

A big part of that is the design of the saw and how it fits in your hand. Accuracy, Control, and Deflectionīecause a jigsaw’s primary job is cutting curves, control is important. Kicking in with a soft start, it ramps up the speed based on the pressure you put into the cut. However, those who do really like the consistency of its start and performance through the cut. One quick note about automatic speed control-this feature takes some time to get used to, and some of our team flat-out refuse to use it. It increases the aggressiveness of the blade’s attack with an elliptical motion and cuts more quickly. It’s not as critical as it is in some power tools, but it’s a nice boost to have.Īlso, look for a selectable orbital action. Having a selectable speed or at least a variable-speed trigger can help quite a bit.īrushless motors help with both cutting performance and runtime. As a woodworker, you need to cut hardwoods without burning them. If you custom-build stair stringers, your saw better be able to cut 2x well. However, the following brands offer both:Ĭordless Jigsaw Buying Guide | What We Look For PerformanceĪny jigsaw worth buying has to be able to effectively cut what you work on. Regionally, the US tends to be in favor of top handle models, and that’s what every brand we tested makes. However, 12V barrel grip jigsaws have a narrow enough grip area that even those folks can enjoy using them. Guys and gals with smaller hands tend to prefer a top handle in our experience. It puts your hand in a lower position and your second hand can rest on the front or top of the saw. Some people feel they have better control with a barrel grip. When cutting with two hands, your second hand simply moves to the front pommel of the saw. If you’re in a situation where you can’t clamp your material securely, it’s a big help. We prefer top handle jigsaws when we’re cutting with one hand.
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Any other ideas? Feel free to share them in the comments below! Top Handle vs Barrel Grip JigsawĪt the risk of starting an argument over top handle vs barrel grip jigsaw designs, here’s the skinny: it mainly boils down to personal preference. There are plenty of other ways to cut with a jigsaw, and these are just the main ways we use them. With those cutouts, you often drill a hole inside your waste area large enough for the jigsaw blade to fit, making the start of your cut easier. It’s also useful for completing cuts into corners thanks to a straight-blade design.Ĭontractors often use them for cutting out countertops for sinks or cutting out drywall if they don’t have an oscillating multi-tool or drywall cutout tool. Primarily a woodcutting tool, it uses a narrower blade that gives you the ability to cut curves better than other types of saws. Price: $199 bare, $349 kit with a 5.0Ah battery and chargerĪ jigsaw uses an up-and-down reciprocating motion to saw through wood, metal, PVC, and other materials. Look for model DCS335 if you prefer that version. Missing a couple of convenience features: vac attachment/port, lock-on buttonĭeWalt also has a barrel grip option.Cutting speed is lower than top competitors.While there are a couple of trade-offs to consider, DeWalt gave us the best overall cutting experience. This was especially noticeable on the barrel grip where many of our testing team’s hands couldn’t reach the on/off switch on other models. With both versions, the controls seem well-placed and easy to reach without having to move your grip. For the top handle model, the lower height gave us a feeling of better control. Its cutting speed wasn’t as fast as some of the others, but its vibration control was better, and it kept the blade deflection down to nothing on tough cuts. Whether you want a top handle or barrel grip style, we picked the DeWalt 20V Max XR as the best cordless jigsaw overall.
