Furniture and woodworking industries are equipped with such tools . To create a reverse air flow, special equipment is installed, which still packages the resulting sawdust into reusable bags.
Among the low-cost models, AEG STEP90XK can be noted. The connection bell located at the rear of the case does not interfere with work. At the same time, it helps to remove sawdust from the cut.
Type of food
After the emergence of new sources of autonomous power, manufacturers launched the production of cordless jigsaws. This is very convenient when working outdoors where there is no access to the network.
However, these models have significantly reduced power and speed of the file. Therefore, they are used for processing thin-walled materials - PVC sheets, plywood of low density and size and some types of particleboard. For home use and mass production, it is recommended to purchase tools with the ability to connect to a stationary electrical network.
Dewalt company has comprehensively approached the decision to design such devices. Based on one of the jigsaws, the DC330KB model was created. Included are 2 rechargeable batteries, charger. A connection pipe to the exhaust system is provided on the housing.
Additional functions
These include a variety of small design changes that facilitate the sawing process. One of these is the reverse - the reverse stroke of the file. It is necessary when jamming the tool in the material.
It is noteworthy that it is precisely with such additions that many determine the best electric jigsaw. Undoubtedly, the presence of a backlight or a comfortable grip affect the comfort of work. However, when choosing, you should pay attention to the technical parameters of the tool, and only then to additional options.
Selection options
Before purchasing a tool, it is important to decide the following question: "Which electric jigsaw is better?" Reviews help with the selection, but you shouldn’t rely only on them. At the first stage, you need to decide on the following points:
- Manufacturer. There are several leading European brands that have worked well in the Russian market. Many of them produce professional, semi-professional and household jigsaws (for example, Bosh, Makita).
- Operational characteristics. These include all the parameters of the tool that were described above: power, the presence of a pendulum mechanism, speed control, reverse, etc.
- The presence of an official representative of the manufacturer in Russia. If you have questions about factory defects or inconsistency of the technical parameters of the instrument with the passport data, you can always contact the company employees for clarification. You should also find out the address of the nearest service center.
- Cost. It should be noted right away that a good tool cannot have a low price. The responsible manufacturer uses only high-quality raw materials and uses modern manufacturing technologies, which ultimately affects the cost of production.
Having decided on the model of a jigsaw, you should find out about its availability in the nearest specialized stores. When buying, the seller must provide a warranty card, which indicates the model of the instrument, the date of purchase and a stamp is placed. You also need to check the performance of the jigsaw in all possible modes at the purchase stage. These simple recommendations will help to avoid a significant problem - the acquisition of defective goods. Even if everything is in order with the tool, but its characteristics are not satisfied, then, according to the current legislation, it is possible to return the product within 14 days, but at the same time it should not lose its presentation.