What a jigsaw does best
A jigsaw has a thin blade that moves up and down, which lets it turn in tight curves and start a cut in the middle of a panel. It is not the fastest saw or the straightest-cutting one, but it can do shapes that a circular saw or table saw cannot. Projects that revolve around curves, openings and irregular outlines are its natural territory.
Projects suited to a jigsaw
Sink and cooktop cutouts. Countertop work often needs a rectangular or rounded opening for a sink. The usual method is to drill a starter hole in each corner, then connect the holes with the jigsaw, following a template or the fixture’s own layout instructions. Cut from the top or the bottom depending on which face needs to stay cleanest, and support the cutout piece so it does not tear free as the cut finishes.
Pass-throughs and access holes. Cable openings in a desk, vent openings in a cabinet back, or a circular opening for a fan or speaker are quick work. Drill a hole inside the line, insert the blade and cut around.
Curved shelves and brackets. Decorative shelf supports, scrolled ends, arched tops and curved aprons all start as a pencil outline on a board. The jigsaw gets you close, and sanding finishes the line.
Signs and lettering. Large block letters, house numbers and simple shapes cut from plywood or solid boards are common first jigsaw projects. Choose bold shapes with gentle curves at first, because tiny details are harder to follow.
Garden and yard items. Planter boxes with shaped sides, bird house openings, trellis ends and cut-out yard decorations are practical examples. Use wood suited to outdoor use if the piece will be left outside.
Children’s furniture and toys. Rounded corners, step-stool shapes and animal silhouettes are cut with the jigsaw. Smooth all cut edges well afterward.
Pattern work and templates. Make a hardboard template for a repeated curve, such as a chair-back shape, then trace and cut each part. Template shapes can be refined with sanding before you use them for the real pieces.
Fitting to irregular surfaces. Scribing a shelf or a piece of trim to an uneven wall, or cutting around a pipe or an outlet, is another common job. Mark the shape on the piece and cut along the line, leaving a little extra to trim with a file or sander.
Roughing out stock. Thicker curved parts can be roughly cut with a jigsaw and then shaped with a router and template or by sanding. The jigsaw removes most of the waste quickly.
Getting a cleaner cut
Jigsaw results depend heavily on the blade and on how you handle the saw.
- Match the blade to the material. Finer teeth leave a smoother cut in thin stock and laminates, and coarser teeth cut faster in thicker wood. Narrow blades turn tighter curves, while wider blades follow straighter lines. There are different blades for metal and plastic as well. Each type has a different tooth pattern, and the packaging describes the intended use, so the topic of jigsaw blades is worth reading about before you buy.
- Let the saw do the work. Pushing hard bends the blade, which causes angled cuts and breaks blades.
- Support the work well. Clamp the piece so the blade has clearance below it, and keep the clamp away from the cutting path.
- Use the right orbital setting if your saw has one. Orbital action cuts faster but rougher, and a straight, no-orbit setting is generally smoother.
- Control chipping. Cutting with the finished face down on most jigsaws reduces tear-out on the finished face, since the blade cuts on the upstroke. Painter’s tape along the line can also help on delicate surfaces. Tearout is a common problem, and a dull or wrong blade is the usual cause.
- Cut slightly outside the line. Then sand or file to the line, which is easier than fixing a cut that wandered inside it.
- Relief cuts for tight curves. A few short cuts into the waste let it fall away so the blade does not bind.
Where another tool is better
A jigsaw is not a precision tool for long straight cuts, because the thin blade can drift. Use a circular saw with a guide or a table saw for those. For thick material, a bandsaw tends to cut straighter and smoother. If you are unsure whether you need a jigsaw or something else, the question of jigsaw versus reciprocating saw comes up often, since the two look similar but suit different jobs. Cordless models are convenient for yard projects and cutouts where there is no outlet near the work, though a corded model gives steady power for long cuts.
Safety
Wear eye protection and hearing protection, and a dust mask when cutting wood or composite panels, as dust can be irritating. Keep both hands on the saw and keep the cord or battery pack out of the line of the cut. Let the blade come to a full stop before setting the saw down, since the blade can catch the surface. Unplug the saw or remove the battery before changing blades, and check that the blade is seated fully. Follow the manufacturer’s manual for your model.
A good first project
If you have not used a jigsaw before, cut a simple shape from scrap plywood, such as a wavy line or an oval. Practice the entry, the curve and the exit. Once the saw feels predictable, move on to a cutout or a shelf bracket where the line matters.