The Best Jigsaw for 2024 – A Detailed Review From a Seasoned Woodworker
Don't Feel Like Reading Our Review? Here Is Our Top Choice
If I were to buy the best jigsaw for myself, I would spend the extra cash and get the Bosch JS470E 120 V Jigsaw . It's a corded jigsaw with 7 Amp of power and a stable 3100 SPM speed. It features tool less blade change design and bevel cuts up to 45 degrees. This unit is quiet and vibration free when operating and comes with smooth precision control with reinforced SPM speed for stable output with Bosch's signature constant response circuitry. This saw is up to any cutting task it's challenged with.
As a woodworker, if I had to choose one cutting tool for high degree of maneuverability and control, I’d go for a jigsaw. These little puppers are very easy to handle. Plus, with the entire movement factor at your disposal, your cutting motion is not very restricted.
Of course, it takes a lot of professionalism and patience to reach that level where you want the jigsaw to cut exactly how you want it to. But the point is that honing skills over a jigsaw is a lot easier than a miter saw, circular saw or any other tool for that matter.
I have shortlisted a variety of reliable products for you in this best jigsaw review. Please note that these brands were recently reviewed. Therefore, if you are interested in reading a jig saw review, you can go to the main page or visit the relevant jigsaw category at Powertoolbuzz. I always select those products that I’d be interested in using myself.
Having said that, these reviews are not conclusive – and so is this guide. Old gets replaced by new; it is the law of the power tools industry. If, at any point, you find out that our review of a product at Powertoolbuzz is superseded by something trendy and latest, just holler up through the comments section below. You can also write a detailed email; I’ll make sure that whichever product you have recommended, it gets listed on our website in this review.
Quick Comparison
Model | Orbital Settings | Weight | Voltage | Warranty | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BOSCH JS470E | 4 Positions | 5.6 lbs. | 120 V | 2 years |  |
DeWalt DCS331M1 | 4 Positions | 6.8 lbs. | 20 V | 3 years | |
Makita 4329K | 3 Positions | 4.19 lbs. | 120 V | 1 year | |
Porter Cable PCE345 | 4 Positions | 5.05 lbs. | 120 V | 3 years | |
SKIL 4495-02 | 4 Positions | 5 lbs. | 120 V | 1 year | |
Black & Decker BDEJS600 | 4 Positions | 5.2 lbs. | 20 V | 2 year | |
Our Top 6 Best Jigsaws for 2024
Best Overall
I might be a little biased when it comes to choosing Bosch, or SKIL products, but the company people really seem to know what they’re doing. With the release of Bosch JS470E 120 V , the devs managed to keep up with a common woodworker’s expectations.
Perhaps you know that the first ever jigsaw was released back during 1946 – 1947. What’s really interesting is the fact that it was Bosch’s very own employee who first came up with a working model of a jig saw.
He used his wife’s sewing machine; replaced the sewing needle with a small shank shaped toothed blade and then tested the prototype on a couple of wood planks.
Bosch senior employees liked the idea and they all worked together to incorporate it into creating the first ever jigsaw in the history of power tools.
Bosch Jigsaw Features:
Why You Should Buy It?
Buying a Bosch JS470E 120 V Jigsaw is not a matter of doing something on an impulse. Go ahead and do your own research buy reading this review from start to end; you will find out that this tool is a great addition to your bulging arsenal of gadgets from a long-term investment perspective.
Of course, if you are a seasoned woodworker like me, you understand that changing tools is not possible after every few months or so. Eventually we all need to rely on “that one” high performance product which can not only work as advertised, but can also take a beating on site.
Bosch integrates quality, durability and performance in one package. Additional details on this saw are available down on this page. Without any ado, let’s take a look at the following best jigsaws one by one. They are fast, reliable and guaranteed to chisel through a long range of cutting material.
Starting off with a low key unit, you can go for the Black and Decker BDEJS600C model. It is lightweight, it doesn’t cost a lot (you’re only looking at $30 - $35 price tag per unit), and it works as advertised on a number of work pieces.
The only “issue” with the Black & Decker jigsaw or all of the company’s products in the power tools industry is that they are not exactly a fitting match for professionals. Seriously, if you are a seasoned wood worker who likes to get his hands dirty, while working on a monument of perfection, this is not the best jigsaw out there and is avoidable.
However, at the same time, I strongly recommend model BDEJS600C to entry-level enthusiasts. It is ideal for learners who are getting by with any particular technique on a DIY wood working project, people who are relatively quick on picking up sawing skills and vice versa. Given that the unit has a very low price, even if you do end messing up some part or anything, you won’t regret losing a lot of money.
Black and Decker Pros & Cons
- CON
On a personal note, I hold the Dewalt DCS331M1 very close to my heart and consider Dewalt one of the best brands. Part of the reason is because it was one of the first products in the cordless jigsaw category that I tried. I am not a huge fab of battery powered equipment though. However, you never know when you will need a little bit of portability by your side on your next woodworking project.
Dewalt is known for remarkable build quality. I have tried, reviewed and recommended the company’s miter saws, circular saws, table saws and even Dewalt chainsaws on several occasions. The CS331M1 Battery Powered Jigsaw is one of the very few in the “affordable” niche category. You can find several updated models with higher pricing, and better features.
Source:Dewalt
Dewalt Pros & Cons
- CON
If you read my Makita 4329K 3.9 Amp review, you should be well aware that this product isn’t exactly the greatest power tool nor worth buying. However, there are some perks of having it. Like, for instance, have you thought about the all-time low price tag; this way, you are not at the risk of destroying a high quality power tool as a learner.
On the flip side, Makita has imbued this model with good build quality. It does have limited number of features due to cheap pricing and all, but you can get by with a lot of entry level woodworking contracts. The company introduced a medium performance 3.9 Amp motor, which churns out approx. 3000 – 3100 SPM.
Compared to the Dewalt DCS331M1 jigsaw, Makita should have installed at least an LED guide light for a deviation free cutting experience, but they didn’t. The good thing is that this model will go exactly along the cutting line regardless of a laser beam. You only need to outline a track with the help of a carpenter pencil for accurate results.
Source: Makita
Makita Pros & Cons
- CON
I wasn’t a huge fan of Porter Cable until I reviewed the company’s PCE345 Jigsaw. As stated earlier in the review I wrote for this model, I’ll say it again: PCE345 is not the “best” jigsaw for the money. However, it works like your grandma’s old sewing machine. Once you get used to keeping the blade SPM at optimal output, there’s no reason why this product shouldn’t be an ideal match for an entry level woodworker out there.
Out of the box, the one thing, which really stands out about this model, is the 7 variable speed dial. You can change the blade strokes per minute from low to high over a series of different settings. This allows users to cut PVC pipes, thin ceramic chips, pinewood and oak wood sheets. You can also use the jigsaw on PT lumber, but I’d advise that you refrain from doing so.
PT lumber is raw and requires the maximum amount of SPM for a rather more thorough cutting experience. Also, jigsaw blades are not very long – therefore, you cannot make deep cuts. Top it off with a standard 4 speed oscillation mechanism,the PCE345 model shines as a brilliant addition to a seasoned woodworker’s tools.
Porter Cable Pros & Cons
- CON
One more thing that you need to know about this jigsaw is blade speed setting. Since there are 7 different levels to choose from, one can be tempted to use the max speed. In reality, what happens in that the blade can easily get stuck, damaged or overheat if the variable speed does not match the density of the cutting material.
Since wood is the natural/ default material which most of the jigsaws are made for, you should not have any issues at any variable speed dial selection mode. It is safe to start with the slowest speed to assess what the unit is up against. Once you have an idea about the resistance of the cut material, you can increase the variable speed to get fast results.
One mistake that amateurs normally make is that they turn on the orbital action system to cut high density pieces. It is okay to do so in some context, but whenever you are cutting steel, do not use the orbital action. It can damage the blade when it’s in idle state. In severe cases, even the jigsaw motor can get fried easily.
Best Budget
Source:WORX
SKIL and Bosch both go hand in hand when it comes to using high quality reliable power tools. Speaking of jigsaws, the company recently released the SKIL 4495-02 series model. It also has an embedded laser guide to make accurate cutting a breeze.
By the way, as far as I am concerned, I am not bothered if the jigsaw doesn’t have an LED laser beam. It is a nice additional feature, but its absence does not affect the performance. You can use the standard pencil to make markings.
The only reason why you would strongly rely on a jig saw with laser beam is when you are working in a dimly lit environment, or you are an entry-to-intermediate level woodworker. Seasoned woodworking contractors are normally not bothered by such adversities.
SKIL Pros & Cons
- CON
If you are looking for a stable product worth its price tag, you should go for the Bosch JS470E 120 Volt Jigsaw. It is perhaps one of the most durable handheld power tools I have seen and used to date. Yes, I also wrote a dedicated review for this Bosch model, you can check it out later at Powertoolbuzz.
There was a lot of hype associated with Bosch JS470E model before the company released it. Part of the reason is associated with how Bosch has been known to have that ‘unknown’ employee who took the initiative of interfering with his wife’s beloved sewing machine.
He replaced the needle with a toothed blade and decided to move the then known model of a “handheld” jigsaw over a wooden slab.
The results may not have been perfect, but the guy’s execution of the first ever jigsaw was flawless. This is one of the main reasons as to why Bosch is loved by majority of the woodworking community members. These people know that the brand name has been around for several decades now. Take a look at some of the pros and cons of the Bosch JS470E 120 Volt Jigsaw.
Bosch Pros & Cons
- CON
Update About Jigsaw Orbital Action:
In most cases, woodworkers are made to believe that orbital action is a welcomed addition to a long list of features in a jigsaw. They enable the said mechanism because it feels okay to see the blade oscillate and cut through the work piece.
If I were to be honest with you for a second, I also made the same mistake several years ago. I would use the orbital action on work pieces which did not really require that specific blade motion. As a result, I ended up ruining my jigsaw blade and motor altogether.
The orbital action is basically a pendulum like stroke that moves the blade in an “oval” motion. As it goes down, it is in idle state – as the blade curves and moves up, it is actually cutting something. The entire movement is achieved when manufacturers insert a small pin inside the saw support roller. As a result, once the orbital action is enabled at any setting, the blade moves in an elbow/ pendulum like motion.
NEVER EVER use your jigsaw’s orbital action when the blade is already hot, or the work material is too dense. Especially if you are looking to cut aluminum, metal or ceramic sheets, use a DIA blade type. These blades have a steel core with diamond spraying. Other blades are not designed to take on metal or any such material for that matter.
The reason I wrote about orbital action in this review is that I do not want you to make the same mistake with your jigsaw. Since all of the aforementioned power tools were personally tested by me, or one of our staff members, there is a chance that someone “failed” to mention these additional details concerning orbital action in jigsaws.
As a result, you may end up with a permanently damaged blade with orbital action enabled when it was never needed in the first place.
Closing Thoughts
The above-mentioned "best" jigsaws are just few of the models that I tried recently. They were individually reviewed on our website. Despite of our strong recommendations, we are not forcing you to buy anything from this list. You can do your own research, read up in our jig saw tool guide, compare features n’ specs and buy something which perfectly suits your project requirements.
The only reason you “should” buy one based on our recommendations made in this best cordless jigsaw review is because they were personally tried by our staff. We do not highlight any power tool at our website regardless if it's a jigsaw, cordless drill, chainsaw or any other tool just because it comes in a fancy ass box – our writers work hard to test each product against a set number of variable changes to make sure that only perfection falls through the cracks. We hope you enjoyed our post and don't forget to share your cutting experiences in the comments below.
