I just tried to use my old B&D KS633£ jigsaw, which I haven't needed to
use for years. Needless to say, it was as dead as a doornail. Open
circuit (fuse checked ok). Absolutely impossible to remove the screws to
check inside. I was able to turn the motor via the vent slots, and tried
again, but despite that it still doesn't work.

So I need to get a new mains jigsaw, but only for very infrequent use.
The Screwfix Energer
(http://www.screwfix.com/p/energer-en...220-240v/55357)
gets good reviews, but is out-of-stock everywhere. Most of the other
"own-brand" jigsaws from Argos, Homebase, etc get very mixed reviews
from "fantastic" to "junk".

Any recommendations for a cheap jigsaw, or to avoid?

--

Jeff

On Monday, February 9, 2015 at 4:22:30 PM UTC, Jeff Layman wrote:
I just tried to use my old B&D KS633£ jigsaw, which I haven't needed to
use for years. Needless to say, it was as dead as a doornail. Open
circuit (fuse checked ok). Absolutely impossible to remove the screws to
check inside. I was able to turn the motor via the vent slots, and tried
again, but despite that it still doesn't work.

So I need to get a new mains jigsaw, but only for very infrequent use.
The Screwfix Energer
(http://www.screwfix.com/p/energer-en...220-240v/55357)
gets good reviews, but is out-of-stock everywhere. Most of the other
"own-brand" jigsaws from Argos, Homebase, etc get very mixed reviews
from "fantastic" to "junk".

Any recommendations for a cheap jigsaw, or to avoid?

Cheap jigsaws are disasters. To be worth having, one needs a blade restraining system to keep the blade straight. Look at used tools if it needs to be cheap.


NT

On Monday, February 9, 2015 at 4:32:34 PM UTC, wrote:
On Monday, February 9, 2015 at 4:22:30 PM UTC, Jeff Layman wrote:
I just tried to use my old B&D KS633£ jigsaw, which I haven't needed to
use for years. Needless to say, it was as dead as a doornail. Open
circuit (fuse checked ok). Absolutely impossible to remove the screws to
check inside. I was able to turn the motor via the vent slots, and tried
again, but despite that it still doesn't work.

So I need to get a new mains jigsaw, but only for very infrequent use.
The Screwfix Energer
(http://www.screwfix.com/p/energer-en...220-240v/55357)
gets good reviews, but is out-of-stock everywhere. Most of the other
"own-brand" jigsaws from Argos, Homebase, etc get very mixed reviews
from "fantastic" to "junk".

Any recommendations for a cheap jigsaw, or to avoid?

Cheap jigsaws are disasters. To be worth having, one needs a blade restraining system to keep the blade straight. Look at used tools if it needs to be cheap.

a left handed drill bit should open almost any stuck screw.


NT

On 09/02/15 16:33, wrote:
On Monday, February 9, 2015 at 4:32:34 PM UTC, wrote:
On Monday, February 9, 2015 at 4:22:30 PM UTC, Jeff Layman wrote:
I just tried to use my old B&D KS633£ jigsaw, which I haven't needed to
use for years. Needless to say, it was as dead as a doornail. Open
circuit (fuse checked ok). Absolutely impossible to remove the screws to
check inside. I was able to turn the motor via the vent slots, and tried
again, but despite that it still doesn't work.

So I need to get a new mains jigsaw, but only for very infrequent use.
The Screwfix Energer
(http://www.screwfix.com/p/energer-en...220-240v/55357)
gets good reviews, but is out-of-stock everywhere. Most of the other
"own-brand" jigsaws from Argos, Homebase, etc get very mixed reviews
from "fantastic" to "junk".

Any recommendations for a cheap jigsaw, or to avoid?

Cheap jigsaws are disasters. To be worth having, one needs a blade restraining system to keep the blade straight. Look at used tools if it needs to be cheap.

a left handed drill bit should open almost any stuck screw.

Never knew they existed! I have some stud removers; might try the
smallest one, but on previous experience they are very brittle and often
snap when anything more than slight force is applied.

I finally got one screw out - steel self-tapper, pointless, 20mm long by
about 3mm diameter. Pozi head. There are 7 others, 3 of them sunk around
20 mm down.

--

Jeff

On Mon, 9 Feb 2015 08:33:14 -0800 (PST), wrote:

a left handed drill bit should open almost any stuck screw.

Rubbish! A left handed drill just cuts a hole the same as a right handed drill.
For removal of stuck fasteners they are even worse than a piece of slightly
melted blue cheese.
--

On Tuesday, February 10, 2015 at 9:44:43 AM UTC, The Other Mike wrote:
On Mon, 9 Feb 2015 08:33:14 -0800 (PST), wrote:

a left handed drill bit should open almost any stuck screw.

Rubbish! A left handed drill just cuts a hole the same as a right handed drill.
For removal of stuck fasteners they are even worse than a piece of slightly
melted blue cheese.

They work very well for me. They either bite into the screw and undo it, or if its severely corroded in they just drill the head off.


NT

wrote:
On Tuesday, February 10, 2015 at 9:44:43 AM UTC, The Other Mike wrote:
On Mon, 9 Feb 2015 08:33:14 -0800 (PST), wrote:

a left handed drill bit should open almost any stuck screw.
Rubbish! A left handed drill just cuts a hole the same as a right handed drill.
For removal of stuck fasteners they are even worse than a piece of slightly
melted blue cheese.

They work very well for me. They either bite into the screw and undo it, or if its severely corroded in they just drill the head off.

Of course in the southern hemisphere you would need to use a right
handed one.

Bill

wrote:
On Monday, February 9, 2015 at 4:22:30 PM UTC, Jeff Layman wrote:
I just tried to use my old B&D KS633£ jigsaw, which I haven't needed to
use for years. Needless to say, it was as dead as a doornail. Open
circuit (fuse checked ok). Absolutely impossible to remove the screws to
check inside. I was able to turn the motor via the vent slots, and tried
again, but despite that it still doesn't work.

So I need to get a new mains jigsaw, but only for very infrequent use.
The Screwfix Energer
(http://www.screwfix.com/p/energer-en...220-240v/55357)
gets good reviews, but is out-of-stock everywhere. Most of the other
"own-brand" jigsaws from Argos, Homebase, etc get very mixed reviews
from "fantastic" to "junk".

Any recommendations for a cheap jigsaw, or to avoid?

Cheap jigsaws are disasters. To be worth having, one needs a blade restraining system to keep the blade straight. Look at used tools if it needs to be cheap.


NT


+1

On 09/02/2015 16:38, Bob Minchin wrote:
wrote:
On Monday, February 9, 2015 at 4:22:30 PM UTC, Jeff Layman wrote:
I just tried to use my old B&D KS633£ jigsaw, which I haven't needed to
use for years. Needless to say, it was as dead as a doornail. Open
circuit (fuse checked ok). Absolutely impossible to remove the screws to
check inside. I was able to turn the motor via the vent slots, and tried
again, but despite that it still doesn't work.

So I need to get a new mains jigsaw, but only for very infrequent use.
The Screwfix Energer
(http://www.screwfix.com/p/energer-en...220-240v/55357)

gets good reviews, but is out-of-stock everywhere. Most of the other
"own-brand" jigsaws from Argos, Homebase, etc get very mixed reviews
from "fantastic" to "junk".

Any recommendations for a cheap jigsaw, or to avoid?

Cheap jigsaws are disasters. To be worth having, one needs a blade
restraining system to keep the blade straight. Look at used tools if
it needs to be cheap.


NT


+1

Not so sure. Maybe because I don't know any better, but I find my 30-odd
year B+D just fine. It did baulk at some 18mm oak mind.

Makes by my standards straight cuts.

--
Cheers, Rob

On 09/02/2015 20:49, RJH wrote:
On 09/02/2015 16:38, Bob Minchin wrote:
wrote:
On Monday, February 9, 2015 at 4:22:30 PM UTC, Jeff Layman wrote:
I just tried to use my old B&D KS633£ jigsaw, which I haven't needed to
use for years. Needless to say, it was as dead as a doornail. Open
circuit (fuse checked ok). Absolutely impossible to remove the
screws to
check inside. I was able to turn the motor via the vent slots, and
tried
again, but despite that it still doesn't work.

So I need to get a new mains jigsaw, but only for very infrequent use.
The Screwfix Energer
(http://www.screwfix.com/p/energer-en...220-240v/55357)


gets good reviews, but is out-of-stock everywhere. Most of the other
"own-brand" jigsaws from Argos, Homebase, etc get very mixed reviews
from "fantastic" to "junk".

Any recommendations for a cheap jigsaw, or to avoid?

Cheap jigsaws are disasters. To be worth having, one needs a blade
restraining system to keep the blade straight. Look at used tools if
it needs to be cheap.


NT


+1

Not so sure. Maybe because I don't know any better, but I find my 30-odd
year B+D just fine. It did baulk at some 18mm oak mind.

Makes by my standards straight cuts.


B&D did some decent trade tools back then. The "you get what you pay
for" rule has always applied to jigsaws. Cheap drills or circular saws
will do the job if the cutting parts are sharp, but a cheap jigsaw is no
use to anyone. Well, laminate flooring possibly, but certainly nothing
thicker.

"stuart noble" wrote in message
...
On 09/02/2015 20:49, RJH wrote:
On 09/02/2015 16:38, Bob Minchin wrote:
wrote:
On Monday, February 9, 2015 at 4:22:30 PM UTC, Jeff Layman wrote:
I just tried to use my old B&D KS633£ jigsaw, which I haven't needed
to
use for years. Needless to say, it was as dead as a doornail. Open
circuit (fuse checked ok). Absolutely impossible to remove the
screws to
check inside. I was able to turn the motor via the vent slots, and
tried
again, but despite that it still doesn't work.

So I need to get a new mains jigsaw, but only for very infrequent use.
The Screwfix Energer
(http://www.screwfix.com/p/energer-en...220-240v/55357)


gets good reviews, but is out-of-stock everywhere. Most of the other
"own-brand" jigsaws from Argos, Homebase, etc get very mixed reviews
from "fantastic" to "junk".

Any recommendations for a cheap jigsaw, or to avoid?

Cheap jigsaws are disasters. To be worth having, one needs a blade
restraining system to keep the blade straight. Look at used tools if
it needs to be cheap.


NT


+1

Not so sure. Maybe because I don't know any better, but I find my 30-odd
year B+D just fine. It did baulk at some 18mm oak mind.

Makes by my standards straight cuts.


B&D did some decent trade tools back then. The "you get what you pay for"
rule has always applied to jigsaws. Cheap drills or circular saws will do
the job if the cutting parts are sharp, but a cheap jigsaw is no use to
anyone.

That's not right.

Well, laminate flooring possibly, but certainly nothing thicker.

And neither is that. I have used a cheap jigsaw to cut 12mm copper
tubing that is where a hacksaw is very much harder to use and for
cutting 12mm flat aluminium which you have a bench grinder to
use to square the ends with. Works fine.

On 09/02/2015 20:49, RJH wrote:
On 09/02/2015 16:38, Bob Minchin wrote:
wrote:
On Monday, February 9, 2015 at 4:22:30 PM UTC, Jeff Layman wrote:
I just tried to use my old B&D KS633£ jigsaw, which I haven't needed to
use for years. Needless to say, it was as dead as a doornail. Open
circuit (fuse checked ok). Absolutely impossible to remove the
screws to
check inside. I was able to turn the motor via the vent slots, and
tried
again, but despite that it still doesn't work.

So I need to get a new mains jigsaw, but only for very infrequent use.
The Screwfix Energer
(http://www.screwfix.com/p/energer-en...220-240v/55357)


gets good reviews, but is out-of-stock everywhere. Most of the other
"own-brand" jigsaws from Argos, Homebase, etc get very mixed reviews
from "fantastic" to "junk".

Any recommendations for a cheap jigsaw, or to avoid?

Cheap jigsaws are disasters. To be worth having, one needs a blade
restraining system to keep the blade straight. Look at used tools if
it needs to be cheap.


NT


+1

Not so sure. Maybe because I don't know any better, but I find my 30-odd
year B+D just fine. It did baulk at some 18mm oak mind.

Makes by my standards straight cuts.

I think that is a common situation. Until you use a good one, you simply
don't appreciate what a vast difference there is.



--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

Any recommendations for a cheap jigsaw, or to avoid?

Cheap jigsaws are disasters. To be worth having, one needs a blade
restraining system to keep the blade straight. Look at used tools if
it needs to be cheap.


NT


+1

Not so sure. Maybe because I don't know any better, but I find my 30-odd
year B+D just fine. It did baulk at some 18mm oak mind.

Makes by my standards straight cuts.



I think that is a common situation. Until you use a good one, you simply
don't appreciate what a vast difference there is.




+1 !....
--
Tony Sayer

On 10/02/2015 09:57, John Rumm wrote:
On 09/02/2015 20:49, RJH wrote:

8

Not so sure. Maybe because I don't know any better, but I find my 30-odd
year B+D just fine. It did baulk at some 18mm oak mind.

Makes by my standards straight cuts.

I think that is a common situation. Until you use a good one, you simply
don't appreciate what a vast difference there is.




I have a ryobi one+ jigsaw and I don't think much of it. I prefer to use
a hand saw.

In article , Jeff Layman
scribeth thus
I just tried to use my old B&D KS633£ jigsaw, which I haven't needed to
use for years. Needless to say, it was as dead as a doornail. Open
circuit (fuse checked ok). Absolutely impossible to remove the screws to
check inside. I was able to turn the motor via the vent slots, and tried
again, but despite that it still doesn't work.

So I need to get a new mains jigsaw, but only for very infrequent use.
The Screwfix Energer
(http://www.screwfix.com/p/energer-en...220-240v/55357)
gets good reviews, but is out-of-stock everywhere. Most of the other
"own-brand" jigsaws from Argos, Homebase, etc get very mixed reviews
from "fantastic" to "junk".

Any recommendations for a cheap jigsaw, or to avoid?



Yes simples ... avoid cheap Jigsaws period;!.

Save up a few quid or nick some money and get one of these and have
pleasure in using it...


http://www.alanwadkinstoolstore.co.u...s-c17/jigsaws-
c19/4350fct-orbital-action-jigsaw-with-light-240v-p713
--
Tony Sayer

Jeff Layman wrote:
I just tried to use my old B&D KS633£ jigsaw, which I haven't needed to
use for years. Needless to say, it was as dead as a doornail. Open
circuit (fuse checked ok). Absolutely impossible to remove the screws to
check inside. I was able to turn the motor via the vent slots, and tried
again, but despite that it still doesn't work.

So I need to get a new mains jigsaw, but only for very infrequent use.
The Screwfix Energer
(http://www.screwfix.com/p/energer-en...220-240v/55357)
gets good reviews, but is out-of-stock everywhere. Most of the other
"own-brand" jigsaws from Argos, Homebase, etc get very mixed reviews
from "fantastic" to "junk".

Any recommendations for a cheap jigsaw, or to avoid?


Cheap jigsaws are dreadful. You're better off without. If your use is
very occasional, why not hire?

Bill

"Bill Wright" wrote in message
...
Jeff Layman wrote:
I just tried to use my old B&D KS633£ jigsaw, which I haven't needed to
use for years. Needless to say, it was as dead as a doornail. Open
circuit (fuse checked ok). Absolutely impossible to remove the screws to
check inside. I was able to turn the motor via the vent slots, and tried
again, but despite that it still doesn't work.

So I need to get a new mains jigsaw, but only for very infrequent use.
The Screwfix Energer
(http://www.screwfix.com/p/energer-en...220-240v/55357)
gets good reviews, but is out-of-stock everywhere. Most of the other
"own-brand" jigsaws from Argos, Homebase, etc get very mixed reviews from
"fantastic" to "junk".

Any recommendations for a cheap jigsaw, or to avoid?


Cheap jigsaws are dreadful. You're better off without.

Dont agree with that. They are much better than a hacksaw
when cutting copper tube thats buried in the ground because
you dont need to dig anything like the same depth hole.

Much quicker than a hacksaw if you have quite a lot of
say 12mm flat aluminium to cut too. I use those as shelf
supports in 25mm vertical steel slotted rhs tubing where
the ends of the aluminium flats aren't even visible and
easy to get flat with the bench grinder.

If your use is very occasional, why not hire?

Because the cheap jigsaws are so cheap that its not worth farting around
with hiring if they do an adequate job and they do for some stuff.

On 09/02/15 16:22, Jeff Layman wrote:
I just tried to use my old B&D KS633£ jigsaw, which I haven't needed to
use for years. Needless to say, it was as dead as a doornail. Open
circuit (fuse checked ok). Absolutely impossible to remove the screws to
check inside. I was able to turn the motor via the vent slots, and tried
again, but despite that it still doesn't work.

So I need to get a new mains jigsaw, but only for very infrequent use.
The Screwfix Energer
(http://www.screwfix.com/p/energer-en...220-240v/55357)
gets good reviews, but is out-of-stock everywhere. Most of the other
"own-brand" jigsaws from Argos, Homebase, etc get very mixed reviews
from "fantastic" to "junk".

Any recommendations for a cheap jigsaw, or to avoid?

Decided to get a Bosch PST 65 (PST 650). Just used it, and it seems OK.

By the way, I freed 7 of the 8 screws holding the B&D together. Looks to
me that something like Loctite had been used on the final 2 or 3 mm of
the screw. No wonder they were so hard to turn! Unfortunately the head
is buggered on the last screw, so I'll have to drill it out.

--

Jeff