Hi all. I'm trying to cut out a pattern into soft wood that breaks
easily. Can anybody recommend a jig saw that has a particularly smooth
reciprocating action for doing fine work. The jig saw I have been using
is a no-name brand, made in China jig saw, that vibrated and shook my
work piece around, which made it break apart. Maybe I should just clamp
my work piece down better? In any case, your suggestions for a good
quality jig saw are welcome. Thank you.

Raffo wrote:
Hi all. I'm trying to cut out a pattern into soft wood that breaks
easily. Can anybody recommend a jig saw that has a particularly smooth
reciprocating action for doing fine work. The jig saw I have been using
is a no-name brand, made in China jig saw, that vibrated and shook my
work piece around, which made it break apart. Maybe I should just clamp
my work piece down better? In any case, your suggestions for a good
quality jig saw are welcome. Thank you.

The Bosch 1590 is the best jigsaw I've ever used. It has also been top
rated in several of the WWing magazines. Be sure you're using a sharp
blade with lotsa teeth. I've had great success with the Bosch 101AO 3"
20-Tooth. You can also use an anti-tear-out insert on those saws
that'll help even more, although you probably won't need it with that
set-up.

JP

I second the 1590 Bosch idea. However, what you may really want is a good
quality scroll saw. JG


"Jay Pique" wrote in message
oups.com...

Raffo wrote:
Hi all. I'm trying to cut out a pattern into soft wood that breaks
easily. Can anybody recommend a jig saw that has a particularly smooth
reciprocating action for doing fine work. The jig saw I have been using
is a no-name brand, made in China jig saw, that vibrated and shook my
work piece around, which made it break apart. Maybe I should just clamp
my work piece down better? In any case, your suggestions for a good
quality jig saw are welcome. Thank you.

The Bosch 1590 is the best jigsaw I've ever used. It has also been top
rated in several of the WWing magazines. Be sure you're using a sharp
blade with lotsa teeth. I've had great success with the Bosch 101AO 3"
20-Tooth. You can also use an anti-tear-out insert on those saws
that'll help even more, although you probably won't need it with that
set-up.

JP

On 10 Aug 2006 02:49:01 -0700, "Jay Pique"
wrote:


Raffo wrote:
Hi all. I'm trying to cut out a pattern into soft wood that breaks
easily. Can anybody recommend a jig saw that has a particularly smooth
reciprocating action for doing fine work. The jig saw I have been using
is a no-name brand, made in China jig saw, that vibrated and shook my
work piece around, which made it break apart. Maybe I should just clamp
my work piece down better? In any case, your suggestions for a good
quality jig saw are welcome. Thank you.

The Bosch 1590 is the best jigsaw I've ever used. It has also been top
rated in several of the WWing magazines. Be sure you're using a sharp
blade with lotsa teeth. I've had great success with the Bosch 101AO 3"
20-Tooth. You can also use an anti-tear-out insert on those saws
that'll help even more, although you probably won't need it with that
set-up.

1960s
jigsaw = machine used to cut fretwork and the like.
sabersaw = hand held tool used to cut curves.

1990s
jigsaw = what used to be a sabersaw.
scrollsaw = what used to be a jigsaw.

It is unclear to me which decade the OP was speaking from. If he was
using '90s terms, your suggestion is first rate.

--
LRod

Master Woodbutcher and seasoned termite

Shamelessly whoring my website since 1999

http://www.woodbutcher.net

Proud participant of rec.woodworking since February, 1997

email addy de-spam-ified due to 1,000 spams per month.
If you can't figure out how to use it, I probably wouldn't
care to correspond with you anyway.

"Raffo" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi all. I'm trying to cut out a pattern into soft wood that breaks
easily. Can anybody recommend a jig saw that has a particularly smooth
reciprocating action for doing fine work. The jig saw I have been using
is a no-name brand, made in China jig saw, that vibrated and shook my
work piece around, which made it break apart. Maybe I should just clamp
my work piece down better? In any case, your suggestions for a good
quality jig saw are welcome. Thank you.


Could you clamp a thicker piece of scrap wood underneath what you're trying
to cut to help stiffen it?

Raffo wrote:

Hi all. I'm trying to cut out a pattern into soft wood that breaks
easily. Can anybody recommend a jig saw that has a particularly smooth
reciprocating action for doing fine work. The jig saw I have been using
is a no-name brand, made in China jig saw, that vibrated and shook my
work piece around, which made it break apart. Maybe I should just clamp
my work piece down better? In any case, your suggestions for a good
quality jig saw are welcome. Thank you.

1590 Bosch. Hell, _any_ Bosch (or Dewalt or Milwaukee that are based on the
expired Bosch patents). If you're used to a "no-name brand, made in China"
jig saw you won't believe the difference. The 1590 Bosch though right now
is king of the hill. There is no other tool for which the difference
between "cheap" and "good" is so radical as the jigsaw.

But it sounds like what you really need is a scroll saw, not a jigsaw. If
the wood is that soft consider also a hand-held coping saw or jeweler's
saw.

When dealing with really soft materials you may get better results if you
sandwich them between two pieces of harder material--thin plywood or
Masonite work well for this purpose.

--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

"Raffo" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi all. I'm trying to cut out a pattern into soft wood that breaks
easily. Can anybody recommend a jig saw that has a particularly smooth
reciprocating action for doing fine work. The jig saw I have been using
is a no-name brand, made in China jig saw, that vibrated and shook my
work piece around, which made it break apart. Maybe I should just clamp
my work piece down better? In any case, your suggestions for a good
quality jig saw are welcome. Thank you.


It may be better to use a scroll saw or bandsaw for that particular job.

Cheap saws will cause problems though, if a jig saw is the right tool, get
a Bosch.

Thanks guys for all your advice. I might just try buying a fine tooth
blade, to see if that works. I think the blade I currently have is
biting into the wood too much and causing the shaking. I paid 8 dollars
for this jig saw. lol.

"Raffo" wrote in news:1155235505.112973.293120
@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com:

Thanks guys for all your advice. I might just try buying a fine tooth
blade, to see if that works. I think the blade I currently have is
biting into the wood too much and causing the shaking. I paid 8 dollars
for this jig saw. lol.



I have used $8 saws in the past. They are truly nasty.

Raffo wrote:
[snipperified]
your suggestions for a good
quality jig saw are welcome. Thank you.

I have been through a few.
The ones that stood out were Bosches.
I MUCH prefer the barrel grip Bosch over the D-Handles.
I now use Milwaukee's jigsaw and love it to bits.
Just wish I had bought the barrel grip version, because on the D
handled one the switch is awkwardly huge and tends to turn the thing on
when just picking it up...(I cut a piece of the switch paddle off to
stop that.)
Made in Germany...yup...(maybe an AEG or Metabo piece...who knows these
days, eh?)
I'd buy a Bosch again...but just love this Milwaukee.

r

Bosch.

1590, 1591...whatever it takes.

In article .com,
Raffo wrote:
Hi all. I'm trying to cut out a pattern into soft wood that breaks
easily. Can anybody recommend a jig saw that has a particularly smooth
reciprocating action for doing fine work. The jig saw I have been using
is a no-name brand, made in China jig saw, that vibrated and shook my
work piece around, which made it break apart. Maybe I should just clamp
my work piece down better? In any case, your suggestions for a good
quality jig saw are welcome. Thank you.


Milwaukee or Bosch

--

Larry Wasserman Baltimore, Maryland

In article . com,
Robatoy wrote:

Raffo wrote:
[snipperified]
your suggestions for a good
quality jig saw are welcome. Thank you.

I have been through a few.
The ones that stood out were Bosches.
I MUCH prefer the barrel grip Bosch over the D-Handles.
I now use Milwaukee's jigsaw and love it to bits.
Just wish I had bought the barrel grip version, because on the D
handled one the switch is awkwardly huge and tends to turn the thing on
when just picking it up...(I cut a piece of the switch paddle off to
stop that.)
Made in Germany...yup...(maybe an AEG or Metabo piece...who knows these
days, eh?)
I'd buy a Bosch again...but just love this Milwaukee.

r


Yes, the Milwaukee is actually an AEG design. Until recently the same
parent company (I think Atlas-Copco) owned them both. I understand
that the parent company of Ryobi now owns Milwaukee. Ryobi tools have
there place in the world, but I sure hope they don't try to substitue
them for Milwaukee's line.


--

Larry Wasserman Baltimore, Maryland

"Raffo" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi all. I'm trying to cut out a pattern into soft wood that breaks
easily. Can anybody recommend a jig saw that has a particularly smooth
reciprocating action for doing fine work. The jig saw I have been using
is a no-name brand, made in China jig saw, that vibrated and shook my
work piece around, which made it break apart. Maybe I should just clamp
my work piece down better? In any case, your suggestions for a good
quality jig saw are welcome. Thank you.


Milwaukee of Bosch. I own a Milwaukee and it has been great for several
years now. What would I buy today? Probably the very latest Bosch as it
has IMHO finally stepped up past the Milwaukee how that it now truly offers
a quick blade change set up.

No surprises with the brand recommendations...except the omission of
Festool. Anybody have the Festool jigsaw?

R

On 11 Aug 2006 07:31:04 -0700, "RicodJour"
wrote:

No surprises with the brand recommendations...except the omission of
Festool. Anybody have the Festool jigsaw?

Most of us here don't have Rockefeller money.

--
LRod

Master Woodbutcher and seasoned termite

Shamelessly whoring my website since 1999

http://www.woodbutcher.net

Proud participant of rec.woodworking since February, 1997

email addy de-spam-ified due to 1,000 spams per month.
If you can't figure out how to use it, I probably wouldn't
care to correspond with you anyway.

LRod wrote:
On 11 Aug 2006 07:31:04 -0700, "RicodJour"
wrote:

No surprises with the brand recommendations...except the omission of
Festool. Anybody have the Festool jigsaw?

Most of us here don't have Rockefeller money.

S'true. Just thought someone would have chimed in on this thread with
a nod to the Festool They do have a knack for designing a tool from
scratch and making significant improvements. The reviews for their
jigsaw are universally glowing and it's only $75-$100 more than the
Bosch
http://www.consumersearch.com/www/ho...saw/index.html

R

The Bosch is excellent, but the Ridgid is actually a nice german tool nearly
as good as the Bosch and quite a bit cheaper. I took by Bosch back and got
the Ridgid to save some money and have no reqrets. They also have a
cordless version now.

-Steve


"Jay Pique" wrote in message
oups.com...

Raffo wrote:
Hi all. I'm trying to cut out a pattern into soft wood that breaks
easily. Can anybody recommend a jig saw that has a particularly smooth
reciprocating action for doing fine work. The jig saw I have been using
is a no-name brand, made in China jig saw, that vibrated and shook my
work piece around, which made it break apart. Maybe I should just clamp
my work piece down better? In any case, your suggestions for a good
quality jig saw are welcome. Thank you.

The Bosch 1590 is the best jigsaw I've ever used. It has also been top
rated in several of the WWing magazines. Be sure you're using a sharp
blade with lotsa teeth. I've had great success with the Bosch 101AO 3"
20-Tooth. You can also use an anti-tear-out insert on those saws
that'll help even more, although you probably won't need it with that
set-up.

JP