Jigsaw jams too often

[millinghill]

Hi, My Black & Decker jigsaw works if I ease into a cut, but recently has start ed to jam (and I hear the motor spin really fast and I hear gears slip) if I try to cut too fast. As I release the trigger, it starts to move again i f no force is applied to the cut. So, it works, but only if I bring it up to full speed before starting a cut and avoid any sudden cuts or turns. Is this something easily repairable, or time to buy a new one? Advice appreciated. Many thanks Theodore.

[John McCoy]

[e-mail] wrote in news: [e-mail]:

You don't say what model it is, so just taking a wild guess at the problem I suspect the orbital action has become worn, and is allowing the reciprocating motion to disengage when the blade is forced backward.

I'm also going to guess that it is something not easily or cheaply repairable.

Note that B&D are on the lower end of the price and quality spectrum. If you use a jigsaw frequently, you might want to look at a higher-end model, like a Bosch.

(having said that, I recently repaired a 35 year old B&D jigsaw, but I had to have a machinist friend make a part for me to do so, which isn't an option most people have).

John

[notbob]

....or a Makita.

Make sure any jigsaw you purchase has a built-in sawdust blower. Screw all the other features. I bought a DeWalt and it has NO blower. I gotta lean over the top of the jigsaw to manually blow the sawdust outta the way to see the cutting line! Totally infuriating. 8|

nb

[Leon]

Unfortunately jigsaws with blowers don't always clear the path either.

[notbob]

I kinda suspected that, but some blower has jes gotta be better than no blower, at all. ;)

Here is the best reviews I've found:

Amazing! The Mafell can be had fer under $1K. ;)

nb

[Swingman]

It's a tool that will often get the job done, but not handily as it ages and wears, as you're finding out. If you use it enough to justify a better tool, now is the time to upgrade.

The old sayings around here for twenty years or more: in #2 below, et al, :

A great excuse to buy a new tool, and, "Buy the best, and only cry once ..."

By our old Economist friend Luigi Zanasi, (AKA on FaceBook Luigi Dena Ch'? Zanasi)

[Puckdropper]

[e-mail] wrote in news: [e-mail]:

I took one of them apart once. The orbital mechanism was a pin on a shaft that spun in a slot connected to the blade. As the shaft spin, the pin (located way off center) would move in the slot and thus change height and result in the blade going up and down. Chances are, that's where your trouble is.

Like the others (well respected members of the group, btw) have said, it's time to replace it. A friend of mine let me borrow his Bosch, and when I said "Thank You" for the loan, he said "don't thank me, you're just going to have to go buy one." I did.

Puckdropper

[krw]

I'd think the sawdust sucker on a (cue Leon) Festool would be a big plus. I've thought about buying one a couple of times but every time I use my Bosch, I decide there is no way I could justify replacing it.

[Swingman]

Much as I like my Festools, No way I'd let go of my Bosch jig saw ... and mine is one of the older ones, with the archaic blade changing dance routine.

[Leon]

I have an old Milwaukee that is a stellar saw but the blower in ineffective. It does have a hole for locating a vac hose and that works pretty good but I still never use it.

[Leon]

LOL. It would be very hard to justify replacing a Bosch unless you use it "a lot" and it does not have the quick change blade feature.

IIRC Swingman has an older Bosch that has the blade change set up that is similar to operating a combination lock. I think he pulls out the owners manual each time he changes blades. :-)

[millinghill]

Hi, I'm the OP. Sounds very much like my jigsaw's time is not long for this earth. Thanks for the advice, on all parts.

[J. Clarke]

Keep it. My old one died (needs a part that's no longer available) after several decades and quite frankly compared to the old one the new one is a piece of crap. I find that blade guides or no, half the time it decides it's going to cut a bevel whether I want one or not. I suspect that the quick change doesn't hold the blade as firmly as the old screw-from-the-top clamp.

[Leon]

I would suspect you would be wrong.

[Larry Blanchard]

I've got one of those as well. Never compared it with a newer one as this one still works like a charm. And I bought it refurbished!

[Swingman]

Leon was right though ... I do have to RTFM to change the blade.

Moreso the older I get.

[woodchucker]

My dewally has a blower.

[notbob]

Apparently, I got the cheap one. I recall it came with a palm sander.

I also bought the DW 13V drill gun, not realizing there was such a thing as a drill/driver. Duh.

I've leaned a lot, since then. I now have a used Hitachi drill/driver. Waaaay better. ;)

nb

[woodchucker]

I have a 10v hitachi drill and impact driver set. I got it because I wanted a light duty drill. Well the drill is ok (chuck sucks won't tighten and stay tight especially in reverse) but the surprise was the little impact driver. its really nice.

I like both (don't get me wrong), I wanted light weight and the ability to stand up.

I am not a fan of many of the dewally stuff. Some are good, many lately have me wondering what happened to them. To me they are becoming consumer grade.

[notbob]

Mine is a 13V drill/driver with mostly dead batteries. The batteries will hold up fer around-the-house stuff, but my buddy who gave it to me is a pro and wanted longer bat life, so got a new 18V Hitachi. I can buy new batteries, but the old one's are OK, fer now. I'd already gone out and bought a true impact driver, thinking that was my only solution:

....but that was before I knew about "drill/drivers". Love my Hitachi, even with the old batteries. ;)

nb