John Rumm wrote:
mark wrote:
Just got myself a new jigsaw(£70). When starting a cut the blade
wanders to the left about 8mm and stays there, happens everytime, no
matter what direction. Even when using a guide.....

See pics here
http://www.imagehosting.com/show.php...igsaw.jpg.html. This cut
was made using a guide, I've just moved it back so youi can see the
poor cut.

What's to blame? jigsaw? blade? me?

Probably not you.

Cutting against a guide is one of the harder jobs to do with a jigsaw
since the machine is restrained from moving side to side. Hence any bend
in the blade can't be compensated for and it tends to snowball. You
could try cutting freehand along a line instead.

There are also jigsaws and jigsaws. If you are prepared to pay top money
for one (£100+) then the results you will get are in a totally different
league to that which you can obtain with the lower end models. The usual
recommendations from those that have used them are either one of the
bosh blue barrel bodied style (GST range) or the Makita 4340 range.
These are a class above pretty much anything else.

Poor blades can also make this worse. Some are stamped from sheet metal
and have a burr on one side - these always want to cut crooked! A good
quality sharp blade will help.


A coarse cut blade helps. A bigger kerf allows the blade to clear itself
more easily. Wrong tool though