A jigsaw is a tool without which it is now simply impossible to perform many works on processing wood and materials in which it is used. Being compact and light in weight, a handheld portable jigsaw is capable of cutting out products of very complex geometry from a workpiece.
The jigsaw is very convenient to use and also provides very precise and thin cut. If you don’t want to spend money on a purchased jigsaw, you can make your own at home.
The lightest product
The jigsaw table itself can be made with your own hands in a short period of an hour. The advantage of the manufactured design will be its simplicity. It can easily be mounted on a tabletop or workbench and, if necessary, can also be easily disassembled. Disadvantage homemade design can be considered its small area.
The simplest product consists of the following parts:
- Plywood.
- Mounting screws.
- Clamps.
The working basis of the machine can be laminated plywood, in which it is necessary to drill holes for installing fasteners and for the saw itself. Plywood must be at least 10 millimeters thick. At the same time, you may also have to make holes in the base of your power tool for mounting screws.
A homemade structure can be attached to the workbench using clamps. Please note that the heads of the screws for fastening must be recessed into the surface of the sheet so that they do not interfere with you while working. Such a machine can easily handle the processing of small workpieces up to 30 millimeters thick. You can easily find a drawing of this type of machine on the Internet, and then assemble it yourself at home.
Another variant
This option consists of the following parts:
- Bed made of chipboard.
- Tube for vacuum cleaner.
- Laminated plywood for the machine cover.
- Confirmants.
There is a second option for a stationary device for working with wood material, which is assembled from a larger number of spare parts, but making it will not be difficult. The frame is made of chipboard and consists of a back wall and two sidewalls. To make it easy to get to the power button, the machine has no front wall.
IN back wall do it yourself drill holes for the vacuum cleaner tube and cord. The cover for the machine can be made from laminated plywood 10 millimeters thick. The entire structure can be tightened with confirmants. The jigsaw can be secured in the same way as described above in the first case.
On a machine made according to this option, it is possible to process more massive workpieces, however, when working with a thick workpiece, the jigsaw saw can go in both directions and lean back. At the same time, cutting accuracy deteriorates. This drawback can easily be eliminated with your own hands by installing a bracket on a homemade machine that will serve as a stop.
The jigsaw blade will move between two 11mm bearings, which must be screwed to an L-shaped strip made of steel. The back of the saw will rest against the wall of the bracket itself. This design will prevent your jigsaw blade from deviating from the intended path.
The bracket must be attached to the frame, made of 50 by 50 millimeter bars. It can be lowered or raised depending on the length and thickness of the wood being processed. To do this, the frame itself, together with the stop, must not be firmly attached to the side of the machine, but pressed against it with a hardboard, steel or textolite plate. Install vertical stand frame between the hardboard and the frame.
The machine can be more convenient if you mount an additional limit bar on it, with which you can cut the material into workpieces of the same length and thickness.
The limiter is attached to the machine using clamps. His made from wooden beam , aluminum or steel corner. For convenience, you can also install a bar on the slide, which must be secured to the sides or bottom of the tabletop.
Table for a jigsaw made of chipboard
To make this jigsaw table, you must have a certain carpentry skill, since when connecting its frame to the legs, it must be made into a tongue and groove. The tongue and groove itself can be replaced with a connection using dowels, wood glue and self-tapping screws.
The machine cover must be made liftable to facilitate access to the tool when replacing it. In order for the machine to be multifunctional, it is necessary to provide space for mounting a manual milling machine.
The table is assembled from the following materials:
- block 80 by 80 millimeters;
- block 40 by 80 millimeters;
- laminated plywood or chipboard measuring 900 by 900 millimeters.
Measure the distance between the legs, it should be from 60 to 70 centimeters. The bars for the legs and drawers will be obtained if you cut the bars lengthwise 80 by 80 millimeters. You can choose the height of the legs themselves at your own discretion, it all depends on how comfortable it will be for you to perform work on the machine.
At each end of the legs and drawers, it is necessary to drill two holes for dowels. The same holes must be made on the sides of the legs. Coat the dowels with glue half their length and insert them into the ends. After this, assemble the entire frame. It will turn out to be non-separable. After checking and possible corrections, it is tightened tightly.
All surfaces at contact points must be coat with glue. Use self-tapping screws for additional structural strength, which must be screwed through holes prepared in advance for them.
The lid must be attached to one of the drawers using hinges; to do this, a slot must be made in it to facilitate removal and installation of the jigsaw. In the back of the tabletop, you need to screw two strips with a pre-selected quarter into which the sole of the power tool should fit.
Holes must be made in the strips, into which bolts or clamping screws must then be installed. A jigsaw mounted under the tabletop will be able to cut thicker material if a recess is made in the lid for its sole. The easiest way to make this deepening is using a milling machine.
The resulting table will be very simple and spacious, so the necessary strength of its lid can be provided by a large thickness of chipboard or plywood. Use sheets of 20 millimeters or thicker.
Jigsaw using thin saws
Since when cutting complex patterns in plywood, a jigsaw is not well suited for this, you need to take a thin file. It can be attached to a hand-held power tool using the original tool.
We also attach the jigsaw to the tabletop, but the thin file needs to be tensioned, since it will not be enough just set on a pendulum. To facilitate the process of tensioning the file, it is necessary to make a rocker arm from a block.
The tension of your canvas is ensured by a spring. Place its lower loop on the transverse pin. The upper loop must be inserted into the adjusting screw, which changes the tension force of the damper. All wooden blanks for a homemade machine are made from hard wood.
Since the jigsaw machine does not have the ability to fasten a blade with a thin section, you can remake the piece old saw, having previously drilled a hole in it and completed it with a screw with nut and clamping plate.
A vertical slot must be made in the rocker arm into which a second steel plate must be inserted. It is attached to the rocker with screws. The upper part of the file must be attached to it in the same way as the lower one. To make it easier for you, you can use scraps from an old jigsaw to make the plates.
I didn’t want to permanently place my expensive Makita jigsaw on the table, so I decided to buy another one to create a table. I was very lucky to find a jigsaw in the “Our House” store Caliber LEM-610E for only 862 rub. Includes: wood saw, side stop, adapter for vacuum cleaner, spare brushes for the motor.
There was an outlet next to the display case and I looked at it in action. It is quite well made, convenient, there is a speed control with a wheel, and the activation is fixed with a button. The saw holder moves smoothly without any play.
It’s very fortunate that I was able to twirl it in my hands before buying it; I wouldn’t risk ordering it from the Vseistrumenty.ru website without knowing what it is. (Although they write good reviews about it) By the way, it costs more there and there is also a delivery fee... so I successfully bought it at Our House. :)
Despite its advantages, it has a number of disadvantages that I noticed upon closer examination:
1) The file does not fit into the saw holder. Apparently this is a defective copy, but I did not waste my time on the exchange. Each file has to be sharpened. (Although I won’t be able to use them on the second jigsaw after grinding - it doesn’t matter, they are relatively inexpensive)
2) And this flaw is visible even in the picture. The canvas is tilted strongly forward. (This was also corrected by placing tin strips under the back of the sole, achieving 90 o.
3) The speed control wheel turns heavily, not very clearly and with jamming. At the minimum speed value, the tool cannot start at all (However, the same garbage with starting is with my other “calibrated” drills. This is unpleasant, but does not spoil life much)
As always, everything is in the spirit of minimalism. I did not make a separate switch. It is quite convenient to turn on with a standard button and lock into place.
To do this, I bought a bracket at KrepMarket (this is a fastening element from some kind of iron structure system)
By the way, I really love CrepeMarket. Any screws, nuts, screws, fasteners. Every time I design something, I wander around in thought and type the necessary details.
I cut off the excess and sharpened it.
Back view. Now the distance between the bearings has a fixed clearance for the file of 1.2mm. I have a plan for the future: to make a gap adjustment.
For thin materials it can be lowered.
As an experiment, I drew a star and tried to cut it out evenly
For a 130mm file, the maximum possible thickness is 5cm. It turns out there are very long files, I recently saw a 300mm file on the market
I sawed off a 1.5mm slice from a 40x40mm block
Which is what I did. Now you can use it to cut long workpieces 11.5 cm wide. The old L-shaped structure also remains, and if greater strength of the holder is needed, it can be installed again, although new design remained quite strong and reliable.
I also came up with the idea of making a knife from an old dull file, grinding off its teeth and sharpening it.
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They can be used to cut material like sealant into shapes. The cut is smooth. Much better than a utility knife. The photo shows a mouse pad.
Well, that's probably all. The table turned out to be reliable and comfortable. Now I have a tool on which I can produce more fine work than on a circular machine.
The desktop jigsaw machine is designed for cutting various parts having a complex configuration, made of sheet materials. This tool is capable of working with MDF, chipboard, fiberboard and many others. Jigsaws can also cut out the internal contours of parts if you first make a small hole. This tool has a wide range of applications, since it can provide high performance labor, which cannot be achieved with a regular hacksaw.
Design features
The design diagrams of all jigsaw machines are usually the same. Having carefully examined the drawings where this tool is depicted, you can see the following structural components:
- the bed, which is also often called the body. It is designed to accommodate everyone structural elements unit;
- drive mechanism;
- crank mechanism. It is necessary to convert the rotational energy of the motor shaft into the movements of the saw used during operation;
- double rocker arm. Equipped with fasteners for a file and a tension device;
- Desktop. In some modern models it has a rotation mechanism that moves at a given angle.
How to make a machine from a jigsaw?
To make a jigsaw from a manual jigsaw, you need to follow these instructions:
- First you need to make a table where a homemade jigsaw will be installed in the future. For this purpose use any durable sheet material– thick plywood, metal and others.
- They do it in the table through holes, designed for cutting blades and various fasteners.
- The resulting jigsaw table is installed and securely fastened to a suitable wooden table.
- The resulting table is equipped with guide rails.
- A manual jigsaw is attached below, which makes it possible to replace the drive mechanism of the machine and many of its other structural elements.
Anyone can make such a jigsaw machine with their own hands. Its advantage is that at any time this unit can be quickly disassembled and only hand tools can be used.
Homemade jigsaw table machine from a manual jigsaw
How to make a more professional instrument?
A homemade jigsaw machine can have all the qualities that are present in professional equipment. To make it you need to follow these instructions:
- The frame is made from any durable material - 12 mm plywood, plastic, textolite and others. It should consist of a base, a housing to accommodate all structural units and a work table.
- On the other side, a rocking chair with an eccentric is placed. They need to be connected to each other using metal plates with sleeve-type bearings. The resulting structure is installed using screws.
- The intermediate shaft is formed from several bearings.
- The metal pulley is placed very tightly on the shaft and the screw connection is secured.
- To change the movement characteristics of the rocker, 4 round holes with threads are made on the eccentric flange. They should be placed at different distances from the center line. The amplitude of movement of the rocking chair is regulated by the location of the screws.
- The rocking chair is formed from wooden rocker arms, which are attached on a hinge to the stand.
- Small cuts are made at the rear ends of the rocker arms. They are designed to install tension screws.
- The front ends of the rocker arm are designed for mounting a saw blade. It moves using special metal hinges. Before attaching the file, it is installed in a groove located on the work table.
- The rocking stand is made from a single piece of durable material. At its upper end a groove is made for installing the rocker arm, and near the lower end a small rectangular hole is cut out for mounting the second rocker arm.
How to make a machine from a sewing machine?
From sewing machine The result is an excellent jigsaw machine, which is equipped with a saw blade movement regulator. It is not difficult to do if you follow these instructions:
- The thread weaving mechanism is removed from the bottom of the machine. On some models it may be located in a different location.
- To dismantle this unit, you need to remove several bolts, then remove the cotter pin and drive shaft.
- The top protective panel is unscrewed. After this, the groove along which the sewing needle moves must be expanded to suit the parameters of the file.
- The cutting element itself is also slightly modified. It is trimmed according to the length of the sewing needle.
- It is not necessary to make an adapter to install the cutting element. Instead, you can grind down the upper incisors a little and process the lower zone of the blade.
- The file is inserted into the needle holder and work begins.
All presented options for manufacturing jigsaw machines are very successful. The resulting units are distinguished by high labor productivity, and making them is not at all difficult. Depending on their skills, each master will be able to choose best model homemade equipment.
Video: Jigsaw from a sewing machine
Jigsaw machine allows you to quickly and efficiently cut wood. consists of a working surface, stands, motor and spindle assembly. Some devices are made on stands. Clamps are quite often installed on the side of the work surface. It is also worth noting that the models differ in power. The manufacture of a jigsaw machine can only be carried out if the instructions are followed.
Desktop devices: expert reviews
If you believe the reviews, then making a desktop modification is very simple. First of all, a stand is prepared for work surface. Its width should not exceed 30 cm. It is more advisable to select a single-phase motor with a maximum voltage of 220 V. A homemade jigsaw machine (desktop) produces an average operating frequency of 55 Hz.
Reviews from experts say that it is better to use yews made of steel; if desired, you can cut them yourself. The file is installed on a spindle assembly, which is attached to the stand. Many models use a latch that acts as a stop. To secure the file, a small screw is used.
Models with legs
If necessary, you can do this yourself. Modification drawings include frames different sizes, and spindle units are usually used with guides. Many models are made on a wide bed. Legs can be installed from tubes. There are also machines with plates. After cutting out the working platform, you should work on the spindle assembly.
If we consider devices with control units, then the model will require a controller. It is more expedient to use a 220 V commutator type motor. Yews on jigsaw machines are installed as a rotary type. The direction must be welded to the edge of the plate. In this case, the file must be securely fixed. Optimal height spindle assembly is 2.2 cm. At the end of the work, it is important to start installing power cable and connecting equipment.
Reviews of devices with wide frames
Professionals are able to assemble a jigsaw machine with their own hands. Device drawings indicate the presence of wide stops. However, first of all you need to install the bed. If we consider a simple machine, then the lock for modification can be selected of a small length. Reviews from experts indicate that two racks are enough for the model. To assemble the machine it is used welding inverter. The spindle assembly itself is installed in the central part of the working platform. The hole for the file can be made with a milling cutter. It is also worth noting that experts do not recommend using two-phase motors.
Compact modifications
By following the instructions, you can assemble a compact jigsaw machine with your own hands. Device drawings include double racks and narrow frames. Beds are used with a low profile. Many models have a spindle assembly without a holder. In this case, the guides are installed to a short length. For self-assembly For models, it is recommended that you first select a high-quality frame.
Additionally, a clamp is soldered under the working plate. To reduce vibration levels, you can use a pad. Regular glue is used to fix it. The file for modification should be selected with a small thickness. The optimal installation distance for the central unit is 14 cm. At the same time, the average platform width is 17 cm.
Jigsaws 2 kW
If you wish, you can make this jigsaw machine with your own hands. Drawings for assembling the modification are very easy to find. As a rule, frames are used with a width of 35 cm. The thickness of the plate should be about 1.5 mm. The hole for the file must be made before installing the central unit. If we consider models without stops, then the frame is used with a low profile. It is also worth noting that it is more advisable to install the spindle assembly on a lining.
A casing is used to reduce noise levels. Many models use multiple stops. In this case, the unit is installed at a height of 10 cm. It is better to fix the file on the plate. The clamp can be used screw type. After fixing the central unit, the motor is installed. For modification of this type, a device with a single-phase unit is suitable.
3 kW models
At 3 kW table jigsaw It's quite easy to do it yourself. Experts recommend using racks with wide stops. The clamps need to be installed only after the central unit. The modification file can be adjusted to 1.2 mm. Some experts make the hole after installing the frame. In this case, the supports are soldered to the sides of the table.
Next, it is important to evaluate the spindle size. It is more advisable to use the motor with a protection system and casing. It is also worth noting that collector devices that operate at a frequency of 45 Hz are very popular. They have low energy consumption and do not overheat. Holders are used to secure workpieces. The optimal spindle height is 15 cm. It is also worth noting that there are models with tuning plates. A flywheel is used to control the stand. A conventional controller is available to install the control unit.
How to make a 5 kW device
Having prepared several stops, you can make a jigsaw machine with your own hands. Reviews from experts indicate that 5 kW models are well suited for longitudinal cutting. Before starting work, all necessary tool. You will need a saw and welding machine and cutter. It is more expedient to assemble the frame for a jigsaw from steel plates with a thickness of 1.3 mm or more. You need to immediately provide a place for the motor. The frames in the devices are installed with a high profile.
At this stage, you can immediately cut a hole for the file. The plug assembly must be mounted on the top of the plate. Additionally, it is worth noting that the file will require a large holder. If we consider simple model, then the racks can be installed on the sides of the frame. Yews are of the rotary type. There must be a stand at the top of the frame. A small casing is fitted under the motor. On average, the width of the frame should be 35 cm. If we consider professional models, they use adjustable clamps.
Modifications for two quills
How to make a jigsaw machine with your own hands? The model with two quills is assembled only on a wide frame. First of all, the plates for the bed are cut out. If we consider a desktop modification, then it is more appropriate to install the control unit at the top of the device. The optimal frame width is 45 cm. In this case, the spindle assembly is installed behind the stops.
There must be provision for racks. Many models use transmission units. In this case, motors are only suitable for commutator type with a frequency of 30 Hz or more. The file is installed as standard in the holder. The optimal height of the spindle assembly for models is 35 cm. Quills for adjusting the bed are used with flywheels.
Models with three quills
It’s easy to make this one with your own hands based on a single-phase motor. Tools should be prepared in advance. Many models are equipped with frames with four stops. They are long and high profile. It is also worth noting that spindle units are selected from. At the beginning of work, it is very important to calculate the length of the frame. If we consider ordinary spindle units, then the stand for them is prepared in a short length.
The central support must withstand heavy loads. A welding inverter is used to install the plates. The motor will require a casing that will significantly reduce the noise level of the device. The saw for modifications of this type is suitable for 1.2 mm. With a power of 3 kW, a device with three quills will produce a frequency of 55 Hz. To fix the flywheels, brackets are needed.
Jigsaw machine – special device, which is intended for performing work on sawing wood, its derivatives, as well as other materials (for example: plastic, plasterboard sheets, polystyrene foam, and so on) along curved contours and straight lines.
Depending on the power of the electric drive, it can be divided into two types:
- power up to 150 W;
- power over 150 W.
Machines with a power of up to 150 W are used mainly at home, for manufacturing work. various crafts from materials of medium and low density and thickness.
Machines with drive power over 150W are mainly used in industrial environments, when working with hard rocks wood and other materials. Such jigsaw machines allow you to work with material thicknesses up to 10 centimeters.
For home and semi-professional use, in order to save money, you can make a homemade jigsaw machine. In this case, you will need to have basic knowledge in plumbing and electrical engineering, as well as a small amount hand tools.
Making a homemade jigsaw machine
In order to make a jigsaw machine with your own hands, you will need:
- eight wooden planks for making a frame;
- a sheet of thick plywood for the countertop;
- several metal corners, a welding machine;
- electric jigsaw;
- accessories for fastening, drill.
1) We start designing the machine from the frame. For the frame you will need wooden blocks square section 50*50 mm. For the support posts, four 250mm long beams are used.
For longitudinal connecting beams, bars 380 mm long are used. The end connecting beams are 250mm long. All bars are connected to each other using ordinary wood screws.
2) We make the tabletop. For the countertop we take plywood, in this situation we should be guided by the principle: the thicker, the better. A sheet of plywood 10mm thick can be considered normal. The sheet is cut to the dimensions of the frame so that the edges and corners protrude 5 centimeters beyond the edge.
After this, on the plywood board you should mark the attachment points for the legs and the jigsaw itself. Holes are drilled according to the markings so that the self-tapping screw is in the center of the leg.
The attachment points should be transferred to the markings for the jigsaw and holes should be drilled. A hole for the saw blade is also cut in advance. We screw the tabletop to the frame using self-tapping screws.
3) The next step is to install the jigsaw under the table top. To do this, the entire structure of the rack is turned over onto the table top.
Electric jigsaw installed according to the markings and screwed to the tabletop with bolts. On at this stage We must not forget that the canvas must already be installed and occupy the position provided for it with a margin of the hole.
At this stage you will need a welding machine to make a fixing structure. It will require four corners. Bottom strip 50*50mm with two holes for bolts. A 200mm long corner is attached to it. Next is a corner measuring 230mm (selected for each case individually depending on the distance from the edge of the tabletop to the canvas).
The descent to the canvas is made from a 150mm long corner to which a jigsaw wheel is attached. This design absorbs all the vibration from the canvas and prevents breakdowns. The entire structure is attached to the tabletop with two bolts. They should not weaken from vibration.
The work on manufacturing the jigsaw machine is completed, the machine is ready for full operation.
Video: DIY jigsaw machine.
