After the electric drill and grinder, the jigsaw takes third place in everyone’s arsenal. home handyman. This versatile tool frees you from exhausting work and turns work into pleasure. The use of a jigsaw improves the quality of the cut and the speed of processing the part. If you know how to use a tool, it becomes a reliable assistant at a construction site and in the countryside, but this does not mean that sooner or later it will not need repairs. Fortunately, many problems can be corrected with your own hands.
Jigsaw device, application, additional features
A jigsaw is a tool designed for sawing materials using a special blade, which is driven by a reciprocating mechanism.
Jigsaw device - Electronic unit that performs functions soft start and speed control.
- Electric motor, usually of the commutator type. Driven by alternating mains current, or DC battery
- Start button with working position lock.
- A gearbox that converts the rotation of the electric motor rotor into translational movement of the rod. At the end of the rod there is a socket for attaching a file.
- Ventilation pipe for removal of sawdust and shavings during operation. The diameter of the nozzle matches the dimensions of the vacuum cleaner hose.
- Support platform. The angle of inclination in the vertical axis is adjustable, making it possible to make cuts at any desired angle.
- Pendulum device. Used for accelerated sawing of materials. Structurally, in addition to the movement of the saw in the vertical axis, vibrations are added in the horizontal plane. As a result, the cutting speed increases, although the quality may decrease.
- Support roller. Serves to compensate for vibration and beating of the saw, and performs a stabilizing function.
- The chuck into which the cutting blade is attached. In many modern models A quick blade replacement system is used, with which replacement is carried out without the use of additional tools.
- Working rod. It is a metal rod that transmits movement from the gearbox to the saw blade.
For the first time, a prototype of an electric jigsaw was assembled by the Swiss engineer A. Kaufman, who in 1946 had the idea to replace the needle in sewing machine onto the saw blade. Scintilla AG adopted the original invention, and already in 1947 the Lesto jigsaw appeared on the market. After 7 years, the company was absorbed by Bosch, and the name of the tool was changed to Bosch jigsaw.
Electric jigsaws are divided into two types:
- stationary;
- manual.
The first ones are installed on a frame and, compared to manual ones, have larger dimensions and productivity.
Stationary electric jigsaw"Corvette" The second ones are lightweight and portable, widely used in construction and households. Manual ones can be mains or battery-powered, depending on the type of power supply.
Portable hand jigsaw Manual jigsaws have a number of advantages that have made the tool so popular among users.
- Wide range of applications. The industry produces a huge variety of saw blades various shapes, length and shape of the tooth. Thanks to this, the jigsaw has become almost universal tool, which can be used to process any materials - from wood to plastic.
- Modern jigsaws are capable of sawing wood up to a depth of 160 mm, non-ferrous metals up to 30 mm, steel up to 10 mm. These are very good indicators, especially considering that the seam remains even and corresponds to the specified dimensions.
- Possibility of curved cuts with an internal radius of 12 mm.
- Thanks to the design, in which the blade is fixed at only one end, you can cut anywhere. The thickness of the blade allows you to work with any materials without the risk of breaking the file. If there is a need to make a cut without touching the edge of the workpiece, it is enough to make a hole to insert the file. And the file can cut into some soft types of wood even without drilling.
We also list the disadvantages that are inherent in this tool.
- Presence of idle speed. The file works only when moving upward, in the direction where the teeth are “aimed.” Reverse stroke is idle. This results in reduced productivity (compared to tools such as circular saws, band saws or chain saws).
- Risk of injury during work. The canvas cannot be hidden; it is always in the open position. That is why it is necessary to be careful and not trust sawing to minor children.
- The blade stroke is short, which makes it difficult to remove chips, especially when cutting thick workpieces. In an ordinary jigsaw, this stroke ranges from 16 to 24 mm. When processing wood parts, the sawing speed drops noticeably.
- A jigsaw cannot achieve the same results as a hand tool. This is due to the fact that the file is attached to one end and cannot be as thin. As a result, the turning radius of a manual jigsaw is much smaller.
Equipment: types of replaceable files, their markings
In order to understand the great variety of files offered by manufacturers, you will have to take a closer look at their labeling. Fortunately, there are international standards, according to which each letter and number on the shank of the file conveys certain information.
The letters T and U indicate the shape of the file attachment. The first means that the mount is T-shaped, the second that it is U-shaped
Types of saw attachment: T-shank on the right, U-shank on the left - 1-leaf length up to 75mm;
- 2-length up to 90mm;
- 3-length up to 150 mm;
- 7-length over 150 mm.
The following letters indicate tooth size:
- A - small tooth, inherent in all metal files;
- B - larger, usually this is the size they cut plywood, chipboard or fiberboard;
- C and D - files with large teeth, intended for preparatory cutting; the quality of the cut is low.
Additional information is contained in the letters written at the very end of the marking:
- F - bimetallic saws;
- R - saws that have a “reverse tooth pointing downwards;
- X - designation of a universal saw intended for sawing metal, wood and plastic;
- O - files for curved cutting, for example a circle, an oval, etc.;
- P - reinforced blades, the thickness of which is greater than standard, mainly for precise cutting.
In addition to this information, inscriptions are displayed on the blade that indicate the type of material for which the file is intended……..
And also - marking of the steel from which the blade is made:
- HM/TC - saw blades made of carbide materials;
- HSS - designation for tool or high-speed steel;
- BiM - bimetallic base material;
- HCS - marking of high carbon steel.
The choice of file directly depends on the material of the workpiece. The fabric should not be used for other purposes. This will negatively affect both the workpiece itself and the file.
Color coding Bosch blades Separately from all modifications, we can note a saw blade designed for cutting tiles and ceramic tiles. Instead of traditional teeth, there is a coating of tungsten carbide chips on its working edge. Such a file will not “master” wood or metal. But it will cope perfectly with the function of a tile cutter.
Blade designed for cutting ceramics Installation and replacement of files is carried out with the electrical appliance unplugged, so that accidentally pressing a button does not cause harm to your hands. Depending on the jigsaw model, there may be screw and quick-release chucks. As a rule, the majority modern instruments have chuck under the T-shaped shank of the file. The canvas is inserted into it by lightly pressing until the lock clicks into place. U-shaped models are equipped with a special screw clamp that requires hand tightening. Some experts consider this type of fastening more reliable. However, they can be found less and less often.
Fastening the blade with a screw clamp How to check and set up a jigsaw before work, types of modes, speed switching, pendulum function
Before starting work, you need to check the functionality of the jigsaw, insert a file suitable for the given material, and set the mode that is optimal for solving the task. The best advisor in these matters will be the instruction manual included with the jigsaw. Depending on the model, there may be various nuances. However, the general process of preparing a jigsaw for work is as follows:
- Installing the file into the rod lock.
- Setting the speed of the saw using a switch on the handle.
- Enable/disable pendulum mode.
- Connecting power via a plug cord.
- Press the start button, start the engine and start sawing.
If you need to change the speed or reduce/increase the pendulum frequency, you must remove your finger from the start button and wait until the engine stops completely. Only after this the desired mode is set.
Switching speeds and pendulum stroke without turning off the engine will very soon lead to gearbox failure and tool failure.
For those who are getting acquainted with the work of a jigsaw for the first time, it will be useful to know that high speeds are used for soft tree species, but are not suitable for plastic (which can melt from friction of the blade) and for metal. It is best to start cutting with a medium mode, and then adjust it to specific needs - speed, cutting accuracy, etc. For particularly precise sawing, the pendulum device can be switched off completely.
What jigsaw accessories and tool improvements can you make yourself?
Of the most common home improvements for a jigsaw, two simple additions have worked well. Any user can do them independently.
The only drawback of this device is that when the saw moves upward, it lifts the part and therefore the workpiece must be held firmly in your hands. The design can be improved and added to the cutting unit clamping bar.
Improved design homemade table for jigsaw This design makes it convenient to connect a vacuum cleaner to remove chips.
The vacuum cleaner is connected through a hole in the table wall Video: how to upgrade a jigsaw
In order for the jigsaw to work for a long time and you can always rely on it, it is important to follow simple rules.
How to use: operating instructions and safety precautions
- If the cutting speed needs to be increased, there is no need to put pressure on the jigsaw handle and “adjust” it. It is better to adjust the rotation mode of the motor and pendulum. It is also important correct selection files.
- The workpiece must be securely mounted on the workbench. You should never saw while holding the workpiece suspended in your hands. Will give good fastening good result- cutting accuracy, speed and quality of sawed edges.
- Straight cuts are made using a ruler that is included with the jigsaw (linear clamp).
- Round holes and curved lines on thin plywood or plastic are better cut when the jigsaw is secured with the blade up, and the part is fed to the cutting tool. Smooth circles can be made using a circle cutter.
- Make an incision on a thin metal surface It is much more convenient if you put plywood under the sheet. This will prevent the edges of the metal from deforming.
- If there is a noticeable decrease in sawing speed, it is recommended to immediately replace the saw blade. Prolonged use of a dull blade will cause engine overheating with all the ensuing consequences.
- If the cut needs to be made at an angle, the support sole is shifted by the required number of degrees.
- When working in cold weather, it is advisable to run the engine for 1–2 minutes. Idling. After this, you can work in load mode.
- Take breaks from work whenever possible. Stop for 5-10 minutes every half hour.
We also list the basic safety rules.
- When working, it is recommended to wear work clothing that does not have fluttering hems or dangling sleeves. Hair must be tucked under a headdress. Body position is stable.
- Do not slow down the movement of the saw with your hands or a clamp.
- It is unacceptable to leave a switched on and working tool unattended.
- Use the tool only for its intended purpose. Do not hammer nails with a saw.
- If you discover damage to the housing or other functional breakdowns, you need to stop working and fix the problem.
- The power cord can only be turned on and off when the engine is off.
- Do not allow minor children to play with the instrument. Is it dangerous.
How to properly cut various materials with a jigsaw
With practice and experience comes knowledge. But at first, a novice user will need information on how and with what to cut different parts.
- Wood, plywood and laminate are the main materials that a jigsaw is designed to cut. If the cut is rough, you can use high speeds and oscillations of the pendulum. This will increase speed, but reduce quality and accuracy. Precise sections, depending on the density of the material, are sawed at medium speeds, with the pendulum turned off. This is especially true for laminate if it is precisely adjusted. On a six-point scale - 5.6.
- Metal parts, including pipes, are cut at low speeds without turning on the pendulum (or use the pendulum at low speed). 1.2 speed. Corrugated sheets and sheet iron are sawed at speed 1, making sure that the edges do not curl. For aluminum and other non-ferrous metals, the speed can rise to 3–4 levels.
- Plastic and plexiglass can be cut at high speeds, but care must be taken to ensure that the material does not melt. 4–6 on a six-point scale.
- Ceramic tiles, as well as other hard types of stone cladding, are processed at speed 4–5. The pendulum is installed in the initial positions.
- Drywall can be cut at high speed and with maximum swing of the pendulum. A natural limitation is the level of dust. If cutting occurs indoors, the dust from cutting can be very high. And so the speed is reduced.
Laminate is cut at high speed with the pendulum mechanism turned off Jigsaw maintenance and prevention
Like anything technical device, the jigsaw needs preventive maintenance. After the warranty period has expired, you need to carry out several simple operations and the shelf life of the instrument will again be extended by a year or two, depending on the intensity of use.
- Replace the graphite brushes on the motor commutator.
- Inspect current-carrying conductors, including the power cord. If damage or wear is detected, replace it.
- Clean the internal cavity of the tool from dust, debris and chips.
- Replace the lubricant in the mechanical components - bearings and gearbox.
Today, rarely does anyone sharpen files themselves. Especially if the blade has triangular teeth, which have increased maneuverability and chip emission. It is impossible to sharpen such a tooth at home. Moreover, such attempts can lead to the jigsaw starting to beat and the vibration level to increase. Following this, the saw holder socket will break, which will lead to the appearance of play in the drive rod. A dull file is simply replaced. Fortunately, their prices are affordable.
How to disassemble a jigsaw, see the video below.
Video: Disassembling and lubricating a jigsaw
If you do not feel confident in your abilities, it is better to seek the help of specialists.
Do-it-yourself jigsaw repair: faults and their elimination
When starting self-repair, it is recommended to clear the desktop of foreign objects, make good lighting and prepare a camera or notebook for sketches. The jigsaw parts are cleaned with a clean rag and washed with an alcohol solution.
Problems with the electric motor, repair or replacement of the motor
The commutator type engine is quite reliable in operation and can last for many years without failure. However, he is afraid of overheating and sudden voltage changes. And if it happens that the motor fails, it is necessary to carry out correct diagnostics. To do this, we will use a multimeter - an electrical measuring device for determining the current, voltage and resistance in a circuit.
Device for determining current characteristics in a network As you know, an engine consists of two main parts - a rotor and a stator. Each individual node is a coil that induces an electromagnetic field. If the insulation of the coils is broken, a short circuit (short circuit) occurs, which is called interturn. To identify exactly where the short circuit occurred, the resistance of the windings is checked. The multimeter contacts are installed on adjacent commutator lamellas, and the ohmmeter reading is recorded. If in any pair the resistance is significantly lower, it means that it is in this winding that the short circuit has occurred.
Sequential measurement of armature winding resistance Replacing the armature or stator is possible provided that similar parts are commercially available. You need to buy parts from the exact company that manufactures the jigsaw.
To replace you need a set of screwdrivers, you may need spanners small sizes, pliers. To replace the rotor, you will need to remove the bearing from the working shaft. But you can purchase a shaft assembly for replacement. If this is not possible, a special puller is used to remove the bearing.
Before disassembling the jigsaw, you must make sure that the tool is unplugged.
If a conductor breakdown is detected in the stator, it must be disconnected from the jigsaw body. Fastening is carried out using screws. When installing new windings, it is important to connect them correctly to electrical circuit.
Measuring the resistance of the coils with a multimeter, the stator windings are ringed Video: Prevention and repair of jigsaws
Self-prevention of the instrument does not take large quantity time. However, without it, the service life of the jigsaw is reduced.
Mechanical faults, unreliable fastening of the file, chuck repair
The two main mechanical components that are prone to malfunction are the gearbox and the saw holder. Moreover, these breakdowns are interconnected. A broken socket for fastening the blade leads to rapid wear and breakage of the gearbox. Therefore, it is important to carefully monitor the condition of the cartridge. IN different models Various file locks are used. Therefore, there are no universal recipes. One thing must always be remembered - if the file begins to hold poorly in the socket and flies out of it during operation, the saw holder cartridge must be replaced. How to do it? The video will tell.
Video: replacing the saw blade holder in a jigsaw
Other possible problems and their repair
Let's consider characteristic species breakdowns of the electric jigsaw.
Table of possible problems with an electric jigsaw
| Signs of breakdown | Probable causes of failure | Troubleshooting |
| The jigsaw doesn't cut at all | 1. Damage to external wiring. 2. Damage to internal wiring. 3. The start button is damaged. | 1. Check the power cord. If necessary, repair or replace. 2. Checking the wires inside the instrument. If a break or unstable contact is detected, the wire is restored and the terminals are cleaned. 3. Power is supplied from the network directly to the electronic unit, bypassing the button. If the engine runs, then the button needs to be replaced. |
| The jigsaw cuts crookedly (provided that the blade is in working order) | The blade fastening cartridge is damaged. | The saw holder cartridge is removed and cleaned. If the problem cannot be resolved, the cartridge must be replaced. |
| The jigsaw beats during operation (provided that the pendulum mechanism is turned off) | Clogged or worn rod or pendulum mechanism | The casing is opened and the pendulum and rod are inspected. If there is excessive contamination, the mechanisms are cleaned. If the damage is mechanical in nature, the worn part is replaced. |
| The jigsaw does not cut under load | The electric motor is damaged. Does not develop rated power due to short circuit | The housing is disassembled, the stator and rotor of the electric motor are sequentially called. If a short circuit is detected, the damaged coil or the entire motor assembly is replaced. |
| High level of vibration during operation, extraneous metallic noises | 1. Clogging of the gearbox, lack of lubrication on the gears. 2. Damage to the gear wheels of the gearbox. | 1. The jigsaw body is disassembled. Having gained access to the gearbox, inspection and cleaning are performed. Before assembly, all parts are lubricated. 2. If the gears are damaged, broken or chipped, it is necessary to remove them from the gearbox and replace them with new ones. Clean the gearbox cavity from debris and chips and lubricate it. |
| During operation, the smell of burnt wiring appears, the engine speed is unstable, “floating” | Damage to wiring or motor | The entire electrical circuit of the instrument is inspected. The motor windings are checked with a multimeter. If a defect in the wires or contacts is detected, the terminals are cleaned or the conductors are replaced. |
| Excessive sparking of brushes on the commutator during operation | Engine brush wear | The brushes are removed from the brush holder and replaced. |
If the Start button is damaged, you can briefly get out of the situation by starting the jigsaw “directly”. To do this, the wires entering the button are connected to the outgoing ones. The tool will be turned on and off by the plug. This is not convenient, so it is better to immediately replace the start button.
If the tool is under warranty, do not rush and repair it yourself.
Opening the casing entails the loss of all manufacturer's warranty obligations.
Video: DIY jigsaw repair
Tool storage
In order for a tool to serve for a long time and properly, it is important not only to follow the rules of its operation, but also to store it correctly. The best option is to keep the jigsaw in a case from the manufacturer. This suitcase is convenient both for storing spare parts and for transportation. But the instrument is not always sold with a case. In this case, you need to know that a jigsaw, like any power tool, is afraid of water and excess air humidity. Therefore, it must be stored in a dry, well-ventilated place. Cardboard or wooden box will serve as protection against mechanical damage. If the warehouse is unheated, then in the cold season, before starting work, the tool must “thaw” in warm room 20–25 minutes. During this time, the gearbox lubrication will become elastic again.
Standard case for storing and transporting a Makita jigsaw When using a jigsaw at home, you should not neglect the rules of personal safety. While working, you cannot be distracted, talk on the phone or do other things. To protect your eyes and respiratory system, it is recommended to use a respirator and safety glasses. Application homemade nozzles justified when they do not pose a health hazard and have successfully passed preliminary tests.
This article will discuss the design of a homemade machine made from a household jigsaw. Below will be given step-by-step instruction, photos, videos, as well as drawings and diagrams.
Introduction
There are a lot of design options - from the simplest ones, where it just sticks out from the tabletop, to quite complex designs with guides, the ability to cut at an angle, when it is possible to set not only 90 degrees to the base, but change the angle (well, within reason, of course) . There are devices (machines) for, that is, making straight and even cuts.
Such devices are increasingly used due to their versatility and functionality. In fact, their parameters and purpose are similar to stationary machines and have a strictly defined practical use in every workshop.
Purpose
| Plywood thickness, mm | Layers of plywood, no less | Sanded plywood | Unsanded plywood | ||
| Maximum deviation, mm | Different thickness | Deviation, mm | Different thickness | ||
| 3 mm | 3 | +0,3/-0,4 | 0,6 | +0,4/-0,3 | 0,6 |
| 4 mm | 3 | +0,3/-0,5 | +0,8/-0,4 | 1,0 | |
| 6 mm | 5 | +0,4/-0,5 | +0,9/-0,4 | ||
| 9 mm | 7 | +0,4/-0,6 | +1,0/-0,5 | ||
| 12 mm | 9 | +0,5/-0,7 | +1,1/-0,6 | ||
| 15 mm | 11 | +0,6/-0,8 | +1,2/-0,7 | 1,5 | |
| 18 mm | 13 | +0,7/-0,9 | +1,3/-0,8 | ||
| 21 mm | 15 | +0,8/-1,0 | +1,4/-0,9 | ||
| 24 mm | 17 | +0,9/-1,1 | +1,5/-1,0 | ||
| 27 mm | 19 | +1,0/-1,2 | 1,0 | +1,6/-1,1 | 2,0 |
| 30 mm | 21 | +1,1/-1,3 | +1,7/-1,2 | ||
Preparatory stage
- draw up sketches and make a drawing of the future product,
- make paper patterns for future elements and details
- stick templates onto blanks for future parts.
There are two ways to make templates - take tracing paper and draw the kennels of the future workpiece on it. This has been done since ancient times, since nothing is needed for this except a ruler and a pencil. However, if you have a computer and a printer, of course A3 would be nice, but A4 is also suitable (you just have to print several sheets and then glue them together), then the process of drawing with a pencil and ruler can be replaced by drawing the contours of the blanks on the computer.
Then we cut it out with a stationery blade or just a sharp knife.
After that Once the template is ready, it needs to be glued to the workpiece.
Tip: There is no need to glue it tightly, since in the future you will have to remove the template, and this will be difficult if you glue it tightly. Accordingly, you can glue it, for example, with stationery glue, use a glue stick or, as in our example, spray glue.
Creating blanks
On at this stage need to do:
- Cut the blanks exactly according to the template,
- Process the workpieces - align the ends, remove burrs
- Drill the necessary holes;
- Make grooves with a file;
- Drill out the seats for the bearings;
- Select grooves with a router for the cover and a seat;
We install the bracket. It should be noted that the bracket must be fastened without over-tightening the nut - there must be free movement. To do this, use a self-locking nut and only tighten it slightly.
Installing the spring should not be difficult. You need to do it as shown in the photo below.
For future fastening of the file, you need to make a simple clamp in the form of a plate with two holes. It must also be installed on the bracket using a self-locking nut. Moreover, the backlash of the plate in seat The reason is that the bracket moves, and the clamped plate will hinder its movement.
Below is a sketch of the design of the upper attachment point for the file.
Then it is necessary to make technological holes for the jigsaw controls so that it is convenient to change the engine speed, you can gain access to the start button and its lock. There is another solution that makes it more convenient to turn on the tool - this is to place in an easily accessible place on the machine body an socket and a switch that would turn the voltage on and off in the socket. We plug the jigsaw cord into a socket, and it turns out that we will turn it on and off using a switch installed in a place convenient for us. However, this is a matter of taste.
So, below is the manufacture of technological holes on the body.
This is what the controls look like when they are now available.
Now you need to make clamps for the file itself. The principle is simple - take a bolt and make a cut at the base of the head, but not all the way. In the future, the file itself will be inserted into this cut. The principle is shown in the photo below.
This is how the upper saw attachment unit is installed and assembled.
The lower assembly is almost similar to the upper one, except that it is not a plate that is used, but a standard file (you can use a “BU” one), almost the entire cutting part is sawed off with an angle grinder and the shank is left. A hole is made in the remaining cutting part with a similar bolt with a slot at the base of the head, into which the file will also fit. The principle is shown below.
After the file is secured, we install the jigsaw itself. We fasten it with bolts with countersunk heads so that they do not stick out on the tabletop of the machine.
Now we need to adjust the perpendicularity of the file relative to the table of our machine. To do this, you can use a square, or, as in our case, just a block that is precisely trimmed. We make the adjustment as follows. To adjust the file left/right, the top plate is adjusted - its displacement on the axis - respectively, in the desired direction.
And to adjust the saw blade position forward/backwards, the saw blade mounting unit itself is shifted forward or backward.
The machine is almost ready, all that remains is to make and install the plate that surrounds the jigsaw file. It can be made from PCB or any piece of sheet plastic.
This completes the manufacturing of the jigsaw machine.
We hope that the material presented was useful to you.
Conclusion
dimensions
Here is a table with overall dimensions:
General assembly diagram
Let's attach a complete assembly diagram, which in a sense can be a 3B drawing for making a machine from a jigsaw with your own hands.
Video
Videos on which this material was made.
A jigsaw is a convenient and useful tool on the farm. An electric jigsaw greatly speeds up work and expands the possibilities of using such a tool. But real quality can only be achieved by installing stationary device- jigsaw table.
By turning a hand tool into a small machine, you can create original creations from the most different materials. This table allows you to make the most complex patterns and ornaments. The device will undoubtedly appeal to lovers of high-quality manual labor.
Features of an electric jigsaw
A jigsaw is a type of saw with reciprocating movement of the cutting element (blade), in which the rotational movement of the electric motor is converted into translational movement of the saw in the form of oscillatory movements with a frequency of up to 50 cycles per second. This jigsaw makes it possible to make cuts inside a flat sheet in any direction, incl. with a rotation in an arc with a diameter of at least 3 cm. It can be used to cut many materials: chipboard, wood (up to 70 mm thick), metal sheet (steel - up to 3 mm, copper, aluminum - up to 20 mm), tiles, plastic , natural and artificial stone.
Sawing the material is done by moving the saw upward. In addition, the file is provided with transverse vibration due to the presence of a pendulum mechanism. This improves the quality of straight lines when sawing. The tool provides adjustment of the speed of movement of the nail file, which is important when cutting different materials.
So, when cutting in wood, you can set the speed to the highest possible speed; when working with plastic or aluminum, use the medium speed range; For steel and tiles, the speed must be reduced to a minimum. A special mechanism allows for cutting when inserting the file at an angle.
The file is secured in the jigsaw with its shank, in which a slot is made (the best option is the shape of a cross). The shank is secured in the block using two screws. The design of the clamping pads (chucks) may be different for different jigsaws. The files themselves have different tooth shapes for different materials.
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Features of a table jigsaw
The use of a manual jigsaw implies that the workpiece is permanently fixed, and sawing is carried out by manually moving the jigsaw. The quality of the cut in this case depends entirely on the “steadiness of the hand” and the skills of the master: the accuracy of the line, the angle of insertion of the file, etc. A tabletop jigsaw changes the picture of the process: an electric jigsaw is fixed stationary in a vertical position at the bottom of the table, and the workpiece moves along the table surface only guided by hands.
In this case, firstly, the sawing process is physically facilitated; secondly, the quality of the cut is improved due to the strict verticality of the file and the accuracy of the workpiece movement when using guides. In addition, positioning the saw blade in an upward direction reduces the risk of surface chipping at the edges of the cut. The file has stable movement due to the use of mechanisms that ensure its tension and precise orientation. The jigsaw is securely mounted on a fairly massive and durable frame, which eliminates unwanted vibrations and movements of the tool.
IN general case table jigsaw represents stationary machine. Its design includes a table with an electric jigsaw mounted on it, as well as a system for guiding and tensioning the saw and a system for fastening and guiding the workpiece. The simplicity of the design allows you to make a table with your own hands. The size of the table is selected based on the size of the workpieces and parts being processed. To install sheets of significant size (for example, chipboard), additional extension systems may be provided.
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The simplest design
You can make a simple table with your own hands very quickly. As work surface applies plywood sheet thickness of at least 10 mm and size depending on the size of the workpiece being processed. For small workpieces, it is enough to take a sheet measuring 50x50 cm. In the central part, stepping back approximately 20-25 cm from the edge of the sheet, drill a hole with a diameter of 20-30 mm for a jigsaw file. At the bottom of the sheet, using the hole as a center, mark the fastening of the jigsaw sole. If there are no holes on the jigsaw sole, they must be drilled on drilling machine in the amount of 4 pieces and cut the M8-M10 thread. Four holes are drilled in the plywood sheet according to the marks.
Legs made of steel strips 3-4 mm thick and 30-40 mm wide are attached to the corners of the sheet. The height of the legs is determined by the size of the jigsaw body (to the sole) with an addition of 2-3 cm. The legs at the bottom need to be bent outward at a right angle and 1-2 holes with a diameter of 6-8 mm drilled into them for fastening. An electric jigsaw is attached to the bottom of a sheet of plywood so that the file comes out through the hole. Manufactured simple table with your own hands, which can be attached to any surface (workbench, table, etc.) and work.
An even simpler design does not include legs, but is attached to the edge of the workbench with clamps (two on each side for strength). The jigsaw should be outside the workbench. This DIY table can easily handle wooden pieces up to 3 cm thick.
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Slight design complication
You can do a little more complex table with your own hands. To do this, a frame is made of three panels Chipboard thickness 12-15 mm (two side panels measuring 50x80 cm and a back panel measuring 70x80 cm). The structure is assembled using wooden block or furniture corners. At the bottom, it is advisable to make a reinforcing lintel from a wooden block. The front of the frame does not close to provide access to the start button.
The top panel is made of a sheet of plywood with a thickness of 10-12 mm and a size of 70x100 cm and is equipped with a jigsaw in the same way simplest design. To eliminate saw blade vibration during cutting, it is provided simplest system stabilization. The file is passed between two bearings with a diameter of 10-12 mm. The bearings are mounted on a bracket made of steel strip, which, in turn, is fixed to the tabletop. On the tabletop you can install guides and limiting slats made of wooden blocks or aluminum profile. It is better to fasten them to the edges of the tabletop with clamps, which will make it possible to move them along the table. For precise movement, you can attach a tape measure to the ends of the tabletop.
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Table based on bars
More complex design involves making a table from wooden beams. In this case, the table is assembled from timber (legs from timber 80x80 mm, lintels from timber 40x80 mm) with a joint using the tongue-and-groove system.
To strengthen the structure, you need to use wood glue, dowels and screws. The distance between the legs is 60-70 cm. The legs are strengthened with collets. At the junction of the beams and collets, holes are drilled and dowels are secured. The height of the table is set by the manufacturer based on the ease of maintenance of the machine.
The tabletop is made from laminated plywood 18-20 mm thick, 90x90 cm in size. For ease of changing blades, the tabletop is made in a lifting version. To do this, it is attached to one of the table collets using hinges. It is more convenient to remove the file if there is a cut from the hole to the edge of the tabletop. It is recommended to make such a cut.
The jigsaw mounting system should be complicated to ensure its removal. The sole of the jigsaw is pressed against the tabletop by two wooden planks, on which a profile is made by cutting out a quarter of the timber. The jigsaw sole fits into this profile, like a runner. To fasten it, holes are drilled in the bar and clamping screws with a wing are installed.
You can often hear that every home craftsman should have a jigsaw in his collection. But how many of us know what can be done with a jigsaw?
Meanwhile, today there are many operations that are carried out by this tool. It will be of interest primarily to those craftsmen who are not content with a somewhat rough hacksaw for wood. The jigsaw is primarily designed for work that requires particularly high quality finishing and maximum cutting accuracy. In particular, if the master decided to make a stylish cabinet with his own hands or cut out an original wood trim on the wall, the use of a jigsaw is almost inevitable.
What is an electric jigsaw?
This device belongs to the class of cutting tools powered by an electric drive. In fact, this is an electrified version of a manual jigsaw. Its working cutting element is a fairly narrow saw blade, which cuts the workpiece thanks to reciprocating movements in the vertical plane.
Because of their design features, including due to the relatively small size of the file, with the help of the specified power tool it is possible to perform a variety of cutting work of straight and curved configurations. The use of the device also allows cutting in wooden (plastic) panels and blanks through holes the most different sizes and shapes. Moreover, the thinner the saw blade is, and the faster it moves during operation, the thinner the cut edges will be.
Today, jigsaws of different designs and purposes are known. So, they are divided into manual and stationary, for home use and professional models (designed for fairly long and intensive use in, for example, a furniture factory).
There are also saws electrical devices with one or two handles. The first option is sometimes called a traveling option, since it does not require the presence of special devices at the cutting site for rigid fixation of the workpiece. The performer has to hold the workpiece being processed with his other hand.
Accordingly, two-handed models are good because they can be held with both hands, while the workpiece is firmly secured to the base of the machine by some kind of locking device. This circumstance ultimately has a very favorable effect on the high quality of workpiece processing.
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What and how you can do with a jigsaw: functionality
This power tool can perform a wide range of cutting operations. First of all, this concerns various works in the construction and repair industry, in the production of furniture products, as well as for everyday management household when minor repairs and restoration work are periodically required.
This application is made possible by the design of the electric jigsaw.
A thin saw, an active drive from an electric motor and a flat platform on the mechanism body ensure fairly fast and high-quality cutting from sheet lumber of a wide variety of contours in pattern and complexity.
Using a jigsaw, you can make various connecting components with a fairly high degree of accuracy. The specified power tool is used to produce accurate bevel cutting in places corner connections wooden (plastic) blanks with each other. A jigsaw is practically indispensable in cases where adjustment trimming is performed at the joints of flat wooden panels.
A special area of application of the device is the production of various openwork wooden cladding, both individual pieces of furniture and the entire room interior. In this area, the jigsaw traditionally has no equal. With its help, talented craftsmen create objects that are completely unique in shape and beauty. wall shelves, furniture facades, details wall decor etc.
The possibilities for artistic use of a jigsaw are determined by its design. The small width of the saw blade and its fixation in the device body with only one end significantly increases the maneuverability of the mechanism.
Thanks to this design, you can still use a jigsaw to cut holes of different diameters and shapes (figures with a closed contour) without disturbing the outer contour of the cut figure. To do this, you will first have to drill an initial hole on the workpiece, which in diameter should be equal (or slightly larger) to the width of the saw blade. Next, a file is inserted into the hole, the electric drive is turned on, and the jigsaw begins to move along the contour marked with a pencil. It is worth noting that this function in many cases can be very important and even decisive.
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Some Factors Affecting the Functionality of a Jigsaw
Traditionally, jigsaws are used to process wood materials or blanks from soft materials(plastic, plasterboard panels, laminate). However, thanks to the use of saw blades made of special metals and their special designs, today the range of functionality of this power tool has expanded significantly. In particular, jigsaws are currently actively used in cutting metal sheets, fragile glass and ceramic workpieces.
Any electric jigsaw operates on the principle of converting, through a special gearbox, the rotational motion of the electric motor rotor into the reciprocating motion of the saw blade. It should be borne in mind that the quality of cutting largely depends on a number of technical factors.
Thus, relatively cheap jigsaws often have not very powerful electric motors. Because of this, it is quite difficult for the device to develop a high cutting speed - this is the key to high-quality processing of workpieces.
To ensure that this factor does not affect quality, many jigsaws have a pendulum mechanism. With its help, a rather complex trajectory of the saw is formed - not only up/down, but also slightly forward/backward.
This additional “swaying” of the working element carries out preliminary sawing of the material in front of the leading edge of the blade teeth. The pendulum trajectory makes it possible not only to increase the cutting speed of the workpiece, but also significantly reduces vibration and wear of the blade, since not all teeth are involved in the work at the same time. In addition, with such a trajectory of movement of the file, its heating is reduced and the chips are effectively removed from the cut site.
In expensive models of jigsaws, this option can be adjusted. This, as a rule, is done in order to connect one or another operating amplitude mode when moving from one material being processed to another. In particular, the maximum amplitude of saw blade forward/backward is used in cases where a soft wood workpiece is being cut. For particularly precise and clean cuts on hard wood or plastic panel average pendulum amplitudes are used.
The level of vibration also affects the efficiency of the device. Low vibration makes the quality of the cut higher and the operation of the equipment more convenient for the worker. This factor should definitely be taken into account when purchasing a tool, first checking it for the degree of vibration.
An electric jigsaw is an extremely useful tool, without which many operations on processing wood and wood-based materials are simply impossible to imagine today. Possessing a relatively small weight and compactness, a manual jigsaw allows you to cut out products of quite complex configurations from workpieces, but still, sometimes it would be more convenient to use a stationary tool. It is often more convenient for them to work, and the machine also provides more accurate cutting. True, such a machine costs several times more than a manual jigsaw. Those who don’t want to spend extra money on this equipment can make a jigsaw table with their own hands and get an inexpensive and effective hybrid as a result hand tools and the machine.
Figure 1. Diagram of a jigsaw table.
The simplest device
Some kind of table for a jigsaw can be made in a few minutes. The advantage of this design is its simplicity. It is easily mounted on a workbench or tabletop and can be easily disassembled if necessary. The disadvantage can be considered its small area.
The working surface of the machine will be laminated plywood, in which holes are drilled for sawing and for installing fasteners. The thickness of the plywood should not be less than 10 mm. You may also need to prepare holes in the base of the power tool for mounting screws. The structure is attached to the workbench with clamps. The heads of the mounting screws must be flush with the plane of the sheet. Such a machine can easily cope with cutting small workpieces up to 30 mm thick. What the device looks like is shown in Figure 1.
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Second option
Another stationary device for working with wood consists of more parts, but it is also not difficult to make. The table frame consists of 2 sidewalls and a back wall made of chipboard. The machine does not have a front wall to make it easy to reach the button. IN back wall holes are drilled for the cord and tube of the vacuum cleaner. The machine cover is made of laminated 10 mm plywood. The entire structure is tightened with confirmations. The jigsaw is attached in the same way as in the first case.
Figure 2. Diagram of a frame-support for a jigsaw.
Using a homemade machine, you can cut larger workpieces, but when working with thick wood, the jigsaw blade may tilt back and in both directions. This degrades cutting accuracy. The disadvantage is eliminated by installing homemade machine support bracket (Figure No. 2). The jigsaw blade will move between 2 11mm bearings, which are screwed to the L-shaped steel strip with screws. The back of the file will rest on the wall of the bracket. This design will not allow the jigsaw working blade to deviate from the specified plane.
The bracket is attached to a frame made of birch bars 50 x 50 mm. It can be raised or lowered depending on the thickness of the material being processed and the length of the file. To do this, the frame with the stop is not tightly attached to the side of the machine, but is pressed against it with a steel, hardboard or textolite plate. Vertical stand The birch frame is located between the frame and the hardboard, into which 4 clamping bolts are inserted.
The area of the countertop depends on the size of the workpieces you are going to work with.
The machine can be made more perfect by installing a limit bar on it, which will help cut wood into pieces of the same thickness.
The limiter can be attached to the machine with clamps. It is made from a wooden block, steel or aluminum corner. If desired, the bar can be installed on a slide attached to the bottom or sides of the table top. You can make 2 parallel slots in the tabletop along which the slats will move. Holes are drilled in it. Studs or screws with wing nuts are passed through them and the slots. Tape measures are attached to the ends of the tabletop.
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Table made of bars and chipboard
Figure 3. Diagram of a tabletop for a jigsaw.
The manufacture of this table requires certain carpentry skills, since the connections between its drawers and legs are made in a tongue and groove manner. However, you can use dowels, wood glue and screws instead. The machine cover will be liftable to provide easier access to the tool when dismantling it. Figure 3 shows what the countertop looks like. If desired, you can provide space for installing a manual milling machine, then the machine will become multifunctional.
The table is made from:
- bars 80 x 80 mm;
- bars 40 x 80 mm;
- Laminated chipboard or laminated plywood 900 x 900 mm.
The distance between the legs can be from 600 to 700 mm. The bars for the drawers and legs are obtained after longitudinal sawing of the 80 x 80 bars. You can choose the height of the legs yourself, based on how convenient it will be to work on the machine. At each end of the frame and legs, 2 holes are drilled for dowels. Corresponding holes are made on the sides of the legs. The dowels are coated with glue half their length and inserted into the ends. After this, the frame is assembled in rough form. After correcting possible shortcomings, it is finally tightened. All contact surfaces are lubricated with glue before assembly. Additional strength of the structure will be given by self-tapping screws, which are screwed through holes prepared in advance for them.
The lid is attached to one of the drawers on hinges; for this purpose, a slot is made in it to facilitate installation and removal of the jigsaw. 2 strips with a selected quarter are screwed to the back of the tabletop, which will include the sole of the power tool. Holes are made in the strips into which clamping screws or bolts will be installed. A jigsaw mounted under the tabletop will be able to process thicker workpieces if a recess is made in the lid for its sole. The easiest way to make it milling machine. The table turned out to be quite spacious, so a large thickness of plywood or chipboard can provide sufficient strength to its lid. Use 20mm or thicker sheets.
