The easiest inverted jigsaw jig? — or: How I learned to stop procrastinating and love the jigsaw
Want to fall in love with your jigsaw? Just flip it upside down.
OK. An inverted jigsaw is not quite that good. But it still is a great tool for people who want to make intricate cuts but don’t have a bandsaw nor a scrollsaw. A few people have asked for more info about my setup, so let’s take a closer look.
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Full disclosure: Purchasing stuff from any Amazon links below will support this column. Don't feel obligated to buy anything, but if you do, thanks!
DIY Creators’ jigsaw jig: • How to make a inverted jigsaw table
Paoson Woodworking’s jigsaw jig: • Inverted Jig Saw Guide
Jack Houweling’s super-strong magnet jigsaw jig: • How to Make a Jigsaw Table with Quick...
DeWalt DW317K jigsaw (https://amzn.to/2PauahJ): I have worked the heck out of this thing. It has handled continuous running four hours without problem. And that's with all sorts of dust and junk falling into the works from above. At 5.5 amps, it seems to have plenty of power. My only gripe is with the shoe. One side has an adjustable cutting angle, while the other lets you flip it around and lock in at 90 degrees. This feature should be nice; if you want to just make plain-ole square cuts, then you don't have to worry about adjusting the shoe angle or checking to make sure that it hasn't wandered away on you. But the 90-degree-cut side of my shoe is actually more like 94 degrees, making it unusable. I haven't been able to fix it, either. Instead, I just leave it on the adjustable side. That being said, the proven reliability of the tool keeps me happy. No magic smoke yet!
Toggle clamps (https://amzn.to/2wgwxbn): These vertical toggle clamps feature 200 pounds of clamping pressure. This should be more than enough strength for holding the jigsaw in place, even when cutting grippy stuff like sheet steel. These are untested on vibranium; please let me know how it goes if you get the chance.
Spade bits (https://amzn.to/2TUmhAF): It's nice to have a set of these around for quickly cutting big holes. You can use these either for rough work or for when you have to plunge the jigsaw blade into a surface for an inside cut.
Workmate (https://amzn.to/2E3DDpX): If a bench vise and a sawhorse had a baby, it'd be a workmate. This handy tool features a contracting surface that both clamps and supports your work. And when you're not using it, you can fold it up and tuck it in a corner. Mine is some cheap brand that my wife got me for Christmas one year. While it's falling apart, it still works fine. This Black and Decker one looks similar. Hopefully it has more robust clamping hardware than mine, but even if it doesn't, the price is right.
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Thanks for watching!
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