Jigsaws are tools that don’t really see extended, heavy duty use, compared to other power tools like a drill or a circular saw. That said, you can extend the lifetime of your jigsaw by taking a few simple steps to care for and maintain your tool.
Basic Maintenance Tips To Keep Your Jigsaw In Top Shape
Power Cord - It’s always a great idea to inspect your jigsaw before attaching a blade to it. If you are using a corded jigsaw, check the power cord for nicks or frayed edges. Any power tool with a compromised power cord is not safe to plug in, let alone use – repair or replace the power cord before using the tool.
Body & Shoe - Then, check that the housing is in good condition, and that the motor air vents are clear. If you think you may have dropped the tool at some point, also check the shoe for signs of damage. Jigsaw footplates made of steel will tolerate a few shocks, but shoes made of lightweight materials like aluminum or magnesium alloy are more prone to bending after a drop.
A jigsaw with a mis-aligned footplate will not be able to keep its blade square to the cut. In a few cases, you may be able to replace the shoe, depending on the model you have. You may even be able to salvage a skewed footplate with a pair of locking pliers and a square to check the alignment.
Check that the handle is clean and grease-free. Oily tools are tools that you are liable to drop, so take the time to remove excess grease, dust and oil from your jigsaw before using it. A damp cloth with a squirt of dishwashing soap or any mild soap will give you a quick way to clean the exterior of your tool. Make sure to clean out the air vents of your jigsaw as well while you’re at it.
Roller Guides - The blade roller guides keep your blade square to the workpiece, and it’s important that they are working smoothly. Don’t just add oil to them every time, though – first, check if the rollers are getting clogged up with grime and dust, which can cause them to jam up at some point.
If your jigsaw’s roller guides are caked with dust and grease, clean them first with a small brush, or an old toothbrush. Then add a drop of oil to the roller guide to keep them working smoothly.
Check The Blade - If you’re using a blade that’s already attached to your jigsaw, inspect it first for signs of wear or missing teeth. If you had difficulty cutting into a work piece with the same blade, it could be time to change it – sharper blades make for faster, cleaner cuts that also leaves less wear and tear on the jigsaw motor.
Recharging Cordless Jigsaws - Cordless jigsaws have a huge advantage in terms of portability. Since their power comes from batteries, however, you have one more maintenance task to do after using your jigsaw – charging the battery pack. It’s always better to charge your jigsaw before putting it away, so that you know you have a tool charged up and ready the next time you pick it up.
After Using Your Jigsaw
Once you are done using your jigsaw, make sure to keep it in its storage case. Taking the time to properly store your tool will ensure that it is in a protective shell that will keep it away from dust and moisture even as you leave it behind. If the storage case is dropped with the tool inside it, it will also have a much higher chance of getting away undamaged compared to if it was not inside its case.
Your jigsaw may not come with a protective case. Even then, make sure to put it away somewhere safe and out of reach of children, and make sure to store it somewhere away from damp places that tend to hold moisture.
Doing Maintenance on Your Jigsaw
Aside from regularly cleaning and recharging your jigsaw, you may also need to replace worn-out parts from time to time – especially if you have been using one for a few years.
Motor brushes are the first paarts that will usually wear out in a jigsaw after years of use. These brushes are usually made of carbon, and transmit power to the moving rotor of the tool’s motor. After a while, friction will eventually render these brushes ineffective.
Some jigsaw models are more user-friendly when it comes to brush replacement compared to others. To check if your jigsaw model comes with carbon brushes that you can replace yourself, consult the manual that comes with a tool.
With normal use, however, motor brushes on a jigsaw can be expected to last as long as the tool itself.
Major Manufacturers Maintenance Recommendations
Some of the most popular jigsaw models are made by a few of the major power tool manufacturers in the market.
Their jigsaw models may come with brand or model-specific features, and it’s always a good idea to learn about a few maintenance tips from the makers themselves and get the warranty info too!
Bosch Jigsaw Maintenance
Bosch emphasizes electrical safety for their line of corded top handle jigsaws. As such, some of their models are double insulated tools that come with a polarized plug – these plugs have one blade which is wider than the other. The size difference in the plug means that these will fit in a polarized outlet in just one way, and are not meant to work with non-polarized outlets.
If you can’t plug your Bosch Jigsaw in, check that you are using a polarized outlet. You may have to get in touch with a qualified electrician to have one installed in your home or shop.
When it comes to tool maintenance, Bosch recommends that all preventive maintenance be done by authorized personnel only, at a Bosch service location or factory service center.
For brush and commutator maintenance, Bosch recommends that the brushes in your jigsaw be inspected every two to six months, depending on the use.
The manufacturer also recommends that the motor gears be relubricated with a specially designed gear lubricant every time you had carbon brushes on your tool replaced.
Bosch also recommends that the bearings be replaced after every 300 to 400 hours of operation, or at every second brush replacement. The brand also suggests that the bearings are to be changed if the tool becomes too noisy, as well. Finally, Bosch reminds owners to check for any misalignment or binding of moving parts, or excess noise while in operation.
Noise and binding can be signs of damaged tools, and these need to be serviced before they are used any further. Damage to materials and even personal injury can be caused by jigsaws that are poorly maintained to the extent that they have become damaged, so developing a maintenance schedule is highly recommended not just for your jigsaws, but for all your power tools as well.
Makita Jigsaw Maintenance
Just like other major jigsaw manufacturers, Makita also emphasizes electrical safety with their line of corded jigsaws. They do not recommend modifying the plug in any way, and this includes using adapter plugs just so the tool can be plugged into a mismatched outlet.
Makita also recommends occasionally lubricating the roller guides after installing or removing a saw blade.
For the most part, Makita does not prescribe a schedule for carbon brush inspection and replacement in some of their jigsaw manuals. The manufacturer does insist that any maintenance or adjustment on the Makita jigsaw should be done with the right Makita replacement parts, and done at a Makita authorized service center.
Dewalt Jigsaw Maintenance
Dewalt prescribes regular maintenance for their line of corded jigsaws, aside from the usual service center maintenance tasks. Before performing cleaning, lubrication or maintenance, Dewalt strongly recommends that the unit is turned off and disconnected from a power source.
To clean your Dewalt jigsaw, the manufacturer recommends blowing dirt and dust out of the air vents of the tool with clean, dry air. This means using an air blower or a vacuum in reverse, or even a can of compressed air. Since a jigsaw may have accumulated splinters and ceramic or metal shards, Dewalt warns that you must wear eye protection before blowing air into your tool.
Dewalt recommends a cloth dampened with water and mild soap for cleaning their jigsaw tools. Solvents or other harsh chemicals may have an effect on plastic materials making up the equipment.
For lubrication, Dewalt warns against spraying lubricants, cleaning solvents or liquids of any kind inside the tool, which could degrade its performance or even damaged it. Instead, the manufacturer recommends an annual inspection at a certified service center for internal cleaning and lubrication as needed.
Milwaukee Jigsaw Maintenance
Milwaukee makes several lines of corded and cordless jigsaws. For their popular line of cordless jigsaws, the manufacturer recommends that you only recharge with the right charger for the make of battery you are using. A charger that is suitable for a type of power pack may present a fire risk when used with an incompatible battery pack.
There are also specific battery packs designed for use with the tool – mixing and matching with other types of battery packs may lead to a risk of injury or even fire.
Battery packs powerful enough to run a jigsaw are potent devices in themselves. It’s possible to accidentally short the battery terminals together, so that’s why Milwaukee recommends that you keep the battery pack away from metal objects such as nails, screws, staples, bolts, and of course, jigsaw blades.
For maintenance, Milwaukee warns owners to always unplug the charger and remove the battery pack from the tool and the charger before doing any blade changes, cleaning or maintenance on the tool.
For cleaning, they warn owners to avoid solvents and strong detergents, including gasoline, lacquer thinner, turpentine, paint thinner, ammonia, or chlorinated bleaches or detergents. Any of these may damage not just the plastic parts of the jigsaw – they can also work their way into the tool and cause harm to electrical insulation inside.
The manufacturer recommends that owners of their jigsaws follow a regular maintenance program, which means bringing the tool to a Milwaukee service facility for inspection every six months to one year, depending on the use or the condition of the tool.
Every six months to one year, a Milwaukee service facility may inspect the tool and recommended cleaning of the gears, spindles, bearings, and housing of the tool, along with any lubrication needed. Their service centers will also inspect the battery pack, charger, motor and other electronic components for repairs or replacement as needed.
Ryobi Jigsaw Maintenance
Just like the other jigsaw manufacturers, Ryobi also emphasizes electrical safety – to the extent that it dedicates an entire section in its manuals to explain why owners cannot just simple service their own jigsaws by themselves unless they are a qualified service technician.
Electric power tools generally do away with the three-wire grounded power cord you might find in other appliances. The reason they can do this is the way they are built with a double insulation system, which means that all exposed metal parts on the surface of the tool are electrically isolated from the internal electric and motor components through the use of insulation.
That’s why opening the tool using an improper procedure can defeat this double insulation system, if the technician is not familiar with the layout of the tool. Ryobi recommends that the owners of their jigsaws head to their nearest authorized service center for repairs, even if it’s just to replace the power supply cord.
Ryobi, like other jigsaw makers, warns their owners to avoid using solvents to clean the tool. Commercial solvents can cause damage to the plastic parts of the jigsaw, or even to the insulation inside.
Aside from cleaning solvents, Ryobi also warns owners to never let brake fluid, penetrating oils, gasoline or petroleum-based products come into contact with plastic parts. A jigsaw with weakened plastic may be compromised enough that it can break under use, which can lead to injury.
