Spec me a Jigsaw

Makhaira

Makhaira

Makhaira

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Joined
23 Nov 2007
Posts
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Lancashire, UK
This is referring to the power tool variety I might add!

Ok, requirements are:

- Either corded or cordless, don't mind
- For light occasional use on sheet timber, MDF, chipboard, ply etc
- Need a reasonably fine blade recommendation too (i.e. that won't flake melamine faced stuff too badly)
- Rip fence accessory is ESSENTIAL (either with the tool or available separately for sensible money)

This doesn't have to be a very robust piece of kit since 90% of my work goes through the radial arm saw, but I'm getting a few more oddjobs now that can't be done on there.

Cheers!
 
I'd just get a makita 240v however a lead is one of the most annoying things with a jigsaw however doesn't sound like you need the flexibility of a battery.
 
 
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I've got the Makita Lithium drill, and am going to get the Makita Jigsaw that takes the same batteries when my old Bosch one finally dies.
TBH though, if you don't need the flexibility of battery I'd just get a corded one - I quite often end up using one instead as the cordless doesn't have enough umph.
 
I've got that Makita linked above, it's fantastic to use, very smooth - miles better than cheap jigsaws.
 
Lopéz said:
I've got that Makita linked above, it's fantastic to use, very smooth - miles better than cheap jigsaws.
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Hired one the other week to cut some laminate flooring, very impressed, good power,puts my old Bosch to shame.

Also you get a 3 year warranty,if you register it with a few weeks.
 
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Will recommend Dewalt as I seem to be the resident Dewalt fanboy :D. It's the best jiggly saw I have used, but the Makita mains powered one we had was also a great saw. Just the wire got annoying and it ended up staying in the van and never getting used as we had the Dewalt battery powered one.

DSC_1225.jpg

Had this for about 8 years I think now and its still going strong. It's used daily for cutting PVC door panels, timber, ply, mdf and even aluminium and steel sheet. Have never had a problem with it and it's as powerful as a mains powered saw with ease.
 
I've got a Makita Li-Ion jigsaw and I can't recommend it highly enough.

Use a down-cutting blade for laminate and melamine - it won't tear the surface up like a normal up-cutting blade does.

I've used the old 18V NiMh Dewalt jigsaw and it was this one that switched me to battery tools. The selling point for me was the Li-Ion batteries on the Makita, which Dewalt weren't doing at the time. But in general, I prefer Makita tools these days, because some of the Dewalt range seems to have been encheapened and I can't trust them.
 
Jonny69 said:
Some of the Dewalt range seems to have been encheapened and I can't trust them.
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You have hit the nail on the head old chap, noticed it with their mitre saws, definitely gone down in quality, compared to their old range of XPS mitre saws.

Did try Dewalt once, but I prefer my Bosch & Makita tools.

But, I do use some Dewalt safety specs, got given a pair with amber lenses at Dewalt demonstration at builder's merchant, & they are rather good.
 
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Which tools specifically have been cheapened? I haven't noticed this and I have been using them for 10 years or so.

Maybe their cheaper DIY range has been cheapened, I don't really know as I don't buy the cheaper kit. But their 18v Professional battery tools are still based on tried and tested designs. The same design that is in the jigsaw I am currently using that is 8 years old and still going strong after lots of abuse.

In my experience they improve tools over time rather than cheapen. You often get a type2 version with small improvements.

Can't comment on their mitre saws as I went for a Bosch as it was a very good price at the time. I did however get a Dewalt portable table saw and it came out on top of reviews comparing it to the portable Bosch table saw.
 
Mark A said:
Which tools specifically have been cheapened? I haven't noticed this and I have been using them for 10 years or so.

Can't comment on their mitre saws as I went for a Bosch as it was a very good price at the time. I did however get a Dewalt portable table saw and it came out on top of reviews comparing it to the portable Bosch table saw.
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Dewalt did a range of mitre saws some years, they lasted ages, but I've seen some of the newer models lately with failed motors, & pinion drive sheared.
And I myself killed a Dewalt mitre saw end of last year, only cutting some 8"x2"' joists, motor started smoking & died.

I had a Makita mitre saw some 15 years, only died a few weeks ago, because got wet for several weeks, before I noticed the leak in the workshop roof.:(

Been looking at getting a Bosch GCM 8 SJ to replace it.
 
Mark A said:
Which tools specifically have been cheapened? I haven't noticed this and I have been using them for 10 years or so.
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Mainly their drills. They have a lot of front-to-back play which makes it difficult to line the drill up for accurate drilling. No problem for building work, I'd expect, but no good for workshop use.

Their old stuff was great. I noticed the change shortly after they became part of Black and Decker. All the big kit like chop saws etc which share no parts with the B&D range are fine. I don't have any particular brand loyalty at that level, I just want the best bit of kit.
 
Jonny69 said:
Mainly their drills. They have a lot of front-to-back play which makes it difficult to line the drill up for accurate drilling. No problem for building work, I'd expect, but no good for workshop use.

Their old stuff was great. I noticed the change shortly after they became part of Black and Decker. All the big kit like chop saws etc which share no parts with the B&D range are fine. I don't have any particular brand loyalty at that level, I just want the best bit of kit.
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I was in Screwfix yesterday, & happen to have a look at some Dewalt combi drills, certainly poorer in quality compared to the old drills.

Dewalt drills are now basically a B&D drill in a evening suit now.

The motors on their mitre saws, aren't a patch on Makita or Bosch motors for long life.
 
They dont share parts with B&D, we go through this in every thread. Show me some proof that they do, rather than what you have heard from the guy behind the desk in Screwfix that knows nothing about tools.

I have a Dewalt drill and I am a qualified cabinet maker and can tell you they are perfect for use in a workshop or cabinet makers shop. The front to back movement is part of the design, there is no side to side slop, which is the only thing that matters.

I am also not loyal to any brand, I use Bosch, Makita, Dewalt, Milwaukee on a daily basis at work and in my home workshop. It just annoys me when people say things like Dewalt are B&D when they are nothing like them. Like I said I have been using their 18v xrp range for over 8 years and they're still going strong. A B&D drill would last a week in my job, so what you are saying is not true.

Jonny69 said:
Their old stuff was great. I noticed the change shortly after they became part of Black and Decker.
Click to expand...

So around 1960 then?
 
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