Makita 4341FCT Jigsaw

[The Medway Handyman]

OK, so I took the advice of those on this group who said that paying top whack for a quality jigsaw was worth it.

They were absolutely right. My new Makita arrived today and I've just tried it out. I have my doubts that it is of earthly origin.

Cuts 38mm worktop like it isn't there, square edge and virtually no break out, Incredible. Follows a straight line perfectly.

I regularly build comedy head choppers for other magicians. Main part is two pieces of 12mm ply with a circle cut out for the victims head. I used to cut these one at a time then use a jig & router to finish them. I can now cut two at once with a finish damn near as good as the router.

Worklight is great! Blade change is a real treat.

Reading the instructions it mentions that you can trim a cut edge by running the blade along it. I though they were having a laugh. Not so. It will trim off a sliver of wood as thin as the blade is.

I'm stunned by how good it is compared to the crap I've used before. Just unbelievable - worth every penny.

There are definitely 'jigsaws' & Real Jigsaws!

[The3rd Earl Of Derby]

The term is...

There's Jigsaws and You have Jigsaws

[Steve]

Sounds brilliant! Just what I would like to replace el cheapo Bosch before I do the kitchen and 101 other jobs.

I haven't subscribed here for long, so I don't know about the past threads, without going through the tedious process of trawling through Google.

I am looking for a good jigsaw.

What is the Makita model number?

Sorry to probe, but actual recommendations mean a lot more to me than advertising blurb!

Thanks Steve.

[The3rd Earl Of Derby]

Erm! the number is in the subject line. :-)

[Steve]

Duh!

Sorry! Senior moment!

Steve.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

[snip]

Excellent.

Those who say there's no need to pay much for a jigsaw simply haven't tried a decent one, or never require accurate work.

[John Rumm]

Lawson have a good deal on these at the moment:

you have missed the background discussions, then have a quick look at the FAQ:

[John Rumm]

Nice aren't they? ;-)

smooth with a capital "smoo"!

Hey Phil, wan't to add this post to the FAQ?

[Steve Firth]

Yup. I have three at present, two here, one in Italy. The Bosch one is perfect, the two cheapies work on thin material, just but that's it.

Even using the same blades the different saws give different results. Worst of all is the B&Q cheapie. It will not cut a straight line, not even if I clamp a guide to the workpiece. The saw blade bends and wanders off a stright line even when the soleplate cannot move. The fault appears to be the blade holder which does not hold the blade parallel to the direction of the cut.

[Steve]

Thanks for both links John.

Now it is just a case of persuading my wife that I really need one!

Steve

[Andy Hall]

Just tell her about how much you'll save by buying one.

Women are familiar with this line of argument in connection with clothes buying.

[Matt]

Forget the jigsaw, how does a comedy head chopper work?

[Andy Hall]

He could tell you, but then he'd have to kill you.

Do you have a comedy head that you need to be chopped off?

[John Rumm]

Buy her one for her birthday... or your aniversary... then you can borrow it! ;-)

[The Medway Handyman]

As Andy says, if I told you I would have to kill you. However a magicians head chopper or guillotine usually looks like a 'prop'. Gloss black & red etc, very smooth looking. The blade is shown to chop a marrow/melon/whatever in half. The hapless victim then has his head placed in the apparatus, the blade decends apparently passing right through the victims neck without decapitating him.

These days it's usually played for laughs. Bucket placed beneath head, then moved to victims rear etc.

The comedy head chopper was designed by my mate Nathan. It looks like something a hill billy built whilst blind drunk.

should give you the idea. The victim is another mate Mark.

Not only does it look terrible, bits fall off all the time, but it works very well.

The photos show Nathan's prototype. The current production models are quite a bit different. It's a comedy magicians dream prop, full of opportunities for humour. Last one I built was for Joe Pasquale.