Do not force the jigsaw into the workpiece. This could
cause the blade teeth to wear down with-out cutting or even cause the blade to
break causing damage to the jigsaw or injury to the operator. Let the saw reach
full speed before engaging the workpiece.
CUTTING WITH A STRAIGHTEDGE
Whenever possible, use a coarse
cutting blade. Fine-tooth blades pre-
vent the cuts from being made
smoothly and risk the possibility of
the blade wearing out prematurely or
even breaking.
Clamp a rigid straightedge onto the
workpiece leaving enough room for
the jigsaw baseplate to slide along
beside it while lining up the center of
the blade with the drawn cut lines.
This can best be done by taking a
measurement from the blade to the
outside edge of the baseplate and
making several marks the same
distance along the cutline so the
straightedge can be clamped parallel
to the cutline.
PLUNGE CUTTING
Plunge cutting is useful when it is
necessary to make cutouts inside the
workpiece. First, draw lines where the
cut is to be made. Drill guide holes in
the four corners. Turn on the jigsaw
and insert the blade into one of the
starter holes. Move the jigsaw along
the cutlines until rough cut is finished.
If the cutout needs square corners, use
the jigsaw to finish cutting the corners
after the cutout is done.
METAL CUTTING
Metal cutting requires a different type blade than the ones used on other materials.
Do not try and cut metal workpieces with a regular jigsaw blade. Refer to the
Assembly Instructions
for changing the blade. When cutting metal, clamp the
material down securely. Grasp the jigsaw firmly and push the blade slowly into the
metal. Use slower speeds and lubricate the blade with cutting wax, if available, or
kerosene or cutting oil. When cutting thin metal, sandwich it between pieces of thin
wood.
When cutting aluminum conduit or angle iron, securely clamp it in a vise and cut as
close to the vise jaws as possible. When cutting tubing with a larger diameter than
the blade depth, cut through the wall of the tube, insert the blade into the cut and
rotate it toward the front edge of the saw.
1211
Line of
Cut
Baseplate
Against
Straightedge
Clamp
FIGURE 5.
CUTTING WITH A STRAIGHTEDGE
FIGURE 6.
PLUNGE CUTTING
Starter Holes
Guidelines