Homemade jigsaw.. Sounds unreal. However, professionals have always been valued and in demand. Carpentry can be both your main income and a pleasant hobby. The hands of a carpenter produce wonderful products, unique and inimitable. IN modern world, with its terrible ecology, every person increasingly strives to surround himself with natural, natural materials. Handmade wooden items can become an exclusive, priceless gift.
A jigsaw is capable of cutting any sheet material lengthwise and crosswise.
But in order to create all this magic, you will need not only quality wood, but also tools. A wide variety of wood jigsaws are sold in stores, but a true master will not be satisfied with such a tool. Because they are not suitable for performing truly delicate jewelry work. There is only one way out - to make a jigsaw. If you have hands and a bright head on your shoulders, then you can do this task.
There are several options for making such a tool: upgrading a purchased model or making it from improvised means. There are two types of jigsaws for wood: manual and electric. Hand tools are a classic.
Making from a sewing machine
Necessary materials:
- old-style sewing machine;
- file
Sequencing:
- After unscrewing the bolts, the needle is carefully removed.
- The drive shaft is removed.
- The protective panel is unscrewed.
- The hole for the needle expands to the size of the prepared file.
- The length of the file is trimmed to the size of the needle.
- The top and bottom of the file are ground off.
- The file is inserted in place of the needle.
Materials for tabletop jigsaw:
- duralumin pipe;
- copper sheet;
- plastic;
- drill;
- clamps
Sequencing:
- You need to make a frame from a duralumin pipe.
- When making it, do not forget about the need for a channel in order to subsequently lay the power cord.
- Making a C-shaped frame from a copper sheet. Next, it is attached with screws to the frame in the place where it connects to the handle of the tool.
- A gap is cut in the plastic. A file passes through it. You will need a drill to cut the hole.
- Mounting holes are drilled on the plastic.
- The jigsaw is attached to a plastic base so that the file passes through the gap.
- The structure is attached to the table using clamps.
Return to contents
The jigsaw consists of a motor and a rocker with a saw.
Motors from washing and washing machines can be used for the motor. sewing machine. The body is made of plywood. It includes the base itself and the table. The box should be located between the base and the table, and on inside shelf-bracket and intermediate shaft. And with reverse side there is a disk and a rocking chair.
The eccentric is connected to the rocker using a rod. The rod is made of steel plate. It's all connected with screws. The intermediate shaft should be installed on several bearings; they are covered with a lid to prevent dirt and sawdust from entering. The double-strand pulley is placed on the shaft and secured with screws. The eccentric of the jigsaw is also installed. Four holes are drilled on the eccentric flange. Thanks to this, the stepped screw will change position. Accordingly, the amplitude of the swing will change. A rocker is a wooden rocker in which you need to install a screw. And on the front side of the structure there are metal plates with hinges, with the help of which the files are attached. The file is placed in the slot of the work table and clamped tightly.
Rocker arms oscillate frequently and violently during operation, and the plates are subjected to excessive heavy loads. Therefore, it is necessary to pay due attention correct fastening saws. The plates must be securely fastened in the slots and tightened firmly. But the earrings that hold the files are installed in such a way that the screws do not clamp the halves too tightly.
The axis should get a little freedom. The screw that tightens the rocker arm must have a small gap for the thrust screw. The rocking stand itself can be made from a block. A groove is made on the upper side of the block for the upper rocker arm. The stand can be made from halves or made into composite parts.
These are the homemade items you can make with your own hands. There are different jigsaws for wood, but better than that that you make with your own hands cannot be found. Such a tool will serve you faithfully for many years. This is a real help for home handyman. There is so much you can do using this simple unit. But still, this device can be dangerous, so before you start working, you should familiarize yourself with the rules for using the tool.
A jigsaw is a special device that is designed to perform work on sawing wood, its derivatives, as well as other materials (for example: plastic, plasterboard sheets, polystyrene foam, and so on) along curved contours and straight lines.
Depending on power electric drive can be divided into two types:
- power up to 150 W;
- power over 150 W.
Machines with a power of up to 150 W are used mainly at home, for manufacturing work. various crafts from materials of medium and low density and thickness.
Machines with drive power over 150W are mainly used in industrial conditions, when working with hardwood and other materials. Such jigsaw machines allow you to work with material thicknesses up to 10 centimeters.
For home and semi-professional use, in order to save money, you can make a homemade jigsaw machine. In this case, you will need to have basic knowledge in plumbing and electrical engineering, as well as a large number of hand tools.
Making a homemade jigsaw machine
In order to make a jigsaw machine with your own hands, you will need:
- eight wooden planks for making a frame;
- a sheet of thick plywood for the countertop;
- some metal corners, welding machine;
- electric jigsaw;
- accessories for fastening, drill.
1) We start designing the machine from the frame. The frame will require wooden blocks of square section 50*50 mm. For the support posts, four 250mm long beams are used.
For longitudinal connecting beams, bars 380 mm long are used. The end connecting beams are 250mm long. All bars are connected to each other using ordinary wood screws.
2) We make the tabletop. For the countertop we take plywood, in this situation we should be guided by the principle: the thicker, the better. A sheet of plywood 10mm thick can be considered normal. The sheet is cut to the dimensions of the frame so that the edges and corners protrude 5 centimeters beyond the edge.
After this, on the plywood board you should mark the attachment points for the legs and the jigsaw itself. Holes are drilled according to the markings so that the self-tapping screw is in the center of the leg.
The attachment points should be transferred to the markings for the jigsaw and holes should be drilled. A hole for the saw blade is also cut in advance. We screw the tabletop to the frame using self-tapping screws.
3) The next step is to install the jigsaw under the tabletop. To do this, the entire structure of the rack is turned over onto the table top.
The electric jigsaw is installed according to the markings and screwed to the tabletop with bolts. At this stage, we must not forget that the canvas must already be installed and occupy the position provided for it with a margin for the hole.
At this stage you will need a welding machine to make a fixing structure. It will require four corners. Bottom bar 50*50mm with two holes for bolts. A 200mm long corner is attached to it. Next is a corner measuring 230mm (selected for each case individually depending on the distance from the edge of the tabletop to the canvas).
The descent to the canvas is made from a 150mm long corner to which a jigsaw wheel is attached. This design absorbs all the vibration from the canvas and prevents breakdowns. The entire structure is attached to the tabletop with two bolts. They should not weaken from vibration.
The work on manufacturing the jigsaw machine is completed, the machine is ready for full operation.
Video: DIY jigsaw machine.
An electric jigsaw is an extremely useful tool, without which many operations on processing wood and wood-based materials are simply impossible to imagine today. Possessing a relatively small weight and compactness, a manual jigsaw allows you to cut out products of quite complex configurations from workpieces, but still, sometimes it would be more convenient to use a stationary tool. It is often more convenient for them to work, and the machine also provides more accurate cutting. True, such a machine costs several times more. manual jigsaw. Anyone who doesn’t want to spend extra money on this equipment can make a jigsaw table with their own hands and end up with an inexpensive and effective hybrid of a hand tool and a machine tool.
Figure 1. Diagram of a jigsaw table.
The simplest device
Some kind of table for a jigsaw can be made in a few minutes. The advantage of this design is its simplicity. It is easily mounted on a workbench or tabletop and can be easily disassembled if necessary. The disadvantage can be considered its small area.
The working surface of the machine will be laminated plywood, in which holes are drilled for sawing and for installing fasteners. The thickness of the plywood should not be less than 10 mm. You may also need to prepare holes in the base of the power tool for mounting screws. The structure is attached to the workbench with clamps. The heads of the mounting screws must be flush with the plane of the sheet. Such a machine can easily cope with cutting small workpieces up to 30 mm thick. What the device looks like is shown in Figure 1.
Return to contents
Second option
Another stationary device for working with wood consists of more parts, but it is also not difficult to make. The table frame consists of 2 sidewalls and a back wall made of chipboard. The machine does not have a front wall to make it easy to reach the button. Holes for the cord and tube of the vacuum cleaner are drilled in the back wall. The machine cover is made of laminated 10 mm plywood. The entire structure is tightened with confirmations. The jigsaw is attached in the same way as in the first case.
Figure 2. Diagram of a frame-support for a jigsaw.
Using a homemade machine, you can cut larger workpieces, but when working with thick wood, the jigsaw blade may tilt back and in both directions. This degrades cutting accuracy. The disadvantage is eliminated by installing homemade machine support bracket (Figure No. 2). The jigsaw blade will move between 2 11mm bearings, which are screwed to the L-shaped steel strip with screws. The back of the file will rest on the wall of the bracket. This design will not allow the jigsaw working blade to deviate from the specified plane.
The bracket is attached to a frame made of birch bars 50 x 50 mm. It can be raised or lowered depending on the thickness of the material being processed and the length of the file. To do this, the frame with the stop is not tightly attached to the side of the machine, but is pressed against it with a steel, hardboard or textolite plate. Vertical stand The birch frame is located between the frame and the hardboard, into which 4 clamping bolts are inserted.
The area of the countertop depends on the size of the workpieces you are going to work with.
The machine can be made more perfect by installing a limit bar on it, which will help cut wood into pieces of the same thickness.
The limiter can be attached to the machine with clamps. It is made from wooden block, steel or aluminum corner. If desired, the bar can be installed on a slide attached to the bottom or sides of the table top. You can make 2 parallel slots in the tabletop along which the slats will move. Holes are drilled in it. Studs or screws with wing nuts are passed through them and the slots. Tape measures are attached to the ends of the tabletop.
Return to contents
Table made of bars and chipboard
Figure 3. Diagram of a tabletop for a jigsaw.
The manufacture of this table requires certain carpentry skills, since the connections between its frame and legs are made in a tongue and groove manner. However, you can use dowels, wood glue and screws instead. The machine cover will be liftable to provide easier access to the tool when dismantling it. Figure 3 shows what the countertop looks like. If desired, you can provide space for installing a manual milling machine, then the machine will become multifunctional.
The table is made from:
- bars 80 x 80 mm;
- bars 40 x 80 mm;
- Laminated chipboard or laminated plywood 900 x 900 mm.
The distance between the legs can be from 600 to 700 mm. The bars for the drawers and legs are obtained after longitudinal sawing of the 80 x 80 bars. You can choose the height of the legs yourself, based on how convenient it will be to work on the machine. At each end of the frame and legs, 2 holes are drilled for dowels. Corresponding holes are made on the sides of the legs. The dowels are coated with glue half their length and inserted into the ends. After this, the frame is assembled in rough form. After correcting possible shortcomings, it is finally tightened. All contact surfaces are lubricated with glue before assembly. Additional strength of the structure will be given by self-tapping screws, which are screwed through holes prepared in advance for them.
The lid is attached to one of the drawers on hinges; for this purpose, a slot is made in it to facilitate installation and removal of the jigsaw. 2 strips with a selected quarter are screwed to the back of the tabletop, which will include the sole of the power tool. Holes are made in the strips into which clamping screws or bolts will be installed. A jigsaw mounted under the tabletop will be able to process thicker workpieces if a recess is made in the lid for its sole. The easiest way to make it is with a milling machine. The table turned out to be quite spacious, so a large thickness of plywood or chipboard can provide sufficient strength to its lid. Use 20mm or thicker sheets.
The era of electric tools did not come with the first electric drills, but when the electric motor became an attribute of a narrower tool: scissors, hacksaws, impact wrenches and, of course, jigsaws.
Moreover, the jigsaw became one of the first in this series. Today it is one of the most popular tools in the home (and not only) workshop. And first of all, we are talking about hand tools.
But in this article we are looking at jigsaw machines, and this is practically stationary devices, which often have their own specific place in the workshop, because for comfortable work they require a base with given parameters: height so that the hand placed on the work table has a 90º bend at the elbow and stability so that it dampens vibrations of the machine itself.
What are jigsaws used for?
Jigsaw machines are primarily designed for cutting parts or elements of complex configurations in sheet material: wood, plywood, MDF, fiberboard, chipboard, plastic, aluminum. They are also used for sawing internal contours products with preliminary drilling of the sawn material.
Such a tool, unlike manual or electric jigsaws, leaves both hands free for the person working on it, which greatly facilitates the work and allows it to be performed with the greatest precision. Most jigsaws, provided correct selection and installation of nail files, allow sawing even in fairly thick workpieces, with strict adherence to an angle of 90º relative to the plane of the workpiece.
Also, many models have an inclined table, which makes it possible to perform complex patterns at strictly specified angles other than straight, which is almost impossible when using manual or electric jigsaws.
Except home use, they are widely used in furniture production and manufacturing enterprises musical instruments. True, they are replaced quite often laser machines, but the burnt edges left last do not make their use universal.
General drawing, structural features of desktop jigsaw machines
The most common layout of jigsaw machines is as follows:
It includes:
- a frame (or body) on which all components and mechanisms are mounted;
- drive, often from an electric motor via a V-belt to a crank;
- crank mechanism that converts rotational movement the electric motor shaft in the reciprocating movement of the saw;
- double rocker with tensioner and fastenings for the saw;
- desktop, sometimes with a mechanism for rotating in the horizontal plane at a given angle.
Previously, miniature jigsaw machines with a somewhat simplified design were on sale, but it was precisely because of this, which led to the rapid failure of the files due to their short stroke, that their production was discontinued.
Most currently produced desktop jigsaw machines work with files 200–350 mm long and have a working stroke of 30 to 50 mm.
The differences between the machines mainly consist in the power of the electric drive (from 90 to 500 W for most models), as well as the type and methods of attaching the files. The optimal power, in our opinion, is 150 W.
And files, in addition to length, can vary in width (from 2 to 10 mm), type of shanks (with or without pins) and thickness (from 0.6 to 1.25 mm).
Some models can be equipped with the simplest, often called “Soviet”, saw blades for manual jigsaws, which is a big advantage. To realize just this opportunity, owners of jigsaw machines that do not have it often improve the fastenings of their devices by installing clamps on them from hand jigsaw.
Most desktop jigsaw machines have 2 speed modes: most often 600 and 1000 rpm, which is very useful when working with materials of different thickness, hardness and viscosity. The presence of the already mentioned turntable for 99% of the work performed on the machine, the function is useless.
Also, most jigsaw machines are equipped with additional accessories, such as:
- compressor for blowing chips from the cutting line;
- lighting of the sawing area;
- drilling block, etc.
These devices cannot be called useless, but it is still not worth relying on their presence when choosing a tabletop jigsaw machine, since these same functions can be successfully performed by:
- a compressor for an aquarium, with a blowing power selected by you, often more efficient than the standard one;
- a table lamp or carrier with a light output that is comfortable for your eyes;
- electric drill or screwdriver.
Even more complex devices, such as engraving drills, which can be equipped with your machine, generally cause some confusion, but let’s say right away that it is better to have such tools not tied to a jigsaw (or any other) machine. Their mobility is often more expensive than the advanced functionality of this very machine. In addition, all this is far from free.
Choosing a jigsaw manufacturer
Most often, Russian consumers choose jigsaw machines from Proxxon, Dewalt, Hegner, Xendoll, Zubr, JET, Enkor Corvette and Croton. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. Based on reliability and compliance with the characteristics declared by the manufacturer, we would single out machines from the German company Hegner. And their line of this equipment is longer than many others, but be sure to insist on sea trials when purchasing, regardless of which company’s machine you are planning to buy.
And even if it is possible to choose from 2 identical machines, demand that both are turned on. Buy one that has less operating noise and vibration.
DIY jigsaw machine
Finding a drawing of such equipment on the Internet is a rather trivial task, but we do not consider it advisable to single out any specific one from them, due to the absolute different approaches to the implementation of both the very idea of building such a machine, and the selection of materials, type of drive, etc. We will offer several concepts for a homemade jigsaw and briefly analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each so that you can figure out what is best for you.
- First: the easiest to implement, suitable for performing most tasks in the manufacture of parts with a rather complex contour at home.
There are many options for attaching a manual jigsaw to the tabletop that serves as the machine’s work table. Choose any, or offer your own and share with the readers of our site, for which we will be grateful.
The video also shows manufacturing techniques. complex contour using not the thinnest file. A main drawback This design is due to the impossibility of using thin files, which makes it difficult to manufacture openwork parts.
- Second: wooden. It is interesting due to the fact that the material is accessible, easy to process and repair.
In our opinion, the interesting thing about it is the use of the same manual jigsaw, which is rational for two reasons:
- if necessary, it can also be used as independent instrument, as it was made;
- the drive has built-in speed control, oscillation amplitude, and eliminates additional mechanisms that reduce the reliability of the design.
However, for those who like to tinker, there is alternative options manufacturing a wooden jigsaw machine.
When used as a drive of a drill or screwdriver with an adjustable speed of rotation of the output shaft, it will also be possible to smoothly regulate the frequency of movement of the saw.
Moreover, control of this process can be transferred to the pedal using a simple device, which will make the work even more comfortable and the cut more accurate. Such jigsaw machines need to be well strengthened with braces and stringers and securely fastened to the floor so that they do not move during operation.
- Third: metal. There is no doubt that this particular concept is the most reliable and durable (subject to the exception serious mistakes during manufacture), but also the most expensive. It makes sense to implement it if there is a large amount of work and you manage to save a sufficient amount by using the materials you already have. Otherwise, there’s no point in making similar designs with your own hands, considering that inexpensive factory-made jigsaw machines can be purchased for less than 4 thousand rubles, not so much.
Of course, the latter does not matter if you are interested in the process of technical creativity itself.
Dear readers, if you have any questions, please ask them using the form below. We will be glad to communicate with you;)
Without a jigsaw, many woodworking operations are impossible. Compact and lightweight, it allows you to manufacture products of even the most complex geometries. Sometimes, for example, with large volumes of work, it is more convenient to work with this tool not as a manual jigsaw, but in a machine format. Such equipment is presented in the catalogs of many manufacturers. household power tools, but if necessary, you can make it yourself.
Selection of equipment - main points
First, it’s worth answering the question: what material will the master most often work with? An electric motor power of 50-90 W is sufficient for most types of wood, but if you plan to process hard wood and significant volumes, pay attention to the 120 W options. Stepwise adjustment of engine speed (blade speed) is desirable; choose models with a smooth change in this parameter.
The ability to adjust the speed is needed to adapt the machine to work with different types of wood - heating of the material, which will ruin the cut, is eliminated. In addition, by gradually increasing the speed, the master concentrates on a complex procedure, and the engine operates in a gentle mode, which increases its service life.
Some models provide the ability to cut not only in a horizontal surface, but also at an angle, and a special scale will allow you to select the most accurate position of the workpiece. Semi-professional and household machines allow you to change the tilt of the desktop up to 45° in one direction, professional ones - up to 45° in both directions.
Pay attention to the work surface. It should be massive enough so as not to sag under heavy workpieces, very smooth (so the part slides over the base without problems) and polished so as not to stain the workpiece.
When choosing equipment, it is important to remember the nominal number of revolutions. Many craftsmen mistakenly believe that it must correspond to at least 1650 reciprocating movements of the saw in 60 seconds - only with this indicator the cut will be perfectly smooth, without chips or nicks. However, modern benchtop machines from famous manufacturers guarantee an ideal cutting line even at speeds of 700-1400 strokes per minute.
Do not forget about the maximum stroke of the saw blade - the thickness of the workpiece depends on this value. Additional options are also important:
- Availability of engraver – extra. shaft for particularly precise cuts and the manufacture of fine crafts;
- removal of wood dust and shavings from work surface;
- illumination of the cutting area.
How to navigate models from different manufacturers?
On modern market There are many models of jigsaw machines, but there are several main “players”, and each of them has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages.
Corvette models from the Encore company are machines household class and are not suitable for use in industrial environments, but this is quite functional equipment, equipped with a rotating worktop for performing an inclined cut at the desired angle, fixed by a stop with a degree scale.
Although the machines of this model are not designed for processing massive workpieces, the manufacturer offers a 150 W drive. The motor is a commutator type, quite noisy and prone to overheating, unable to work without interruption and requiring regular brush replacement.
The amplitude of the saw stroke is 40 mm, the oscillation frequency is 700 per 60 seconds (in some modifications a second speed is added - 1400 per minute for selection optimal mode when processing wood of different hardnesses). The files supplied with the equipment are not of impeccable quality, so it makes sense to immediately replace them with analogues from a third-party manufacturer.
Household machines also include Zubr models, which are compact enough even for use in a city apartment. The main feature of this equipment, which can be called its disadvantage, is noticeable vibration, which interferes with high-precision cutting.
Zubr machines are capable of processing plywood, solid wood, plastic, and thin aluminum in a horizontal plane and at an angle. They also perform drilling, grinding and polishing; for this purpose, the delivery set includes an additional work table and a flexible shaft with a chuck.
Overheating of the cutting tool is prevented by the built-in cooling system; there is an electromagnetic switch to prevent accidental activation. The files used in Zubr machines are special, reinforced, and have pins at their ends.
The working surface is separated from the operator by a transparent casing to protect it from dust and chips, and the cutting area is cleared of sawing products by blowing to improve visibility. Efficient waste disposal is provided. The motor used is a commutator type, quite resistant to overloads. Its brushes are designed for long-term use, but their quick replacement is still provided in the equipment.
RSW jigsaws are designed for creative carpentry workshops. Among their features are minimal backlash and the most accurate trajectory of the cutting tool. The equipment provides everything for efficient work operator: fencing and lighting working area, the ability to remove sawing products using a conventional vacuum cleaner.
In RSW machines, the file has an unusual arrangement - with the teeth down, pin files are used, and they can be replaced without a key. Also among the features of the equipment is the presence of the most powerful engine in the category of similar professional machines.
JSS jigsaw machines from the JET brand are intended for craft workshops, art studios and serious hobbies. They provide a stable cutting angle, the speed of movement of the cutting tool is infinitely variable by the built-in electronic system.
The manufacturer offers its branded files with pin fastening, but JSS JET equipment can also work with “regular” ones. These machines are suitable for sawing complex shapes, but the workpieces being processed should not be too large. Their materials are wood, chipboard, plywood, fiberboard, hard and soft plastics.
The blade tension lever is located in the upper part of the machine, which increases the convenience of working with it, and the cutting blade is installed in two versions - across and along the longitudinal axis of the equipment. Dust and sawdust are easily removed with an adjustable nozzle connected to the dust extraction system. The work table can be installed at an angle; to control the accuracy of its position, there is a transport scale and a stopper.
How to build a jigsaw machine on your own?
Such equipment can be made at home with your own hands, craftsmen they even create such machines from old ones sewing machines. If you have certain skills, the drawing and design diagram are developed independently.
As a table, you can use a table top, a workbench, and if they are not there, homemade design made of laminated plywood with a minimum thickness of 10 mm. From it you should build a kind of table with a working surface size of about 500x500 mm and a height of legs of about 400-500 mm. They can be two or three solid or four separate. In the first case, the design resembles a box, in the second - traditional table on a reduced scale).
The necessary parts are cut out with a hacksaw or circular saw, into a single system individual elements fastened with self-tapping screws. In the table cover, you should use a drill to drill holes for fastening the tool and for the file. You will also have to make mounting holes in the sole of the jigsaw. After this, you can bolt it to the tabletop so that cutting part was brought vertically upward.
The advantage of such a homemade jigsaw machine is the clear fixation of the tool and the guarantee that the master’s hand will lead the cut along the desired path.
This version of the machine does not always form the correct curved cut - the file can deviate, especially if a massive workpiece is being processed. The problem is solved by rigidly fixing the cutting tool with a pair of rollers that need to be placed on an additional part.
It is made from bars with a cross-section of about 50x50 mm. which are connected into an L-shaped element using a furniture corner and self-tapping screws, attached to the work table, and at the free end a bent metal plate with rollers made of bolts and bearing parts is placed with rigid fixation.
What to do if you need curly and very precise cuts?
To perform extremely precise, very fine figured cuts a homemade jigsaw machine must be equipped with a cutting blade tension system. Among the features of this device:
- the fork should be used very thin - for hand jigsaws;
- the rod of the electric tool must be connected to a clamp that tensions saw blade, using a special adapter;
- As a tension block, use the clamp of a regular hand jigsaw.
In terms of design, the machine differs little from that described above. It is necessary to build a work table with a hole for cutting tool and attach a clamp to the tabletop, and place an electric drive underneath.
If cuts are needed especially precise and thin, which implies extremely delicate and slow work, it is necessary to reduce the force on the files while simultaneously ensuring strong tension and precise movement. For this purpose, a homemade machine should be equipped with spacer devices on long arms instead of the traditional clamp of a manual jigsaw.
The spacer structure and the arms holding the file are made of wood or steel. Otherwise, the design of the machine resembles a model with a manual clamp.