How to cut in a straight line with a jigsaw?

[OM2]

In a past post some of you guys said when it came to thicker than 1cm - FORGET it... a jigsaw just wont do it.

OK... so I found out this is indeed true trying to cut chipboard less than 1cm thick - some Ikea furniture.

There MUST be a way surely?
I looked on yourtube... not much there to inpsire.
I did see some get a long metal piece.
So I tried with my spirit level - clamped down. It was kinda OK... it was hard keeping the saw pushed up against the metal.

I thought... how about having 2 sides? i.e. have 2 metal strips clamped down - the exact width of the saw metal bit.
Not ideal for everything - but I was guess OK for a lot of things?

Would this work?
I looked around and couldn't find anything for sale online.

Would be good to hear what solutions there are.

Thanks.

 

[EddieM]

There is indeed a way. Use a circular saw.

 

[Tigercubrider]

A jigsaw blade does tend to wander, even if you have a guide
I'd look for a cheap saw - or plunge saw from either aldi or lidl or possibly screwfix

 

[EddieM]

I'm sure this has been gone through at length before.. You won't get a particularly straight perpendicular cut with a jigsaw in anything but thin materials regardless of what you do. That's it I'm saying no more.

 

[Notch7]

A jigsaw is not a tool for accurate work.

End of

 

[Keithmac]

I used a Dremel version of this recently and it was excellent, not as frightening as a full circular saw!.

 

[endecotp]

Use a handsaw.

If you attempt to guide a jigsaw with a straight edge, the body of the saw will go in a straight line but the blade will still wander and might actually get bent or jam up (I’ve discovered this myself).

If you’re determined to try, experiment with different blades; a sharp “clean cut” blade may be better than a “fast but rough” one. Then draw your straight line and cut freehand, pausing every few cm to check the direction and correct as necessary.

 

[foxhole]

The clue is in the name ''Jigsaw'', its intended for cutting everything but straight lines.

 

[big-all]

i used a bosch 10.8/12v jigsaw to cut a 35mm thick piece off oak i cut out a 15x40mm at the corner the offcut was 100% square and clean look like it had been machined to a finish
was this skill ---------no it was done fully by eye freehand no lines just 2 pencil marks whilst i am good with a jigsaw i would never expect to be as accurate by trying
when using a jigsaw never use a strait edge
ignore the machine body and watch the blade
often the body will be be off to one side it doesnt matter just watch the blade