Jigsaw advice

Didn't think I'd have to spend quite that much! Already thinking of forking out £80 for an SDS drill, so I need to take it a bit easy! What about mid range stuff like this Bosch:

Many moons ago, I had a B&D jigsaw which got quite occasional use, primarily because the results were quite poor, even though it was the best they had in their range at the time. Basically, the blade wandered around, making it useless for anything other than relatively rough work.

I was reasonably convinced that this was as good as it got for any kind of jigsaw, once I had also read comments from others.

A couple of years ago, I tried out a Bosch GST100 range jigsaw at a tool exhibition and the difference was remarkable. Firstly, I could control the blade quite accurately to a line that I had drawn, and secondly, the speed control allowed for very slow cutting around tricky shapes. So I bought one and have been very pleased with it.

I've since acquired a bandsaw which will do some of the jobs of a jigsaw and rather better even than the Bosch, but there are still quite a few tasks where the jigsaw is more suitable.

I would say that there is little point in buying a corded budget jigsaw. It will be just as disappointing as the cordless one or as the one I originally had. Obviously this doesn't depend on amount of use.

If you are looking to do smooth and clean work, then a router is going to be more suitable for that in a lot of cases.

OTOH, if you are looking for something to do relatively rough work, then a reciprocating saw would be more versatile than a jigsaw if you are price sensitive.

If you're looking for something to meet your criteria, then I would suggest looking at the Bosch GST120BE or GST235BCE; or the Makita

Hundred-and-mumble for the good Bosch barrel body. Worth _every_ penny.

Once you get to about £100 jigsaws transform in to a completly different class of tool[1] from the basic models.

Something like:

I assume that's a typo (235?) I bought a GST135 a couple of years ago and I am well pleased with it, except the case is undersized slightly so the Bosch 10 pack blades have nowhere sensible to sit. I've also got an older Blue Bosch (no idea of model as the label has partly worn off) that's still going strong after 25 years with just a change of brushes a few years ago and a Makita of similar age (unfortunately using their original 2 pin blades so it gets less use now)

In message , al

Yes, I meant 135.

I've got this one

hth

It's one of those things that are kinda handy to have for lots of little bits. The next time I'll use one will be to cut some hardboard sheets to fit up to a slightly uneven wall (ie. transcribed line from the wall to the sheet for a snug fit) and cut out toilet and basin stand shapes. Seems the logical tool to use unless anyone has an easier way? Obviously very thin and soft material, so it should cut real easy with a nice fine blade.

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll go have a Google :)

It seems to be one of those power tools where money spent brings results. Probably all down to the control of the blade. Decent vari-speed is also essential if cutting a variety of materials.

I've gone through life convinced that Jigsaws were, to a man, crap - and that for just about any job there was a better alternative. The one exception being cutting curves in wooden panels.

Having recently tussled with my crap B&D one (cutting contoured desktops) and having had the switch stick ON during the cutting (entertaining, to say the least) I think that's the call to replace it. So, there appears to be concensus here that the Bosch range are ok?, ok, that's added to Santa's list for this year.

Cutting a contoured desktop would probably be better done with a router and template anyway because even a good jigsaw is not going to give as good a result as this.

That aside, you would not generally be disappointed with results from a Bosch, a Makita, or if you are very, *very* good, a Festool.

Hi,

If you're not too fussy about the results a £20 variable speed one with good blade support should do.

For straight cuts in wood a £25 circular saw will perform as well as or better than a £100 jigsaw.

cheers, Pete.

I got this one and it widely available and usually pretty cheap (40-60euro in Ireland; 10bob in UK no doubt)

Actually, I used the jigsaw to cut the template out of 12mm MDF, before using that and a router (nice makita:) to cut the main desks (handy thing, having two symmetrical desks - only need one template :)

Shows my apathy towards jigsaws - and the MDF was easy to sand down to get the "proper" curve, rather than the approximate curve that the jigsaw left.

(Interesting thought whilst typing this, I have a shed load of crap tools, and two respectable tools - the Makita router and the DeWalt cordless drill - both of which were used during the recent table-top DIY; I can honestly say that I believe you get what you pay for - the more respectable tools are a hell of a lot easier / friendlier to use. Anyway, lets not open that can of worms again!)