Factors affecting the accuracy of the cut and the angle of inclination of the formed edge
The most important factor is the saw blade clamping and guiding system. As a rule, in most jigsaw models, it is represented by a pendulum clamp. Under the influence of forces arising during operation, it may deviate from its original position. Some models, such as the Festool PS300 EQ-Plus, are equipped with an additional guide that increases the quality of the cut.
Jigsaw with additional guide
During operation, the saw is subjected to lateral loads, causing it to vibrate and bend. As a result, the blade deviates from its original position and an uneven cut is obtained.
In addition, the following factors influence sawing accuracy:
- thickness of the material being cut . As the area of contact between the saw and the material being processed increases, the friction force increases, which heats the blade, increasing its deformation;
- material structure . The uniformity of the material being cut has a direct impact on the cutting accuracy. Internal stresses in it constantly strive to deflect the jigsaw blade from the straight direction;
- saw quality . The material of manufacture, adherence to hardening technology, angle of inclination and sharpening of the teeth directly affect the result of the work;
- speed of work completion. When cutting a workpiece, many users press too hard on the jigsaw in an attempt to speed up the cutting process. As a result, he leaves the given trajectory.
Thermal methods
Earlier we talked about the mechanical impact, but despite all the positive aspects of the process, we can note the low productivity of such work. Now we will discuss options that allow you to instantly heat the desired zone to the melting temperature with subsequent evaporation of substances. Typically, technologies are used exclusively in large industries, since they are quite expensive.
Wire cutters
They are used everywhere for cutting wire or rods with a small cross-section. But there is also an analogue for more durable non-hollow cylindrical products - a bolt cutter. It is designed for breaking reinforcement and bolts, equipped with double springs, so the lever doubles the applied force.
Gas-electric technology
An electric arc is ignited in the machine, as during welding, which is directed to a specific area. Nearby there is a tube (nozzle) that supplies a stream of oxygen to this place. The air accelerates to a very high speed and simply blows out the molten metal substance.
What devices will help you make an even cut?
To form an even cut, you can use additional devices. The main ones are:
- persistent compass . Serves for drawing a circle and a pattern curve on the surface of the workpiece;
- parallel stop . Used to form a cut parallel to one of the side faces of the workpiece;
- guide bar . It is a metal ruler with a side stop for the jigsaw sole. With its help, you can make an accurate straight cut of the required length;
- laser pointer . Using a light pointer, it shows the position of the saw blade. You can install such a device yourself, or purchase a model with an existing device;
- anti-scratch liner. An insert made of transparent plastic or plexiglass allows you to additionally fix the canvas and protect the processed material from the formation of chips and burrs;
- guide platform. Reduces the coefficient of friction, thereby allowing the jigsaw to slide effortlessly along the surface of the workpiece.
To improve visual control over the sawing process, it is recommended to improve the lighting of the working area as much as possible.
Trimming with a construction knife
There is also a way to trim the site of the future cut with a construction knife. This way you will cut the top layer of veneer and it will break at the cut point and not beyond. To trim, use a metal ruler to make a straight line. The cutting width is usually 3 mm.
The result is pretty good. I use this method often. If, when sawing, I just need to cut off a piece of plywood and throw away the second part, then I make only one cut - on the finishing side. This option is good to use when cropping a portrait.
Smooth sawing techniques 5 most popular materials
Each material has its own correct sawing technique, which ensures a clean and smooth cut. Later in the article we will look at each of them in detail.
How to saw off laminated chipboard and chipboard
Chipboard consists of a mixture of sawdust and special glue, pressed under pressure. Its structure is homogeneous, without foreign inclusions and internal stresses. Despite this, it is a fairly fragile material. Therefore, it is necessary to approach its cutting with the utmost caution.
Before you start cutting, you need to choose a suitable file. It must be made of high-quality steel, the teeth must be of medium size with a pitch of 3 - 4 mm.
It is necessary to cut laminated chipboard slowly. The tool should operate at maximum speed, including pendulum stroke if necessary.
To minimize damage, you can use an anti-splinter liner, and the workpiece itself should be positioned with the back side up.
After watching the video, you can see how chipboard is cut in practice, and also learn some practical tips.
We also recommend reading an interesting article about how to cut laminate and other types of laminated flooring with a jigsaw. This is a whole guide, from choosing a file to reviewing cutting techniques and tricks.
How to cut plywood
Plywood is a building material consisting of many layers of wood veneer arranged perpendicularly. As a result, there are no internal stresses inherent in solid wood and no solid inclusions.
The material is cut in a similar way to chipboard. The only difference is the initial speed of the saw blade. To minimize damage to the plywood sheet and the saw blade to move away from the original trajectory, it is necessary to start the sawing process at minimum speed. Ideally, an electric jigsaw should be equipped with a soft start function.
The rip fence and guide rail will help you make more accurate and even cuts. If they are unavailable, you can use another sheet of plywood with factory-made edges or a metal corner.
After watching the video, you can see how the process of sawing a plywood sheet occurs in practice, as well as ways to reduce chips.
How to cut an even circle in plywood
Sawing round holes, patterned curves and complex patterns is one of the main properties of an electric jigsaw. Before starting work, it is necessary to prepare suitable equipment - a blade for figure cutting and a persistent compass.
In order to cut a circle in plywood or other material, you must perform the following steps:
- Use a compass to mark the contours of the future circle.
- Drill through holes in the intended contour and center of the circle; they should not protrude beyond the edges of the contour, and the diameter should be slightly larger than the width of the saw blade.
- Install the thrust compass.
- Insert the jigsaw blade into the contour hole, and connect its sole to the stop of the compass.
- Turn on the maximum speed of the saw blade and start cutting.
To avoid the formation of chips, it is not recommended to turn on the pendulum motion of the blade. Do not apply excessive force during the sawing process, as this may cause dull teeth or breakage of the file.
After watching the video, you can see how the process of cutting out a round hole occurs in practice, and also learn how to make a persistent compass yourself.
Wooden boards
The wood from which the boards are made is a natural raw material. Its fibers are not always parallel to each other. As a result, making a straight cut in wood with a jigsaw is more difficult than in other materials.
To make an accurate and even cut of the board, you must use a parallel stop or guide rail. If they are absent, you can use another flat board or metal square to maintain a straight direction. In order to make an accurate straight cut in a board using a guide, you must perform the following steps:
- Mark the cutting line and highlight it with a pencil or marker.
- Install the guide bar parallel to the marking.
- Secure the guide with at least two wood clamps.
- Turning on the maximum speed of the saw blade, bring the jigsaw to the workpiece and start cutting.
The maximum stroke rate will ensure cutting accuracy, but will increase operating time. If accuracy is not important, you can turn on the pendulum stroke.
Furniture board
A furniture panel is a sheet of plywood or chipboard covered with a decorative layer of PVC or veneer. Its cutting is carried out by analogy with laminated chipboard, except for a few nuances. Namely:
- Using a stationery or construction knife, you need to cut the decorative coating along the markings.
- Make a similar cut on the rough side.
- By installing the guide rail or parallel stop on the jigsaw, make the cutting.
To reduce chipping and increase the accuracy of cutting with a jigsaw, it is better to start cutting the furniture board at minimum speed, having previously glued masking tape to the cutting line. It will be better if the tool is equipped with a soft start function.
Tabletop
The tabletop is a special type of chipboard with a particularly durable decorative coating. Therefore, cutting is done in the same way as regular laminated chipboard.
After watching the video, you can see how the process of cutting the tabletop occurs and how to saw without chipping.
Set the guide to the size of the part to be cut
An important problem is to install the guide along which the saw will go. To do this, measure the basic size - the length from the edge of the saw blade to the edge of the steel base of the circular saw and write it down somewhere, for example, on the wall of the workshop - it will come in handy! Next, you need to make markings on a sheet of plywood: the width of the part to be sawn, the thickness of the saw blade itself, plus the base size.
You can use a special steel ruler from a hardware store as a guide. But it is much easier and cheaper to use a cut from plywood, where one side is factory-made, i.e. smooth, quite suitable for such work.
Install the guide according to the marked dimensions and secure it together with a piece of plywood with clamps.
To prevent damage to the surface of the plywood sheet by the legs of the clamps, place, for example, pieces of old plywood under them.
Why does a jigsaw cut crookedly and is pulled to the side?
When cutting workpieces with a jigsaw, an unpleasant situation may arise in which the saw blade moves to the side and an uneven cut is obtained. The main reasons influencing this are:
- unsuitable fabric . Each saw blade has a tooth shape and sharpening angle specifically designed for a specific material. A discrepancy can lead to blade breakage, blackening of the ends of the workpiece, and also to the jigsaw moving away from the specified trajectory;
- lack of markings . Many craftsmen try to cut the blade evenly without marking the cutting line, relying only on devices. It should be remembered that the rip fence and guide bar do not provide 100% confidence in the result. Marking must be done;
- excessive pressure on the tool . Increased pressure on the jigsaw handle inevitably leads to the blade being pulled away from the cutting line. To achieve a good result, you only need to guide the tool, giving it the opportunity to cut independently.
Grinder and band saw
A mechanic, a person who cuts metal, uses an angle grinder only for small and medium-sized parts. It is much easier to perform small tasks with a machine - make a shallow cut, remove excess, etc. It is much easier to cut a metal sheet using a band saw. In this case, the workpiece is placed on the bed and then moves smoothly along the runners to prevent incorrect cutting or deformation. This results in a perfect edge that does not require further sanding.
Types of tools
You can saw plywood with several types of tools, which are selected depending on the purpose of using the material. What can be used for work:
- hand saw;
- circular saw;
- jigsaw
Each tool has its own characteristics of use, which must be studied before cutting.
Hand saw
The most accessible tool is a hand saw. You can use a regular hacksaw, a special plywood saw, or a hand jigsaw. All of the tools listed are suitable for cutting sheets into identical pieces. Cutting decorative elements with a hand saw will not work.
The disadvantage of using hand tools is high energy consumption and low productivity. To get a fragment of a slab, you need to press hard on the saw without moving your hand quickly. Keep in mind that when cutting using hand tools, irregularities form at the cut site, which can be removed with coarse sandpaper.
A plywood saw is the safest type of tool that does not require special skills and knowledge to operate.
Circular Saw
Thanks to a circular saw, you can cut sheets of any shape from plywood, but more often this tool is used to obtain rectangular sections. The rotation speed of the circular saw is very high, so it is quite difficult to get an even cut.
To get a clean cut, you need to use fine-toothed blades designed for working with wood. Although this does not guarantee the absence of irregularities in the cut. After cutting, you will also have to work with a grinding machine.
Electric jigsaw
It is best to work with plywood with an electric jigsaw. This is a convenient tool that allows you to get pieces of any shape and size. A jigsaw cuts quickly and easily and does not require much physical effort.
When using an electric jigsaw, the cut must be made evenly and smoothly, without sudden movements. The finished piece must be treated with sandpaper to remove burrs.
