Compact jigsaw advice

[paul24dual]

Hi everyone, looking to buy a compact jigsaw for cutting out larger shapes that a scroll saw cant do.

Anyone got any suggestion? Under £70 if poss

Thanks
Paul

 

[MMUK]

AEG half price at ITS, only £40 +VAT And it comes with a 50" clamp on straight edge guide

http://www.its.co.uk/pd/STEP1200BX-AEG- ... 1200BX.htm

 

[paul24dual]

AEG half price at ITS, only £40 +VAT And it comes with a 50" clamp on straight edge guide

http://www.its.co.uk/pd/STEP1200BX-AEG- ... 1200BX.htm

Thanks for the advice....

Oops sorry i meant to say it needs to be 240v

 

[marcros]

would the finish from a jigsaw be suitable for your needs? I dont use them that often, but in my limited experience even the fine finish blades do not leave that good a finish.

Would a small bandsaw be of use- something along the lines of the Basato 1 that was for sale (gone now i think, but an example of what i had in mind). You then have the option of bandsaw boxes, thin kerf cuts, stock preparation for scroll sawing etc.

 

[Grahamshed]

I am wondering if everyone is talking about the same thing. You ask about 'compact' jigsaws but all jigsaws are pretty much the same sort of size. Is it a jigsaw you are after or a compact bandsaw ?

 

[paul24dual]

I am wondering if everyone is talking about the same thing. You ask about 'compact' jigsaws but all jigsaws are pretty much the same sort of size. Is it a jigsaw you are after or a compact bandsaw ?

To be honest i'm not sure what i need now!!

I'm just starting off woodworking and i have a scrollsaw for cutting smaller items but what about cutting bigger items with curves etc

Bandsaw or jigsaw. Budget is really tight though! Can you advise?

 

[MMUK]

You'll be lucky to find a decent quality bandsaw second hand for £70. If you really can't stretch the budget, I'd go with a jigsaw. Just make sure you get one with an alloy gearbox to help reduce vibration.

A little over budget but this Makita is a fluxing good piece of kit

http://www.its.co.uk/pd/4350CTWX-Makita ... 50CTWX.htm

 

[carlb40]

I am wondering if everyone is talking about the same thing. You ask about 'compact' jigsaws but all jigsaws are pretty much the same sort of size. Is it a jigsaw you are after or a compact bandsaw ?

To be honest i'm not sure what i need now!!

I'm just starting off woodworking and i have a scrollsaw for cutting smaller items but what about cutting bigger items with curves etc

Bandsaw or jigsaw. Budget is really tight though! Can you advise?

TBH if scroll sawing is your thing and you are wanting bigger timbers i would suggest a bandsaw. It will be easier/ safer to present the timber to the blade, rather than the other way around.
With a jigsaw you need to think of the protruding blade underneath your wood. Plus if you are cutting thicker timbers rather than longer / wider - a jigsaw blade will probably wander too much.

So i would suggest making do and saving for a small bench top bandsaw.

You just need to keep an eye out. While this one has gone.

for-sale-scheppach-basato-1-bandsaw-t76595.html

Others will turn up.

 

[Grahamshed]

I suppose you could mount a jigsaw upside down under a board and use it like a scroll saw but really I think it is a bandsaw you want.

 

[paul24dual]

There is a SCHEPPACH BASATO 1 for £135 - refurb

any good? Good deal? Shall i - shouldn't i?

 

[marcros]

Plenty of money- there was one on here for 70 odd the other day.

If money is tight, spend a little on a used 3 wheel bandsaw on eBay- the makes are much of a muchness. Get a decent blade or two from tuffsaws and away you go. Depth of cut won't be massive, but probably triple or more than the scroll saw. A cheap and chearful one will do all you need and won't cost a lot at all. Don't skimp on blades- even if new, they are probably rubbish. You will probably have to tune the saw, but it isn't difficult- I managed to do it from knowing nothing and got good results following a guide online.

for example- look around £22-£30 http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from= ... 2520Decker

 

[paul24dual]

Plenty of money- there was one on here for 70 odd the other day.

If money is tight, spend a little on a used 3 wheel bandsaw on eBay- the makes are much of a muchness. Get a decent blade or two from tuffsaws and away you go. Depth of cut won't be massive, but probably triple or more than the scroll saw. A cheap and chearful one will do all you need and won't cost a lot at all. Don't skimp on blades- even if new, they are probably rubbish. You will probably have to tune the saw, but it isn't difficult- I managed to do it from knowing nothing and got good results following a guide online.

for example- look around £22-£30 http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from= ... 2520Decker

cheers for the advice...is this one any good? its just down the road from me

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Draper-190mm- ... 2a36616476

 

[marcros]

It is never going to be the greatest bandsaw in the world, but if you can get it for 30 odd quid, put a decent blade in and tune it up, it will do what you are wanting it to. I wouldn't buy it new, but secondhand, you would lose very little if you sold it on.

Curves are probably easier than straight lines actually- less to worry about with drift etc.

Don't get too bogged down with finding the perfect machine or you won't buy anything! On bandsaws- particularly small ones, I think blade is more important than the machine. Slightly different on big machines but for cutting curves you only need to tension a narrow blade. When you have a clearer idea of what you enjoy making you can upgrade the kit.

 

[Grahamshed]

I agree with Marcros. That would be a decent way to go and you are not likely to find a better solution in your price range.