Probably, many have encountered such a problem when, when cutting plywood or chipboard using a jigsaw, chips and burrs remain on the surface of the workpiece.
Of course, this quality of cutting is no good. But what can you do to avoid this?
Alternatively, you can buy a high-quality wood saw with a fine tooth. However, this still does not guarantee a perfect cut.
However, there are four ways to saw off plywood or chipboard without chipping or scuffing. Not perfect, but still as neat as possible.
The author of the YouTube channel The Maker shared his personal experience with us. We recommend you take note!
Why does a jigsaw cut crookedly and how to fix it
- Why does a jigsaw cut crookedly?
- Guide rail for jigsaw
- DIY jigsaw guide
In most cases, the process of straight and figured cutting of materials requires extreme precision of the tool. This statement is most true for an electric jigsaw. The thin saw blades used in this device can easily change the cutting angle, which can negatively affect the accuracy of the line. The clarity of the edges of the product and the evenness of the cutting line depend on the skills of the operator, the serviceability of the device and the saw. Next, we will tell you how to get the planned contour with perfectly clear edges and what to do if the jigsaw moves to the side.
Why does a jigsaw cut crookedly?
The saw blade leaving the pre-planned line may be due to several reasons. The operator may not have enough experience in handling the tool, the file may be defective, and the rod and guide roller for the jigsaw may have serious play. In order not to guess from the coffee grounds, it is worth starting to sift out the factors that determine the accuracy and evenness of the cut line in your individual case.
As usual, it’s better to start with yourself and your approach to sawing. Often, novice craftsmen rush things and, wanting to speed up the cutting, apply a lot of pressure to the jigsaw. The tool does not have time to bite evenly into the material and create a clear groove for the file, which begins to follow the path of least resistance and makes unpredictable movements. This problem is especially common when working with thick timber (from 40 mm) and varnished plywood from Soviet times.
This is one of the reasons why the jigsaw moves to the side. What to do about this? The answer is obvious. Apply the minimum pressure sufficient to guide the tool along the line and set the maximum number of revolutions (when working with wood). The pendulum mode usually does not affect the evenness of the cut if its design is in good order.
The quality of assembly and wear of tool parts can be a good reason for the formation of beveled lines when sawing. There are basically no complaints about devices from the budget segment (up to 2,500 rubles), as well as hopes for their conscientious assembly. It’s another matter when original, branded instruments begin to perform such tricks. Often, the cause of a crooked cut is the guide roller, the jigsaw rod or its sole.
You can check the reliability of the element’s fixation by simply tugging it with your hand. Loosening of the rod or roller by more than 1 mm determines that this device is not capable of producing a perfectly even cut. The more play there is in the parts, the less accurate the cutting line they form. This problem should be corrected based on the circumstances. If the part itself is worn out, it can be replaced with a similar one. It is difficult to fix a breakdown if the attachment point to the mechanism is worn out. Not every modern Kulibin undertakes such repairs, and this problem is usually solved by purchasing a new tool.
Unfortunately, the products of many trusted brands are often counterfeited, and jigsaw files are very popular in this regard. It so happens that low-quality and counterfeit products have a rather short service life, which brings many problems to the owner. One of these problems is a crooked cut. An initially smooth blade can bend due to poor-quality metal, which can cause deformation of the tooth set, if it was present at all. In this regard, if your jigsaw cuts crookedly, replacing the saw blade can correct the situation. The process of choosing a high-quality jigsaw file was discussed in detail in a separate topic.
Professional secrets
Cutting with a jigsaw according to the drawing
It is necessary to check how firmly the canvas is fastened.
This mechanism may have its own characteristics depending on the manufacturer.
It is recommended to ensure the reliability of the fastening before starting work.
To work with any cutting tools, the fastening of the blade, its general position, is really important.
It is best to read the instructions that come with the kit in advance.
A useful device would be a system responsible for removing sawdust. Its operating principle is very simple. There is a flow of air from the fan cooling the motor.
It is used to remove debris. The removal system makes the cut line more visible to the master's eye.
The drill can be easily changed when cutting holes using a technique called "pocketing". To do this, just tilt the jigsaw forward, then the rounded tips will rest on the surface being cut.
The blade should be positioned above the future cutting line with maximum accuracy. You need to lower the support saw horizontally and then continue cutting.
Guide rail for jigsaw
The guide for a jigsaw is a simple device, at first glance, similar to a large metal ruler or rule. The main difference between the tire and the above devices is a special groove along which, like on rails, the sole with a jigsaw mounted on it moves. Most guides have rubberized strips that prevent sliding on the surface of the material, and for additional fixation, they are attached with small clamps. The average length of such devices is from 1.5 to 3 meters, and can be increased by another, similar ruler, using an adapter.
Panel cutting machines
The easiest way to saw panels is using machines. They can be different:
- Vertical - represent a welded frame or bed. The design must have a high degree of vibration resistance. The deflection from the frame is directed at an angle of 50 degrees in the opposite direction. There are guides at the top and bottom, and the beam moves along them. To process laminated chipboard, a special cutting angle is required.
- Horizontal ones are more common. They feed the material on a special table, and a jigsaw can be used as a cutter. One of its main parts is the carriage.
You can make the machine yourself or purchase it. If you don't have this tool, you'll have to do a lot of work to cut straight panels.
DIY jigsaw guide
If a jigsaw cuts crookedly, and it is not advisable to buy an expensive guide, you can completely get by with improvised means. Any smooth edge with a thickness of 5 mm or more can become an impromptu stop: a straight strip, usually a piece of plywood and other straight surfaces of suitable sizes. A pair of ordinary clamps can serve as clamps for the guide to the material. If the condition of the surface of the opposite part of the material being sawn is not of great importance, the guide can be screwed onto a pair of self-tapping screws.
To make the line as neat and even as possible, use the optimal file suitable for the material being processed. More visual processes for making and using a homemade guide are demonstrated in the following videos.
How to make a perfect cut with a jigsaw
For example, to make some furniture you need to cut a piece of chipboard
make a mark and attach double-sided tape
we take any flat object, in my case the rest of the laminate with the factory edge preserved
glue it taking into account the distance from the jigsaw sole to the file
saw slowly, lightly pressing the sole of the jigsaw against the guide
we get the perfect cut
Fraud! Any Homemaker always has a jigsaw with a curved file, and no matter how hard you try, the cut will still pull, but you have to try.
So I, too, am a crooked master, I have a lot of experience in crooked cutting! This is a calling, we must stick together!
Holy shit, I already pulled my legs together, and something in my stomach (the so-called “point”) tightened.
Why do you need adhesive tape or does religion not allow clamps?
That's right, clamps and a circular saw = perfect cut.
this one will be more cheerful
Yes, at least he doesn’t stab, because there is a cutting edge
