Among the large assortment 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 from manufacturers will help answer it.
Functional purpose
The principle of operation of the tool is to create translational movements of the blade, resulting in cutting of the material. To do this, the design of the jigsaw includes an electric motor, a rotor for transmitting rotational energy to the pendulum mechanism and controls.
When choosing, you should take into account the main characteristics that a wood jigsaw has. An electric motor is a source of energy, so its parameters determine the power index. In addition, the following indicators are taken into account:
- Pendulum move.
- Ability to adjust the power of the tool.
- Presence of stop.
- Sawdust blowing system or connection toindustrial vacuum cleaner.
- Type of power - autonomous or from a stationary network.
- Additional features: light, quick blade change, etc.
For home use and industrial use, 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 a 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, which is transmitted through the pendulum mechanism to the file.
For example, a tool with a power of 650 W can cut a board up to 100 mm thick. An example is the DW341K from DeW alt. With a nominal power of 550 W, it is able to cut a wooden board up to 85 mm thick. However, the density of the material must be taken into account.
Do you want to buy an electric jigsaw? Which is better? Customer reviews will help to get a real idea of the operational capabilities of a particular model. Even at high power ratings, blade lock deficiencies can become a limitation when cutting thick material. It will simply get stuck in the cuts.
Hitachi product (Model CJ110MVA) does not have this problem. With a rated power of 720 W, the cutting depth increases significantly from 80 to 110 mm forwooden base.
Pendulum move
The presence of this function is indispensable when processing high-density wood surfaces. Manufacturing companies always provide for its presence when creating a new tool model. Every Makita electric jigsaw has this function, because without it, the material processing speed is significantly reduced.
In such models, the movement of the file does not occur in one plane. Translational vibrations alternate with a slight push of the cutting part forward. In standard models, the amount of extension is adjusted using a switch located on the side of the tool. The thicker the material, the greater the offset. However, there is a possibility of burrs appearing. This will be unacceptable if a thin cut seam is required.
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 manual electric jigsaw can cut the same material for a different time.
There is a lever switch on the tool body to adjust the speed. In some models, changing the frequency of movement occurs by pressing the power button. The more 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 risk of breakage of the saw blade orsignificant deformation of the cutting line. It also increases the noise level and the likelihood of deviation from the intended processing boundary.
Stop
This simple device can greatly increase productivity and cut accuracy. The essence of the application is as follows: a small steel plate is installed on the side part with the possibility of fixing a certain length. At the end of the stop there is an angular element that rests against the end of the material being processed.
After setting the desired length of the stop, its angular part does not allow the jigsaw to move. Thanks to this mechanism, you can quickly and accurately cut off part of the workpiece in a straight line. When choosing, you should pay attention to the mechanism for fixing the device, the material of its manufacture and the maximum length. Is it worth buying a similar electric jigsaw, which one is better? Customer reviews note that this mechanism is very convenient when processing materials both at home and in production. If the stop interferes with curly cutting, it can always be quickly removed.
Sawdust removal - blowing
During sawing, a large amount of chips will inevitably appear. 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 the chips that have appeared, some industrial and household models have a special socket for connecting an air hose. It is attached tothe upper part of the body, and the generated reverse air flow removes the chips that the electric jigsaw forms. The price for such models is slightly higher than for standard ones (starts at 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 similar tools. To create a reverse air flow, special equipment is installed, which still packs the resulting sawdust into reusable bags.
From inexpensive models it is possible to note STEP90XK of the AEG company. The connection socket, located in the rear part of the body, does not interfere with work. At the same time, it helps to remove sawdust from the cut.
Meal type
After the advent of new autonomous power sources, manufacturers have launched the production of cordless jigsaws. This is very convenient when working outdoors where there is no network access.
However, these models have significantly reduced power and saw speed. Therefore, they are used for processing thin-walled materials - PVC sheets, plywood of low density and size, and some types of chipboard. For home use and for mass production, it is recommended to purchase tools with the ability to connect to a fixed power supply.
Dew alt has taken a holistic approach to designing such devices. Based on one of the jigsaws, the DC330KB model was created. The set includes 2rechargeable batteries, charger. The housing is provided with a branch pipe for connecting to the exhaust system.
Additional features
These include a variety of small design changes that make sawing easier. One of these is the reverse - the reverse motion of the file. It is necessary when the tool jams in the material.
It is noteworthy that it is for such additions that many determine the best electric jigsaw. Undoubtedly, the presence of illumination or a comfortable handle 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 on the following question: "Which electric jigsaw is better?" Reviews help when choosing, but you should not rely on them alone. At the first stage, you need to decide on the following points:
- Producer. There are several leading European brands that have proven themselves well in the Russian market. Many of them produce professional, semi-professional and household jigsaws (for example, Bosh, Makita).
- Performance. 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 the official representative of the manufacturer in Russia. If you have questions about a factory defect or a discrepancy between the technical parameters of the tool and passport data, you can alwayscontact the employees of the company 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. A 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 the jigsaw, you should find out about its availability in the nearest specialized stores. When buying, the seller is obliged to provide a warranty card, which indicates the model of the tool, the date of purchase and stamped. You also need to check the performance of the jigsaw in all possible modes at the stage of purchase. These simple recommendations will help to avoid a significant problem - the purchase of defective goods. Even if everything is in order with the tool, but its characteristics are not satisfactory, then, according to the current legislation, you can return the product within 14 days, but at the same time it should not lose its presentation.
