Re: that jigsaw :-(

I recommend a better brand blade for starters. Bosch are great, DeWalt are bad. If that corrects the problem good. If not look into Bosch or Milwaukee.

That's what I have at the moment - Bosch. Also some very narrow DeWalt for tight corners, way overpriced they were too. It's the others I was mostly having the trouble with though. Just ran out of Metabo blades. I also have some Swiss ones, can't remember the brand.

-P.

Current saw is a Bosch (I'd describe it as upper mid-level; it's not a really expensive model, but the best of the next bracket down). Previously I had an AEG (blew a winding) and before that a wee Metabo (needle bearing meltdown). My friend who also has this trouble of the blade not staying straight in the cut has one of the really expensive pro-Metabos (he's a chippie).

-P.

With a Bosch jigsaw and Bosch blades you've got a pretty good combo toolwise. One of the ww'ing rags had an article on jigsaw technique recently that really helped me out with my cutting. After just changing my grip I was able to cut much cleaner and tighter radii than before - using the same blade and saw. (Disclaimer: I'm using the

JP

Peter Huebner wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@news.individual.net:

i've had the same problem with my bosch, a sharp saw blade does help a bit though. Not so long ago i got the festool jigsaw (trion PS 300 EQ,

Okay, what magazine and issue? I have the same problem as the OP. I thought trading up from a craftsman to a Bosch would solve my problem, but apparently it is rather than the tool.

Pete:

I feel like the odd man out here, but in my experience it isn't always a function of going to buy a better blade to fix this. My personal experience over the years has been this:

If you are cutting something thicker than 1/4", blade quality matters a lot. The correct blade ((tpi), the correct width of blade, and the sharpness of the blade matter as much as the device that pulls it up and down.

Overheating of the blade (causing distortion) due to a dull blade, pushing the blade too hard (blade duil causing heat, etc. as above), and the incorrect blade (why use a 18 tpi low kerf to cut pine?) and speed of the machine contribute much more than anything to the quality of the cut.

If you get a pretty good quality blade (I like the Bosch for reliability and durability) and a machine (I like the Bosch here again, but the tool mags prefer DeWalt), and pick the right blades and cut at the right speeds (higher tool speed and you push the machine slower) you should reduce your problem by a huge amount.

About the only time this is a problem for me anymore is when I push the machine too hard because I am impatient. Guaranteed I will have a bevel cut.

Robert

As you have this problem with every jigsaw, that points to operator technique. If you put any sideways force on the blade as you turn then the blade will behave as you describe. Try a few practice cuts with a good blade and pay special attention to not applying any side force during the cut and I'll bet you see a noticeable improvement. Just for grins, get an old blade and make some cuts where you are pushing sideways and see the difference. Even a straight line cut will wander all over hell and creation. Hope this helps.

Art

Happens to every jigsaw I've every used except the Bosch. I don't know what kind of super-voodoo they put into those things, but they're the only one that is worth a dime.

Trying to figure this out is where I am at. I didn't maybe make the point very explicitly clear in my original post: one time I am cutting clockwise and the other time I am cutting anticlockwise relative to my body and both times the blade flexes towards me at the bottom of the cut (3/4 inch depth on this last job). So I figured it was either something inherent in the tool, woodgrain, or my technique. With the latter two much more likely than the first.

Sideways pressure is probably unavoidable as you are making a rounded first cut towards/into a corner of the cutout - but I am sure I was not exerting sideways pressure on the reverse straight cut.

In the end I swapped blades for each cut - used a very narrow (new) blade to cut the curve in towards the left corner, and a very sharp brandnew blade for the reverse straight cut back into the other corner. Still the flexing happened somewhat through. Not to mention it's a pain in the arse to do it this way if you have 72 cutouts to make (fortunately in groups of 6 so I didn't have too many blade swaps).

thx for your suggestions - will pay more attention to this next time

-P.

With you all the way, Robert. I did notice that giving the machine more time to make its cut and using the hightest speed in the cut improves things out of sight. (see my reply to Wood Butcher for more on what I did and tried - still without getting a result to my entire satisfaction).

Bent/distorted blade is not the issue here, I was cutting clockwise and anticlockwise relative to my body position and both times the bottom of the cut was bevelled towards me *each* time. So the blade flexed left once, right the other time. There must be something else at work here.

I was using superclean cut blades cutting 3/4in macrocarpa this time - not out of the way I would have thought.

-P.

Shopnotes Vol. 15 Issue 86 - March/April 2006

JIGSAW SECRETS For Flawless Cuts

In a nutshell they say to turn off the orbital cutting action, use a

JP

I have a Milwaukee (actually AEG) and if a Bosch is a dime the Milwaukke is worth 15 cents.

With the problem showing up on both CW & CCW cuts I'm more convnced it is sideways pressure causing the problem. The bottom if the cut flexes toward you as you push the saw away from you.

Art

With the symptoms you describe, it is technique, no doubt about it. You are exerting sideways pressure toward the outside of the radius.

And yet, :~) he is using a Bosch.

I use a Milwaukee and really don't have a problem unless I cause it. Just like thin kerf blades on a TS if you use thin jig saw blades they will be more likely to flex and not cut true with out proper technique.

Just a thought, if you are going through this many saws, and all you have listed have very good reputations, perhaps you are using the wrong tool for the job at hand. I really kinda sounds like you may be pushing the tools too hard.

Couldn't argue that- I never used the Milwaukee jigsaw, but their other stuff is nice.

I caught that after I posted it, but I'll stick by it- more or less. As noted, I've never had occasion to use the Milwaukee. I've used a couple dozen oddballs, mostly Black and Decker and Skil, with a DeWalt and Craftsman or two in the mix there and the first time I laid hands on a Bosch, it was so much nicer than the others, I just stopped looking.

Now I've got to find someone who's got one of those and see for myself. It never ends, does it?

:)