Jigsaw machines: review of brands and homemade tools

Jigsaw machines

The first tool with which craftsmen performed precise figure sawing on wood was a hand jigsaw. Working with this device was unproductive, required a lot of effort from the operator and was not very accurate. It is not surprising that with the advent of the electric motor, craftsmen were found who adapted the narrow blade to electric traction.

Thus, a small but quite effective device for carrying out curved, figured and straight cuts of various configurations has appeared on the market - a jigsaw. Today, such machines are used to work not only on wood, but also on plywood, plastic and even some types of metals. Jigsaws are widely used in home and educational workshops, as well as in furniture factories and musical instrument factories.

Using a jigsaw provides a number of advantages compared to using other tools:

• Provides higher cutting speed;
• Using a jigsaw we obtain higher quality and more accurate cuts. The device allows for curvilinear or shaped processing, leaving the edges of the workpiece smooth;
• The master’s hands remain free, which allows him to cut out a wide variety of shapes and patterns;
• The jigsaw provides greater operator safety. The presence of various covers reliably protects your hands from injury.

Rating of desktop jigsaws

This list was compiled based on reviews from ordinary craftsmen.

JET JSS-16A

Ideal for home use
The model is used for small workshops or home use. Suitable for processing a variety of materials. The stroke speed can be adjusted from 400 to 1600 rpm. Using a jigsaw you can cut not only wood, but also plastic.

Cost 9000 rubles.

BISON ZSL-90

Universal device
A model from a domestic manufacturer easily copes with various workpieces. Suitable for cutting plywood, wood, plastic. The motor power is 90 W. The tabletop can be tilted at an angle of 45 degrees.

Cost 7000 rubles.

The device of a jigsaw machine

A tabletop jigsaw machine consists of several basic and additional elements. There is nothing complicated here; many craftsmen assemble machines at home.

• Bed. The structure on which the electric motor is mounted, various components and parts of the machine are mounted;
• Table. A smooth surface on which the workpiece is processed;
• Electric drive. Electric single-phase motor, the power of which depends on the performance characteristics of a particular tool. As a rule, on household machines the motor power does not exceed 250 watts;
• Crank mechanism. The main task of this unit is to convert the rotational motion of the engine into the forward-reciprocating motion of the saw;
• Jigsaw. The main element of the machine is selected individually for each type of material and the thickness of a specific workpiece. Professional blades are capable of making figured cuts in wood with a thickness of 100 millimeters or more;
• Dust removal device. It is installed additionally and consists of an air pump that blows air over the work area;
• Backlight.

Stationary design for intensive use

For permanent work, for example, in a home workshop, it is advisable to use professional or industrial equipment. What is the reason for this?

1. Industrial equipment is manufactured taking into account the fact that the machine must operate uninterruptedly for a long time.
2. The machine bed, made of casting or welded construction, will ensure the quality of the resulting parts and a long service life.
3. Factory-manufactured equipment is designed in compliance with all safety and ergonomic measures.

When working on a jigsaw, a set of spare saws, plumbing tools, oils, etc. should be present near the workplace.

Popular models of jigsaw machines

1. Scheppach Deco Flex
2. Einhell TC-SS 405 E
3. BISON ZSL-90
4. JET JWSS-22B
5. Pegas/Excalibur

Scheppach Deco Flex. The machine makes it possible to perform the most complex curved, straight and shaped cuts in wood and other materials. Features of the device include the ability to adjust the speed of the saw in the range from 550 to 1650 strokes/minute.

Scheppach Deco Flex

The model is equipped with an economical 90-watt motor, the power of which is sufficient to carry out work in workpieces 50 mm thick and 405 mm wide. Operator comfort and safety are ensured by powerful illumination of the working area, the presence of an anti-vibration system and a transparent protective cover. In their reviews, the owners of the unit mention the presence of a pipe for connecting a vacuum cleaner and the ability to quickly replace saw blades.

You can buy a German-assembled Scheppach Deco Flex jigsaw starting at $170. The Chinese analogue has a slightly lower cost.

Einhell TC-SS 405 E
Einhell TC-SS 405 E. The machine is designed for complex and precise work on materials such as wood, plastic, gypsum, plexiglass and aluminum. The tool is driven by a 120-watt motor, which is powerful enough to work with workpieces up to 50 millimeters thick. The table can be configured for cutting at an angle of +/- 45, it has an electronic control unit for the saw stroke frequency, an anti-vibration system, and is adapted for connecting a vacuum cleaner.

The machine is produced at the Chinese plant of the Einhell company, its average cost does not exceed 130 US dollars.

BISON ZSL-90

BISON ZSL-90. The advantages of this tool include its compactness, light weight and high-quality assembly (according to the manufacturer, the tool is assembled in Taiwan). The device is driven by a single-phase 90-watt motor, the power of which allows it to produce various forms of bevel, figure and curved sawing. Good quality of material processing is ensured by the high speed of movement of the blade; for operator convenience, the table has a tilt mechanism in the range from -45 to + 45. The manufacturer also provided a transparent protective cover and the ability to connect a household vacuum cleaner to clean the work area during operation.

Another advantage of the ZUBR ZSL-90 jigsaw is its low cost: 95 – 100 dollars.

JET JWSS-22B

JET JWSS-22B. We assigned fourth place in our rating to a professional jigsaw machine from a well-known Swiss manufacturer. The only drawback of this device is its rather high price - about 1,200 US dollars, however, as the owners of the machine claim in their reviews, it works out its cost to the last cent. The unit is driven by a 90-watt electric motor, which is powerful enough to process workpieces up to 45 millimeters thick.

Jigsaw Jet JWSS-22B

The manufacturer took care of the presence of a mechanism for adjusting the inclination of the saw blade and work table in the range of +/- 45; the jigsaw is also equipped with a pendulum system and an adjustable dust blower. With its high performance characteristics, the JET JWSS-22B model has an impressive weight of 31 kilograms, which once again confirms the professional status of the jigsaw machine.

Pegas/Excalibur

Pegas/Excalibur . Another professional stationary jigsaw machine from the Swiss company Pegas.
The device is characterized by high build quality, excellent performance and the presence of all modern systems that ensure precise and clean surface treatment of the workpiece. The unit is equipped with a powerful 320-watt motor, which can easily cope with cuts in wood up to 500 millimeters thick. Unlike cheaper models, on this jigsaw it is not the table that tilts, but the saw mechanism, which improves the accuracy of material processing.

Inexpensive machines with high accuracy

To independently study the intricacies of working on a jigsaw and carrying out minor household work, pay attention to the most affordable models. None of the errors here are critical. Everything is adjusted, tightened, strengthened. In the process of preparing and servicing the machine, invaluable experience is gained. In this category, the main thing is to strictly follow the manufacturer’s recommendations and pay careful attention to preparing the first operational start-up.

Caliber LEN-90 – from 3,400 rubles.

After tightening the fasteners and adjusting the saw tension, the problem of noticeable vibration does not go away.
Rigidly fixing the frame to the table surface will not help either. By the time a novice user decides to look for the problem, digging deeper, the play of the axial bushings becomes stronger and all the purchased files break. The issue with bushings is resolved by replacing them with bearings. You can save on pin files by replacing both pin fasteners with purchased or homemade units for fixing straight files. Moreover, the products cut out at this stage, after manual processing, take on a quite decent appearance. Technical characteristics of the machine Caliber LEN-85

BISON ZSL-90 – from 4,398 rubles.

Machine vibration interferes with precision tasks.
Tightening loose fasteners and placing damping elements under the connections does not give the expected effect. But a rattling stamped table cannot be the cause of vibration, so you should look at the motor mount and drive elements. Theoretically, I accept the possibility of assembling a machine with beating shafts and pulleys, but in practice I have only encountered incorrect fixation of the flywheel. Loosen the fastening screw, set the flywheel without tension, and tighten the screw back. 98 times out of 100, adjusting the position will eliminate vibration from your new machine. The remaining 2% is due to manufacturing defects in drive parts, which are corrected as part of the warranty. Technical characteristics of the ZUBR ZSL-90 machine

Review of the machine from the 220 Volt store:

Kraton WMSS-11-02 – from 6,272 rubles.

All the advantages of an inexpensive machine are spoiled by the need to use pin files. The solution is to install homemade screw holders for direct consumables, but in this case the user will lose the factory warranty. I propose a compromise: drill a three-millimeter hole in two threaded rods of a suitable size - insert the ends of a regular file into them and tighten them with nuts. If you have one pair of pins, it will take you a minute to change the file. Operating efficiency is maintained and instructions are not violated. Technical characteristics of the Kraton WMSS-11-02 machine

In the following video, the author uses this machine to cut out a decorative trinket:

Dremel Moto-Saw (MS20-1/5) – from RUB 6,403.

The negative aspects of owning a Moto-Saw are the high cost of special consumables and the inability to repair the tool yourself.
In fact, the minus points turn out to be advantages, for example, the design of the pins on the blade marked S50 allows for side cutting. This removes restrictions on the length of the workpiece being processed. The design of the machine contains no components that may require custom settings and maintenance. I admit that the shrill sound of the working tool will disturb someone, but the high speed of the saw makes it possible to put up with this feature. Dremel Moto-Saw (MS20-1/5) Specifications

The author of the video shares his impressions of purchasing this device:

DIY jigsaw machine

A jigsaw machine is one of those devices that you can make yourself at home. In fact, the manufacture of such a machine is a repurposing of a manual jigsaw. The first step is to find the material to make the countertop. Sheet metal, thick plywood, textolite or other material can be used in this capacity. Then you should cut a through oblong hole in the tabletop for the saw blade and secret holes for fasteners. Then all that remains is to find a table to mount the table top and install a jigsaw underneath. Also, for safety reasons, it is recommended to purchase and install a magnetic starter.

A more detailed description of the sequence of making a jigsaw table with your own hands can be found on the Internet. Drawings of such tables and videos with technological features of their manufacture are also available here.

Of course, a homemade jigsaw machine is not suitable for professional needs, but it can be used to solve various everyday tasks, which is confirmed by numerous examples.

Additional functionality

The presence of additional functionality expands the capabilities of any device, and a jigsaw is no exception to this rule. Special regulators and accessories make the device more versatile, increasing its cost, but at the same time, labor efficiency. For the convenience of performing certain operations, stationary jigsaws for wood are equipped with a pedal, a backlight, a dust collector, a mechanism for tilting the work table, and even an engraver. Let's take a closer look at all the delights of modern jigsaw installations.

Speed ​​adjustment

One of the most common additional features, most often found in desktop jigsaws. Adjusting the speed allows you to adjust the frequency of reciprocating movements made by the saw blade in one minute. This function makes the device more versatile, allowing high-quality cutting of materials of varying degrees of density. For example: with wood and its derivatives, you can work at maximum speed, for PVC it ​​is better to set the average value, and it will be more correct to saw metal at minimum speed, to extend the life of the saw blade.

There are two types of speed controller: smooth and stepped. The first type allows you to set the most precise frequency of movements, and with the help of the second you can only switch between several speeds provided by the manufacturer. Both options have a right to exist, but in the case of the second, it is worth paying attention that there are at least 4 speeds. Sometimes you come across models of jigsaw machines with a speed controller of only 2 speeds, which does not particularly expand the capabilities of the device.

Work surface tilt

When a product requires cutting at a certain angle, the tilting function of the working surface comes in handy. This mechanism allows you to set the required angle of inclination of the desktop, up to 45°. In most budget models of desktop jigsaws, the tilt is only in one direction. In more professional devices, this function works in both directions. The ability to set the cutting angle in modern machines is becoming more and more common, but there are also models where it is absent.

Backlight

The cutting process is much more efficient in a room with good lighting. If it is not possible to illuminate the entire room brightly enough, built-in lighting comes to the rescue. This simple function, provided in some models of jigsaw machines, greatly facilitates the work process, saves vision and saves time that you could spend on independently organizing the lighting of the work area. Of course, this function is not decisive in choosing a stationary jigsaw, since you can do it yourself if you wish, but a neat spotlight will be an undoubted advantage of any model.

Dust extraction

When cutting, even a small volume of material, a fair amount of sawdust forms on its surface. In addition to the fact that this waste from the work process covers the contour being sawed, due to the vibration of the machine, it partially enters the air and the operator’s respiratory tract. In order to ensure a comfortable working process without dust and shavings, many models of stationary jigsaws are equipped with special dust extractors, to which you can connect a vacuum cleaner to suck up sawdust.

An additional option for removing sawing waste is a flexible rubber pipe. This element is connected to a small compressor, and unlike a dust extractor, it does not suck in dust, but blows it away in the specified direction. It is better to wear a respirator when working on a machine with a similar function. Many models of tabletop jigsaws have both sawdust removal functions at the same time.

Flexible shaft (engraver)

One of the most interesting and useful functions, in most cases inherent in professional models. Allows you to drill, grind and polish products without the use of third-party tools. The main advantage of a flexible shaft is the almost complete absence of vibration. Among the disadvantages, we can note a single drive that starts the saw blade and the engraver at the same time. For safety reasons, when working with a flexible shaft, the saw blade should be removed from the fastening element. The average number of revolutions of the nozzles per minute is 2500, which can be reduced or increased using the speed controller.

Safety precautions

Working with a jigsaw requires certain knowledge and skills , so safety precautions are very important.

1. You cannot artificially stop the jigsaw if its work is not completed. Such stops will lead to rapid breakdown of the mechanism and subsequent failure of the homemade machine.
2. The material used for work must be of good quality. Under no circumstances should you use plastic instead of plywood, chipboard and other suitable materials. If it comes into contact with plastic, the jigsaw mechanism will quickly deteriorate. In addition, plastic often releases toxic substances.
3. It is advisable to work with a jigsaw in a well-lit place. The light should fall from the left (for right-handers) or from the right (for left-handers). The jigsaw must be securely mounted on a large table. During operation, you can adjust the speed and power of the mechanism. For homemade machines this is done manually, while industrial machines often have an automatic adjustment function.
4. The material to be cut must be completely dry. This is especially important if the jigsaw is electric: contact of moisture with the mechanism can lead to electric shock. If the jigsaw is mechanical, then you also need to use dry material, because contact of the mechanism with moisture will lead to rapid damage to the machine and corrosion of its metal elements. You should not use material contaminated by fungi for sawing, as when working with it, the fungus can release toxic spores into the air.
5. Before you start working with a jigsaw, you need to study the basic principle of its operation and read about safety precautions when working with this tool.

Working with a homemade jigsaw can be a great hobby. However, for this it is necessary to correctly design the machine and master the work on it perfectly. The jigsaw attracts many home craftsmen with its ease of use and variety of materials for cutting. A homemade machine of this kind is an ideal option for those who want to please their family and friends with original crafts. A jigsaw is quite simple, but you can do a variety of things with it.

Design and characteristics of a standard machine

A device such as a jigsaw machine is similar in functionality to a sewing machine. It was created based on the design of a sewing machine by A. Kaufman. The inventor of the stationary machine simply replaced the needle with a saw, thereby creating a new device.

The structure of the jigsaw machine is as follows:

• a rectangular platform on which the workplace is located, i.e. Desktop;
• the work table is a metal rectangle on which products are cut;
• the jigsaw handle is attached to the tool, it cannot be adjusted, it is necessary to hold the saw blade;
• the saw blade is represented by various types of files, which are selected depending on the cutting material;
• The motor is necessary for the device to operate.

A stationary jigsaw is attached to a table or other object. Only after this they can work.