Sawing with Jigsaws

Jigsaws handle the cuts a circular saw cannot reach — curves, cut-outs, and anything starting in the middle of a board. The CARVEX machines come in two grips: a barrel grip you steer with your palm low over the line, and a D-handle if you would rather push from behind. Both run a brushless motor to around 3,800 strokes a minute, and a hammer guide with parallel-adjustable jaws acts as a third guide on the blade, which is what stops a cut drifting out of square in thick stock. The quick-change angle table handles mitres and undercuts to 45°. Most of this shelf is what goes on the machine. Blades are grouped by material — wood, metal, plastics and building materials — in lengths from 75 to 155 mm, with mixed sets for general work. The accessories address what actually goes wrong: splinter guards and base runners for tear-out and marking on the show face, and the circle cutter and parallel fence for cuts that have to repeat.