jigsaw

tomsalwasser · Post by **tomsalwasser** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 8:45 am

Greetings woodworkers,

I managed to come up with a 1987 Shopsmith jigsaw. This must have been one of the last ones made. I think it will work fine but I haven't had a chance to mess with it. Are you guys using a jigsaw out there for anything special?

Best,
Tom

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 9:12 am

tomsalwasser wrote:Greetings woodworkers,

I managed to come up with a 1987 Shopsmith jigsaw. This must have been one of the last ones made. I think it will work fine but I haven't had a chance to mess with it. Are you guys using a jigsaw out there for anything special?

Best,
Tom

I don't do a lot of work that demands a jigsaw but where one might be appropriate I use my Shopsmith scroll saw.

I have a band saw set up with a fine tooth band and I use that for most of the delicate work I do. Some jobs just can not be cut with a band saw however and that is when I park myself at the scroll saw.

billmayo · Post by **billmayo** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 10:08 am

tomsalwasser wrote:Greetings woodworkers,

I managed to come up with a 1987 Shopsmith jigsaw. This must have been one of the last ones made. I think it will work fine but I haven't had a chance to mess with it. Are you guys using a jigsaw out there for anything special?

Best,
Tom

I removed the arm and use a stiff jig saw blade like a upside down hand held jig saw. It is light and easy to quickly mount without the upper arn and upper head assembly. I adapt (file/grind) many different straight saw blades to fit the lower blade holder depending on what I want to cut.

dasgud · Post by **dasgud** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 10:11 am

I made a couple of these for Christmas gifts last year. I only used the jigsaw to make a template to use at the router table, but it's a great tool for this kind of work.
[ATTACH]12729[/ATTACH]

I got kinda lucky last year and scored a bunch of SS jigsaw blades online, but I understand that you can also purchase 5" jigsaw blades from the big box stores. If they only have pin blades then you can pull the pin off and use it that way.
Have fun with your jigsaw

It's really cool to use. Just make sure that you have oil (non-detergent) in the reservoir.

tomsalwasser · Post by **tomsalwasser** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 1:50 pm

Thanks guys. So I can use 5 inch blades meant for a hand held jig saw?

michaeltoc · Post by **michaeltoc** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 3:46 pm

tomsalwasser wrote:Thanks guys. So I can use 5 inch blades meant for a hand held jig saw?

Yes - with the arm removed.

SDSSmith · Post by **SDSSmith** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 4:33 pm

tomsalwasser wrote:Thanks guys. So I can use 5 inch blades meant for a hand held jig saw?

You can use 5 inch pinned blades that might be used with a small coping saw. The pins come out fairly easily. HD and others also carry the plain end 5 inch blades and you don't have to mess with the blades. Many people swear by the Flying Dutchman blades found here and other places.