Need advice buying a jigsaw.

cheap jigsaws are only any good for cutting up to about 18mm thick really. Any thicker and the blade will wander and the cut wont be at right angles. Also you will need to keep changing blades as they blunt. Jigsaws and any type of straight edge guide is a waste of time as again the blade will wander despite using an edge guide. BUT jigsaws are safe to use whereas circular saws less so - you can do alot of damage with these things ( I hate them and I've worked with wood for 40yrs) If you building cabinetry in a room etc you'll need to cut presume softwood batten or studding ie 3x2 type of thing also plywood? MDF sheet? etc. Go buy 2 handsaws for a tenner from BQ etc - they will be razor sharp to start with and cut through materials like butter. The biggest tip is to use a candle and rub in over the saw blade as this stops the the saw jamming when making a cut.

OM2 said:

So I'm confused now...
I wanted to buy a rotary saw initially.
I thought it was awesome and I could do so many things with it!. But in videos I saw that it only cut down 2cm - which is what you guys are saying the jigsaw will do! So... Should I go for one of these instead?

What's a jigsaw useful for in that case?
Amongst other things I wanted to make boxes.

Jigsaw with a guide. Surely you can't go wrong??

I'm now thinking maybe I need a circular saw as well - but should I cancel the jigsaw and get a circular saw instead?

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the chances off a jigsaw and a guide giving you constant strait cuts on thin[12 or less]is between zero and 50% on most cheap saws
on thicker material off say 20mm 0-20%
yes you will get better results the more you pay but not gteed

I'd be looking at buying a decent tracksaw. Makita do one. Decent tools are not cheap, but they will work, be more accurate and allow you to keep more of your hair in the long run.

Without knowing how much use you'd get out of it and your longer term plans, its difficult for anyone to give you meaningful advice.

If you see yourself regularly dimensioning sheet materials, a tracksaw is the way to go, without a doubt. Mine will cut 55mm of solid hardwood and some will do far more than that. 20mm is nothing for a decent tracksaw.

If I were you I'd take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Understand for yourself where you want to be and research whats needed to get there. It's all too easy to get sucked into tool buying and end up with stuff you never use. Ask any furniture maker....

OM2....from your posts we can state that you are not using these tools to earn a crust, so really, chill out!

Do not buy a jigsaw unless you intend to cut curves.
Do not buy a plunge saw with a track unless you intend to earn money with it.

Do buy a hand saw. 2 for £10 at your local huge place. The blue first fix is 'rough' cut and the green 'second' fix is finer. You will need the 'second' fix. Buy two for £10.

You have already bought a hand screwdriver and a combi drill. As stated, unless you intend cutting 'shapes' then you do not require a jigsaw....you could just spend £10 on a coping saw which you will want for things like skirting.

A circular saw is mainly used for 'ripping' lengths of board. (so 2.4m by 1.2m cut into smaller sections)
A plunge saw, with track, is mainly used for cutting out worktops....to install sinks and hobs etc.
A jigsaw is also used for the above task, in fact those who use a 'plunge' also will use a jigsaw for the curves.
A chop saw is used to cut perfect 90 degree (also many other angles such as 45) cuts for framing and things such as skirting etc. Also called a miter saw or the 'sliding' version....a sliding compound miter saw.

The main thing to do is ENJOY your creation of 'things'. Have fun and don't be afraid to f%$k up

Have a look in your local B&Q - they may have some of the Scheppach Track Saws offer* left.

Circa £100...!!!

Lmfao said:

A plunge saw, with track, is mainly used for cutting out worktops....to install sinks and hobs etc.

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Hmm, maybe if you're a kitchen fitter that would be its main use, but they are widely used for working with sheet goods and in furniture making or other disciplines to replace or compliment a table saw. With the right bench and accessories, they are very versatile indeed.

Yes I know but I do not think that OM2 requires one at this point in his/her diy activities!

And I apologize to OM2 for my use of gender specific third-person, singular personal pronouns.

It was not my intention to 'classify' OM2 or limit their consideration of 'self'.

I hope that by my use of 'his/her' I have not caused any lasting harm.

Lmfao said:

Yes I know but I do not think that OM2 requires one at this point in his/her diy activities!

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Y'know, in all honesty, I think if I was to advise someone on the most useful power tool to buy to start working with sheet goods, a track saw would be top of my list. They are so much safer and easier to use than circular saws and as long as the person has a decent bench to work off, there are many possibilities. I can't think of another tool that would offer the same benefits to a beginner whilst doing the common jobs such as dimensioning etc.

Thats my thinking behind it anyhoot

PS. My absolute top of the list in terms of usefulness to a beginner in all areas would be a good bandsaw, if not for the difficulty in setting them up for a newcomer to machinery.

Lmfao said:

A circular saw is mainly used for 'ripping' lengths of board. (so 2.4m by 1.2m cut into smaller sections)

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A portable rip saw (as opposed to a table or bench saw) is often used to cut solid timbers along the length (a rip cut) - using a rip blade. With the appropriate blade (and ideally a method of guiding it) it can also be used to break-down or dimension sheet materials - from cement board to MDF, polycarbonate sheet to melamine-faced chipboard. That "guide" can be a simple as a straight piece of CLS softwood and a couple of G-cramps. No need to waste money on a plunge/rail saw at the beginning.

Lmfao said:

A plunge saw, with track, is mainly used for cutting out worktops....to install sinks and hobs etc.

Click to expand...

I know that I'm not alone in using mine far more for breaking down sheet materials - brilliant for making boxings, opening-up access holes in plywood floors, ripping down soffit boards, etc. Also very handy for trimming doors and ripping-off old lippings on flush doors on refurbs as it happens

thanks for the advice and humour guys

@Lmfao thanks for some great advice.
i've got a hand saw from screwfix. i was cursing while cutting a floor board. took me ages!
we had some laminate put down... they had a jigsaw... which i used to cut the floor board - pretty awesome!

now u guys are making me think twice about everything.
i'm not planning to become a carpenter
but did want to make a few things like shelves and boxes + the 2 projects i mentioned.