Tool Trivia Quiz
Don’t Ruin Your Jigsaw Cuts! (Avoid BLADE BENDING + WANDERING with Jigsaws…)
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Jigsaws are a popular power tool used in carpentry and DIY projects, but they can cause a major headache when the edge of the board being cut is slightly angled instead of perfectly square. This occurs because the blade is bending slightly in the board, curving sideways and causing it to wander. Unfortunately, this is not always visible while cutting, leading to a lot of cleanup work to get the edge square.
In this article, the primary causes of jigsaw blade bending and ways to prevent it will be discussed. The article will cover topics such as pushing too hard, using a dull or damaged blade, sideways pressure, and a damaged sole plate. By following the tips provided, readers can ensure their jigsaw cut edges come out nice and square.
Key Takeaways
- Jigsaw blade bending occurs when the blade is curving sideways in the lumber, causing it to wander.
- Primary causes of blade bending include pushing too hard, using a dull or damaged blade, sideways pressure, and a damaged sole plate.
- To prevent blade bending, ease up on the pressure, use a sharp blade, avoid overpowering the saw, and check blade alignment.
Problem Identification
Jigsaw users often encounter the problem of angled edges after making a cut. This occurs because the blade is bending slightly in the board, causing it to wander and not plunge vertically. The blade’s curvature is not visible from the top side of the piece, and users often do not know that it has occurred until the cut is finished. As a result, a lot of cleanup is required to get the edge square, and even then, it may not be perfect.
There are several reasons why this occurs, including pushing too hard, a dull or damaged blade, sideways pressure, and a damaged sole plate. Pushing too hard causes the blade to twist and bend sideways, making a new angled path in the wood. A dull or damaged blade creates more resistance, causing blade bending and wandering. Sideways pressure often occurs when cutting curves, and users must avoid overpowering the saw and let it cut its way through the board. Finally, a damaged sole plate can tilt the blade a couple of degrees, causing a slight beveled cut.
To prevent angled edges, users should slow down their cuts, use a good sharp blade, and avoid damaging their blade alignment. By doing so, jigsaw cut edges will come out nice and square.
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Cause and Prevention
Jigsaw blade bending is a common problem that occurs when cutting with jigsaws. The blade bends slightly in the board, causing it to wander and resulting in an angled or uneven edge. This happens because the blade is not plunging vertically but curving sideways in the lumber. The problem is that this bending is not easily visible as it occurs on the underside of the piece.
There are several reasons for blade bending, and it is essential to understand them to prevent it from happening. The primary cause of jigsaw blade bending is pushing too hard. People often try to drive the saw forward, thinking it will speed things up. However, this produces a ragged cut and stresses the blade, causing it to twist and bend sideways. To prevent this, one needs to ease up on the pressure and let the saw cut at its own pace.
The second most common cause of blade wandering is a dull or damaged blade. A dull blade creates more resistance, causing the blade to bend and wander. It is advisable to install a new blade if the cuts feel slow and the saw seems like it’s fighting you. Check to ensure that the blade itself is not bent, as a bent blade is almost guaranteed to give you a crooked cut.
The third reason for blade bending is sideways pressure. This happens most frequently on curved cuts, which is primarily what jigsaws are used for. When cutting curves, one needs to negotiate the turn slowly and avoid overpowering the saw. Make tiny backward pulls to reset the saw path frequently and consider making relief cuts to shorten curved sections.
Lastly, a damaged sole plate can cause blade bending. Sole plates are calibrated in the factory to sit square to the blade, and any tilting or beveling can result in a slightly skewed cut. It is advisable to check blade alignment with a tri square or combo square to ensure that the blade itself is not bent.
In conclusion, to prevent jigsaw blade bending and wandering, one needs to slow down the cuts, use a good sharp blade, and avoid damaging blade alignment. By following these simple steps, jigsaw cut edges will come out nice and square.
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Power Tools Explained Course Promotion
In the middle of his show, Ethan James promotes his online course called “Power Tools Explained.” The course is designed for beginners who want to learn how to use power tools correctly and safely. The course consists of 10-minute video lessons that teach the 20 most important power tools for carpenters and DIYers.
The course is available on the Honest Carpenter website and is guaranteed to fast-track power tool education and help avoid costly mistakes. The course focuses on safety and is available for purchase through the link in the description below.
The promotion is followed by a discussion of common problems that occur when using jigsaws. One of the primary issues is the blade bending, which causes the edge of the board to be slightly angled. This happens because the blade is curving sideways in the lumber, causing it to wander. This problem can be prevented by easing up on the pressure and letting the saw cut at its own pace.
The second most common cause of blade wandering is a dull or damaged blade. A dull blade creates more resistance, causing the blade to bend and twist. To prevent this, it is essential to install a new blade and choose the right blade for the cut.
The third reason for blade bending is sideways pressure, which happens most frequently on curved cuts. To avoid this, the saw should be negotiated slowly, and relief cuts should be made to shorten curved sections.
Finally, a damaged sole plate can cause blade bending. Sole plates are calibrated in the factory to sit square to the blade, creating a 90° cut. If the blade is not aligned correctly, it will result in a beveled cut. Checking blade alignment with a tri-square or combo square can ensure that the blade is not bent and that the base is not skewed.
By following these tips, one can avoid blade bending and wandering in jigsaws and achieve straight, clean cuts.
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Primary Cause: Pushing Too Hard
One of the most common reasons for jigsaw blade bending is pushing too hard. Many people believe that driving the saw forward will speed up the cutting process, but this is a bad idea. Pushing too hard not only produces a ragged cut, but it also stresses the blade. Jigsaw blades are skinny and somewhat flexible, which means that they don’t have much rigidity. When they receive too much pressure, they twist and bend sideways. As they bend, they begin making a new angled path in the wood, which is hard to correct. Therefore, it is essential to ease up on the pressure and let the saw cut at its own pace. Slow progress is better to ensure straight, clean cuts.
The second most common cause of blade wandering is a dull or damaged blade. A dull blade creates more resistance, which causes blade bending. One can often tell if the jigsaw blade is dull just by looking at it, but it can also be confirmed by cutting with it. If the cuts feel slow, and the saw seems like it’s fighting, then it may have a dull blade. Installing a new blade can solve the problem. It is also important to check if the blade itself is not bent. A bent blade is almost guaranteed to give a crooked cut, so it should be changed immediately. Additionally, one must choose the right blade for the cut. Each blade typically indicates what it’s for, so blades should be chosen based on application.
The third reason for blade bending is sideways pressure, which is a common problem, especially for newcomers. This happens most frequently on curved cuts, which is primarily what jigsaws are used for. When cutting curves, one should negotiate the turn slowly, little by little.
If the saw is having a hard time turning, and one fights it, it can wind up dragging the saw sideways, or twisting it too aggressively to try to force the turn. This also leads directly to blade bending and wandering. With curve cuts, one needs to avoid overpowering the saw.
The saw should be allowed to cut its way through the board, and tiny backward pulls should be made frequently to reset the saw path. Relief cuts can also be made to shorten curved sections, which will relieve blade pressure and help the saw blade remain vertical.
The fourth reason for blade bending is a damaged sole plate. Sole plates are calibrated in the factory to sit square to the blade, which is important because this alignment creates a 90° cut. However, sometimes a hard knock or a faulty model can tilt the blade a couple of degrees, which means that one will start making a slight beveled cut. The blade will technically be cutting straight, but the base it’s sitting on is slightly skewed. Blade alignment can be checked with a tri square or a combo square, which will also ensure that the blade itself is not bent.
By slowing down the cuts, using a good sharp blade, and avoiding damaging the blade alignment, one can ensure that the jigsaw cut edges come out nice and square.
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Secondary Cause: Dull or Damaged Blade
One of the primary reasons for jigsaw blade bending is a dull or damaged blade. Increased resistance caused by a dull or damaged blade is what leads to blade bending. When a jigsaw blade is dull, it receives too much pressure and begins to twist, causing it to bend sideways as it cuts through the lumber. This bending leads to an angled path, making it difficult for the blade to get back to vertical.
To prevent blade bending due to a dull or damaged blade, users should install a new blade if they feel that their cuts are slow and the saw seems like it’s fighting them. Users can also check if the blade itself is bent, as a bent blade will almost always give a crooked cut. Choosing the right blade for the cut is also essential, as each blade is designed for a specific application.
Blade bending due to dull or damaged blades is a common problem, especially for newcomers to jigsaws. By ensuring that the blade is sharp and not damaged, users can prevent blade bending and ensure that their jigsaw cuts come out nice and square.
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Third Cause: Sideways Pressure
One major reason for jigsaw blade bending is sideways pressure. This occurs most frequently on curved cuts, which is primarily what jigsaws are used for. When cutting curves, it is important to negotiate the turn slowly and avoid overpowering the saw. If the saw is having a hard time turning and is dragged or twisted too aggressively, the blade can bend sideways and wander off course.
To prevent this, it is recommended to let the saw cut at its own pace and make tiny backward pulls to reset the saw path frequently. Relief cuts can also be made to shorten curved sections and relieve blade pressure.
It is important to avoid muscling the saw through the board and instead let it cut its way through. Additionally, it is important to choose the right blade for the application and ensure that the blade is sharp and not damaged.
Lastly, a damaged sole plate can also cause the blade to bend and create a beveled cut. Checking blade alignment with a tri square or combo square can help ensure that the blade is cutting at 90° and the base is not skewed.
By following these tips and avoiding sideways pressure, jigsaw cuts can come out straight and clean without the need for extensive cleanup.
Fourth Cause: Damaged Sole Plate
A damaged sole plate can cause the blade to tilt a few degrees, resulting in a beveled cut. Sole plates are calibrated in the factory to sit square to the blade, which is important for creating a 90° cut. If the sole plate is damaged due to a hard knock or a faulty model, the base may be slightly skewed, causing the blade to cut at an angle.
It is essential to check the blade alignment with a tri-square or a combo square to ensure that the blade itself is not bent, which will always cause problems. Many jigsaws do bevel on purpose, and cheaper models adjust with detents and a screw, but in the vertical setting, they need to cut at 90°.
By avoiding damaging the blade alignment and ensuring that the sole plate is not damaged, jigsaw cuts will come out nice and square.
