Cheapo jigsaws: OK for worktops?

[bruce_phipps]

Cheapo jugsaw at =A310.

these OK for cutting 40mm worktops?

At these prices, use once and throw away!

bruce

[Grunff]

As long as you don't mind it cutting where it wants to, and not following the line you want, they're fine.

And throw away the worktop too. :-)

Seriously, while the saw will 'cut' the worktop, you will have almost zero control over where the cut goes. Even my fairly decent Bosch jigsaw can have difficulty with 40mm worktop.

For straight cuts, you'd be better off with a circular saw. If you need to do curves, you really need to buy or hire a decent jigsaw.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Depends how accurate the cuts needed. If simply for an insert sink, etc, maybe ok.

But with jigsaws - perhaps more than most - you really do have to pay for accuracy.

And they're very versatile tools. I use mine for sheet metal cutting too. But for that you want a soft start vari-speed device.

Also, blade changing can be a pain on some.

I love my Bosch SDS. ;-)

[John Rumm]

Depends on the cut you want...

For curved cuts that will be hidden under the flange of a sink or hob, then the cheap jigsaw will get the job done.

For curved cuts that will be visible then you either need a top end jigsaw, or better still a big 1/2" router and suitable template (which you can cut with said top end jigsaw).

For straight cuts a circular saw or even a manual panel saw will do a much better job.

[Adrian C]

You use your SDS as a jigsaw? :-)

-- Adrian

[Ian Stirling]

I could actually imagine some sort of attachment... You'd need roto-stop.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

SDS refers to a type of keyless 'chuck'. And Bosch who invented the name use it for jigsaws as well. You can change the blade without a tool.

[Chris Bacon]

There's a good degree of technique, too - I am surprised that most D-I-Y-ers never go to any classes on how to use their tools (ooh-er).

I like mine, too, but for some reason it now undoes itself and the blade becomes loose or even drops out....

[David Lang]

Hi Bruce

At these prices, use once and throw away!

[RzB]

Yes - Must be similar to the Festool I just bought. Just a flip of a lever and hey presto new blade installed.. Roy

[Adrian C]

Thanks. Didn't know use of the SDS chuck extended past drilling machines. Must pay more attention to the catalogues... :-)

-- Adrian C

[RichardS]

for jigsaws it's just a marketing term for "tool-free blade change" - it bears no relation to SDS on drills.

unlike drills, each manufacturer seems to have trademarked the term for jigsaw use - for instance Bosch use "SDS" to describe it, whereas my Atlas Copco has the term "quicklok" or something like that (it's a trademarked A-C/AEG/Milwaukee thing). Doubtless others will have their own terms as well.

It's an excellent thing to have - flip a lever round, blade drops out. replace blade, release lever, job done. I'd never go back to the old system of having to use tools.

[Andy Dingley]

No, the Festool one works. The Bosch one is OK when new, but seems fragile in service.

Personaly I like a simple screw clamp. You know where you are with a screw clamp.

[RzB]

Hmm... well we shall see... I must admit that it's not a particularly big deal as far as I'm concerned. But it's nice while it's workng - as I say - we shall see..

Roy

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Mine has had a deal of use and is still fine.

If you can find the allen key or whatever. And the allen socket isn't all chewed up. And then the blade can still fall out - which *can't* happen with the Bosch SDS type.

[Mike]

Are these OK for cutting 40mm worktops? At these prices, use once and throw away!

Yes - but you'll have to throw the worktop away as well. I'm not anti cheap tools and have quite a lot of them but for jigsaws it really is a case of expensive is noticably better, very expensive is very much better.

Why the cheap ones cannot get the basics right of supporting and guiding the blade as near as possible to the work is beyond me but none seem to manage it.

IMO Bosch blue range is excellent but if you can't afford that either hire one or buy pne from the green range.