Everything You Need to Know When Buying a Cordless Jigsaw
An indispensable tool for professionals and DIYers alike, cordless jigsaws are a no-fuss, easy to use solution for making both straight and curved cuts in a variety of material. They can even be used to cut simple shapes, and bevelled cuts, making them the go-to for many cutting tasks.
If you want to get the most out of your purchase, there’s a few things that you need to take into consideration before you part with your hard-earned cash, but if you follow our buying guide, you’ll have a tool that you find yourself reaching for time and time again for a wide variety of projects.
Make sure you also check out the top picks from our range of cordless jigsaws at the bottom of the page, and finally if you found this guide useful, you can share it with your friends using the buttons above.
Cordless Jigsaw Basics
Jigsaws are lightweight handheld power saws that use a reciprocating blade attached to an electrical motor to make light work of cutting a variety of materials- depending on the type of blades you have on hand. Where they really become invaluable however, is their ability to cut curves and basic shapes, a task that can’t be done with the likes of a circular saw. Another useful feature found on any good cordless jigsaw is the ability to angle the saw body relative to the baseplate to allow the operator to make bevelled cuts.
Features to consider
Cordless benefits
Choosing a cordless model like this Milwaukee cordless jigsaw over a corded version removes the need to be near a power outlet, allowing you to use your new jigsaw wherever the job requires, while also negating a tripping hazard in your work area. Another handy benefit of opting for a cordless jigsaw is not having to worry about constantly moving and adjusting the position of a power cord when using your jigsaw to cut more complex shapes.
Orbital blade action
Sometimes referred to as a “pendulum” action, jigsaws that have an orbital feature basically give you the option of adding an elliptical motion to the blade’s path in the direction of the material being cut during the upstroke. This allows for a more aggressive cut, which makes it easier and quicker to cut harder materials, which has the added benefit of putting less strain on the motor and reducing wear on the blade, effectively extending the lifetime of both. Most jigsaws with an orbital feature, such as this DeWalt cordless jigsaw, will also have different settings for the orbital action, which allows you to optimise the set-up depending on the material you’re cutting.
Blade selection
The ability to quickly and easily change blades on cordless jigsaws is a key contributing factor towards what makes them such a versatile tool in the first place. Having a variety of blades that are optimised for cutting different materials will allow you to make light-work of a wide range of materials. Using the wrong blade on a certain material will not only take longer, but also increase wear and tear on the electric motor.
Blade shank
The part of the blade that attaches and locks into the tool is called the “shank”. These come in two main types: “U-shank” and “T-shank”, shown above. T-shank blades are the most common type of blade nowadays, but always make sure to double check what type of shank your tool is configured to receive before buying a new set of blades.
Number of teeth
The “tooth pitch” refers to the number of teeth per inch (or centimeters) on the blade. Blades with fewer teeth will cut faster, but produce a rougher finish. Blades with more teeth will cut slower but produce a finer finish.
Blades for different materials
A previously mentioned, you want to ensure that you’re using the appropriate blade for the material you’re trying to cut. There is specific blade configurations for: wood and laminate; plastic and PVC; steel and non-ferrous metal; and ceramic and glass. All the blades on our store will state what material they are suited for cutting, so it’s easier to find the type that you need for a specific task.
Blade material
The material that your jigsaw blades are made from will determine their durability and the material which they are best suited to cut. Below is summary of the most common blade materials use for jigsaw blades:
- Tungsten: Tungsten carbide blades have a higher heat resistance and durability. These blades are designed to cut ceramics, steel and fibreglass.
- High carbon steel: These blades are inexpensive to buy and a good option for cutting softer material, however be aware that their flexibility can make it more challenging to make really accurate cuts.
- High-speed steel: High-speed steel blades are harder and more wear resistant than high carbon blades, however they are also less flexible and prone to heat damage.
- Bi-metal: These blades use combine the properties of different types of metal, with carbon steel bodies for flexibility, and high-speed steel teeth for durability. They are normally reserved for heavy duty cutting tasks.
Variable speed control
Most cordless jigsaws from industry leading brands will allow you to adjust the speed of the cutting blade. This is an invaluable feature as different types and densities of materials require different cutting speeds for the best results. for example brittle material like ceramics or glass should be cut at a lower speed to avoid damaging the material, similarly a lower setting should also be used for cutting metal to avoid the blade rapidly heating up which in turn drastically reduces the lifetime of the blade. On the other hand, wood is better suited to higher settings.
Toolden’s top picks
Here’s the top picks from some of our best selling models. All of these cordless jigsaws from industry leading brands have been picked for their impressive performance, versatile set of features and solid reliability. You absolutely can’t go wrong with any of these models.
Milwaukee M18 FJS-0X 18V Fuel Top Handle Jigsaw (Body Only)
This Milwaukee cordless jigsaw is fitted with a Milwaukee designed and built brushless POWERSTATE motor for fast cutting and long tool life. The Milwaukee patented FIXTEC blade clamp provides fast and easy blade change. Keyless bevel facility on the base plate allows for adjustment between 0-45°. With a 5-stage pendulum action for increased cutting performance. The detachable soft shoe avoids marks and scratches when cutting soft materials. A dust blower keeps the cut line free of wood dust and an integrated LED light provides workspace illumination.
DeWalt DCS331N 18V XR Cordless Jigsaw (Body Only)
This DeWalt DCS331n 18V Jigsaw is the latest generation jigsaw which has been designed for efficiency and performance! This DCS331N also features an intelligent variable speed trigger & lock-off switch for controlled, Quick cuts and enhanced safety. The powerful & Highly efficient DeWalt PM47 fan-cooled motor has replaceable brushes, and delivers fast cutting action up to 3000 strokes per minute maximising user productivity. The keyless blade change system also allows you to switch out blades on the fly.
Makita DJV180Z LXT 18V Cordless Jigsaw (Body Only)
This makita cordless jigsaw produces a smooth and powerful cut at the high rotational speed of 2,600 rpm. With an easy to trace cutting line combined with an LED job light, means that you can get the job done, even in low light conditions. This is supported with the ergonomic rubberised soft grip that simultaneously encouraging more safe and secure performances with comfort and control.
Milwaukee M18 FBJS-502X 18V FUEL Barrel Grip Jig Saw with 2x 5.0Ah Batteries
The M18 FUEL Barrel Grip Jig Saw combines power, blade speed and precision, to provide the highest quality cuts in a wide diversity of materials. It has a POWERSTATE brushless motors and REDLINK PLUS Intelligence which provide a higher blade speed than wired jigsaws at a speed of 3,500 cycles per minute to achieve clean and controllable cutting while minimising debris or warping.
We hope that this guide has been helpful and that you now feel confident in choosing which cordless jigsaw you’d like to add to your arsenal of tools! Keep an eye on our blog for more buying guides in the near future.