How to Use a Jigsaw

Jigsaws are useful for cutting through wood or metal, and enable you to make a variety of cuts, from straight edges, to rounded corners, to cuts that start within the material. This tutorial will go over how to safely set up and use a jigsaw for basic cuts.

Some very important safety tips to remember, along with usual shop procedure, are to always make sure the saw is unplugged when you are changing blades and to keep the cord out of the path of the saw.

***Disclaimer: This Instructable is not intended to serve as a substitute for hands-on training. Always follow proper safety protocol in the shop and tool specific safety instructions***

The blade of your jigsaw depends on the type of material you intend to cut. If you are cutting wood, a wood blade will enable a faster cut. If you are cutting metal, a metal blade with 21-24 teeth per inch is ideal. The blade type is evident in how fine the teeth are, or the label on the blade's box.

Start by putting the blade into the jigsaw, but first, make sure the saw is unplugged. Some jigsaws have an bolt that needs to be loosened with an allen wrench to change the blade. Newer jigsaws have a black lever that loosens the grip on the blade when pulled down, which enables you to put a new blade in. Make sure the blade is facing the right direction (the teeth of the blade are facing towards the front of the jigsaw), and that the end is securely gripped by the jigsaw when you release the black lever.

NOW you can plug your jigsaw back in and prepare for the cut.

Make sure you have properly marked where you want to cut your material. If you need a square and even cut, a t-square will help to draw a square straight line from the end of the material. If the cut does not need to be square, still mark the shape you are going to cut out with pencil on the material. While jigsaws can cut curves, make sure none of the curves are too tight; going around very sharp bends has the potential to bend the blade.

Whatever material you are cutting must be securely clamped to a table, with enough clearance so that the jigsaw doesn't run into any clamps or the table itself. If you are cutting one big piece of wood into two, and having the edge hang off of the table is too much, you can push two tables close to each other and saw the long cut between them. Both sides must still be clamped down.

For smaller cuts, it is fine to let the end of the wood hang off of the table. Just make sure to leave enough space for the foot of the jigsaw to pass by the clamps without forcing the saw to run off track.

When setting the jigsaw up to cut, make sure the foot of the jigsaw is pressed flat against the material. Also make sure that the blade is not touching the material before you pull the trigger. Once you have lined up the blade with your cut, pull the trigger and let the blade speed up. Once at full speed, slowly move the jigsaw forward and let the blade cut into the material. Apply some forward pressure but do not force the saw to go too fast. It will naturally cut through the material, and pushing too hard can cause the blade to recoil or break, in addition to possibly damaging the material. Make sure you don't let the blade stop before completely going through the material.

If at some point in the middle of your cut the blade is forced to stop, let go of the trigger and gently try to pull it out, either straight up or through the already made cut. The blade might stop if you are cutting with the foot at and angle, if your curve is too sharp, or if you are moving too fast.

Once you are done cutting, make sure to sand all of the edges of your material to avoid any splinters. Depending on the size and material, this can be done with an orbital sander, a belt sander, or a file.

Make sure to unplug the jigsaw, remove the blade, and store both in their proper location.

Sweep and vacuum your work area, and make sure to dispose of any scraps. If there is large scrap material, place it in one of the areas around the facility designated for scrap material.