Pendulum stroke of a jigsaw: what is it, why, what is it for, a jigsaw without a stroke, which is better, that means

The design and principle of operation of the pendulum of a jigsaw

Figure 1 - The structure of a jigsaw
An electric jigsaw is an improved model of a traditional hand tool.

Suitable for straight, mortise and angled cuts. Can cut round holes. It is used to process a wide range of materials: wood, metal, ceramics.

Main design elements:

frame;
engine;
board responsible for adjusting the stroke frequency;
gearbox;
start button;
pipe for chip removal;
support platform (sole);
pendulum tincture;
saw support roller;
blade replacement system, rod.

The cutting surface of the tool moves in translational motion due to special guides. Sawing is carried out only when moving upward. An orbital jigsaw has the ability to change the amplitude, which allows movement along a curve.

Important ! The use of a pendulum mechanism increases the speed of appearance of cut lines, but reduces their quality and edge uniformity.

Kinds

Jigsaws have a wide range of characteristics and parameters, so they are divided into groups for home and professional use. In turn, each of these types has its own characteristics. Popular are manual options, for figured cutting, with adjustable speeds, and tape.

A worthy option for a quality tool is a mini jigsaw. It is able to simplify precise sawing and sanding of the model due to the high rigidity of the working parts. This product can be used not only by professionals, but also by beginners. The jigsaw is easy to use and is an excellent option for sawing a variety of materials. Purchasing a tool will make it easier to make a tabletop or drawer.

Professional

Jigsaws with professional purposes meet high requirements, which are determined by high functionality, productivity, reliability, and ergonomics. Such a tool can withstand heavy loads and function continuously for 7 hours. Functionality of professional jigsaws:

cutting wood material that has a thickness of 8 to 13.5 cm;
steel billet with a thickness of up to 1 cm;
aluminum plates – up to 2 cm.

The performance of such a tool is directly affected by the power reserve. The more powerful the engine the device has, the easier and faster the work is done. The reliability of professional jigsaws ensures their long service life and infrequent failures.

Domestic

An electric jigsaw for home use is considered inexpensive. It is quite easy to use, so it can be used to perform various functions at home and in the country. Experts note the good power of the device, so it is capable of performing all assigned tasks. Features of household jigsaws:

low power;
availability of a choice of additional functions;
comfortable work with wood material that has a thickness of no more than 7 cm;
high-quality cutting of steel with a thickness of up to 4 cm;
the duration of operation should not be more than 20 hours per month;
low cost of goods.

If you want to purchase an electric jigsaw, you first need to decide on the features of its use.

What is it and why is it needed?

Figure 2 - Pendulum stroke button in a jigsaw
Jigsaw pumping or pendulum stroke is an internal mechanism for increasing the amplitude of movement of the saw relative to the cutting line.

The cutting blade produces oscillatory movements under the action of the support roller.

The main source is the balancer, at the bottom of which there is a thin iron plate.

When the editor rotates, pumping oscillations are triggered, which leads to the transfer of impulse to the rod. This means that the file can change the course of its movement, as if gnawing into the surface of the material.

When the function is turned off, the jigsaw makes standard movements, due to which uniform sawing is achieved. When you start the pendulum stroke, it becomes possible to work with softer and larger materials and make complex cuts.

Operating a jigsaw

Before work, prepare the necessary equipment.

Device setup

Take a bracket to replace the blade. Loosen the mounting bolt. Insert the desired file and tighten the bolt. The file is replaced in the same way.
If you have a quick blade change function, then turn the lever of the corresponding unit.
Set the stroke frequency. The harder the material, the lower the frequency. The tree is cut at maximum speed. Metal is two times lower. For plastic, the speed is 2.5 times less than the maximum. The tiles are processed at low speed.
Install the pendulum stroke. It is used for thick wooden blanks. There are three positions of the regulator: 1 - thickness 30–40 mm; 2 — thickness 40–50 mm; 3 - more than 50 mm.

Working with a jigsaw

Secure the part to the workbench.
Place the device with the cutting part facing the workpiece. Turn it on. Without pressing on the canvas, move it along the drawn line. If you apply excessive force while sawing, the blade may break.
Replace dull equipment immediately so that there is no heavy load on the engine and the device does not fail.
To make a long cut parallel to the edge, use a straight edge and a ruler. Measure the required distance. Position the strip along the cutting line and secure it to the workpiece with a clamp. Move the tool parallel to the staff.
To cut at an angle, loosen the platform. Set the angle to the desired value. Tighten the fastener.
To cut an even circle, connect the guide to the center. It is included in the tool kit. Secure it in the middle. Guide the jigsaw around the center.
When cutting patterns, secure the jigsaw to the table. Then you will see the entire drawing. You can guide the part along the desired path with both hands.
To work with thin metal, place plywood under it so that the workpiece does not deform.

How to secure a jigsaw to a table

If you convert an ordinary jigsaw into a desktop version, its capabilities will expand.

Take a tabletop 12–15 mm thick. Drill four holes in it and in the jigsaw platform.
Place the tabletop on a base that is at least 22mm thick. Screw on the jigsaw.
If it has a sawdust blower, you can connect a vacuum cleaner. To do this, make a round hole in the back of the table base and route the hose from the vacuum cleaner.
Now you can saw.

How to use a jigsaw

Make cuts along and across the grain. If the file only moves along, replace it. If the defect is repeated in both cases, the guide unit must be adjusted.
For some, the problem is solved by adjusting the video.
To do this, loosen it and move it forward or backward.
Others have adjustment of the guide crackers. They are fastened with bolts. Loosen them and adjust to the desired position.
Make control cuts. Repeat the adjustment if necessary.

Why is pumping adjustment needed?

It is the pendulum stroke in the jigsaw that makes it possible to change the oscillation and stroke mode of the saw. Most modern models have 1-4 levels of pumping for different types of work and material density. Common modes:

The pendulum stroke does not start or operates at minimum power. Suitable for making smooth curved cuts. Suitable for hard metals and wooden pieces up to 3 cm thick.
Minimum degree of pendulum stroke. The mode is optimal for working with soft wood, copper and aluminum.
Medium vibrations are recommended for sawing plastic and wood with a thickness of 4 cm.
Strong or maximum pumping mode. Needed for rough cutting of wooden surfaces and working with large-sized products.

Running the pendulum on a jigsaw increases saw wear. When working with bulk materials, where a careful saw is not required, the cutting surface becomes unusable 2-3 times faster.

Important ! The jigsaw blade must be selected taking into account the material of the workpiece. Files for metal, plastic and wood differ in the size of the teeth and the degree of sharpening.

How to use the pendulum mode of a jigsaw

For the pendulum mode in an electric jigsaw to be truly useful, you need to understand how to use it correctly. Most instrument models are equipped with adjustment of the amplitude of oscillatory movements. The operator can configure the pumping to suit the characteristics of the upcoming work and specific material.

Adjusting the pendulum stroke of the jigsaw

When choosing a pumping stage in a jigsaw, you need to take into account the density of the material and the cutting mode. The tool has four speeds in total:

First. The pendulum stroke is inactive or is running at the lowest power. These settings are used for sawing metal and thin wood pieces, as well as for curved cutting.
Second. The canvas makes small oscillatory movements. You need to process ordinary wood and fairly soft non-ferrous metals at this speed.
Third. The file moves along a pendulum amplitude at an average speed. The mode is suitable for cutting thin plywood pieces and plastic.
Fourth. At maximum speed, it is recommended to cut wood with a thickness of 5 cm.

If the pendulum control is at zero, this means that the function is completely disabled. In this case, the jigsaw file will only move up and down.

You can cut aluminum and copper with the pendulum action turned on, but it is better to cut steel in normal mode

Application benefits

More and more manufacturers are releasing models with a pumping function. It increases the variability of device operation. The advantages of such jigsaws:

very high speed of the web;
the ability to cut plastic, any type of wood, steel sheets and foam;
quick removal of sawdust;
less heating of the blade when sawing.

Due to the popularity of the pendulum stroke, such a tool is practically no different in price from simple electric jigsaws. Recommended for both professional and domestic purposes.

Disadvantages of use

Despite the large number of advantages, there are also disadvantages. Disadvantages of models with paging:

Figure 3 – Pendulum stroke of a jigsaw

the appearance of chips at the edges of the lines, unevenness of the cut;
impossibility of use for figured cutting;
The pendulum stroke does not work with ceramic tiles and hard metals.

Manufacturers recommend choosing a model taking into account specific tasks.

All devices with paging have the ability to disable this function, which increases the variability of the use of the tool.

Important ! When choosing a model, you should pay attention to the smooth switching of the pumping mode. This allows you to avoid various damage to the cutting line during operation.

Device

To make the right choice of a jigsaw, you need to understand how it works, what elements it has, and what is their difference. Below is a schematic cross-sectional image.

Number	Description
1	Start button
2	Adjusting the motor speed
3	Stock
4	Gearbox
5	File clamp
6	Support roller
7	Electric motor
8	Brushes
9	Support bearing
10	Chip drain pipe

Let's look at the purpose of each element:

Start button. Closes the electrical circuit and turns on the electric motor. Many jigsaws are equipped with a soft start system, which allows you to adjust the engine speed by the degree to which you press the start button.
Adjusting the electric motor speed. Using this regulator, you can determine the maximum number of revolutions of the electric motor when the start button is fully pressed.
Stock. A metal rod that determines the forward movement of the jigsaw saw blade.
Gearbox. A mechanical device that converts the rotational motion of an electric motor into the pendulum motion of a rod.
File clamp. A device that allows the saw blade to be rigidly attached to the rod. There are different fastening standards and, accordingly, types of saw blade shanks.
Support roller. The roller on which the saw rests while moving.
Electric motor. An electric motor is the basis of a power tool, and in the case of a jigsaw, it drives the rotating parts of the gearbox, which in due course transmits the translational movement of the rod.
Brushes. Graphite brushes transmit electricity from stationary current-carrying wires to the rotating elements of the electric motor. They are not durable, so over time they wear out and the engine, not receiving electricity, stops working. In this case, you just need to replace the brushes. This is one of the common malfunctions of any power tool.
Support bearing. Despite its apparent insignificance, the support bearing has a very important role - it is the support of the electric motor. It is this that often fails in the cheapest models of jigsaws. This is due to the fact that the bearing is fixed in a plastic housing and when the jigsaw is operated for a long time under load, it heats up to temperatures at which the surrounding plastic begins to melt, which leads to deformation of its seat and displacement of the electric motor and further jamming.
Chip removal pipe (dust collector). The jigsaw is equipped with a system for removing dust and chips from the sawing zone in the form of a special pipe, which must be connected to the vacuum cleaner hose. During operation, a large amount of sawing products (dust and shavings) is formed, which are recommended to be removed.
Support platform (or "sole"). It is not indicated in this diagram, but it will be discussed separately below.

The main components of a jigsaw are discussed above, but various functional parts that may optionally be present on various models are not touched upon. These include:

The flashlight acts as a backlight for the sawing area;
Laser level allows you to make cuts more accurately;
The chip blowing system allows a directed air flow to remove sawing products (dust and chips) from the cutting area for a better overview of the sawing site.

and etc.

Tips for use

The pendulum mechanism is more difficult to operate, regardless of the density of the material. Recommendations for working with this tool:

Do not put pressure on the jigsaw while sawing.
The device must be firmly fixed to the surface.
For precise cutting, the workpiece must be held level and moved at a constant speed.
Place a sheet of plywood or chipboard under the device to reduce vibration when working with thin workpieces.
Use machine oil when sawing metal and plexiglass.

Before starting operation, carefully read the manufacturer’s instructions, and also test the orbital jigsaw. To avoid getting shavings or sawdust in your eyes, you should wear goggles and work only with protective gloves.

Principles of correct operation

Working methods

The working stroke of the jigsaw file is from bottom to top. On wooden workpieces, this causes chips to appear on the surface facing the jigsaw. To avoid them, turn the part face down.
Sawing parts from the “wrong side” is not always convenient. In this case, there will be fewer chips if you cover the cut line with masking tape.
Another way to avoid chipping is to use files with a special “reverse tooth”. However, with them the recoil becomes very noticeable and additional physical effort is required to hold the jigsaw.
The jigsaw file is a very elastic element. Because of this, it bends during cutting, which, in turn, leads to the cutting plane moving to the side. The thicker the workpiece being cut, the greater the slip. To reduce it, use the sharpest saw blades and feed the jigsaw forward as slowly as possible.
Thin metal, thin plywood, hardboard can rattle a lot during operation. Such parts need to be placed on a sheet of 10-12 mm plywood and this “sandwich” must be cut.

Which is better to choose?

The market offers a wide range of models of electric jigsaws from foreign and domestic manufacturers. They differ in functionality, price and additional options. There are also jigsaws without a pendulum stroke. Below you will find the 5 best models for any production task.

RedVerg Basic JS600

Budget tool for straight and curved cuts. The device is strong, there is no play on the moving elements. There is a rubberized handle, the motor is equipped with double winding. Supplied with cutting blade, fence and adjustment key. Power – 600 W, stroke frequency up to 3 thousand movements per minute. Can be used for wood up to 5 cm thick.

Stanley STSJ0600-B9

Reliable and functional jigsaw for the professional segment. Works with wood, metal and other common materials. There is a convenient compartment for storing the saw, a protective screen and a handle with a rubber layer. Power – 600 W, maximum thickness of wood blanks – 8.5 cm.

Kolner KJS 800VCL

Professional jigsaw with a power of 500 W. Supplied in a rich set. There is a protective screen, a set of files and a plastic case for storage and transportation. Additional elements - parallel stop, adapter for vacuum cleaner. It is possible to adjust the operating mode, there is a laser guide.

Hammer LZK650L

An inexpensive model in the budget segment, equipped with a reliable 600 W motor. The jigsaw has a strong cast steel sole, smooth start and a protective screen. Tolerates long-term loads with mode switching well. Advantages: the ability to connect a vacuum cleaner, an anti-vibration system and adjustable pumping speed.

Bison L-710-80

Compact jigsaw of domestic production. Suitable for working with thin materials, can produce precise cuts on surfaces. The engine power is 750 W, the maximum permissible thickness of a wooden piece is 5 cm. There is a pumping mode, the ability to connect a vacuum cleaner and tilt the sole. Supplied with tuning key and wood saw.

Important ! Modern models of jigsaws with a pendulum mechanism have a fixed maximum saw speed of 3000 movements per minute. It depends on the selected mode and workpiece material.

A jigsaw with pumping (orbital) is a functional tool for sawing wood, metal, plastic and combined materials. Thanks to the pendulum stroke, sawing speed increases, making it possible to work with large and soft products. The advantages of such a device are control of the cutting blade movement mode, high speed and prompt removal of chips.

Rating of the best jigsaws with a pendulum mechanism

There are quite a lot of jigsaws with a built-in pendulum on the market. Even inexpensive models are equipped with this popular mechanism, and it is installed almost without fail on units from the mid-price and professional categories.

DeWalt DWE349

A household jigsaw with three stages of pendulum adjustment has a low level of vibration during operation. The inclination of the unit sole can be adjusted without a key. The tool supports speed settings, provides sawdust blowing, and has a backlight. The handle is equipped with rubberized pads for increased grip comfort.

The price of the DeWalt DWE349 electric jigsaw starts at 7,100 rubles. Pros

fixing the start button;
there is adjustment of the inclination of the sole and the amplitude of the pendulum stroke;
makes little noise.

Minuses

no soft start;
the price is above average.

Metabo STEB 65 Quick

A semi-professional jigsaw with a power of 450 W is designed for simple sawing work. It is lightweight and compact; a quick clamp is provided for changing blades. The number of revolutions is regulated by a special wheel, and the tool also has a four-stage pendulum stroke.

Attention! A vacuum cleaner can be connected to the Metabo STEB jigsaw to remove sawdust directly during the sawing process.

The price of the Metabo STEB 65 Quick jigsaw starts from 4,000 rubles
Pros

pendulum stroke with four settings;
long cord 2.5 m;
compact dimensions;
there is sawdust blowing.

Minuses

no backlight;
no laser;
makes a lot of noise when working.

Makita JV100DWE

A cordless jigsaw with a three-stage pendulum stroke and a tilting sole is suitable for performing simple and figured cuts. The cutting speed is controlled by the force of pressing the start button, there is a lock against accidental start. A protective screen is provided to trap flying sawdust. The jigsaw is not designed for high loads, but remains very comfortable to use and also produces little noise.

You can buy a jigsaw with a pendulum stroke Makita JV100DWE from 7800 rubles

pros

there is a pendulum adjustment and speed adjustment;
does not make noise;
low vibration level;
anti-slip inserts on the handle.

Minuses

no quick clamp for the file;
The battery requires frequent recharging.