Jigsaw: what it does and when to reach for it

Learn what a jigsaw does, how to fit a blade, and how to make a clean, safe cut.

JW-01Know what a jigsaw is forA jigsaw is a handheld power tool with a narrow blade that moves rapidly up and down. It's best for cutting curves, holes, and shapes in wood, plastic, or thin metal sheet - things a straight saw can't do. Beginners often reach for it to cut dead-straight lines too, which it can do, but it's not as accurate as a circular saw for that job.

JW-02Fit the right bladeBlades clip into a chuck at the front of the tool, usually with no tools needed - push down a lever, slot the blade in, release. Wood blades have widely spaced teeth; metal blades have fine, closely packed teeth. Using a wood blade on metal will blunt it instantly, and using the wrong blade is the most common beginner mistake - check the packaging tells you what it's for.

2 each · Jigsaw blade (wood)

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

JW-03Gear up and clear your spacePut on safety glasses before you switch anything on - the jigsaw throws small offcuts and dust upwards. Clear the bench of clutter and make sure the cable (if corded) can't drag across the cutting line. Keep your free hand well away from the blade path at all times, not just while cutting.

JW-04Mark your cutting line clearlyDraw your line in pencil, dark and unbroken, so you can see it while the tool is running and dust is flying. Beginners often draw a faint line then lose it halfway through the cut. If you're cutting a hole, mark the full outline first rather than trying to judge it as you go.

JW-05Clamp the work down properlyThe jigsaw's flat metal base, called the shoe, needs to sit flush on the material the whole time it's cutting. Clamp the workpiece to a bench so it can't shift, and support both sides of the cutting line if you can - an unsupported offcut vibrates and can splinter or snap. A wobbling workpiece is the main reason beginners get a jagged, wandering cut.

JW-06Check what's behind or beneath before you cutIf you're cutting into a floorboard, a wall panel, or anything fixed in place rather than a loose offcut on a bench, treat it as if a cable or pipe is hiding there - because sometimes it is. If there's any doubt at all, isolate the circuit at the consumer unit before cutting, and turn off the water at the stopcock before cutting anywhere water pipes could run. A cable or pipe detector helps, but it doesn't guarantee safety - it can miss cables buried deep, run in metal conduit, hidden behind metal-backed plasterboard, or simply routed somewhere unexpected, which happens a lot with older or amateur wiring. Assume something is there until you've proven otherwise, don't assume it's clear just because the detector stayed quiet.

JW-07Make the cut at a steady paceStart the jigsaw before the blade touches the material, then feed it forward slowly along your line - let the blade do the work rather than forcing it. Pushing too fast is the classic beginner error; it makes the blade flex and wander off the line, especially on curves. Keep the shoe flat against the surface throughout, and ease off as you reach the end so the offcut doesn't snap away and tear the edge.

JW-08Check you've cut it rightRun a finger along the cut edge - it should feel reasonably smooth, not scorched, melted, or torn with splinters. Hold a straightedge against a straight cut to check it hasn't wandered off the pencil line. If the edge is rough or burnt, you were likely pushing too fast or using the wrong blade for the material - slow down and try a fresh offcut before you cut your real piece.

Some links may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Save this as a project

Back to all guides