Choosing cordless jigsaw
The market offers many saws that have quite affordable prices. Their versatility makes jigsaws popular with professionals and DIY alike. It is therefore not surprising that there has been a considerable selection of cordless jigsaws for every need and requirement on the market for quite some time.
The advantage of a cordless jigsaw is that it does not require a cable and therefore brings a high degree of mobility.
You will also find some important information on this page, that you should pay attention to if you want to buy a cordless jigsaw.
Table of Contents: Open me
- Advantages and disadvantages of Cordless Jigsaw
- Cordless jigsaw – precise work without cables
- Areas of application for wireless jigsaws
- What can a cordless jigsaw do?
- What should be considered before choosing a cordless jigsaw?
- Buying criteria
- Additional features. Which ones are really needed?
- Purchase criteria for battery-powered jigsaws at a glance
- Saw blades: the heart of every jigsaw
- Work safety and protective measures
- How to Use a Jigsaw: The Easiest Tutorial For Newbies – Video
- Cordless Jigsaw – FAQ
Advantages and disadvantages of Cordless Jigsaw
Cordless sawing freedom
Strengths
- Just as precise as corded devices
- Performance can match that of electric jigsaws
- Sawing of different materials possible as well as curved cuts
Weaknesses
- Depending on battery placement, miter cuts are not possible
- Units are more expensive than corded models
- Are quite heavy
Cordless jigsaw – precise work without cables
On the other hand, the absence of the often annoying cable can be a real advantage when working with a jigsaw, for example, when cutting through a pipe that is difficult to access or when working with wood outdoors in the open air. That’s why cordless jigsaws are part of the arsenal of many professional craftsmen today, even if their performance usually doesn’t quite match that of mains-operated high-performance jigsaws. Of course, cordless jigsaws do not only have advantages. For example, there’s the limited battery life, and the otherwise easier-to-handle cordless jigsaws are often quite a bit heavier than comparable mains-powered models. Another disadvantage is the generally higher price. Here, of course, you can save if you buy a model without a battery if a corresponding battery is already available. As with all cordless tools, however, you should sooner or later think about whether a replacement battery is necessary or not. For professionals, this is actually an absolute must in order to avoid unnecessary breaks in work.
In their mode of operation, cordless jigsaws are no different from mains-powered models. In both, a toothed saw blade is set in vertical motion by an electric motor, depending on the task at hand. While the power of mains-powered devices is specified in watts, the power of cordless jigsaws depends on the corresponding battery voltage. Most devices have a voltage of 10.8 or 18 volts, which should be sufficient for most moderately demanding work. In conclusion, the decision for or against a cordless jigsaw also depends on personal preferences, since especially in the DIY sector the performances are absolutely comparable. For those who value mobility and always find cables annoying and limiting, a cordless jigsaw is just the thing.
Areas of application for wireless jigsaws
The areas of application for cordless jigsaws are largely identical to those of conventional, mains-powered models:
- cutting materials
- cutting
- precise final cutting for assembly
- free guidance allows curved cuts and other demanding cutting lines
What can a cordless jigsaw do?
The cordless jigsaw is suitable for sawing curved cuts. With it, you can process materials such as wood, plastic, or even metal outside your workshop. This mobility is made possible by the battery.
What also distinguishes cordless jigsaws is their precision. This makes it easy to determine the width and length of the cut material. For this reason, they are also ideally suited for both DIY and craftsmen.
The speedy progress of work, which is guaranteed thanks to the use of a cordless jigsaw, also saves the user valuable time.
Sawing from above provides an excellent overview.
What should be considered before choosing a cordless jigsaw?
First, you should consider what you want to process with the cordless jigsaw. If it is wood, a cordless jigsaw with a cutting depth of at least 120 mm is suitable. If you are working with harder materials, a cordless jigsaw with a cutting depth for metal of at least 30 mm is suitable. Furthermore, you should consider in advance how long you will be working on the move, depending on the battery life should also correspond to the project. In principle, battery runtimes of over 4 hours are considered good, runtimes of less than 3 hours are not recommended.
As far as power is concerned, the cordless jigsaw should be able to deliver at least 18 V of voltage.
Buying criteria
In the following, we will show you which aspects you can use to decide between the multitude of possible cordless jigsaws.
The criteria that you can use to compare the cordless jigsaws with each other include:
- Weight
- Power
- Handle type
In the following paragraphs, we will explain what is important in the individual criteria.
Weight
Good saw quality is the top priority for jigsaws. The weight plays a not insignificant role here. The lighter the cordless jigsaw, the longer it can be used for precise work. Especially since you have to operate it with your muscle power. The faster you tire, the slower projects progress. With cordless jigsaws, weight also plays a role in transportation. Again, lighter models have a big advantage over heavier ones. Battery jigsaws usually weigh between 2 and 5 kilograms.
Power
It is important to know what you want to cut with your cordless jigsaw in the first place. Depending on this, different saws come into question. For example, if you only want to process thick wood or softer materials, cordless jigsaws with a cutting depth for wood of 120 mm are best suited, as already explained above. However, if you are dealing with harder materials than wood, you will need a cordless jigsaw with high power, which can also saw metal at least 30 mm deep. The hand-held circular saw should also be able to apply a voltage of at least 18 V.
The rule is: the higher the power, the easier it is to get through the materials. If the power is not high enough for the material being processed, the process can take a very long time and sawing can quickly become a test of nerves.
Handle type
It is important that the handsaw fits well in the hand and that working with it is problem-free. The 2 most common handle types on the US market are the bow handle and the pommel handle. Knob handle models have advantages for curved cuts, which are more likely to be performed by professionals. Ultimately, however, the type of jigsaw is a matter of personal preference, as there is no universal formula for comfort.
Additional features. Which ones are really needed?
| Function name | Description | When it’s useful |
| Soft start | Available for electric jigsaws. Provides a gradual start of the electric motor: at the moment of activation, there is no jerking of the tool. This makes it easier to move the saw into the workpiece without damaging the material, and it also reduces the load on the power grid. | When high precision machining is important. |
| Pendulum stroke | It is provided in most modern models and is necessary to increase the straight cutting speed. The essence of the operation is that the saw blade, in addition to the up and down movements, also moves back and forth. To adjust the speed of the pendulum stroke can be provided in several stages so that it is possible to adjust to a particular material. The function is deactivated when a curved cut is to be made or when a straight cut is to be made as neatly as possible. | When there is a large amount of work associated with the direct cutting of wood boards and wooden workpieces. |
| RPM maintenance under load | An electronic regulator is built into the design of the jigsaw that maintains a constant RPM when the load on the tool increases. Thus, the power of the tool does not decrease and the cutting speed does not drop. The system also protects the motor from overloading. | When you have to work with hard-to-machine materials, such as heterogeneous wood, metal, etc. |
| Chip blowing | It consists of a directed airflow due to the operation of a fan that cools the motor. By removing the swarf from the working area, the visibility of the intended cutting line is improved and the saw’s entry into the material is facilitated. | When the cleanliness of the process affects the accuracy of the work, for example, when making shaped cuts. |
| Laser pointer | Integrated into the tool to mark the cutting line in a straight line, thus eliminating the need for pre-marking. | When you have to make a lot of straight cuts and need to save time on marking. |
| Backlighting | It is mainly used in cordless models, as they are often used in poorly lit rooms. But electric jigsaws can also have this feature. Backlighting improves visibility on the surface of the workpiece and increases machining accuracy. | When there is a possibility that the work will be carried out in poor light, and the accuracy and precision of cutting is important. |
Purchase criteria for battery-powered jigsaws at a glance
For DIY users:
- Frequency and extent of use
- Price-performance ratio
- Scope of delivery (especially batteries included or not)
- Charge level indicator
- Pay attention to further extras and the connection possibility for a dust extractor
For professionals:
- Power or battery voltage
- pay attention to cutting depth and pendulum stroke
- Charge level indicator, motor brake, and overload protection
- Possibility of connecting a dust extractor
- Knob handle if required (allows more precise execution of even complicated cutting lines)
Saw blades: the heart of every jigsaw
The same applies to cordless jigsaws: it’s the saw blade that counts. Even if you can’t turn an inexpensive DIY model into a powerful professional tool with a high-quality saw blade, its performance is nevertheless significantly enhanced by one. Investing in good saw blades therefore always makes sense.
For a do-it-yourselfer, universal saw blades are recommended, which can be supplemented with more specialized versions for, particularly, fine work.
Professionals, on the other hand, should purchase the appropriate special saw blades for the various tasks in order to get the most out of their cordless jigsaw.
Work safety and protective measures
Cordless jigsaws are powerful tools and the saw blade moves at high speed, which can cause serious injuries if not guided properly. In addition to wearing work gloves and a safety guard, be sure to wear sturdy clothing and work shoes. A mouthguard can be particularly useful when working with composites to prevent the inhalation of fine plastic particles. A work helmet is not absolutely necessary, at least in the private environment, but can be highly useful when working overhead.
Conclusion
Invest in a cordless jigsaw that has more features if you’re a professional contractor. If you’re a casual hobbyist, a basic model will be adequate for you. Furthermore, more advanced jigsaws are more expensive than those with basic features.
How to Use a Jigsaw: The Easiest Tutorial For Newbies - Video
Cordless Jigsaw - FAQ
❓ What should I look for in a cordless jigsaw?
Power and Speed. The simple formula is the thicker and/or harder the material you’ll be cutting, the more power is required. The power is measured in volts (V) on a cordless jigsaw, so look out for voltage rating. Keep your eye, too, on the capacity of the battery, denoted by its Ah (ampere hour) rating.
❓ What should you not do with a jigsaw?
Jigsaw Safety. Unplug the saw or remove its battery when changing blades and when not in use. Avoid dangerous kickback. Do not attempt to turn on the tool when the blade is against the material to be cut. Never force the saw while it is cutting. Keep the jigsaw shoe firmly placed flat on the cutting surface.
❓ What is the difference between a jigsaw and an orbital jigsaw?
A standard action jigsaw moves the jigsaw blade solely in an up-and-down motion, while in an orbital-action jigsaw the blade moves slightly forward and into the workpiece on the upswing, then slightly backward on the down stroke as the blade resets for the next cutting stroke.
