Skil 4390 manual Cutting Tips, Cutting with a Straightedge, Plunge Cutting

SM 1619X00459 1-05 12/8/04 9:19 PM Page 9

Cutting Tips

Face the good side of the material down and secure it in a bench vise or clamp it down. Draw cutting lines or designs on the side of the material facing up towards you. Then place the front edge of the saw foot on the work and line up the blade with the line to be cut. Hold the jigsaw firmly, turn it on, and press down (to keep the saw foot flat against the work) as you slowly push the saw in the direction of the cut.

Build up cutting rate gradually, cutting close to the line (unless you want to leave stock for finish sanding). As you cut you may have to adjust or relocate the vise or clamps to keep the work stable. Do not force the saw or the blade teeth may rub and wear without cutting and the blade may break. Let the saw do most of the work. When following curves, cut slowly so the blade can cut through cross grain. This will give you an accurate cut and will prevent the blade from wandering.

CUTTING WITH A STRAIGHTEDGE

Always use a rough cut blade when possible. Clamp a straightedge on the work parallel to the line of cut and flush with the side of the

saw foot. (Either first mark the line of cut and then position the straightedge parallel and at the same distance as between the blade and the side edge of the foot or first mark the side edge of the foot and then clamp the straightedge on the mark and parallel to the cut line Fig. 8).

As you cut, keep the saw foot edge flush against the straightedge and flat on the workpiece (Fig. 8).

FIG. 8

FOOT AGAINST

STRAIGHTEDGE

LINE OF

CUT

CLAMPS

PLUNGE CUTTING	FIG. 9
Plunge cutting is useful and time-saving in
making rough openings in softer materials. It
is not necessary to drill a hole for an inside or
pocket cut. Draw lines for the opening, hold
the saw firmly, tilt it forward so that the toe of
the saw foot rests on the work, but with the
blade well clear of the work. Start the motor,
and then very gradually lower the blade.
When it touches, continue pressing down on
the toe of the saw foot slowly pivoting the saw
like a hinge until the blade cuts through and
the foot rests flat on the work. Then saw
ahead on the line of cut line. We do not
recommend plunge cutting with a scroll blade
(Fig. 9).	TOE OF FOOT

To make sharp corners, cut up to the corner, then back up slightly before rounding the corner. After the opening is complete, go back to each corner and cut it from the opposite direction to square it off. Do not try to plunge cut into hard materials such as steel.

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