Jigsaw is one of the finest and most convenient engineering tools for most professional woodworkers and hobbyists. Although the jigsaw is mainly designed to help make cuts on woods to ensure certain designs are made on woods, it does have the ability to make cuts into the metal or plastic surface sheets as well.
The wide variety of jigsaws in the market has made it quite difficult for most buyers to identify which suits them most. Well, no need to worry as we will be looking at the top 5 best jigsaws currently available in the market. To help make your work easier, we have looked at some of the most important factors you need to consider when shopping for the right jigsaw. Also, do not forget to click on the button below each product to get their best deals on Amazon.
Best jigsaws Comparison & Rating
Jigsaws | Features |
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1. Milwaukee 6268-21 Jigsaw
Model | 6268-21 |
Dimensions | 16 x 14 x 4.5 inches |
Strokes | 3,000 SPM |
Weight | 9.7 lbs |
Milwaukee 6268-21 is an excellent machine for individuals in need of a jigsaw that is durable and easy to use. It comes with a keyless shoe adjustment of up to 45-degrees in both directions. This machine uses LED light that helps in improving the visibility of sightlines and precision roller blade guide. There are a cushion grip handle and a counterbalanced mechanism for low vibration. It also comes with a 4-position orbital cutting action and offers tachometer feedback.
2. SKIL 4495-01 Jigsaw
Model | 4495-01 |
Dimensions | 16 x 14 x 4 inches |
Strokes | 3,200 SPM |
Weight | 5 pounds |
SKIL 4495-01 is the best jigsaw for people who are in need of powerful and accurate machines for their cuttings. It comes with a built-in laser guide that helps in ensuring accurate cuttings. This tool is of custom molded tool rest design to help in preventing the blade from destroying the material being cut. It is a tool-less blade change that ensures easy and fast changes while the tool-less foot adjustment encourages easy angle changes. The 4-position orbital cuts control ensures smooth and fast cuts.
3. Bosch JS470E Corded Jigsaw
Model | JS470E |
Dimensions | 15.8 x 14.5 x 4.8 inches |
Strokes | 3,100 SPM |
Weight | 10.1 lbs |
Bosch JS470E 120V is a perfect machine for individuals who are in need of a convenient and accurate jigsaw. Its tool-less blade change system together with the fast insertion and blade ejection lever helps in eliminating the need to touch the hot saw blade. This machine has 4 orbital action tool settings that offer different blade strokes for smooth to aggressive cuts for handling some of the toughest cutting tasks. There is an ambidextrous lock on the button that ensures user comfort and steadiness. Its internal precision machine plunging system together with a low vibration design enhances accuracy.
4. DEWALT DCS331M1 Jigsaw
Model | DCS331M1 |
Dimensions | 16 x 14.2 x 5.2 inches |
Strokes | 3,000 SPM |
Weight | 6 lbs |
DEWALT DCS331M1 is a perfect machine for those who are in need of a versatile jigsaw. It comes with an adjustable dust blower which helps in keeping the cutting line clear. Its 4-position orbital action makes it a high performing jigsaw in the market. The keyless blade change comes with detents at 0, 15, 30, and 45 degrees. Its extra blade on the kit ensures you always have a backup in case the initial blade gets damaged.
5. BLACK+DECKER BDEJS600C Jigsaw
Model | BDEJS600C |
Dimensions | 11.8 x 4.4 x 9.2 inches |
Strokes | 3,000 SPM |
Weight | 5.2 lbs |
This BLACK+DECKER BDEJS600C is a high performing jigsaw that comes with a new and improved wire guard that helps in ensuring precise cuts are made. It comes with a keyless blade clamp that ensures tool free blade change. This machine can make 45-degree bevel cuts with adjustable shoes for stability. It uses curve control technology that enables one to adjust the orbit of the saw in 1 of the 4 customized settings. It has a great cutting power and a variable speed motor that ensures efficient cutting.
Best Jigsaws - Buyer's Guide
Power is a very important issue that you should never forget to look at whenever you are shopping for the best jigsaw in the market. Most jigsaws do have their powers varying from 350 watts to 1000 watts. There are specialized jigsaws in the market that are able to produce powers of up to 1500 watts. Whenever you are in need of cutting a thick wood or a metal sheet, it is important you remember that the jigsaw will need to produce not less than 700 watts.
All the power tools do vibrate whenever they work. The vibration can be high or low. The vibration will affect the quality of the work. However, if you are a beginner, you will always feel a problem when the jigsaw vibrates at a high level. Vibration is in most cases affected by the type of materials the tool is made of. For example, a material made of plastic will vibrate more than a steel body jigsaw.
Majority of the materials do produce dust when jigsaw is used in cutting. The dust can affect the quality of cutting very badly. The blower or dust port attached with the tool will help in blowing away the dust whenever the saw runs.
When the blower does not come with the jigsaw, the LED light or the laser will not give a fine ending of the cut.
The blade size will regulate the breadth of the materials that are to be cut. It will also affect the flexibility of the blade. Thin blade can result in a more accurate and fine ending of the cut line although it is not durable.
It is advisable to ensure the blade size is 1-inch or so more than the thickness of the material you will be working on. When the blade is less thick than the materials, then the blade will not be in a position of making a full cut.
There are two types of blades used in cutting materials when you are using the jigsaw. There is the U-shank and the T-shank. The T-shank is known to be much safer than the U-shank since it allows changing without the support of any tool accessory. However, when your projects deserve more blade types, then you will have to go with the jigsaw that uses advanced technology. There is the tool-less blade changing system that will offer easy insertion and ejection without touch of the hot blade.
The jigsaw blade tooth is a very important factor you have to consider when you want to get a reasonable result. The teeth number and arrangement will always vary with the blade type. For example, on the U-shank blade, the teeth will always go downward and upward with the T-shank blade. The downward arrangement will give a sharp cutting although it wears down faster. The upward teeth are able to cut rough materials faster than the downward one.
Best Jigsaws - FAQs
Jigsaws are usually used in creating intricate, curved cuts on wood materials. Although a number of materials such as sheets, laminate, ceramic, sheets, steel can cut with the jigsaw blade.
The amount of amperage a jigsaw uses depends on the type of work you will be using it for. The amperage usually ranges from 3.5 amps to 7.5 amps for a normal jigsaw. However, the soft cutting jig saw is low powered and creates less SPM and rough cutting is always high powered.
Yes, you jigsaw for your basic home woodworking. However, for the basic home woodworking, you will have to choose a lightweight and compact jigsaw that will best suit your tasks.
Yes, you can always use the jigsaw to help you cut metal, laminate or stone. You will have to change the blade type to be in a position of cutting these materials.
