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In this article of the Best Jigsaws UK, we review, what we believe to be the best jigsaws, currently available on the UK marketplace. Its very important to do your research when you are buying expensive tools like these.
An electric jigsaw is a type of power saw which uses a short reciprocating blade to cut shapes or curves in materials such as wood, metal and plastics. They have a mountain of uses and can actual do some neat, intricate work with a little bit of practice
The beauty of owning a saw like this, is that it can also be used for normal straight cuts, curved cuts or simple designs. You can drill a hole on the material and do cut outs, not many types of saws have that facility. This is very handy for things like cutting out electrical sockets for instance.
If you are tight for time, the best jigsaw in the UK is the DeWalt 18v XR, as after considerable research we found this to be the best model. If you are looking for something a bit less expensive then the best jigsaw under £50 is the Bosch PST 700 E Compact Jigsaw.
What Types of Jigsaw Are Available?
There are really only two options worth consideration. These are:
The standard is just as you would imagine. It will do various shapes of cut and the blade works at 90 degrees to the material you are cutting. This is perfectly good for most straightforward cuts.
The bevel type will cut an angle into the material, making a "bevel" cut which is usually up to 45 degrees. Although this is not something you might need very often, it can be very handy. Quite a few jigsaws will have this facility
A good quality saw costs around £50-150 and you need to consider whether you want a corded or cordless Jigsaw. I tend to prefer the cordless model as you can take them anywhere and usually they are just used for quick jobs. You can just leave them in your tool box and they will always be ready to go, even if you don't have access to power.
Top Rated Jigsaws
Just below you will find a table, where we have placed our choices of jigsaws in order. The order we have used is the highest buyer rated first. In other words we have placed the saws in the order, of what buyers judged their quality to be.
We have also included average UK prices, but be aware that these are always subject to change. Always check on the exact date and time when you are making any purchase. The ratings are ours, and we update these on a regular weekly basis.
If you click on the product name, you will be taken to Amazon UK, where you can read other buyer reviews. In this table we have included our ranking, the product name, an average UK price, our rating and our grade. The rating is out of 100% and we have just included models that we can recommend..
Rank | Name | Rating | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 96 | A+ | |
2 | 90 | A+ | |
3 | 89 | A | |
4 | 88 | A- | |
5 | 84 | B | |
6 | 90 | B | |
7 | 90 | B |
These are our top 7 picks. We have based these on what we believe to be the best value for money as well as being the best quality. At the end of the day, the one you pick will come down to your available budget, and how much use it is going to get.
Jigsaw Summary UK Reviews
Underneath, we have completed short and concise reviews, on these top 5 products. That way you can see at a glance, which one is the best choice for you.
No 1 Choice - DeWalt 18V XR Lithium-Ion Body Only Jigsaw (Best Professional)
- This is a cordless premium jigsaw with a an 18 Volt Lithium-Ion battery
- Powerful & Highly efficient Dewalt PM47 fan-cooled motor with replaceable brushes
- Intelligent variable speed trigger & lock-off switch for quick controlled cuts and enhanced work safety
- Tool-free adjustable shoe with anti-scratch cover bevels 45 in both directions
- Speed of up to 3,000 strokes per minute
- Quick and easy patented keyless blade change system, accepts T-shank blades
There are plenty of buyers of this superb jigsaw, with over 700 reviews available online. It gets an excellent 96% buyer satisfaction rating.
It is more expensive than you would normally pay for a standard saw, but it is a saw that will last you for many years.
No 2 Choice - Makita 4350FCT 240V 720W Orbital Action Jigsaw (Best Corded)
- This is a 720 watt corded jigsaw from Makita
- Heavy duty aluminium die cast base
- It has variable speed control
- 800-2800 strokes per minute
- Stroke length 26 mm
- Maximum cut in wood 135 mm; steel 10 mm
- It also has tool less blade changing
- Has a handy built in job light
- Comes with a carry case
- Covered by a 3 Year manufacturer warranty
There have been over 600 reviews on this model and buyers are giving it a 96% rating. Obviously this is excellent and would be high even for a manufacturer like Makita. It has basically the same features as the Dewalt but is corded. I always prefer the cordless option nowadays but thats not suitable for everybody.
No 3 Choice - Bosch PST 18 LI Cordless Jigsaw with 18 V Lithium-Ion Battery (Best Cordless)
- This is a cordless jigsaw with an 18 V 2.5 ah Lithium Ion battery
- Comes with a precision cutting guide
- Cutting depth in wood: 80mm
- Cutting depth in aluminum: 10mm
- Cutting depth in steel: 5mm
- Stroke rate is 2,400 min
- Extra features include an integrated light and a dust blower
- Comes with a 2 year warranty
- Does not do angled cuts
No 4 Choice - Bosch PST 700 E Compact Jigsaw ( Best Budget )
- This is an entry level cordless jigsaw that comes body only
- Uses an 18V battery
- Cutting depth in wood: 80mm
- Cutting depth in aluminum: 10mm
- Cutting depth in steel: 5mm
- Stroke rate: 2,400 min
- Comes with a 2 year warranty
- Does not do angled cuts
This is one of the best selling jigsaws on the market. I guess that it works very well and its such a bargain at around £40. Thousands of buyers have used this jigsaw for jobs around the home and we can see very litte complaints about it. Cheap and good is the bottom line.
Don't be put off by the low price though. I loved this model and it compares really well with even the best Dewalt mode above. If you need something foe ocassional use then look no further.
No 5 Choice - Bosch PST 800 PEL Jigsaw - Best Seller
- This is a 500 watt corded jigsaw
- It has a tool less blade change
- Also is very low noise and low vibrations
- Has a useful precision guide for accurate cutting
- Power output : 290 W, Stroke rate at no load : 500 – 3,000 spm
- Dimensions are 38.4 x 28.6 x 9.8 cm; Weight 2Kg
No 6 Choice - Hychika Jigsaw with Laser (Best Non-Brand Budget Option)
- This has a strong 800 watt motor with an 800- 3,000 strokes per minute speed options that can be adjusted at 6 levels
- The maximum adjustable cutting angle is -45 ° to 45 °
- The maximum cutting depth in wood is 110 mm, and in metal is 10 mm
- It also has a handy quick release chuck, so that you can change the saw blades quickly without tools
- It also has a laser guide for direction and accuracy
This model gets a 90% buyer satisfaction rating based on 800+ online buyer reviews
No 7 Choice - Einhell TE-JS 18 Li Solo Power X-Change Cordless Jigsaw
- This is a universal jigsaw which makes a great choice for every do-it-yourself enthusiast
- It is an 18 V cordless drill and comes with a battery and charger
- It has an LED light
- This model has some nice features such as an adjustable pendulum stroke and chip splinter guard for clean cutting results
- It has a durable sawing shoe with plastic insert and additional attachable cutting line display for precise cuts
- This jigsaw comes with a 4 Ah Power X-Change battery and a charger
This model gets a 90% buyer satisfaction rating based on 1,700+ online buyer reviews
Jigsaw UK Buying Guide
There are quite a few makers of jigsaw and the range widely in price. Bosch is probably the most popular choice for mid range price. You see a lot of these in many of the DIY shops, and in the leading tool stores and they will do an excellent job for a reasonable price.
Some models of jigsaw have laser guides. I found that this is actually an extremely handy option. It definitely makes it a lot easier to make a straight cut and follow along the line you want.
I prefer to spend a but extra on a tool like this and find that the cordless models and much more convenient. They may cost more but its well worth the extra money.
Jigsaw Features to look for
Motor size – In General the motor sizes don’t vary a lot in jigsaws. Its obvious that the more powerful the motor is then the easier it will be to cut through thicker or harder materials. The motors usually come advertised with a certain amperage and this is how you tell what power they have.
Length of stroke – 5/8 is around the standard length. I found that the longer stroke models were harder control so I wouldn't go for anything beyond this.
Variable speed – Not many jigsaws have this handy feature but some of the better ones have the option to vary speeds. This is a very useful feature and is especially helpful at the very start of any cut.
LED Headlight – This is a total waste of time and money so don't be worrying about getting a saw with a light on it.
Laser Guide - I found this very useful for cutting in a straight line. Some of these saws are very powerful and its so easy to go off line. The laser line helps you to stay totally straight on the cut line
Video - How to Use a Jigsaw?
I found this useful video, which explains how to use a jigsaw properly. The chap explains all the important basics, and important features of using a jigsaw.
Safe Use of a Jigsaw
If you have never used one of these saws before, then please watch the video above. There is a knack to using these so as you do not want to cut yourself or damage the wood you are cutting.
You have to learn to let the blade of the saw do all the work. If you find it really hard to cut then you are doing it wrong, it should be smooth and easy.
Some useful safety tips are :-
- Always use a circuit breaker to plug power tools into as a safety especially with cutting tools.
- Goggles are a must to protect your eyes and a dust mask should be used no matter what material you are cutting.
- Most people never read the instructions and this is something you should always do.
- Make sure the electrical cord is not going to get in your way.
- Cut all materials on a bench or solid structure when possible and use clamps to hold the piece down if at all practical.
- Never use any power took without the safety guard
Jigsaw Blades
Jigsaws have come a very long way from the old style machines. They were only ever good enough for very rough cuts on cheaper materials. They are so good now that they are used for very intricate work on more valuable materials
The weakest link was always the blade and anybody who has ever used a jigsaw will know how very easy it is to snap even the latest and most expensive blades.
The modern blades come in many different sizes and shapes and produce much less friction than the older blades. Another change in design is that most of the modern use a T-shaped blade mounting which makes them stronger and the blade supports are much better.
Its also a great improvement that blades are not quick release instead of a fiddly allen screw. These quick release blades are called " T-Shank " blades.
In Summary
- Decide if the job actually needs a jigsaw. If its a simple cut of a couple of pieces of wood then you hardly need one. Many easy cutting projects need a circular saw and these too will do a variety of jobs.
- Price range and brand name do matter. If you require constant a jigsaw for very regular use, you better do your research properly and make sure a quality product that will stand the test of time. If its just for occasion use, then you don't need anything too fancy.
- Make sure you know what type of blade or “shank” your jigsaw requires. T-shank and U-shank are the most common.
As I have already said, there are no bad models featured in these reviews. These are the best quality and value jigsaws we have found and any of them will do a good job, stand the test of time and offer you value for money.
At the end of the day the decision usually comes down to price and how much you are going to use the tool.
Hopefully we have helped you find the best jigsaw on the UK market right now. If you are still not sure which model you like best then you can always check out our top 10 cordless jigsaws or have a look at some of the big names like Milwaukee or Makita. Or if this is not the sort of thing you need then check out our article on all the different types of saws.
Frequently asked questions
As you can see from above, we found that the Dewalt 18v XR was the best jigsaw on the market.'
I would also highly recommend the Bosch PST700 as being brilliant value for money and a great tool.
This can be a bit frustrating, but sometimes when cutting the blades of jigsaw can bend and ruin a cut. To stop this from happening, make sure your blade is always sharp and try not to force the cut if possibe.
It is always better to let the saw do the work!
Personally I much prefer cordless tools. They are much more manageable and easier to use. These days they are just as powerful as their corded friends.
If, however, you have a lot of cutting to do then the corded version might be better. I like to have cordless tools and have more than one battery so that I never run out of power, but that's just me.
I think I purchased my first lock knife at the roughly the same age having cleared out the local corner shop of their pen knives on a regular basis which were mounted on a large cardboard display and held in place with elastic loops. I wish I still had one to see just how bad they were!
This article provides a great overview of the Best Jigsaw UK Reviews & also attached a tutorial video. It's easy to understand and covers everything readers need to know about this Best Jigsaw. Keep up the good work!
Looking to buy a jigsaw cordless but feeling overwhelmed by all the options? Check out my article "Best jigsaw cordless – Guide" It's full of helpful tips and information for anyone looking to purchase their jigsaw cordless. Here are the links: https://toolsdetail.com/best-jigsaw-cordless-guide/
This is a great article that provides a lot of helpful information about jigsaws. I especially liked the section on the different features to consider when buying one. I'm also interested in learning more about saws in general, so I found this article on finding the right saw for metalworking projects to be very helpful as well: jigsaw guide: https://techdrilldriver.com/finding-the-right-saw-for-your-metalworking-project-a-comprehensive-guide/.