So I made a jig for my jig saw. I had the Kreg square-cut jig in mind when I made it. I used a couple of scrap pieces of wood. I don’t have a jointer or a plane, so I used the sides that looked the most straight. I’m guessing they were milled at least on one edge, since I got the wood from Home Depot. I checked these edges for square with my combo square and they looked pretty good. I used glue and clamped the two pieces together then used my nail gun to nail them together once I had them square with each other.
Now I can just line up the bottom piece with my line and I’m ready to go.
My first test was on a piece of 2×6. It didn’t take long for me to find out there were problems. It started off fine, then it veered to the left of the line a little, towards the jig. I stopped and thought that maybe I didn’t clamp it well enough, but it was clamped tight. I started again from the beginning to try to correct it and get a straight line, but it went left again and just kept going.
It was at this point I realized that it was veering because the blade was bending. I stopped and removed the jig saw and grabbed blade to see if it was loose.
It was at this point I realized that the blade gets really hot. Lesson learned.
So I thought maybe a 2×6 was too thick and that if the blade twists or I am not right up against the jig, it just can’t correct itself and keeps going off course. I switched to a 1×6 and tried again. It was a lot better, but there was still a tiny bit of travel to the left. The blade does look a little twisted when it’s installed, so it could be that. The lines are still a lot straighter than I would be able to achieve by eye. I’m thinking if I go really slow it might help keep it straight.
The picture below shows the results. The board on the left is the 2×6. You can see how much it veered because the blade was bending. The board on the right is the 1×6 and it looks pretty good. I should at least be able to get some pretty straight lines when I next practice some more Greene & Greene finger joints.
-- Cliff. Proverbs 16:9
5 comments so far
Deycart
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208 posts in 430 days
#1 posted 321 days ago
Not to sound like a smart a.. but there is a difference between a cross cut and a rip cut. The rip cut wonders more because the blade wants to follow the easy spots in the grain. Try a new blade that is designed for ripping and you will see better results. You might want to try and angle the blade toward the line, It helps sometimes.
Sawdustonmyshoulder
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232 posts in 1801 days
#2 posted 321 days ago
Well, a jig saw is really made to cut a line that is not straight.
A bandsaw blade will have ‘drift’ in the blade and you have to compensate for that drift when you want a relative straight line when you rip a board. This factor could be what you are seeing with your jig saw blades. Try making your cuts with a fresh blade or a wider, more aggressive tooth blade.
You may want to look into using a ‘shooting board’ and a plane to clean up a ‘freehand’ cross cut. Here is a great video about shooting boards from a fellow LJ, mot: Shooting Board Basics
I hope this helps….. oh, and welcome to Lumberjocks. You won’t regret joining.
-- Makin' Sawdust!!!
iamcliff
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237 posts in 325 days
#3 posted 320 days ago
Thanks for the instruction. All instruction is welcome at this point. I’m a beginner.
Deycart: That makes sense. I knew the difference between rip and cross cuts, but I didn’t realize they would have any effect on the travel of the blade. Good to know. Thanks!
Sawdustonmyshoulder: Thanks for the info. I like the shooting board idea. I’ll have to use one for sure when I can find a good deal on a plane. I’ve been looking around for one. Funds are limited, though, and from what I’ve read, I know I’ll also have to buy some things to flatten the sole and sharpen the blade. Any plane will work with the shooting board?
I know what I’m doing is unconventional, but the jig saw is the only cutting tool I have outside of a miter saw. I’m just trying to make the most of what I have.
-- Cliff. Proverbs 16:9
~Julie~
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526 posts in 1207 days
#4 posted 320 days ago
Also Chris, there are good and poor jigsaws. I switched from a cheapie to a good quality one years ago and it was a world of difference!
-- ~Julie~ followyourheartwoodworking.blogspot.ca
AngieO
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468 posts in 320 days
#5 posted 273 days ago
I will have to make one of these for my jigsaw and my circular saw. Thanks for sharing.
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