When it comes to cutting a variety of work pieces – and that too, in different complex forms, I like to think that jigsaws are the ideal combination of versatility and durability. Of course, there are circular saws that work fine in this regard, but jigsaws take perfection to an entirely new level.
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The fact that you can hold the jigsaw in your hand and maneuver it around the cutting board in any way you like is what makes it so special. The problem with circular saws is that they are too constricted; the flow of the cut is a little tight around the corners. Plus, you have to move the said circular saw in a very controlled manner.
Jigsaws, on the other hand, are truly a “handheld” companion for a worthy adversary. Of course, wood isn’t the only material that a jigsaw can cut effectively. There are plastic sheets, PVC pipes, ceramic tiles, aluminum and even metal panels. For the latter, you’re going to need a powerful jigsaw combined with a robust stable motor and vice versa.
There is no hard and fast formula to help users buy a solid high performance jigsaw or any other power tool for that matter. The reason as to why many woodworkers fail to conk out full performance from any product is because they don’t know half the things about project requirements, environmental dynamics and many other such aspects.
While it is true that a flashy power tool with a promising list of specifications/ features can lead to finishing a woodworking contract rather quickly, things usually go off track. You may end up buying a jigsaw which is more suited to cutting thinner wood types. Using this specific model on any dense material will lead to inaccurate cuts, alongside long lasting damage to the jigsaw blade and the motor itself.
This is why I decided to write down a detailed jigsaw buying guide for users in and beyond. The post will be updated from time to time with additional information pertinent to technological advancements and such features etc. Please note that you can find additional online information on your own. Therefore, this buying guide is not conclusive. Most likely, I expect you to take it all in with a grain of salt.
There are several factors to account for. Let alone, pricing and a long list of features are not going to help you if you don’t have a specific idea about the project requirements. The lowest price goes down to $20, where both new and used jigsaws are available from online websites.
Likewise, if you are considering buying a high performance jigsaw, the price can easily spike up north of $450+. There’s no cap to the upper limit as it all depends on compatibility with jigsaw blades, exhaust ports, laser LED guide for cutting and etc. These features are not essential, but there presence and absence can determine how fast and perfectly a woodworking project is completed.
All of the following features were either reviewed independently, or as part of the main jigsaw review that I wrote in detail earlier. You can check out all the jigsaw related posts by scrolling through the jigsaw category at this website. I only select, review and eventually recommend those power tools that I’d use for myself in any isolated case. There’s no point in recommending crap for the sake of making a little money on the side.
When you are considering buying a jigsaw for the first time, the sale rep or the box packaging will tell you a thing or two about the jigsaw motor. The motor is the heart that powers up the entire unit and causes the blade to work flawlessly.
It is already obvious that higher SPM (*Steps Per Minute) is a result of a powerful jigsaw motor. However, there is one another thing which many jigsaw companies “fail” or simply “forget” to mention. It is called a blade speed stabilizer; an important component that keeps the SPM consistent with the motor’s speed.
Those jigsaws that don’t have an SPM stabilizer, they tend to slow down when cutting through dense material. The blade SPM stabilizer can work both in favor and against the jigsaw motor, as it also depends on which material you are cutting through.
If you have decided to use the same jigsaw with blade SPM regulator on dense work pieces, then you should know that the blade and the motor will have to constantly make an effort. Due to high resistance/ frequency, the blade will eventually get blazing hot, and also cause the motor to degrade in performance over time.
At the start of purchasing your very first jigsaw, you will have to choose between cordless or a corded electric jigsaw. The decision eventually boils down to what you are going to use the jigsaw for. If you are an entry level woodworking guy who wishes to dabble in DIY projects, a cordless jigsaw would be a nice addition to your power tools inventory.
If you are a professional, you will most likely go for a corded electric jigsaw. If you ask my opinion, I will always go for a corded electric jigsaw because these products tend to have higher SPM and more Ampere rating. As a result, there is an abundant supply of electricity going to the jigsaw motor, which can work effortlessly for hours on end – and that too, without causing any worries about battery life etc.
Speaking of battery power, different jigsaws have different battery timings. Likewise, it is not necessary for a jigsaw to last the same amount of time on one full charge, as compared to the other company jigsaws. The manufacturers make each battery in their own way – hence causing the performance to vary over time.
As to how long a cordless jigsaw battery will take to reach full charge, you can consult with the instructions manual. Some jigsaws are sold without battery. Their price may seem to be at an all time low point, but considering the cost of a standalone high quality jigsaw battery, you will most likely end up paying more rather than saving a coin on the side.
A jigsaw with higher blade speed looks and sounds more attractive than a slow SPM counterpart. The steps/ strokes help determine few things in the long run. The first priority is how fast a work piece is cut, as it entirely depends on the blade SPM.
Secondly, as I stated earlier, SPM is not a direct determinant of overall jigsaw performance. You have to see if the company has included a blade speed stabilizer and such other things. Also, the result of the jigsaw will vary whether it is corded or cordless.
In my opinion, most of the advance level jigsaws come with two additional features that impact the SPM. First one is the variable speed model, and the second feature is called the orbital action. I will explain a thing or two about orbital action later, but variable speed is more important in this section of the post.
Variable speed is achieved when a jigsaw comes with a speed dial. Usually, high performance jigsaws have up to 7 setting speed dial. The first position is the slowest speed, and as you go up, the blade speed increases. The best advice is to start with the slowest, or relatively slow blade speed and determine the amount of resistance a work piece has.
Eventually, variable speed offers woodworkers the freedom and ability to make fluid cuts in whichever pattern they like.
**Caution: You might be inclined to think that metal sheets call for high speed setting on a jigsaw, but it is quite the opposite. As a matter of fact, it is sometimes the dense piece of wood which calls for high SPM combination, rather than a metal work piece. Metal and aluminum are best cut when the jigsaw speed is kept to a slow setting.
This is the most interesting thing about jigsaws. The orbital action is the pendulum like motion; an oscillation of jigsaw blade from one end to another. A lot of companies, such as; Dewalt, Bosch JS470E, Porter Cable PCE345 etc., have released jigsaws with 4 speed orbital action dial. This dial is usually located at one side of the jigsaw.
In Dewalt’s case, the orbital action motion is slapped with a combination of curve cuts. Therefore, whenever you are using a select model of Dewalt DCS331M1 jigsaw on any orbital setting, you can also make beautiful curve cuts of varying dimensions easily.
Do bear in mind that base jigsaw models like the SKIL -02 don’t have an orbital action mechanism. Orbital action allows the jigsaw blade to move forward and backward as if a clock’s pendulum is at work. These movements help to move the jigsaw in a circular motion, which is the most important in maintaining the perfect form of a curved cut.
The biggest benefit of orbital action is that once you have a curved cut design outlined on a work piece, you can select the orbital motion to work that way. One of the co-founder of a jigsaw brand once said the following about the orbital mechanism. I like to think that they’re golden words, and are to be taken into consideration when buying a jigsaw for the first time.
“Orbital action uses an oscillating mechanism to move the blade in a slight circular motion. The blade moves forward on the up stroke, which is the direction where the blade’s teeth are facing. This helps in cutting more quickly and aggressively – then the blade moves back on its return step/ stroke. This keeps the same blade clear of wear n’ tear. “
He further continued, “Since different kinds of blades cut in different style, the materials require varying orbital action settings. This is where the selection dial lets you choose the amount of “orbit” you are going for. Extreme settings are for super-fast cuts, while low settings are for making great curve cuts.”
My personal bit at this point would be to keep the orbital dial at base position to make sure that the blade is not overheating, and also to assess the resistance of the work piece. One thing which most people don’t know about orbital action is that it also keeps the blade cool.
Due to the small size of the blade, things overheat rather quickly. Especially if the motion of the blade is constricted to a limited movement area, it can also make ugly burn marks on any number of wood panels.
I don’t think a jigsaw would be an ideal tool for making bevel cuts when compared to miter saws, but there are some benefits worth looking into. The general assumption is that manufacturers introduce a jigsaw model to tilt at different angles ranging from 22.5 Degrees to 55 Degrees. 45 degrees is the most common bevel cut angle, which is why many jigsaws are compatible with it.
Likewise, there are screws in the base/ shoe of the jigsaws that allow woodworkers to increase the reach of the angle. The base will tilt up to 45 degrees or whatever angle is set for maximum leverage. Tightening the screw, or locking the positive stop will result in keeping the bevel angle maintained in that position.
If your jigsaw came with a hex key, or an Allen wrench, it is most likely meant for bevel angle adjustments. If there is no Allen wrench, then don’t freak out. Your jigsaw model probably integrates a locking level which simplifies the need of having a protractor etc. to set angles.
Blades are not that difficult to change on a jigsaw. In many cases, the jigsaws are made to release the blade at the push of a button. Sometimes, removing a blade requires the use of a small wrench, but 90% jigsaws have eliminated that option. Screws seem like a lot of hassle to deal with – woodworkers don’t want to spend half of their time on changing the blade.
The Makita K jigsaws are a different breed. The last model I tried, its blade had to be kept level with the jigsaws position. A slight misalignment while inserting the blade would cause it to get stuck. In that case, removing the blade would become more of an issue, and will probably cause a flesh wound if you are not wearing any gloves.
Yes, if you are a seasoned woodworker like me, you probably don’t need LED lights. The light, or lights, are a built in feature in modern jigsaws. Their purpose is to assist the user in making cuts without going off track. These days, this is a welcomed feature, but it is not entirely needed.
Don’t panic. Just buy a carpenter pencil and mark down the markings like an old school user. The light is more of an add-on feature whose absence or presence is not really harmful.
I like to think that keeping a work site clean is as much important as owning a high end jigsaw. Also, sawdust can cause serious injury to the eyes, which is why you need to keep your job site spick and span for safety reasons as well. I know, the smell of saw dust is probably the first and last thing you are madly in love with, but a clogged up power tool, or a job site is the most abhorred thing in workers’ community.
Many jigsaws come with a built in dust blower. It keeps the saw dust at bay, while small nozzles spray a jet of constant air on the work piece. If your jigsaw does not have a dust blow, then make sure that it has an exhaust port at least. This port can be used to attach a shop vac to it. Therefore, your vac can suck in all the unwanted debris while you are engaged in back to back cutting.
While the market is brimming with all kinds of jigsaws right now, you should have a clear blueprint set up already. Last but not the least, there is no substitute for hard work and skill. Any woodworker who has 10 years of successful projects piled up, can tell you that you can crunch out almost the same amount of results from a Black and Decker inferior level jigsaw. Make sure that you have done plenty of research before buying a jigsaw from a long term use perspective.
If I were to buy the best jigsaw for myself, I would spend the extra cash and get the Bosch JS470E 120 V Jigsaw . It's a corded jigsaw with 7 Amp of power and a stable SPM speed. It features tool less blade change design and bevel cuts up to 45 degrees. This unit is quiet and vibration free when operating and comes with smooth precision control with reinforced SPM speed for stable output with Bosch's signature constant response circuitry. This saw is up to any cutting task it's challenged with.
As a woodworker, if I had to choose one cutting tool for high degree of maneuverability and control, I’d go for a jigsaw. These little puppers are very easy to handle. Plus, with the entire movement factor at your disposal, your cutting motion is not very restricted.
Of course, it takes a lot of professionalism and patience to reach that level where you want the jigsaw to cut exactly how you want it to. But the point is that honing skills over a jigsaw is a lot easier than a miter saw, circular saw or any other tool for that matter.
I have shortlisted a variety of reliable products for you in this best jigsaw review. Please note that these brands were recently reviewed. Therefore, if you are interested in reading a jig saw review, you can go to the main page or visit the relevant jigsaw category at Powertoolbuzz. I always select those products that I’d be interested in using myself.
Having said that, these reviews are not conclusive – and so is this guide. Old gets replaced by new; it is the law of the power tools industry. If, at any point, you find out that our review of a product at Powertoolbuzz is superseded by something trendy and latest, just holler up through the comments section below. You can also write a detailed ; I’ll make sure that whichever product you have recommended, it gets listed on our website in this review.
Model
Orbital Settings
Weight
Voltage
Warranty
Check Price
BOSCH JS470E
4 Positions
5.6 lbs.
120 V
2 years
DeWalt DCS331M1
4 Positions
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6.8 lbs.
20 V
3 years
Makita K
3 Positions
4.19 lbs.
120 V
1 year
Porter Cable PCE345
4 Positions
5.05 lbs.
120 V
3 years
SKIL -02
4 Positions
5 lbs.
120 V
1 year
Black & Decker BDEJS600
4 Positions
5.2 lbs.
20 V
2 year
I might be a little biased when it comes to choosing Bosch, or SKIL products, but the company people really seem to know what they’re doing. With the release of Bosch JS470E 120 V , the devs managed to keep up with a common woodworker’s expectations.
Perhaps you know that the first ever jigsaw was released back during – . What’s really interesting is the fact that it was Bosch’s very own employee who first came up with a working model of a jig saw.
He used his wife’s sewing machine; replaced the sewing needle with a small shank shaped toothed blade and then tested the prototype on a couple of wood planks.
Bosch senior employees liked the idea and they all worked together to incorporate it into creating the first ever jigsaw in the history of power tools.
Buying a Bosch JS470E 120 V Jigsaw is not a matter of doing something on an impulse. Go ahead and do your own research buy reading this review from start to end; you will find out that this tool is a great addition to your bulging arsenal of gadgets from a long-term investment perspective.
Of course, if you are a seasoned woodworker like me, you understand that changing tools is not possible after every few months or so. Eventually we all need to rely on “that one” high performance product which can not only work as advertised, but can also take a beating on site.
Bosch integrates quality, durability and performance in one package. Additional details on this saw are available down on this page. Without any ado, let’s take a look at the following best jigsaws one by one. They are fast, reliable and guaranteed to chisel through a long range of cutting material.
Starting off with a low key unit, you can go for the Black and Decker BDEJS600C model. It is lightweight, it doesn’t cost a lot (you’re only looking at $30 - $35 price tag per unit), and it works as advertised on a number of work pieces.
The only “issue” with the Black & Decker jigsaw or all of the company’s products in the power tools industry is that they are not exactly a fitting match for professionals. Seriously, if you are a seasoned wood worker who likes to get his hands dirty, while working on a monument of perfection, this is not the best jigsaw out there and is avoidable.
However, at the same time, I strongly recommend model BDEJS600C to entry-level enthusiasts. It is ideal for learners who are getting by with any particular technique on a DIY wood working project, people who are relatively quick on picking up sawing skills and vice versa. Given that the unit has a very low price, even if you do end messing up some part or anything, you won’t regret losing a lot of money.
On a personal note, I hold the Dewalt DCS331M1 very close to my heart and consider Dewalt one of the best brands. Part of the reason is because it was one of the first products in the cordless jigsaw category that I tried. I am not a huge fab of battery powered equipment though. However, you never know when you will need a little bit of portability by your side on your next woodworking project.
Dewalt is known for remarkable build quality. I have tried, reviewed and recommended the company’s miter saws, circular saws, table saws and even Dewalt chainsaws on several occasions. The CS331M1 Battery Powered Jigsaw is one of the very few in the “affordable” niche category. You can find several updated models with higher pricing, and better features.
If you read my Makita K 3.9 Amp review, you should be well aware that this product isn’t exactly the greatest power tool nor worth buying. However, there are some perks of having it. Like, for instance, have you thought about the all-time low price tag; this way, you are not at the risk of destroying a high quality power tool as a learner.
On the flip side, Makita has imbued this model with good build quality. It does have limited number of features due to cheap pricing and all, but you can get by with a lot of entry level woodworking contracts. The company introduced a medium performance 3.9 Amp motor, which churns out approx. – SPM.
Compared to the Dewalt DCS331M1 jigsaw, Makita should have installed at least an LED guide light for a deviation free cutting experience, but they didn’t. The good thing is that this model will go exactly along the cutting line regardless of a laser beam. You only need to outline a track with the help of a carpenter pencil for accurate results.
I wasn’t a huge fan of Porter Cable until I reviewed the company’s PCE345 Jigsaw. As stated earlier in the review I wrote for this model, I’ll say it again: PCE345 is not the “best” jigsaw for the money. However, it works like your grandma’s old sewing machine. Once you get used to keeping the blade SPM at optimal output, there’s no reason why this product shouldn’t be an ideal match for an entry level woodworker out there.
Out of the box, the one thing, which really stands out about this model, is the 7 variable speed dial. You can change the blade strokes per minute from low to high over a series of different settings. This allows users to cut PVC pipes, thin ceramic chips, pinewood and oak wood sheets. You can also use the jigsaw on PT lumber, but I’d advise that you refrain from doing so.
PT lumber is raw and requires the maximum amount of SPM for a rather more thorough cutting experience. Also, jigsaw blades are not very long – therefore, you cannot make deep cuts. Top it off with a standard 4 speed oscillation mechanism,the PCE345 model shines as a brilliant addition to a seasoned woodworker’s tools.
One more thing that you need to know about this jigsaw is blade speed setting. Since there are 7 different levels to choose from, one can be tempted to use the max speed. In reality, what happens in that the blade can easily get stuck, damaged or overheat if the variable speed does not match the density of the cutting material.
Since wood is the natural/ default material which most of the jigsaws are made for, you should not have any issues at any variable speed dial selection mode. It is safe to start with the slowest speed to assess what the unit is up against. Once you have an idea about the resistance of the cut material, you can increase the variable speed to get fast results.
One mistake that amateurs normally make is that they turn on the orbital action system to cut high density pieces. It is okay to do so in some context, but whenever you are cutting steel, do not use the orbital action. It can damage the blade when it’s in idle state. In severe cases, even the jigsaw motor can get fried easily.
SKIL and Bosch both go hand in hand when it comes to using high quality reliable power tools. Speaking of jigsaws, the company recently released the SKIL -02 series model. It also has an embedded laser guide to make accurate cutting a breeze.
By the way, as far as I am concerned, I am not bothered if the jigsaw doesn’t have an LED laser beam. It is a nice additional feature, but its absence does not affect the performance. You can use the standard pencil to make markings.
The only reason why you would strongly rely on a jig saw with laser beam is when you are working in a dimly lit environment, or you are an entry-to-intermediate level woodworker. Seasoned woodworking contractors are normally not bothered by such adversities.
If you are looking for a stable product worth its price tag, you should go for the Bosch JS470E 120 Volt Jigsaw. It is perhaps one of the most durable handheld power tools I have seen and used to date. Yes, I also wrote a dedicated review for this Bosch model, you can check it out later at Powertoolbuzz.
There was a lot of hype associated with Bosch JS470E model before the company released it. Part of the reason is associated with how Bosch has been known to have that ‘unknown’ employee who took the initiative of interfering with his wife’s beloved sewing machine.
He replaced the needle with a toothed blade and decided to move the then known model of a “handheld” jigsaw over a wooden slab.
The results may not have been perfect, but the guy’s execution of the first ever jigsaw was flawless. This is one of the main reasons as to why Bosch is loved by majority of the woodworking community members. These people know that the brand name has been around for several decades now. Take a look at some of the pros and cons of the Bosch JS470E 120 Volt Jigsaw.
In most cases, woodworkers are made to believe that orbital action is a welcomed addition to a long list of features in a jigsaw. They enable the said mechanism because it feels okay to see the blade oscillate and cut through the work piece.
If I were to be honest with you for a second, I also made the same mistake several years ago. I would use the orbital action on work pieces which did not really require that specific blade motion. As a result, I ended up ruining my jigsaw blade and motor altogether.
The orbital action is basically a pendulum like stroke that moves the blade in an “oval” motion. As it goes down, it is in idle state – as the blade curves and moves up, it is actually cutting something. The entire movement is achieved when manufacturers insert a small pin inside the saw support roller. As a result, once the orbital action is enabled at any setting, the blade moves in an elbow/ pendulum like motion.
NEVER EVER use your jigsaw’s orbital action when the blade is already hot, or the work material is too dense. Especially if you are looking to cut aluminum, metal or ceramic sheets, use a DIA blade type. These blades have a steel core with diamond spraying. Other blades are not designed to take on metal or any such material for that matter.
The reason I wrote about orbital action in this review is that I do not want you to make the same mistake with your jigsaw. Since all of the aforementioned power tools were personally tested by me, or one of our staff members, there is a chance that someone “failed” to mention these additional details concerning orbital action in jigsaws.
As a result, you may end up with a permanently damaged blade with orbital action enabled when it was never needed in the first place.
The above-mentioned "best" jigsaws are just few of the models that I tried recently. They were individually reviewed on our website. Despite of our strong recommendations, we are not forcing you to buy anything from this list. You can do your own research, read up in our jig saw tool guide, compare features n’ specs and buy something which perfectly suits your project requirements.
The only reason you “should” buy one based on our recommendations made in this best cordless jigsaw review is because they were personally tried by our staff. We do not highlight any power tool at our website regardless if it's a jigsaw, cordless drill, chainsaw or any other tool just because it comes in a fancy ass box – our writers work hard to test each product against a set number of variable changes to make sure that only perfection falls through the cracks. We hope you enjoyed our post and don't forget to share your cutting experiences in the comments below.
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