Jigsaws Reviews

A portable jigsaw is a multipurpose tool that can do the job of many others, enabling it to work as a scroll saw, bandsaw, circular saw and router. Although it doesn't do these jobs as well as those larger tools, a jigsaw is lighter, handier and safer to use. Because it can do so many things, the jigsaw (sometimes called a bayonet saw, compass saw, sabre saw or saber saw) is one of the building blocks of a basic workshop.

We found the best comparison reviews of corded jigsaws in two woodworking magazines, Woodworker's Journal and Fine Homebuilding. Many of the same jigsaw models are covered in both reviews, but Woodworker's Journal tests both barrel-grip and D-handled versions. It also includes a greater number of less expensive jigsaws. Popular Mechanics also reviews some budget jigsaws, but it doesn't rate or rank the models, nor does it document testing as well. Consumer Reports usually covers a wide price range when reviewing tools, but it hasn't reviewed jigsaws for over ten years.

Reviews say jigsaws have improved tremendously, led by Bosch Tool Corporation and close competitors such as Makita and DeWalt. Tests show that the best jigsaws can now cut even tight curves at a true 90-degree angle, and some jigsaws can do this on wood over five-inches thick. It's much easier to make precise cuts than it used to be, thanks to improved blade control rollers. Blade changing is also much easier, and some jigsaws can plunge cut without any need for drilling a starter hole. Adjusting the baseplate to make beveled cuts can often be done with a lever instead of a wrench.

Laser guides are also recent improvements, but reviews warn that they're not useful in bright light. Owners complain about laser guides that turn on automatically, since the straight laser line makes it harder to follow a curve -- so the best laser guides have a separate switch. Experts say that tool-free blade changing and bevel adjustment are conveniences that matter even more.

Though jigsaws vary greatly in performance and convenience, no safety recalls have directly involved jigsaws for over ten years. Jigsaws have a good safety record, and far fewer accidents are reported involving jigsaws than with table saws or circular saws. Most jigsaws have a metal guard in front of the blade's cutting edge.  ... Continued

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

Bosch jigsaws draw the most attention in tests, but reviews also top-rank two more expensive jigsaws -- the Festool Trion PSB 300 EQ for superior dust collection and the cordless Makita BJV180 LXT jigsaw for the advantages of lithium-ion batteries. For occasional use on rough cuts, budget jigsaws such as the Hitachi CJ110MV (corded), Black & Decker Firestorm FS18JS (cordless) and the Ryobi JS550LK (corded) or P520 (cordless) are reasonable choices.