Popular Woodworking 2000-11 № 118, страница 37
Though not a finesse tool, the jigsaw is a great pinch-hitter when cutting curves or in difficult situations. igsaws are great because they can fill in for tools you don't have. If you need a tool to cut curves, but you don't have $500 for a band saw, the jigsaw can get the job done. Or if you need to cut a plywood sheet down to a manageable size but you don't have a circular saw or a panel saw, the jigsaw is a great pinch hitter. Or if the piece of wood you're working on is too big to cut on your band saw, the jigsaw will save your bacon. So now that you know you should have one, how much should you spend? There are a stunning array of models that range in price from $30 to $600, though you can buy a jigsaw that will last a lifetime for $150 or less. There are also a lot of features to consider when buying one of these tools. Here are the important ones. Cutting Power The cutting power of jigsaws is measured in amps, though that's not the only factor to determine how aggressive the tool is. If the tool has 4 or 5 amps, it's going to handle just about everything except the thickest and densest hardwoods. Also critical to the equation is the tool's "stroke," which is a measure of how far the blade moves up and down. The longer the stroke, the more aggressive the cut (and the cut will be cleaner and chips will be removed faster). Bargain jigsaws have a stroke length of 5/8". More expensive models have a stroke of 3/4", 1" or more. When evaluating how powerful a jig 14 Popular Woodworking November 2000 |
