Whoever is thinking about acquiring a jigsaw for their handyman workshop should especially inform himself about the pendulum stroke jigsaw. Because this can move your saw blade both vertically as well as horizontally – a great advantage over a normal stroke jigsaw. Here you will learn about the other advantages the pendulum jigsaw brings – and also why jigsaws from the PJSS brand quality series from Trotec are the foremost choice …
What does the pendulum stroke actually do?
The pendulum stroke of a jigsaw is a frequently underestimated option for effortless operation of the machine, since the pendulum movement minimises the effort required when sawing. The actual pendulum stroke stems from two different axes: The classical stroke, namely the up and down movement of the saw blade. And the pendulum movement – through a positioned role behind the saw blade, which moves the blade forwards and backwards.
- It is sensible, depending on the material and cut required, to engage or disengage the pendulum stroke. In principle, the pendulum stroke blades only provide a decisive advantage for saws of hard and thick woods. The rule of thumb applies: The harder and thicker the material to saw is, the stronger the pendulum stroke can be selected.
- The disadvantage of an engaged pendulum stroke is the somewhat rougher cross section. If an especially clean cut is of importance, the pendulum stroke should be reduced and if necessary switched off completely. The same holds true in the curve cut, especially for tight radii. The pendulum stroke setting is in this case quite disadvantageous and should be switched off. You should always saw metal without a pendulum stroke, since the shavings are substantially smaller and therefore can easily discharge.
Guide to straight cuts
Have you already tried to saw a straight cut with the jigsaw freehand? And you were not totally satisfied with the result? No wonder, since even the smallest change in angle immediately impacts the cutting surface. Each shake generates a wave in the cross section. Our tips for successful sawing:
- Turn on the pendulum stroke – and very important – fix the component with screw clamps.
- Before the first cut you should always check again to see whether the saw blade is appropriate for the component and also whether the required cutting depth is reached. For example, for soft woods of a lower thickness, you should choose a 75 mm long blade with a fine serration and normal width.
- Now you can begin to cut into the component from the edge inwardly or trim it to the required length.
Pre-drilling for internal cuts
If you would like to saw a section in the component, simply drill a hole with a 8 – 10 mm drill bit at a distance of 5 mm within the planned section. The saw blade is inserted and you begin sawing the section at this position.
- There are even saw blades appropriate for the so-called plunge cut. This, however, requires considerable practice and you should first have an experienced handyman demonstrate.
For rounds cuts
If you want to round off the edges, it is recommended to cut along the length of the grain, so the least amount of wood shavings are generated. Two process steps distinguish the round cut from the straight cut:
- Deactivate the pendulum stroke and replace the saw blade with one that is thin and appropriate for curve cuts.
- For tight curves, work with so-called relief cuts that are carried out at about 10 mm from one another: While cutting the curve, the saw blade is relieved through the immediate disappearance of the section and the cross section becomes cleaner.
The tilted cut
In order to carry out an angled cut with the jigsaw, you need to adjust the foot plate of the machine with the help of a quick-release fastener or a screwdriver.
- Once the angle is adjusted, it is necessary to check the length of the saw blade – the larger the angle is, the longer the saw blade must be, in order to completely cut through the component. Now you can complete this cut both for straight and curved cuts.
Avoiding chipping on the cut’s edge
How to minimise or avoid annoying chipping on the area of the cut:
- Firstly, the selected saw blade should be selected as finely as possible for the intended application. Fine saw teeth logically rip off less material. In combination with the correct pendulum stroke, the result is astounding.
- You can rely on the jigsaws from the PJSS brand quality series from Trotec – they are all equipped with a chip screen for chip-free cuts.
Use eye and ear protection
In the use of cutting tools, a flying chip or even a broken off saw blade can lead to injuries of the eyes. Besides wearing protective glasses, putting on ear protection is therefore absolutely recommended.
Jigsaws with pendulum stroke from the PJSS Series -– in Trotec brand quality
Take a look now at our wide ranging offers of PJSS jigsaws with pendulum stroke. Either with battery, cable and bow handle or with cable and knob handle: All PJSS pendulum stroke jigsaws from Trotec come with TÜV-tested quality as a guarantee of high quality, safety and functionality – and with an unbeatable price-performance ratio.
- The PJSS 10-20V battery-powered jigsaw comes with rip fence, adapter for external dust suction, chip screen, sliding shoe, Allen wrench, two wood-saw blades, a metal-saw blade and a carrying case included
- reduced £76.61 to just £47.86.
- The PJSS 10-230V comes with rip fence, adapter for external dust suction, chip screen, sliding shoe, three wood-saw blades and a metal-saw blade included
- reduced from £38.28 to just £23.92.
- The PJSS 11-230V comes with rip fence, adapter for external dust suction, chip screen, sliding shoe, three wood-saw blades and a metal-saw blade included
- reduced from £47.60 to just £28.55.
incl. VAT – now in the Trotec shop!
