What can a jigsaw cut?

Timber, laminate, plastic, aluminium and — with the right blade — sheet metal and tile. Maximum thickness differs by material and is quoted separately on the machine.

When should pendulum action be on?

For fast, rough cuts in timber. Switch it off for laminate, metal and tight curves, where it roughens the edge and strains the blade.

Why is my cut wandering?

Usually feeding too fast, a dull blade, or too narrow a blade for the thickness. A wider-backed blade reduces deflection in thick material.

What should I watch when cutting metal?

A fine-tooth metal blade (HSS or bimetal), a low stroke rate and pendulum off. Cutting fluid noticeably extends blade life.

Do I need a pilot hole to start an internal cut?

Not in timber — the blade can plunge on an angled entry. In metal and laminate a pilot hole protects both blade and surface.

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Jigsaws

A jigsaw moves a narrow blade up and down to make straight and curved cuts, and it is the one power saw that can start a cut from inside a panel. This page covers blade types, what pendulum action is for, and how the settings follow the material. The catalogue holds over 50 models.

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The blade decides the material

On a jigsaw the blade matters more than the machine. Blades are defined by their T-shank fitting, and tooth count, tooth geometry and material class are printed on the blade itself. Fewer teeth cut fast and rough, more teeth cut clean.

Material	Teeth	Note
Rough timber cuts	Coarse, few teeth	Fast progress, rough edge
Clean timber cuts	Fine teeth, reverse tooth	Little breakout at the surface
Laminate / furniture board	Reverse tooth blade	Keeps the visible face clean
Metal	Very fine (HSS/BiM)	Low stroke rate, cutting fluid
Tile / fibre board	Carbide grit	Toothless, cuts by abrasion

Pendulum action and stroke rate

Pendulum action pushes the blade into the work on its upstroke: progress speeds up, the edge gets rougher. Use it on rough timber cuts, switch it off for laminate and metal.

Stroke rate follows the material too — high in timber, low in metal. A high stroke rate in metal overheats the blade and dulls the teeth.

Cutting clean

Where the visible face must stay clean, three measures work together: a reverse-tooth blade, a splinter guard in the shoe, and pendulum action off. On delicate laminates, masking tape along the cut line protects the surface as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can a jigsaw cut?
Timber, laminate, plastic, aluminium and — with the right blade — sheet metal and tile. Maximum thickness differs by material and is quoted separately on the machine.
When should pendulum action be on?
For fast, rough cuts in timber. Switch it off for laminate, metal and tight curves, where it roughens the edge and strains the blade.
Why is my cut wandering?
Usually feeding too fast, a dull blade, or too narrow a blade for the thickness. A wider-backed blade reduces deflection in thick material.
What should I watch when cutting metal?
A fine-tooth metal blade (HSS or bimetal), a low stroke rate and pendulum off. Cutting fluid noticeably extends blade life.
Do I need a pilot hole to start an internal cut?
Not in timber — the blade can plunge on an angled entry. In metal and laminate a pilot hole protects both blade and surface.