Jigsaw Guides: Features Of The Track Roller, Bar And Ruler. Tips For Selection And Operation

2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-09 13:15

The jigsaw is a necessary tool in the household. The good news is that there is a huge selection of models for this product. There are hand-held, electric hand-held and stationary tools, the purpose of which is curvilinear cutting of various materials from chipboard to metal. This is achieved by various elements that are included in the design of modern electric jigsaws. Let's take a look at some of the jigsaw attachments called guides.

Peculiarities

The jigsaw can be adjusted with the following elements.

• Tilting the sole so you can make bevel cuts. It is rarely used.
• Stroke frequency, thereby adjusting to the material. If you work with wooden materials, then use the maximum frequency, in other cases, the average.
• Pendulum motion of the canvas. This regulates the vertical and longitudinal movements of the tool.

But the accuracy and quality of cuts are ensured and controlled by the guiding elements of the jigsaw. These include the following devices: guide rail, support roller, ruler and laser light. The latter, however, is not present on all jigsaw models.

Let's take a closer look at the various jigsaw guides.

Support roller

This part of the tool is a wheel that guides the main working body (file) and at the same time serves as a support for it, taking on the efforts on the file from the process of cutting a particular material. The function is actively developed with a large amount of work and dimensions of the workpiece. When using the pendulum stroke, the saw blades begin to move more efficiently - not only up and down, but also back and forth. At the same time, dust and sawdust are better removed in the cut groove, which means that the jigsaw produces a better cut.

A support roller is a necessary part in a jigsaw; without it, neither a high-quality cut, nor a long operation of the engine, saws and other elements are possible. Due to frequent jamming and jamming in the file material, overheating of the moving mechanisms and overloading of the electric motor would occur. And this all leads to their rapid wear and tear.

For the high-quality work of the video, the following rules must be observed:

• cutting blades must be of good quality;
• thread modes must comply with the instructions attached to the tool;
• do not allow wood chips to get into the roller, and after work clean the product from dust and debris.

Guide rail

This is a simple detail that resembles a large ruler, which can be up to 1.5 meters long. The tire is made of metal, usually aluminum. It has a groove in which the sole of the jigsaw is located and it moves along it. The guide can have rubber strips at its base to prevent slipping on the workpiece. Small clamps act as locks for the tire.

Some considerations when choosing a jigsaw tire:

• the price is determined by the size, quality of the materials used, as well as the brand, which indicates the durability of the tires used;
• it is important to use only products from trusted companies in order to avoid damage to the main equipment and situations associated with injuries;
• using significant forces when cutting can damage the tire and material;
• lack of lubrication leads to overheating of the tire.

There is a peculiarity when choosing a tire for each instrument. There is a wide variety of them on the market, but each brand produces this accessory only for its specific models, thereby minimizing the versatility of the jigsaw add-on.

Parallel stop

The device required for a straight cut: aligns the edges, makes a high-quality cut at the edge of the workpieces. The stop is similar to the letter "T", consists of a bar for fixing and a long ruler attached to the body of the jigsaw.

Such a structure is installed parallel to the plane of the file, and the unit itself should fit snugly to the surface of the product workpiece.

It is possible to make a quality cut with this additional device only in the following cases

• Choose a plane for support that is flat and parallel.
• The jigsaw should not move to the side during operation.
• The stop must be firm and durable to use.
• It is necessary to firmly press the shoe against the support when working with the tool.

Ruler

The guide fence is an aluminum profile product with a length of 1 meter. More often comes complete with clamps. The clamps are universal - they are inserted from both sides of the ruler and tighten well, fastening it to the workpiece. The jigsaw in its kit has a parallel stop, which was mentioned above, with a fixing bar at one end. This device is inserted into the groove of the guide fence and it turns out that the jigsaw is fixed with the guide.

Accordingly, along a fixed ruler, it is easy to cut a perfectly straight or parallel line along the workpiece with a jigsaw. If there is no stop in the jigsaw kit, then the jigsaw is pressed against the ruler with the side part of the sole and the desired work is carried out.

Laser pointer

This auxiliary device is necessary in order to be able to cut in hard-to-reach places or in poor lighting. You can install lighting in the unit yourself, but it is better to choose a jigsaw with a laser function if you are doing this professionally.

The laser pointer makes it possible to cut the part along the intended path. Such a pointer is protected by a special screen, which allows the device to be used for a long time.

This convenient backlight can be turned on by pressing a button on the jigsaw. There are models in which the laser lights up when the tool is started, and goes out when the work is finished. It is necessary to pay attention to such features of jigsaws when choosing the most suitable option for yourself. Some manufacturers offer removable laser pointers that can be removed from the product and operated without it if necessary.

However, it is worth warning that there are models with a laser, which correctly shows only the first few centimeters of the cut, and then begins to openly "lie". But, for example, at the Stumer unit, the laser is installed efficiently and thoroughly fixed. If the laser is pointing incorrectly, the device can be disassembled and aligned in the desired direction. It will be correct if you test the operation of this device when purchasing.

There are many differences between individual instrument models, but there are a few general rules when choosing and using. They are as follows.

• From a practical point of view, it is important to choose tools with long and flexible cables.
• Check with the seller for the type of unit mechanism, as well as how many operating positions the product has.
• It is necessary to work with a jigsaw very carefully, especially when switching speeds and changing directions of travel.
• Be sure to protect your eyes from dust and possible material chips.