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11-03-2009, 12:13 PM
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#1 | | Heavy duty jig saws Name: Andy City: Cary State: NC County: Wake Join Date: Mar 2008 Age: 50  11-03-2009, 12:13 PM
OK, I was asking about a better grade of benchtop bandsaw and a reference to using a Festool jigsaw with a 4" blade for cutting blanks was made in one post. This sent me off in another direction, hence this thread. A quick search shows that a few models in the $150+ range claim to cut wood up to 5". How reasonable an alternative is this?
The most common cut that I wish the little benchtop bandsaw did better is cutting the points off split wedges. For example, lets say I split a 12" diameter log 2' long into quarters and then I want to make it roughly square. I will accept the arc on the outer surface as one side, but I want to cut off the 3 points at about 2" thickness. it's okay if those cuts each take a minute or 2, but it is not okay if they take 5 each. I would worry about tool life in addition to arm fatigue.
Anyway, if you think it is reasonable, advice on brands, blade, etc is welcome. | | Views: 292 | |
11-03-2009, 01:59 PM
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#2 | | Treasurer
Name: Travis City: Wake Forest State: NC County: Wake Join Date: Dec 2005 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.53 over 180 days | Re: Heavy duty jig saws
I have an older Bosch jig saw, and I can't say that I would put a 5" blade in it. Way too long for my liking. Mine does do pretty well on keeping the blade straight except on curved cuts.
As for the Festool, it takes the same blades as the Bosch will, but I have no knowledge as to whether it is better or not. |  
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11-03-2009, 02:07 PM
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#3 | | Executive Vice-President
Libraries Administrator
Name: Rob City: Hendersonville State: NC County: Henderson Join Date: Nov 2005 Age: 67 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.88 over 180 days | Re: Heavy duty jig saws
For rough cutting of a big blank like you are describing, I would think that a demolition saw (Skil and Milwaukee) would do the trick. I have a Skil corded model that I have an 8" blade for that will cut about anything.
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Rob Payne  Truths: There is no such thing as a 25 hour day, so why do I keep trying to cram so much into every day so it seems that way!   | |
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11-03-2009, 03:31 PM
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#4 |
Name: Mark City: Concord State: NC County: Cabarrus Join Date: Nov 2005 Age: 54 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.96 over 180 days | Re: Heavy duty jig saws
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"It'll last a lifetime if you die when you're supposed to." Arval Woody, Spruce Pine, NC
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11-03-2009, 06:17 PM
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#5 | | Moderator
Name: Wayne City: Cary State: NC County: Wake Join Date: Dec 2005 Age: 62 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 7.16 over 180 days | Re: Heavy duty jig saws
Originally Posted by McRabbet  For rough cutting of a big blank like you are describing, I would think that a demolition saw (Skil and Milwaukee) would do the trick. I have a Skil corded model that I have an 8" blade for that will cut about anything. Andy,
I would second Rob's suggestion. I have a Ridgid demolition saw that I have equipped with a long (6 inch I believe) wood cutting blade and trimmed tree limbs with it. Accurate is not, though! 
As far as a jig saw is concerned, I would go for the Bosch. I have a barrel grip and it is nice to use, well balanced and plenty of power.
Wayne
__________________ ..............found out many years ago that Elbow Grease doesn't come in a bottle!!!! | |
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11-03-2009, 08:46 PM
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#6 |
Name: Andy City: Cary State: NC County: Wake Join Date: Mar 2008 Age: 50 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.53 over 180 days | Re: Heavy duty jig saws
That Bosch is looking really good to me. It might bump the bowl chuck out of the "Pole" (as in North  ) position on my wish list. I believe you about the demolition saw being better at this, but I would have more use for a really good jig saw. | |
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11-03-2009, 09:38 PM
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#7 |
Name: Reggie City: Albemarle State: NC County: Stanly Join Date: May 2007 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.03 over 180 days | Re: Heavy duty jig saws
Another vote for the Bosch.  It's the best, easiest cutting jig saw I've ever owned and used. Course, I ain't a pro! 
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Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote. – UNKNOWN!
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11-03-2009, 10:07 PM
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#8 |
Name: Geoff City: Greensboro State: NC County: Guilford Join Date: Feb 2008 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 5.25 over 180 days | Re: Heavy duty jig saws
I love my new Festool! I have a Porter-Cable jig saw too, but I dropped it once and bent the base. I know I could have replaced the base but I LOVE NEW TOOLS. .gif "Drogar BigGrin(DBG)") | |
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11-03-2009, 10:32 PM
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#9 |
Name: Mike City: Wake Forest State: NC County: Wake Join Date: Oct 2006 Age: 41 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 3.31 over 180 days | Re: Heavy duty jig saws
I still vote for Bosch.
This post was three years ago. Time flies.  http://ncwoodworker.net/forums/f31/o...jig-saws-5822/
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11-03-2009, 10:40 PM
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#10 |
Name: Phillip City: Lexington State: NC County: Davidson Join Date: Jun 2008 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.92 over 180 days | Re: Heavy duty jig saws
+1 on the Bosch - it is what I have
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Phillip
My Saw Is Making Dust
Time waits for no one. Treasure every moment you have. You will
treasure it even more when you can share it with someone special. (Arthor unknown)
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11-04-2009, 07:19 AM
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#11 |
Name: Andy City: Cary State: NC County: Wake Join Date: Mar 2008 Age: 50 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.53 over 180 days | Re: Heavy duty jig saws
Originally Posted by MikeF That thread does seem to favor the Bosch just a smidge. .gif "Drogar Laugh(DBG)") | |
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11-19-2009, 11:04 AM
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#12 |
Name: Andy City: Cary State: NC County: Wake Join Date: Mar 2008 Age: 50 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.53 over 180 days | Re: Heavy duty jig saws
A quick follow up...
The CPO folks (link above) were out of the refurb and Amazon has it lower than them new - $162 with free shipping. Of course, once you add the circle/edge guide and the blades it creeps up into the 180s, but still a good deal (I hope; I have never paid near this much for a jig saw before). It is ordered, but the gloat is still over a month away as it will get wrapped when it arrives... EDIT - No sooner did I post this than I got the notification that it shipped. 
So Amazon really does have them (or they had at least one ). | |
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11-21-2009, 04:26 AM
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#13 |
Name: Ethan City: Anderson State: SC County: Anderson Join Date: Oct 2009 Age: 38 | Re: Heavy duty jig saws
I have the Bosch 1590EVSK and it is RATED at 5" in wood. However, I have a fairly complete collection (say 40-50 blade styles) of Bosch jigsaw blades (T-shank), and my longest (and most agrressive) blade only has a cut length of around 4" if memory serves me (I'm 600 miles from home at the moment).
However, whether you can actually cut something of that thickness depends heavily on the material, I managed to destroy a few perfectly good Bosch blades trying to cut through 2" of sandwiched plywood and MDF. The blade, despite being a very aggressive cut, was overheating to the point that it was actually making a serious barrel cut rather than a straight vertical cut. Probably wouldn't have been an issue in solid wood, but I had to break down and fetch my circular saw to fix the mess I created with it!
However, that one caveat aside, I LOVE my Bosch jigsaw. It is a real joy to use. After having used other [cheaper] jigsaws, my Bosch jigsaw literally brings a smile to my face each and every time I break it out. | |
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11-21-2009, 08:47 AM
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#14 |
Name: Phillip City: Lexington State: NC County: Davidson Join Date: Jun 2008 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.92 over 180 days | Re: Heavy duty jig saws
Originally Posted by ehpoole The blade, despite being a very aggressive cut, was overheating to the point that it was actually making a serious barrel cut rather than a straight vertical cut. Just a thought - when us Scrollers are cutting our cuts on the scroll saw sometimes we put clear packing tape on top of the cutting to help keep the blade cool - do you think that this would help in this application 
__________________
Phillip
My Saw Is Making Dust
Time waits for no one. Treasure every moment you have. You will
treasure it even more when you can share it with someone special. (Arthor unknown)
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11-21-2009, 01:37 PM
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#15 |
Name: Ken City: Liberty State: SC County: Anderson Join Date: Nov 2005 Age: 63 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 7.00 over 180 days | Re: Heavy duty jig saws
Originally Posted by PChristy Just a thought - when us Scrollers are cutting our cuts on the scroll saw sometimes we put clear packing tape on top of the cutting to help keep the blade cool - do you think that this would help in this application Now that's interesting Phillip. I'll definitely use this tip, how the heck does packing tape help keep the blade cooler? | |
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