The jigsaw is an incredibly versatile tool that’s also easy to use, even if you’re just starting out on your woodworking hobby.
That said, a jigsaw is still a power tool, and making the most out of your jigsaw means taking the time to learn about its parts.
The different parts and features of a jigsaw lets you cut not just wood, but also materials such as metal, plastic, and even ceramic. Depending on the type of jigsaw and blade you have, you can also do bevel cuts and plunge cuts as well, in addition to straight and scrolling cuts.
Finally, you may have a jigsaw that is corded or cordless, and that means you may be either working with a cord, or a more portable power pack.
1. The Jigsaw Blade
The business end of the jigsaw is the blade. The jigsaw moves the blade in a reciprocating motion, or in a rapid up and down motion when the tool is held horizontally.
There are many types of jigsaw blades available on the market today that lets you use the tool on a wide variety of materials.
General purpose jigsaw blades have teeth that point upward, which means that the tool cuts on the upstroke. There are also reverse teeth jigsaw blades that let the tool cut on the downstroke instead, which can lead to a better cut finish if you use the jigsaw on a work piece with the good side facing up.
There are also blades that are designed to grind, instead of cut. These carbide or diamond grit blades are ideal for working with brittle materials like ceramic or glass.
Finally, there are sharp pointed jigsaw blades that lets you do plunge cuts with the tool.
Jigsaw blades generally come in lengths ranging from 3 ¼ inches to 4 inches. Heavy duty blades designed for hardwood may reach 6 to 7 inches long, and there are jigsaw blades designed to cut through wood and metal sandwiches that can reach 10 inches long or more.
Jigsaw blades come with varying numbers of teeth, which will greatly affect the overall finish of the cut. Blades with a high TPI or teeth per inch count will generally leave a smoother finish, and will also give you a lower cutting speed.
2. Blade Clamp Mechanism
The blade clamp mechanism secures the blade in the jigsaw and ensures that it stays aligned with the cutting line even at high speeds.
Most jigsaws will come with one of the two most popular blade clamp systems. U-clamps, or Universal clamps, was the earlier standard and it comes with a retaining screw that requires you to get a screwdriver every time you need to change or remove a blade.
The T-clamp, or multidirectional clamp, has a quick release mechanism that lets you change blades without having you reaching for your toolbox.
Most blades will only fit one of these two clamp mechanisms. There are, however, jigsaws that have mechanisms that can take both types of blades.
3. Blade Guard
Jigsaws will usually have a blade guard made of clear plastic or metal that is mounted at the front of the blade.
Aside from helping to prevent accidents, the blade guard also helps deflect sawdust and debris thrown by the moving blade, which in turn helps keep them in a convenient area for your attached vacuum to pick up.
4. Blade Roller Guide
Blade roller guides usually come in the form of two rollers that support the blade just above the shoe, in the same way that rollers on bandsaws help stabilizes the blade.
Roller guides also help keep the thinner jigsaw blades from flexing and bending, which keeps them from prematurely breaking as well.
Roller guides used to be a feature that only high-end jigsaw models carry. Nowadays, however, just about every mid-range jigsaw will come with a blade guide system.
5. Dust Collection Port
Many jigsaws also come with a dust collection port that ejects dust and debris through and out of the back of the main body of the tool, if you connect it with a vacuum hose to a shop vacuum.
A jigsaw with a dust collection feature is highly recommended if you are working with materials that release hazardous dusts, such as formaldehyde gas from MDF boards.
On the other hand, a vacuum hose may impede the movement of your jigsaw, and could affect the precision of your freehand cuts.
6. Footplate Or Shoe
The footplate or shoe of the jigsaw helps you keep the blade at the same angle throughout the entire cut. Most jigsaw footplates are adjustable as well, and you can position them to a desired angle to make bevel cuts of up to 45 degrees.
Many adjustable footplates come with a built-in lever to unlock and relock the shoe into position. Some jigsaw shoes, however, require a screwdriver or wrench to release or relock a locking screw.
The footplate may also come with rip fence slots that let you attach a fence guide or a parallel cutting guide to the shoe of the jigsaw. These guides let you cut parallel to the edge of a material, or alongside a clamped straightedge.
You can also attach circular cutting guides similar to beam compasses that let you cut accurate circles or circular arcs at a certain radius.
The footplate may also come with a protective overshoe that you can put on to prevent the tool from scratching delicate materials, such as glass or polycarbonate plastic.
Some jigsaws also come with a splinter guard that goes over the footplate and leaves just a tight opening for the blade. These splinter guards help hold down the material and reduce splintering and tear-outs, which can be handy if you are working with melamine or veneered work pieces.
7. Handle
The handle of the jigsaw helps you hold the tool while guiding it along the cut. Most jigsaws come with a top handle, or what is also called a bow handle or D-handle.
These handles give you access to the trigger switch and lock-on button while also letting you use the tool with one hand.
Some jigsaws also come with a barrel grip, which lets you hold the main body of the jigsaw as the handle of the tool. This lets you guide the tool with your hand closer to the footplate, and these can give you more accurate control of the jigsaw.
Most barrel grip jigsaws also come with a second knob at the front which helps you hold it down – barrel grip jigsaws generally encourage you to use the tool with both hands.
There are some jigsaws that also let you convert the tool between a barrel grip or a top handle configuration with the help of some attachments.
8. Lock-on Button
The lock-on button allows you to keep the on-off switch or trigger in the “on” position, which lets you run the jigsaw at a consistent speed even if you take your hand off the trigger.
Aside from helping you run the tool at one speed, a lock-on button also helps prevent hand fatigue as well.
9. LED Light or Laser Guide
Some jigsaws come with an LED light to help you see the work piece and the cut you are making. LED lights are incredibly energy efficient, which means that they have little impact on the battery life of your cordless tool.
Other jigsaws may also come with a laser guide. These guides project a precise line on the work piece that can help you guide the blade better, especially if you are doing straight cuts freehand.
10. Motor Air Vents and Dust Blower
The small vents on the side of your jigsaw are there to help the motor cool down – it is important to keep them clear and unobstructed as you use your tool.
These air vents release the air blown by the action of the motor, which helps prevent it from overheating. Aside from air vents, some jigsaws also use the air generated by the motor as a blower to clear the kerf of dust.
11. On-Off Switch or Trigger
The on-off switch or the trigger turns the jigsaw on or off. Most jigsaw models will also come with a variable trigger, which helps you control the speed of the blade – the deeper you press the trigger in, the faster the blade runs.
These triggers also work hand in hand with a variable speed feature by letting you run the blade only as fast as the current setting of the variable speed dial.
12. Orbital Action Switch
The orbital action feature of a jigsaw is controlled by the orbital action switch or dial. Turning on the orbital action in a jigsaw means that the blade does not just move up and down – it also oscillates forward and back, which makes the tip of the blade move in a semi-elliptical motion.
Orbital action helps speed up most cuts, and it also helps the blade throw off more dust and debris from the kerf which helps cut down on friction and heat.
It also introduces a source of vibration, as well, and for precision cuts, you would usually prefer that the orbital action is turned down, or disabled entirely. Most orbital action switches offer 3 or four levels – the higher the level, the more aggressive the orbital action becomes.
Make sure to turn the orbital action to the “off” position before attempting a plunge cut with your jigsaw.
13. Power Cord
On a corded jigsaw, the power cord usually comes out off the back of the main motor housing, at the base of the handle.
The power cord delivers electrical power to the tool, and it will need to be plugged into a nearby outlet or extension cord of the right voltage. Most jigsaws will come with a power cord between 6 feet to more than 16 feet long.
Some jigsaw models also come with detachable power cords, which helps you to store and carry the tool easier. Most corded jigsaws are lighter than cordless jigsaws, without the weight of a battery pack weighing them down.
On the other hand, the power cord can sometimes get in the way of the tool.
14. Shoe Adjustment Lever
This is usually a quick adjustment lever if you want the shoe of your jigsaw to be on a bevel. This is a "tool-less" type of lever and makes the process of tilting the shoe a lot easier.
If your jigsaw doesn't have one of these, it will usually use an allen to adjust angle of the bevel on the shoe.
Power Pack or Battery Pack
A cordless jigsaw comes with a power pack or a battery pack, which is usually attached at the rear of the tool at the base of the handle – the same spot where a power cord will usually go on a corded jigsaw.
Cordless jigsaws have the portability that no corded jigsaw can match, and these are the tools of choice for contractors that work on the site, or outside the home.
Most cordless jigsaw models on the market today use newer lithium-ion batteries, which lets them offer similar power to their corded counterparts. Lithium-ion batteries also come with better charging characteristics and longer battery life compared to older nickel cadmium based power packs.
Variable Speed Control Dial
The variable speed control dial lets you control the maximum cutting speed of your jigsaw. This dial is usually placed above the handle, or behind the handle near the on-off trigger.
Once you have set the maximum speed via the dial, pressing the trigger of the jigsaw will only run the blade up to the pre-set speed.
The speed of the jigsaw blades is rated in terms of SPM or strokes per minute, which may also be indicated on the marking of the variable speed control dial.
Looking at the dial is one way of knowing how powerful the jigsaw is at a glance – the higher the maximum SPM possible, the more powerful the motor is in general.
Working with fragile or heat sensitive materials such as plastic means that you need to run the blade at a lower speed.
Using a variable speed control dial to lower the maximum speed of your jigsaw will help you cut slower, more accurate cuts while preventing the material from overheating and fusing back together.
