Best Cordless Jigsaw [For Building & Woodworking]

Best Cordless Barrel-Grip Jigsaws

Best 12V Cordless Barrel-Grip Jigsaw

Introduction

A jigsaw is a power tool, that combines an electric motor with a reciprocating saw blade. They may also be called bayonet or saber saws. 

Jigsaws can be used to cut through a wide variety of materials, including plywood, timber, plastics, tile, drywall, and even metal. Although they can make straight cuts, they are usually better suited for cutting curves or shapes in wood. They may also be fitted with a bevel and used to cut angles of up to 45°. 

Unlike most other power tools, jigsaws can be used by almost anyone regardless of experience. All you have to do is insert the appropriate blade, plug it in–or pop the battery in if it is a cordless model–and you can begin cutting immediately. 

Jigsaws are so easy to use that even children can use them as long as an adult supervises them. Because the saw typically rests on the work surface, you don’t need a lot of pressure to keep it in place. There is also little risk of injury because hands and fingers are positioned far from the blade.

The earliest version of the jigsaw was developed by Albert Kaufmann, who worked as an engineer in the Scintilla AG company in Switzerland. Kaufmann’s design replaced the needle in a sewing machine with a saw blade. Scintilla began producing his own version of the tool in 1947, under the brand name “Lesto”.

Bosch acquired Scintilla in 1954 and continued manufacturing Lesto jigsaws. From 1964 onward, Bosch marketed the jigsaws under its own name, introducing such innovations as the pendulum blade, tool-less blade replacement, and the Cut Control feature.

Jigsaws are best used for cutting curves into various materials. In fact, jigsaws are among the few portable power tools that can cut curves and shapes efficiently. For woodworkers that need to do a lot of curved cuts quickly, jigsaws are a better alternative to handheld coping saws.

Jigsaws can be used to cut woods of various thicknesses. With the right blades, they can even cut through fiberglass, drywall, and steel. Most jigsaws even allow angling of up to 45°, so you don’t necessarily need to have an adjustable table saw to make bevel cuts.

Jigsaw Key Features

When Not To Use A Jigsaw

A jigsaw probably isn’t the best choice if you need to do a lot of straight cutting, particularly into thick slabs of timber. For those kinds of jobs, you would get better results with a circular saw. 

Making perfectly straight cuts with a jigsaw is very challenging, especially if you do it freehand. Even if you use a straightedge guide, you will probably struggle to keep the blade on course. 

The same goes for cutting into thick sheets of metal. Although you could drill a hole in the material to feed the blade into, you could do the job a lot quicker with an angle grinder, and a steel cut-off disk.

Can I Cut Drywall With A Jigsaw?

You could use a jigsaw to cut through drywall if you drill a few pilot holes into the material beforehand. A much better option would be to use a sharp knife and then snap the gib board by hand. For areas that can’t be snapped, you would be better off using a hand gib-saw.

If you do insist on using a jigsaw, make sure that gib dust doesn’t fall into the motor. Gib dust particles are tiny, and they could cause your jigsaw to malfunction over time. 

When using a jigsaw, there is also a risk of cutting into wires or pipes that may be concealed behind the wall. That’s why I suggest you use a hand gib saw instead, so you can feel any obstructions behind the wall and avoid cutting into them.

Cordless vs. Corded Jigsaws

Early models of cordless jigsaws were severely underpowered. This meant that you had no choice but to use a high-powered corded model if you wanted to cut through hardwoods, ceramic, or metal. 

But newer cordless models are a lot more powerful and more reliable, so you could easily cut through most of those materials just as efficiently as you would with a corded jigsaw. Newer models also have more efficient lithium-ion batteries that give you longer life and longer run-times than ever before. Combined with faster charging times, these newer batteries made it possible for manufacturers to equip cordless jigsaws with motors that are powerful enough to handle heavy-duty jobs.

Of course, you do need to have one or two spare batteries handy if you need to do a lot of cutting. With a corded jigsaw, the only thing you have to worry about is working close to a power outlet, keeping the cord out of the way, and keeping an eye on the motor to prevent overheating. But if you don’t mind packing a couple of spare batteries, a cordless model is a good choice.

Jigsaw Features

Brand

 Some of the best brands of jigsaws to buy are Makita, Festool, DeWalt, and Milwaukee. The best models from these brands give you long runtimes and excellent performance and are powerful enough to cut through even hard and dense materials. 

Blades

Make sure that your jigsaw can accommodate a variety of blades. You will want to be able to use different types of blades for different jobs. Blades with a high teeth-per-inch (TPI) rating will have more teeth than lower TPI blades and can produce cuts with smoother edges. The best jigsaw blades have high TPI counts that will make it easier for you to cut angles and curves.  

Weight

Get a jigsaw that strikes the ideal balance between weight and controllability. Heavier jigsaws will let you cut through dense materials more easily, but they can also be more difficult to control. Some lighter jigsaws might be underpowered for certain jobs, so try to go for a model that provides controllability without compromising power.

Cordless

Cordless jigsaws are better suited for quick and portable cutting work, especially if you have to work in crowded areas or places where there isn’t a power outlet nearby. But if you have to do a lot of cutting, make sure you have a spare battery on charge.

Durability

Corded jigsaws tend to be more durable than their cordless counterparts. If you have to do a lot of heavy-duty cutting work–particularly on timber or metal–it’s hard to argue with the ruggedness and reliability of a corded model. But if your needs are more modest, you could certainly find many battery-operated models that are durable enough for most applications while not being tethered to an annoying cord.

Price

It’s always a good idea to shell out the cash for a heavy-duty model instead of settling for a budget jigsaw. Spending on the best jigsaw for the money now will save you the cost of expensive repair and replacement later on. A common problem with DIY jigsaws is the metal attachment that holds the blade in place breaks.

Make sure you have a blade attachment that doesn’t rely on ln keys, but instead a quick release. These quick-release attachments are not only more durable but quicker to change your blades.

Who Uses Jigsaw Tools?

Builders

Jigsaws are a good alternative to circular or band saws, for cutting around corners, or touch-ups on skirting, trim, and weatherboards, particularly for builders. They can handle a pretty good variety of jobs, including cutting plywood and even pine boards for walls and flooring. Jigsaws can even cut from the middle of a board with a pilot hole, which is difficult with a circular saw or impossible with a band saw.

DIY’ers

Jigsaws are small enough to carry around and can be easily stashed into a tool bag, shelf, or toolbox. They can also make a variety of cuts, so even less experienced DIYers can begin using them without too much trouble. In fact, jigsaws are a great introduction to more advanced power tools. 

Starting with a cordless jigsaw kit, including a charger and batteries allows you to get other tools from the same brand in the future without having to get later get a second charger or battery. 

This is known as buying a “bare tool” this can save you a bit of money buy avoiding owning multiple chargers and batteries through-out your toolkit. 

Pro tools can last a lifetime for Builders and DIY’ers, and being that trades-people use Makita, Festool, Dewalt, and Milwaukee even in the far future replacement batteries should be available, genuine and aftermarket.

Cabinet Makers/Joiners

 Jigsaws can be used to make straight cuts with the help of a good straightedge guide or two. Cabinet makers can also use them to make curved cuts for decorative purposes. And if you need to make bevel cuts but don’t have an adjustable table saw, you will find that most jigsaws let you cut at angles of up to 45°.

Tips For Using Your Jigsaw

If this is your first time to use a jigsaw, make sure to load the blade with the teeth facing front. Look for a lever at the front of the tool, known as a “quick release” which you will have to turn to get the blade’s base in the correct position. Releasing this lever will lock the blade securely into place. 

Always check the condition of the blade every time you use it. Replace the blade if you see any dull or broken teeth. A blunt blade can burn your work instead of cutting your work-piece.

Go for a jigsaw that has a variable-speed control. This lets you adjust the speed at which the blade cuts up and down. Always start the motor before you touch the saw to the workpiece to prevent splitting the cut edges.

If you plan on cutting a lot of different angles, look for a jigsaw that has a bevel adjustment feature. This lets you cut at different angles without having to do a lot of guesswork. Also look for an orbital blade action feature, which is especially useful for making cuts into hardwood timbers.

If you have to make a square-edge cut, make sure that the blade is positioned perpendicular to the base and that the blade is perfectly straight. If the blade is bent, throw it out or save it for jobs where having a clean, square cut isn’t absolutely necessary, like plaster-board for example.

Comparison Of The Top Jig Saws

Conclusion

A good jigsaw is a joy to have in the workplace or building site. The best value jigsaws are the Makita XVJ03, the Festool 574716 CARVEX, and the Milwaukee 2445-21 depending on the type of saw you think best for your work. Anyone of these models will give you excellent performance and reliable results. The cordless options offer pretty good battery life and will provide you with power that rivals the best-corded jigsaws. It doesn’t make much sense these days to get a corded jigsaw. I think when deciding the Festool barrel grip jigsaw tool is pretty hard to beat.

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