Similar in design to the corded Bosch PST 700 E, you get one of Bosch’s comfortable “low vibration” grips. It’s made from soft-touch rubberised plastic that feels good in the hand. It does seem to keep the vibrations down, especially at higher speeds. The Makita 4329/2 orbital action jigsaw is probably one of the best budget jigsaws. It’s powerful, well put together and has an effective oscillating action. Attaching a vacuum to the jigsaw can make for a much cleaner workplace since much of the sawdust is aspirated away as the power tool is doing the cutting. This is a very useful feature and these days almost every jigsaw has a vacuum port! Adjustable footplate There are two aspects to speed control: First, there is variable speed control that is controlled via trigger pressure - the harder you press on the trigger the faster the blade moves. Then there is variable MAXIMUM speed control. This is usually controlled via a dial with numbers which sets the maximum speed the jigsaw will go when you FULLY depress the trigger - this feature is useful when cutting different materials. Unfortunately, the difference between the two types of control is not always made clear on jigsaw marketing material so make sure you know which one they are referring to - the more expensive machines have both. Stroke rate control –Adjust with the trigger switch to adapt to suit the material or for finishing your cuts in control and safety.

The jigsaw tool should also feature variable speed control to manage the number of strokes per minute – typically 0-3,000 spm. Low vibration –Keep a steady hold for ultimate control and more comfortable cutting, and reduce fatigue with this low vibration model thanks to sprung dampening rollers on the blade. As indicated previously, the KS501 can perform 45° bevelled cuts. However, the mechanism for adjusting the base plate in both the 45° and perpendicular 90° orientation is a crude single-screw mechanism which does not instil the greatest of confidence in its ability to stay totally fixed in place over repeated cuts. In addition, one can only set the base plate either to its default perpendicular position or to the 45° angle with no other angles in between preventing any more complicated types of bevel cutting. Switchable air blast function –Makes sure you have a clear view of the cutting line at all times, by blowing air across the cutting area.This is an excellent choice if you need a cordless jigsaw, but beware: the R18JS-0 comes with neither the battery nor charger. This ruins any pretence it has of being a bargain, adding significantly to the price. A cheap little corded model, this VonHaus is notable for being more powerful than many thanks to its 800W motor. It doesn’t sacrifice accuracy either, thanks to the laser guide it projects ahead of it. This is a smooth and powerful jigsaw designed to be used all day as part of a suite of tools, and as such may be overkill for someone who only needs to cut a few bits of wood every now and then. Achieve precise curves and straight lines with this easy-to-use jigsaw. With its lightweight, you can enjoy comfortable handling for ultimate control when cutting. It offers an impressive cutting depth on 70mm in wood and 4mm in steel, so it’s great for everyday DIY tasks around the home and in the workshop. Japanese tool masters Makita have won the respect of professional tradespeople and savvy DIYers around the world. Getting hold of a Makita brand jigsaw for a low price is a bit of a steal if you ask me. The quality of this little jigsaw is excellent and blows a lot of cheap imitations out of the water.

Dust Extraction port- For further dust reduction and management use the dust extraction port and attach to an industrial vacuum cleaner such as a Numatic Henry. This is one of the best jigsaws for providing smooth clean cuts across a variety of materials. It’s easy to produce a perfectly straight line almost every time. The saw also comes with 5 jigsaw blades, an anti-splintering device, a dust nozzle and a cover plate. This combination means it slices through many different materials as if they weren’t there – as long as you’re using the appropriate blade, of course. Changing the blade is a tool-less process, and once the blade is clamped in place you can adjust its speed with ease, thanks to the four-position switch on the side of the casing. Hychika are one of those tool brands that make you wonder how they can produce quality power tools for such reasonable prices. The JS-100C is a powerful, feature-heavy jigsaw that punches way above its price range. The best jigsaw tools should feel comfortable to hold and operate. Weight plays an important part here and 2 – 3 kg is ideal.As if all this was not enough, the machine also comes with a small selection of accessories including, a straight line guide, a carry case, and even a small selection of starter blades to cut either wood or metal. Weighing in at less than 2 kg, you might think this is an underpowered tool. The 430 W motor puts out an impressive 500 – 3,100 strokes per minute (spm). That sort of power will help you cut through a whole range of materials. The rubberised grip is comfortable to hold, and there are six different cutting speed settings to choose from. All of this helps to make up for the fact that this jigsaw weighs quite a lot more than the competition. At just under 4 kg, it’s more than twice the heft of the Bosch PST 700 E. The 710 Watt motor puts out 0 – 3,000 spm. It has an adjustable footplate with stops at 45°, 30°, and 15° to both right hand and left-hand sides, so you can forgive it for being a little heavy. Bosch SDS –Ensures effortless and safe saw blade changes within seconds – without the need for additional tools, and in safety.

Thanks to a powerful 710 Watt motor, this is one of the most powerful jigsaws on my list. It certainly feels like a mighty beast! Rated to cut through an impressive 80 mm wood or 8 mm steel, it should make short work of most cutting jobs. You can also set the footplate to bevel to 45° on both sides. If you want to swap out a blade, you don’t need any tools. Just pull up the SDS holder and slot in a new T shank blade. It’s easy and fuss-free. Great if you need to change blades quite often or you’re good at losing hex keys.The size and power of a motor are usually displayed in Watts. The higher the wattage, the more powerful the motor. But it’s not always the case that the bigger the number equals the better tool. Some of the best budget jigsaws on my list, like the amazing Makita 4329/2, have a relatively small motor but can keep up with the big boys simply because the motor is more efficient. Don’t forget that the higher the Wattage, the bigger your electricity bill! Different Types of Blade The PST 700 E jigsaw is around 20% smaller than its predecessor and weighs just 1.7 kilograms. Continuously variable stroke rate adjustment using the accelerator switch allows the user to start sawing into any material gently. Features and Benefits That is unless you’ve already got Ryobi 18V One+ products, because this jigsaw will take any batteries that conform to the One+ system, and you can swap them between devices.

Additional features such as LED work lights, laser guides and dust blowers all come in extremely handy to make cutting even easier. Another entry from German tool masters Bosch, is the PST 18 LI. It’s a lightweight cordless jigsaw that forms part of Bosch’s “green” line of DIY level tools. And I’m fairly sure it’s one of the best cordless jigsaws out there. Sheffield-based Evolution Power Tools are famous for their cutting equipment. The RAGE 7-S is one of their most versatile and best jigsaws that they’ve produced.More expensive models may include features such as dust removal systems and variable speed controls, which are useful if you need to slow it down to cut objects such as tiles or even glass without completely destroying them. LED lights are convenient for seeing what you’re doing more clearly, especially if working in tight spaces or shadows, and a tilting baseplate allows for cuts at up to 45 degrees. The base on this Makita jigsaw is made from heavy-duty aluminium. The tool feels sturdy to use, whilst remaining relatively light in weight. The ergonomic rubberised handle makes it comfortable to use even for long periods. The large trigger switch makes the unit easy to operate even when wearing gloves. What makes this one of the best budget jigsaws is how simple and uncomplicated it is. It’s ideal for someone who might be new to DIY. There aren’t many fancy functions or speed settings, but it saws smoothly and it’s incredibly easy to change blades.