Recommend a Jigsaw please

g6fdyotp5nj2l7 · 22-06-2019 5:05pm #1

Hi could anyone recommend a Jig Saw. Don't want to spend a load of money as it won't be called into action too often, but at the same time one that will do the job when asked without breaking my heart.
It's first job will be cutting laminate flooring. Thanks in advance.

Four Phucs Ache · 22-06-2019 7:38pm

I bought the cheapest black n decker about 15 years ago for about 30 quid. BUT, for any application I bought the top end blades whether it was steel, timber or sheet. Hasn't let me down yet and its been thrown , flung ,kicked, etc etc.

Its the blades that make the difference not the motor inside a plastic body.

colm_mcm · 22-06-2019 9:04pm

I’d have a few must-haves

Variable speed
Pendulum action.

Lidl had a grand one for €30 a few weeks ago.

23-06-2019 7:51am

Jig saw is not the right saw for flooring.
Yes you will get away with it, you will probably need one but a miter saw is what you need for repeatable straight cuts.

stiofan85 · 23-06-2019 8:02am

I used this for laminate floor recently. Not a bother - I used a square and marked a line with a whiteboard marker then free hand with the jigsaw. The cut ends at under skirting/trim so don't need to be perfect. I found doing longer rips to be okay, although the blade can wander. Some practice and I was fine

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003UES79E/ref=pe_3187911_189395841_TE_dp_1

AVFC.Stephen · 23-06-2019 8:14am

I have this Bosch jigsaw. Its brilliant for floors

colm_mcm · 23-06-2019 8:40am

BrownFinger wrote: »

Jig saw is not the right saw for flooring.
Yes you will get away with it, you will probably need one but a miter saw is what you need for repeatable straight cuts.

For s DIYer using laminate, there’s no problem using a jigsaw.

g6fdyotp5nj2l7 · 23-06-2019 9:08am

BrownFinger wrote:

Jig saw is not the right saw for flooring. Yes you will get away with it, you will probably need one but a miter saw is what you need for repeatable straight cuts.

Have a mitre saw for the cross cuts.

listermint · 23-06-2019 9:49am

colm_mcm wrote: »

For s DIYer using laminate, there’s no problem using a jigsaw.

Except you'll be all day laying it.

Not for me personally and im a diyer.

Jigsaw is for cutting awkward shapes or radiator holes. It's crap for straight lines.

Buy any jigsaw op tbh. They're simple tools but just use the right blade for the task. It's all in the blade.

g6fdyotp5nj2l7 · 23-06-2019 10:38am

listermint wrote:

Jigsaw is for cutting awkward shapes or radiator holes. It's crap for straight lines.

So are you saying use a circular saw for cuts along the length of the board ?

stiofan85 · 23-06-2019 10:50am

Alexa Numerous Servitude wrote: »

So are you saying use a circular saw for cuts along the length of the board ?

I found the lengthways cut challenging with the jigsaw but with practice it was fine. Tried the circular saw too and it was much more accurate. I just don't like using the circular saw as much.

I found my natural inclination was to let the jigsaw blade wander to the left of the cut so I just compensated. It'll be under skirting/trim so once you don't go too far off it's grand

my3cents · 23-06-2019 11:02am

Alexa Numerous Servitude wrote: »

So are you saying use a circular saw for cuts along the length of the board ?

A jigsaw certainly isn't the best tool for the job, unless its a curvy line. Even a jigsaw with a fence isn't much better.

You can't even guarantee a square edge on a cut with a jigsaw. Use one when nothing else will do the job and that isn't very often.

However if you are covering up the cut edge with say a scirtingboards then you'll probably get away with it.

g6fdyotp5nj2l7 · 23-06-2019 12:52pm

stiofan85 wrote:

Tried the circular saw too and it was much more accurate. I just don't like using the circular saw as much.

Circular saw I have is fairly big that's why I thought the jigsaw would be lighter and handier. So maybe I don't need one at all.

chillyspoon · 23-06-2019 1:24pm

I got a Ryobi ONE+ cordless jigsaw and circular saw - it does the trick for the price and has adjustable pendulum rate; along with being one of loads of tools within a range that can share the same battery set.

For an occasional use DIYer - it's spot on.

EDIT: just noticed your laminate floor line - 100% agree with BrownFinger; a mitre saw is the right tool for the job. You talked about not wanting something to break your heart; trying to do a neat job on laminate floor with a jigsaw will do exactly that.

Since you already have a circular saw just buy a good quality laminate blade and a metal speed square to keep your cuts at 90 degrees and you'll be flying.

g6fdyotp5nj2l7 · 23-06-2019 1:37pm

chillyspoon wrote:

EDIT: just noticed your laminate floor line - 100% agree with BrownFinger; a mitre saw is the right tool for the job. You talked about not wanting something to break your heart; trying to do a neat job on laminate floor with a jigsaw will do exactly that.

Have a mitre saw for the cross cuts. Was considering the jigsaw for cuts along the lengths of the planks

chillyspoon · 24-06-2019 10:20am

Ahhh ok - I thought you were talking about cross-cuts!

If it's not going to be an exposed edge (e.g. hidden under a skirting) then I guess that'd be ok but painstaking work with a jigsaw if you have to do a lot. Using a straight edge as a guide would help. A circular saw will produce a neater cut (again a guide would help) and track saw even better, with the benefit that you could clamp down each laminate board using the track. One of my friends was telling me that the weekend that Aldi have their Workzone tracksaw in at the moment, which might be a good option for you to consider.

I can't find it on Aldi.ie at the moment so perhaps he was wrong; it's one of these anyway, there is another thread somewhere discussing the pros/cons of these: https://www.aldi.co.uk/workzone-track-saw/p/087060236365900

colm_mcm · 24-06-2019 10:22am

The tracks on the Aldi one aren’t great. As in when you join them together for longer cuts.

24-06-2019 1:46pm

listermint wrote: »

Buy any jigsaw op tbh. They're simple tools but just use the right blade for the task. It's all in the blade.

Worst advice ever, some don't even have speed control.

listermint · 24-06-2019 9:01pm

BrownFinger wrote: »

Worst advice ever, some don't even have speed control.

And speed controls are used about 5 percent of the time.

Cheers though

chillyspoon · 25-06-2019 3:50pm

colm_mcm wrote: »

The tracks on the Aldi one aren’t great. As in when you join them together for longer cuts.

True but the OP said they want to balance between not spending a huge amount and not having their heart broken, so buying a budget saw and later upgrading to better guide rails from another company is a sound option, and there's tons of advice out there in YouTubeland about which ones are cross-compatible.

It's all relative however - perhaps the cost of a Triton TTS1400 is within the acceptable budget for the OP but I suspect that a Mafell or Festool won't be

colm_mcm · 25-06-2019 6:21pm

Do you know which tracks can be used with the Aldi one?

listermint · 25-06-2019 8:19pm

colm_mcm wrote: »

Do you know which tracks can be used with the Aldi one?

Heard Titan ones perhaps but don't hold me to that. Some YouTube vids out of the UK have recommendations

chillyspoon · 25-06-2019 10:44pm

Peter Millard's tracksaw playlist is the one to check out - he's done all sorts of comparisons with Titan, Aldi and Parkside (and Festool).

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7S6M0i1Mz9pf2uo5SpFSWrQOu0qpjeIs

Lumen · 25-06-2019 10:52pm

I thought my tracksaw was nice until I read about the Mafell KSS80.

Calahonda52 · 25-06-2019 10:54pm

Lumen wrote: »

I thought my tracksaw was nice until I read about the Mafell KSS80.

Festool deals in Roynanes in Thurles tomorrow on saws/tracks

listermint · 26-06-2019 12:13pm

Lumen wrote: »

I thought my tracksaw was nice until I read about the Mafell KSS80.

I prefer the Plunge Saws though like Festool to just circular track saws.

What would be the advantage of a Mafell over a Festool ?

Lumen · 26-06-2019 3:41pm

listermint wrote: »

I prefer the Plunge Saws though like Festool to just circular track saws.

What would be the advantage of a Mafell over a Festool ?

Actually I think both the Mafell KSS80 and the Festool HK85 will do plunge cuts on a track, it's a bit confusing because the Mafell at least comes in several different configurations.

The main attraction is deep (80mm) plunge cuts without bogging down like my 36V Makita does.

I can't justify buying either though!

my3cents · 26-06-2019 4:13pm

Lumen wrote: »

Actually I think both the Mafell KSS80 and the Festool HK85 will do plunge cuts on a track, it's a bit confusing because the Mafell at least comes in several different configurations.

The main attraction is deep (80mm) plunge cuts without bogging down like my 36V Makita does.

I can't justify buying either though!

Build another shed

One to put all your tools in

I'm just finishing a shed extension (8ft x 12 ft) for all my wifes art and craft stuff.

listermint · 26-06-2019 8:53pm

Lumen wrote: »

Actually I think both the Mafell KSS80 and the Festool HK85 will do plunge cuts on a track, it's a bit confusing because the Mafell at least comes in several different configurations.

The main attraction is deep (80mm) plunge cuts without bogging down like my 36V Makita does.

I can't justify buying either though!

Probably wouldn't buy a rechargeable for 80mm cuts myself. I'd have a corded one for that. My Hitachi will do them without so much as a blink.

Lumen · 26-06-2019 9:15pm

listermint wrote: »

Probably wouldn't buy a rechargeable for 80mm cuts myself. I'd have a corded one for that. My Hitachi will do them without so much as a blink.

They're both corded. Which Hitachi do you have?

listermint · 26-06-2019 10:02pm

Lumen wrote: »

They're both corded. Which Hitachi do you have?

C9U2

Recommend a Jigsaw please

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