Jigsaws

Powered jigsaws are best used when you need to cut a curved line.  Just like ‘jigsaw’ puzzles that have odd shapes, a jigsaw powered tool, can cut irregular and stencilled shapes in wood, metal, ceramic, particleboard, plywood, plastic and other materials.  

Like a circular saw and miter saw, jigsaws use a reciprocating blade and can cut in straight lines.  However, jigsaws can make bevel and compound cuts and are prized for their precision work in making complex designs.

Other powered tools like reciprocating saws (also known as sawzalls) use a similar cutting action of ‘push and pull’ (reciprocating) motion of the blade, but are better served by more vertical and horizontal strokes than beveled ones.

What’s more, reciprocating saws are generally heavier in the hand with an average weight of three to five pounds, whereas Jigsaws pack more heft at six to twelve pounds.

Jigsaws offer a neat, compact design that is layered vertically.  Sawzalls on the other hand are more hog-nosed and are a design based on hacksaws.  Still you would reach for your reciprocating saw if you needed to do some demolition and a jigsaw if you needed to make more precise and detailed work.

Jigsaws are ergonomic and house around sixteen different parts: the blade, clamp mechanism, blade guard, blade roller guard, footplate or shoe, handle, lock-on button, laser guide (in some models), on and off switch, and sometimes orbital action button.

The features and brand influence the price, but as a general rule, a jigsaw will set you back anywhere from thirty dollars to one hundred and eighty dollars.  The median price of jigsaws at present is around sixty to seventy dollars.