Ask any master-teller to voice the personal TOP-5 of the most running, often used instrument, and you will hear a list in which there will always be an electric jigsaw. The thing is that this is an incredibly functional, mobile, truly universal assistant. He, if necessary, albeit with some limitations, can replace a number of other tools, which is especially important for the domestic craftsman. It’s easy and fun to work with electric jigsaw, it’s all right. Even my wife, far from repair and construction equipment, with pleasure sometimes can something to saw.

Often during tile work, it is necessary to make a curvilinear pruning, to bypass the rounded column, near which there is no plinth, to peel the box with the output of the hundredth sewer pipe. From time to time designers throw us a merry work. Terrible dream of the tiler: a radius or undulating contiguity of tile, say, to a parquet.

It’s no secret that the electric jigsaw can cut profile metal blanks, as well as sheet metal. Necessity such in my practice somehow did not arise, but for the sake of interest, I, of course, tried to do it. We set the file for metal, reduce the speed to a minimum, remove the pendulum stroke and begin. Well, yes, indeed it is possible.

Unlike the saber, disk, chain saw, the same router, the jigsaw is held and guided with one hand, which allows the second to lock the workpiece. Thanks to this, a fairly accurate cut is obtained at a significant speed of production, since it is not necessary to fix the workpiece every time, only the marking and the firm hand of the operator are needed. Using a saw table to fix the jigsaw, you can achieve even more impressive results regarding the accuracy and cleanliness of the cut. Then the saw goes down teeth, and there is no chipping on the front surface, and the workpiece moves with both hands. In general, there are two problems when working with electric jigsaw – this is the appearance of chips and the departure of the saw blade from the vertical. In most cases, they are solved by selecting the right saw and selecting the operating mode (the speed of the blade and the amplitude of the pendulum stroke). An important role is played also by the skill of the user and the design feature of the jig saw.

Makita 4351 FCT

About a year ago, my partner caught fire with the desire to get a high-class jigsaw, he liked Makita 4351 FCT. Well, a man likes a chic tool. Of course, I did not deny myself the pleasure of conducting this unit a good test drive.

Makita 4351 FCT

The performance of this unit is simply staggering. I tried to cut the 100mm timber – no problem, the 75mm metal corner 6 mm thick – normal, without straining. Everything works very quietly, there are no vibrations, there is clearly a stock of power (according to the passport, the maximum depth of the saw on the wood is 135 mm, in steel – 10 mm). The 720W engine seems to presume such an order of things, but in practice, not all manufacturers are able to successfully transfer the large power of the power plant to the saw headset. The course of the cloth is 26 mm, the speed of its movement can be set in the range of 800-2800 translational movements per minute. These indicators are similar to those of the “Fiolent” PMZ-600 E, but there is already an electronic control system for sawing speed, which supports the specified parameters regardless of the structure of materials, including dissimilar ones. Naturally, our services offer a pendulum move. The developers have made it three-mode, although practice shows that it is enough to have two extreme positions: “on” and “off”. The jigsaw starts without a jerk, it triggers the starting current limiter – “soft start” (the function helps with ultra-precise operations).

Makita 4351 FCT

The jig saw is equipped with a very good sole made of cast aluminum, it is clearly fixed in the zero position and at an inclination of 45 °. There is on it an anti-slip, protective lining made of plastic, an anti-scoring liner. By the way, in the clamped places the support platform can be displaced back.

Makita 4351 FCT

Replacement of the saw is performed without keys and screwdrivers. It is a little alarming that the holding mechanism is activated by a plastic lever, but so far everything is in order. It is interesting that the cartridge seems to be “omnivorous” – he tried to insert canvases of different thicknesses, he fixed everything securely.
The working area is illuminated by the built-in lamp, which turns on when the start button is pressed – very convenient. The sawdust removal system works quite efficiently.

Makita 4351 FCT

Now about the unpleasant. The jigsaw is heavy (2.4 kg) and rather oversized, in some places they simply do not get up. Its length is 30 cm, plus 10 cm of protruding back casing of the cord. The body is thick, I could not normally wrap it around, the device strives to fall out of my hands. The presence of the mushroom handle involves working with two hands, which I really do not like. To disable the start button, which necessarily stops, it is necessary to intercept, from the working position of the hands it can not be reached.

The Makita 4351 FCT is certainly a powerful, reliable, functional tool. However, it is not suitable for building and finishing, as it is very necessary to work “in place”, sawing blanks “on the knee” is not his element. The jigsaw will show itself perfectly in the workshop, where the part can be securely fixed. With its help, a well-executed figured cutting is performed, it is possible to easily carry the tool to yourself, to the side, from the bottom of the workpiece.

BOSCH PST 650

A small green BOSCH PST 650 was developed by German engineers for the average home master. Practice has shown that the household series of this manufacturer can find application in the repair and construction business.

BOSCH PST 650

Jigsaw immediately fell into his hand, it is really comfortable – a thin D-shaped handle has soft rubber lining, the switches are located in accessible, expected places, everything is perfectly balanced. A sensitive large button allows a little “extinguish”. The weight of the device is only 1.6 kg, which is as much as 800 grams less than for PMZ-600 E or Makita 4351 FCT. The developers used a 500W engine for it, but the working rod was dispersed to 3100 strokes per minute (for the “Fiolent” PMZ-600 O, for example, 2600 movements per minute). In a word, as in the case with other instruments of the household series, the Germans bet on speed. I easily cut the bars with a thickness of 50 mm, and this is clearly not the limit (in the passport 65 mm is indicated – wood, 4 mm – steel).

BOSCH PST 650

In the asset of this jigsaw, you can enroll a well-fastened steel platform, including 45 °, adjustable blowing of sawdust, anti-vibration system, good transverse stabilization of the blade.
The BOSCH PST 650 has a quick-action chuck, which has one drawback – not all saws can be inserted there, due to the different thickness of the shanks. In this case, the canvas that fit is fixed very reliably.

BOSCH PST 650

One and a half year PST 650 without fail works on finishing works, saws, boards, a laminate, a lining. An excellent instrument of an ultra-light class, he rightly deserved his place on the construction site. As for home use, then, given the price / quality / performance ratio, this jigsaw will be beyond competition.

Einhell BPS 600E

Jigsaw Einhell BPS 600E came to us by accident and very quickly left us. Like everything he had for success: a pendulum move with three modes, a 600-watt motor, a speed regulator, a good frequency, a traditional design, a German name … But here the quality of performance brings the manufacturer irrevocably. The button broke, the rubber came off the handle, began to play the stock, the sole was bent, the shoe block fixing the saw, a very hard cord began to crack … Only the motor continues its life activity. This is a sample of how you do not need to do electric jigs, it’s a total failure. Such a tool does not make sense to buy, how cheap it would not be worth.

Einhell BPS 600E

In conclusion

Let’s sum up. To choose the right jigsaw, you need to take into account a number of nuances. Based on the practical experience of professional builders, you can formulate some general recommendations:

1. Determine in advance what type of work will be used for the jig saw. In most cases, including for construction, suitable household or semi-professional tools of the average price range.
2. Great power necessarily affects the mass of the product. Think about whether you need it.
3. The jigsaw with the mushroom handle is better suited for work in the workshop. Two-hand grip involves fixing the workpiece. Such a tool is very convenient to make complex curved cuts.
4. D-shaped machines are controlled by one hand, they are good for use in “field conditions”, “in place”. This option for the construction site and for the house is preferable.
5. The presence of a pendulum stroke significantly increases the productivity.
6. To work with a variety of materials, you will need to change the stroke frequency – well, when there is a stepped speed controller.
7. For delicate sawing, the electronic stabilization function of the set speed and smooth start will not be superfluous.
8. The sole should be securely fixed perpendicular to the cutting blade. The big advantage is the presence of a plastic lining.
9. The less backlash in the working rod and the support roller, the cleaner and more precise the cut will be.
10. The quick clamping of the liner can have a limitation in the thickness of the shanks (not all saws are suitable). The most unreliable option is a shoe with a slot and two screws. The key lock / screwdriver is the most versatile.
11. Directed airflow and work area illumination are very useful options.
12. Each model has its own unique ergonomics, before buying it is necessary to “shake” the jigsaw in your hands, choose what suits you personally.
13. In many authorized sales centers, the buyer is allowed to test the tool in work, use this right.