Flex Jigsaw Puzzle. Flex jigsaw
Is CSS Flexbox ready for prime time yet?
So, as a front-end developer, I sometimes have to ask myself: “Wow, this is a really cool new technology. Can I use this in my workflow in a production website at work, or does it sound better in theory than in practice?” I find myself always evaluating new CSS specifications to see if it will make my designs better and make my code more succinct and easier to manage.
Flexbox is great for responsive design
Flexbox is not a new feature… BUT, with the influx of new mobile devices in recent years, and their need for flexible, responsive layouts and patterns, it’s something you should definitely consider rolling into your next project, if you haven’t already. Don’t worry, though — you can use it side-by-side with whatever grid framework you use. I’m still using a modified version of Skeleton Grid which I’ve added some SASS variables and mixins to. If you really wanna get crazy, try using Flexbox with vh or vw units instead of pixels or percentages.
But what about desktop browser compatibility?
Don’t worry, I got you, fam. Check out the compatibility chart over at CanIUse.com. At the time of this writing, the current browser offerings all support Flexbox, with IE 11 being the only stalwart lagging behind with “partial support.” This can be overcome if you take into account the known bugs and work with them.
So Internet “Exploder” is still a pain in the ass, though, right?
Yes, but their market share is so small, I wouldn’t sweat it. Just look at the latest IE usage stats over at W3C. At the time of this writing, IE10 and older only represent 0.4% of ALL BROWSERS currently in use (see figure 1.1). But, before you use Flexbox in your next project, you should also consider if your client’s user demographic skews higher in IE10 by reviewing analytics, if possible.
Ok. So there’s wide support, but how do I start using it?
Instead of trying to recreate Flexbox demos that already exist, you should definitely read “A Complete Guide to Flexbox” by acclaimed CSS guru, Chris Coyier AND “A Visual Guide to CSS3 Flexbox Properties” published by Dimitar Stojanov. Both articles have great explanations and depictions of the Flexbox rules in use. I often refer back to these articles when I’m trying to integrate Flexbox into my layouts… since it’s still a bit fresh to me as well.
This is how I’ve been using it in my work
One of the main programming mantras you’ll hear from time to time is “Don’t Repeat Yourself,” also known as DRY. In the spirit of code brevity, I’ve integrated Flexbox into my work by adopting this great SASS mixin library which takes all the headache of having to account for all of the browser prefixes. Don’t know what SASS is? You might want to read my last article.
The following mixin allows me to call all five Flexbox definitions with one single line:
Consider all the Flexbox rules, and that’s a lot of saved time. I don’t think browser prefixing will be an issue for long, as it seems that all the major browsers have started to embrace the syntax. But this mixin library should fill the gap, in the meantime. Here’s more information on all the different browser prefixes.
So, I’ve discussed at length why it’s great, and how to integrate it into your workflow… but you’re probably wondering “How are you actually using it in your designs?” Okay… so I’ve got Flexbox in action over at this recently-launched client website for Next Door Milwaukee.
In this project, the Art Director’s designs required tightly packed grids without column gutters, and overlay text that would need to be vertically-centered (see figure 1.2). Vertical-centering has been a difficult to achieve since the web development community at large stopped using tables for page layout. We’re able to easily achieve these results by using “align-items: center;” Flexbox rule.
By employing Flexbox, I was easily able to normalize the heights of grid items, despite the content within, without having to set explicit heights, making for a more uniform look, but also letting the boxes grow and shrink, as needed — which is great for building responsive websites. Below is an example, taken directly from the Next Door Milwaukee website:
Section Title 1
Tation aliquip vulputate ex sit facilisis accumsan te eu nonummy feugait autem.
Learn
Section Title 2
Tation aliquip vulputate ex sit facilisis accumsan te eu nonummy feugait autem.
Learn
.dualCTAbox @include flexbox; @include align-items(stretch); @include align-content(stretch); @include flex-wrap(wrap);.ctaBox text-align:center; @include align-self(stretch); @include flexbox; a @include flexbox; @include align-items(center); @include justify-content(center); @include flex-wrap(wrap); @include align-content(center); div, h5, p width: 100%; margin-bottom:.8em; line-height: 1.2em; h5 margin-bottom: 0; line-height: 1.2em; width: calc(100%. 40px); padding: 20px; min-height: 240px; button margin-bottom: 0;
Now, if one were to throw CSS Media Queries into the mix, you can get really nutty and update element widths based on the viewport width. You can even change the order an element appears within the browser. This is especially important on mobile devices when you really need to be empathetic to the user and re-sorting the navigation, sidebar, or “Call to Action” items to achieve the best possible experience on smaller screens.
If you haven’t jumped in yet, come on in, the water’s fine. It’s practically 2017, let’s keep pushing things forward.
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Flex Jigsaw Puzzle
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Challenge your brain with a jigsaw puzzle designed by an independent artist! Our puzzles are made from premium 0.2″ thick paper stock and include a semi-gloss coating on the top surface to make the image pop. Puzzles are available in two different sizes, and each puzzle includes a puzzle box with the artwork printed on the top for safe storage when you’re not puzzling. The puzzle pieces are unique shapes.
Store the puzzle in the provided box at room temperature with low humidity.
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Jigsaw Puzzle Reviews ( 1486 )
Puzzle is well made. Pieces fit together very well. I am disappointed though. When I ordered the puzzle, I was expecting the complete picture. This one is missing the complete top. Leaving out the jigsaw figure, the chainsaw figure and the skulls in the top corner. I saw the picture when I ordered but didn’t expect the puzzle would be missing the top section. I didn’t realize by adjusting the format I would lose part of the design. I wish there was an explanation explaining what would be left out. I would of made sure I ordered to have the complete picture.
This was ordered for a friend who teaches tap and I think she’ll be delighted. Haven’t given it, yet.
Beautiful quality image, puzzle pieces box! Used these for a competitive collaborative teambuilding session with a team that is doing clinical studies related to the brain. MVPs for each team were chosen to take a puzzle home one is currently being completed in-office to frame hang on our wall.
Working this puzzle right now and it is cut well. I chose the 1000 pc. so the pieces are small but this photo has so many colors it’s been pretty easy to do. Love the photo! Heavy weight cardboard pieces make it even more worth the money.
One of the hardest puzzles I have done! Loved the finished piece! This is a very serene photo. Very good quality cut and finish.
About Thomas Diaz
Thomas Diaz was a Lock and Dam Operator on the Ohio River near Cave in Rock, IL. When he retired he started writing and placing a drawing near his writing. He soon created web pages to place his writing on. He bought a paint program and started creating his painting. All of these pictures were created and my daughter encouraged me to place them here. I live in Kentucky near the Ohio River with my wife Laurel. I have a son who now lives in California with his wife. We have a daughter who lives nearby in Murray Kentucky. Photo: I had backed a pickup truck next to the sign and placed a small step-ladder next to the sign. I was at the top of the ladder painting the sign. The photo was taken by John Lucas. Here is what Tom used to do. Click.
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If you’re not happy with a purchase that you made on Pixels.com, for any reason, you can return it to us within 30 days of the order date. As soon as it arrives, we’ll issue a full refund for the entire purchase price. Please note. Pixels does not reimburse the outgoing or return shipping charges unless the return is due to a defect in quality.
Pixels sells thousands of pieces of artwork each month. all with a 100% money-back guarantee. We take great pride in the fact that hundreds of thousands of artists have chosen Pixels to fulfill their orders, and we look forward to helping you select your next piece!
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Flex Power Tools Flex 24V D-Handle Jigsaw (Tool Only) FX2231-Z
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BARREL GRIP JIGSAW (FX2221)
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V D-Handle Jigsaw FX2231-Z
Cut with ultimate precision and control with the FLEX 24V Brushless D-Handle Jigsaw. It delivers four adaptable speeds and auto mode. Dual-guide blade holder provides accuracy and a LED light ensures confidence in every cut. Changing blades is fast and easy using the one-touch blade eject. And this jigsaw also delivering the FLEX Advantage: unmatched 24V battery power, runtime and fast charging speed. (Battery sold separately.) All this, protected by a dependable 5-year warranty.
FEATURES
THE FLEX ADVANTAGE20% more power with 24V lithium, 25% longer runtime with THERMA-TECH heat management, up to 50% faster charging with high-power, dual fan chargers. (Batteries and chargers sold separately)
SENSOR-FREE BRUSHLESS MOTOREvery FLEX 24V tool is built around an intelligent Sensor-Free brushless motor. By moving the sensors away from the motor, creates an extremely efficient and durable motor design. These motors are optimized to deliver more power.
FOUR SPEEDS WITH AUTO MODEControlled and precise cuts
ONE-TOUCH BLADE EJECTAllows quick blade changes
DUAL GUIDE BLADE HOLDERDouble rollers ensure maximum cut accuracy
POWERED BY 24V LITHIUMBattery sold separately
FLEX 24V CROSS COMPATIBILITYCompatible with all FLEX 24V batteries, chargers and tools. (Battery and charger sold separately.)
END-TO-END 5 YEAR WARRANTYRegister your new products and get a full 5-year warranty on your FLEX 24V tools, batteries and chargers
SPECIFICATIONS
LED Light: Illuminates dark work areasStroke Length: 1 in, 25 mmNo-Load Speed: 0-3,500 SPMOrbital Settings: 3Speed Settings: 4ATool Weight (without battery): 5.1 lbs, 2.3 kgLeft and Right Bevel to 45° with Positive Stops
INCLUDES
D-Handle Jig Saw, Hex Key, Base Plate Cover, Guard, Anti-Splinter Insert, Dust Port, 3-1/4″ (83 mm) 20 TPI T-Shank FLEX Blade, 4″ (100 mm) 5~6 Progressive TPI T-Shank FLEX Blade
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Home » Latest Tool Reviews » Head-To-Head » Best Cordless Barrel Grip Jigsaw – Head-To-Head
Best Cordless Barrel Grip Jigsaw – Comparison Testing
As we recently pointed out, we love jigsaws for their ability to quickly and seamlessly customize shapes and sizes of lumber or trim. We recently had the chance to finish round 1 of our Best D-Handle Jigsaw Head-to-Head featuring a variety of battery-powered D-handled jigsaws. But D-handle jigsaws are not the only type on the market and many PROs have reached out to us with questions about barrel grip jigsaws. We designed Round 2 of our Jigsaw Head-to-Head to test out these barrel-handled beauties. We used many of the same rigorous tests and tasks from round 1 while focusing on various designs, power, performance, and ergonomic features.
Best Cordless Barrel Grip Jigsaw Evaluation Format
For this Best Barrel Grip Jigsaw evaluation, several categories were developed including; Precision Accuracy, Performance (speed/power), Features, Ergonomics, and Price.
Each of the categories was ranked individually and used to determine the Best Barrel Grip Jigsaw based on the combined results.
- Accuracy – The accuracy of the jigsaws was compared including the ability to follow a shape, blade drift, and ease of cutting along irregular paths.
- Performance [Power / Speed Test]-We looked at cutting speed as an indicator of saw motor performance.
- Features – An overall comparison of features and specifications.
- Ergonomics – Ergonomics are really important to users and an important category to consider when purchasing any power tool. In addition to traditional ergonomics, we also included functionality in this category.
- Vibration – we recorded and analyzed the vibrations of the tools during our speed testing.
- Price – Price is always an important factor in determining which saw is best for a user. We’ve included the current pricing found online for each of the saws “as-tested,” at the time of publication.
- Best Value Saw – Often times this category winner tends to resonate with most folks as it tends to perform well in the tests but feels good on the wallet
DeWALT
- Model: DCS335
- Strokes Per Minute: 0-3200SPM
- Stroke Length: 1-1/8″
- Weight: 4.5 lbs
- Tool-Free Blade Change
- Accepts T shank blades
- Built-in dust blower
- Keyless shoe bevel with detents at 0°, 15°, 30°, and a positive stop at 45°
- Variable speed dial
Festool
- Model: PSC 420 EB Cordless Carvex
- Strokes Per Minute: 500-3,800SPM
- Stroke Length: 1″
- Weight: 5.29 lbs
- Tool-Free Blade Change
- Variable speed dial with “Auto” function
Hilti
- Model: SJT 6-A22
- Strokes Per Minute: 0-3,000SPM
- Stroke Length: 1-3/32″
- Weight: 4.8 lbs
- Tool-Free Blade Change
- Accepts T shank blades
- Built-in dust blower
- 45° bevel shoe capacity for angled cuts in both directions
- Variable Speed Dial
Makita
- Model : XVJ01Z
- Strokes Per Minute: 800-3500 SPM
- Stroke Length: 1″
- Weight: 5.5 lbs
- Tool-Free Blade Change
- Accepts T shank blades
- Built-in dust blower
- 45° bevel shoe capacity for angled cuts in both directions
- Variable Speed Dial
Milwaukee
- Model: 2737B-20
- Strokes Per Minute: 0-3,500SPM
- Stroke Length: 1″
- Weight: 4.59lbs
- Tool-Free Blade Change
- Accepts T shank blades
- Built-in dust blower
- 45° bevel shoe capacity for angled cuts in both directions
- Variable Speed Dial
Cordless Jigsaw Accuracy
For the accuracy category each of the jigsaws was ranked on accuracy in the following areas:
- Line of Sight
- Blade tracking
- Bevel accuracy when set to 45 degrees.
- Cross-cut accuracy when set to 90 degrees (how perpendicular the cut is to the surface)
The major factors that affect the accuracy of jigsaw cuts are: How well you can see the line of cut and how well the saw’s blade stays square to the workpiece (or at a fixed angle during bevel cuts). Generally, a jigsaw with less of its body overhanging the blade is easier to use, especially when you’re working in cramped quarters or trying to follow a curved line, for example cutting out a scrollwork pattern.
Diablo Jigsaw Blades
To be consistent, all the jigsaws were equipped with a new DIABLO 3-1/4″ 20-TPI scrolling blade and a DIABLO 4″ 10-TPI Fine Finish Wood blade. Each jigsaw was tested at 90-degree, 45-degree, and also with a scrolling blade for pattern work.
Line of Sight
For the scroll cutting each saw was set to maximum speed with zero orbital action. A scrolling template was used to trace all the boards consistently, and each jigsaw was used to make numerous cuts in 3/4′” Poplar.
The DeWALT and Makita both had excellent cut line visibility, and the Makita was the best performing saw on the scroll cuts.
The Milwaukee cut line visibility was good but not great and the Hilti dust shroud got in the way of the line of sight so we removed it. We all agreed that if we owned this saw the shroud would stay off.
The Festool saw blade was difficult to see. The small-sized Diablo blade got lost [visually] inside the V-shaped blade guard.
When cutting bevels the DeWALT saw had the best bevel sightline. Makita sightlines were slightly obscured, and Festool and Milwaukee had terrible sightlines. The Hilti sightline was good, but the LED light was blocked when set to a bevel.
Clean Cutting
Getting clean jigsaw cuts with only light splintering, tear out, and surface chipping is chiefly a matter of selecting a blade that’s designed for the job. All the saws were evaluated on how clean the saws cut.
The DeWALT, Hilti, and Makita produced the cleanest edge, cutting saws with the least tear-out. This “clean-cut result,” was also due to using the same Diablo blades along with the operator’s skill set using the tools.
Barrel Grip VS D Handle Explained FINALLY !!
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The Festool and Milwaukee surprised us with rougher cuts
Blade Deflection
Every cut was measured and evaluated for blade deflection at 45-degree and 90-degree cutting. On the 90-degree cuts, Milwaukee ranked the best, followed by Makita and Festool.
On the 45-degree cuts, the Makita ranked the best, followed by the Festool, and Milwaukee.
Blade Tracking
Tracking was evaluated by following lines to see how easy or hard it was to follow the line. The Makita, Festool, and DeWALT were the best tracking jigsaws.
It’s worth noting that when scoring the line-of-sight, points were awarded based on the operator’s ability to consistently see the blade cutting through the poplar. Points were not awarded based on the cut-line deviation from the template cut-line. This ensured that operator error was minimized as a primary scoring factor in this evaluation area.
Best Cordless Jigsaw Accuracy Winner – Makita
| Clean Cut | 45 Blade Deflection | 90 Blade Deflection | Tracking | Score Total | TBB RANK |
| 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 2 |
| 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 13 | 3 |
| 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 3 |
| 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 18 | 4 |
Makita scored tops in three out of the four categories [clean cuts, tracking, and 45-degree blade deflection] and came in second 90-degree blade deflection. It scored a near-perfect score of 5-points and is truly a nice cutting, accurate jigsaw.
The Festool scored 11-points and the DeWALT tied with Milwaukee with 13-points. Hilti did not fare well in this testing coming in at 18 points
Performance Testing (Power/Speed)
An obvious question when comparing the performance of different jigsaws is “which saw cuts the fastest?” This test also equates to power and power equates to cutting thicker, harder-to-cut materials.
Recognizing that using jigsaws requires the operator to make dozens if not, hundreds of minuscule adjustments during each cut we decided to try to eliminate the human variable. To test the power, we built a jig to hold the saws and pull the saws into 3/4″ plywood using a weighted pulley system.
In the TBB jig, we supported the 3’ pieces of plywood on a frame that in turn was held to the workbench by clamps. The frame allowed for the clearance of the maximum depth of the jigsaw blade. We also used a hold-down clamp on the far edge of the frame and secured the plywood to the frame with three screws each time we made a cut. That replicated the way a piece of material would be secured in the field. Each saw was fitted with a DIABLO 5″ 6-TPI Fast Cutting Wood blade, designed specifically for fast, rough cutting.
We designed the height of the fixture to be such that the bottom of the sled holding the saw just touched the plywood material. We wanted no gap between the sled and the workpiece because this would introduce additional vibration and is not the manner in which one uses a jigsaw. To cut down on the friction of the larger sled base, we installed an HDPE slick strip surface onto the bottom of the sled. This meant that each run would have consistent friction between the sled and the material. Also, this closely emulated the way the tool is commonly used.
We used this jig to remove as much human variation as possible to allow for the fairest capabilities-based test possible. We used natural, constant force (via the weight) to provide a straight, equal frictionless track to allow the saws the chance to cut as fast as they could. The saw’s motor power provided consistent strokes per minute (SPM) speed.
The pulling force was provided by a weighted pulley system which pulled the jigsaws through the material with consistent force. This approach has 2 main benefits:
- First, it allows a constant force to be applied to each jigsaw in the same way that an operator tries to apply a constant force while cutting.
- Secondly, by allowing for natural resistance (as opposed to forcing a constant cutting speed via mechanical motors) it allows the saw to cut at its natural maximum speed based on the maximum strokes per minute and the power of the motor. This also underscores the importance of using the same blade types on all saws as without it this test would not truly measure the natural maximum cutting speed.
The sled fixture held the saws securely and the aluminum tracks kept the saw moving in a consistent and parallel fashion. The saws were in contact with the sled and the sled in contact with the workpiece. During the course of testing, this fixture performed with no issues.
Performance Testing (Power/Speed) – Winner Milwaukee
We rank the performance testing by normalizing Watt-hours. Milwaukee came in on top followed by Hilti and Festool. When watching this test all of the crew members commented on Milwaukee’s speed, which equates to power.
These saws came with a different sized “energy power plant” or a combination of battery voltages and Amp-hour ratings. As you can imagine, the saw with the greatest watt-hour battery theoretically has a leg up on its competition with regard to performance.
For our cordless tool comparisons, we level the playing field by normalizing the results based on total watt-hours. In this way, the reader can see which saw has the most effective combination of battery technology, stamina, and motor power on a per-watt-hour basis.
| Ave RUNS Sec | Watt Hr | Normalize Factor@ 90 W-hr | Normalized Run Times | RANK |
| 9.6 | 90 | 1.00 | 9.6 | 1 |
| 13.4 | 72 | 0.80 | 10.7 | 2 |
| 14.5 | 86.4 | 0.96 | 13.9 | 3 |
| 20.3 | 90 | 1.00 | 20.3 | 4 |
| 19.2 | 108 | 1.20 | 23.0 | 5 |
In this H2H, the batteries were all 18v (under load), with the exception being the Hilti which operates at 22v, nominal. As you can see in the attached table, we calculated a watt-hour normalization factor based upon a 90 watt-hr. battery pack. We then multiply this factor by the cut-times to create a normalized set of performance/power results. The table shows the results of the normalized performance test rankings.
Best Cordless Jigsaw Features – Winner DeWALT
Comparing tool features from multiple brands is never easy but the devil is in the details, so a feature comparison is certainly warranted. We looked at 9 different features on these saws and rated them 1 through 5 for each saw. [1 being best]
- Grip / Trigger
- Soft Start
- Variable Speed [Dial]
- Selectable Blade Orbit
- Blade Guide System
- Blade Change Clamp
- Shoe plate – Tilting
- Dust Blower / Collection
- LED Light
| Var Speed Dials | Blower | LED | Blade Guide | Slow Start | Selectable Blade Orbit | Tool-less bevel lock | Total | TBB Rank |
| 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 1 |
| 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 2 |
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 3 |
| 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 15 | 4 |
| 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 16 | 5 |
All of these jigsaws are pro saws, rich in features. The DeWALT saw scored top in four feature categories 2nd in one category and 3rd in two categories with a total score of 12-points. A real close second place went to Makita with 13-points with 1st or 2nd place scores in every category. Third place went to Milwaukee with 14-points.
Barrel Grip
A grip is important on a jigsaw for user comfort and also because a solid grip is essential to controlling the movement of the tool during cutting. In general, over-molds are softer to the touch than hard plastic, provide a more secure grip and even dampen tool vibration slightly.
The Hilti had a superior grip with well-placed over-molding and comfortable finger placement. The team favored the smaller diameter barrel which allows a full finger grasp around the barrel.
The Makita also has a nice grip. The team was split with the trigger safety feature on the Makita that requires you to turn the power on or off via a separate button.
The crew members that had recently used Makita tools were used to it and knew that it was a consistent feature on newer tools. Other team members felt like it was an unnecessary additional step and did not like having to press a button before the tool started.
Soft / Auto Start
The Makita jigsaw has “soft-start” motor electronics that start the motor at a slow level and stays at a low speed until the tool starts to cut material. In general, a soft start can prevent the saw from suddenly jerking if you start cutting with the blade in contact with the material. Once the saw engages material the RPMs ramp up.
The Festool and Milwaukee have an “A” symbol on the variable speed dial that also starts the saw at a lower rpm speed and speeds up when the blade engages the material being cut.
Variable Speed
All of the jigsaws have a variable-speed dial. Variable-speed dials that allow you to set the upper limit of motor speed and, hence, the number of blade strokes per minute. This makes a jigsaw a more versatile cutting machine.
The team likes the variable speed dial on the DeWALT because it allows left or right-handed users to adjust the speed while cutting. It’s should also be noted that this dial is not easily visible, and could accidentally be moved by finger placement.
The team also really likes the top-sided variable speed dial placement on the Hilti. This location allows you to see the dial and easily adjust it with your non-support hand.
The Milwaukee variable speed dial is on the lower left side of the saw and is not protected as a result, if your maneuvering the saw [i.e. coping crown molding] you might tweak it inadvertently.
The Festool and Milwaukee were the only saws with a selectable auto setting that allows the saw to start at low speed and ramp up once the tool is engaged in the material. The Makita feature is automatic and cannot be turned off.
Selectable Blade Orbit
This mechanism moves the blade forward slightly during the upstroke cut, resulting in a more aggressive cutting action than if the blade simply reciprocated up and down. The mechanism also moves the saw blade back slightly, so it clears the kerf during the return downstroke and saves wear on the teeth.
Adjusting the amount of blade orbit makes the saw cut more or less aggressively. Most saws have four-orbit settings: 0 (no orbit) or 1 for cutting metals and plastics; 1 or 2 for fine and curved cuts; and 3 (maximum orbit) for faster, rougher cuts.
All of the saws have selectable blade orbits. All of the saws with exception of the Hilti have a rotary selector lever. The Hilti has a linear selector which is out of the way and more friendly to a left-handed user. We found this selector lever stiff to operate but believe that it will loosen a bit over time,
Blade Guide System
Most of the saws use a grooved wheel blade guide system. The groove guides and keeps the blade in alignment.
The Festool has a true “blade guide” system. It has a smooth wheel and a V-shaped metal guide that contacts and stabilizes the backside of the blade and keeps it from deflecting during cutting.
All the jigsaws featured had tool-free blade change systems, which allow you to safely and easily change out blades thanks to a spring-loaded lever and clamp.
Blade Change Clamp Lever
All of the jigsaws allow tool-less blade changes, employing a lever that opens the blade clamp on the end of the saw’s plunger — the part that moves the blade up and down.
Tool-less blade clamps make changing the tang-style saw blades each model uses quick and easy. But each clamp is different and some are easier to work with than others.
They were all easy in their own way, but three saws stood out.
The spring eject can save you from burning your fingers trying to pull a hot blade out of the clamp after a prolonged cutting session.
The Hilti lever has a solid, heavy-duty feel with powerful ejection. The DeWALT blade will fall out if held with the blade down, but the blade is not “ejected” as compared to the other saws.
DeWALT rattles when you back up the blade and hit the workpiece. Most blade clamps use a twist lock so when pressure is applied to the back of the blade generally the worst thing that happens is it might jump out of the blade guide. But the blade clamp on the DeWALT releases with a linear action that is in line with the blade.
This means that when the blade is pushed backward (like when making complicated cuts and making relief cuts) it starts to release the blade clamp, and pushes on the blade clamp release lever, and makes an alarming rattling noise. I could definitely see these causing problems when aggressively moving the saw around to make a tight cut.
Tilting Shoe Plate
Adjusting the angle of a jigsaw’s shoe plate allows the saw to make bevel cuts, say for the edge of scribing baseboard. All of the saws with exception of DeWALT, require an ALLEN wrench to adjust the base, or a separately purchased accessory plate.
Of the saws requiring an Allen wrench, the Makita was the only saw with an onboard Allen wrench.
The DeWALT bevel lever was easy to manipulate and the tilting base released, adjusted, and locked easily and quickly.
The Festool comes as a fixed base. If you want to bevel this saw you need to purchase an accessory kit. This kit has an adjustable base controlled by a knob. Because of this, we scored the Festool a 3 [mid-range]
The Festool accessory beveling base plate that’s certainly unique. It is split and bevels in a butterfly fashion with a split down the middle. This is fine for bevel cuts in the middle of a large workpiece but can be a problem when back beveling near the edge of a workpiece as the baseplate will frequently hit the workpiece.
Dust Blower / Dust Collection
Jigsaw blowers don’t impress us much – most of these saws still require you to blow the dust away from the dust, but that doesn’t mean that all blowers are equal.
All the saws feature a dust blower that uses air channeled from the motor fan to blow dust away from just in front of the blade. The blowers overall do a “just ok” job at removing dust.
The Milwaukee has a switch allowing you to turn off the blower. The Hilti had the most powerful blower.
Built-in LED Light
All of the jigsaws have LED lighting. A built-in LED light is a particularly welcome feature on any jigsaw since the overhanging body tends to cast a shadow in the area of the blade.
The Makita allows you to turn the LED light on without activating the blade. The team felt the light could be brighter.
The best LED was the Milwaukee saw with a bright, full circle halo that surrounds the saw with no shadow line. The Festool was similar in brightness but did not throw out the same size halo. The Festool had a really large halo, not as bright and full of shadows due to its guard. The Festool blade barrel casts a large shadow. Festool’s strobe light is synchronized with the blade to make it look as though it is not moving while cutting. While this is an interesting feature, the team did not find it to have any real-world application. The Festool light has three modes. To change modes you need to activate both power switches simultaneously for about 10 seconds. Then the machine will beep. Then you can cycle through the different modes with the left power switch. The options are strobe, on, and off.
The DeWALT and Milwaukee have bright, well-placed lights, slightly ahead of the blade. The sightlines on the DeWALT are better due to the blade guard be higher and out of the way,
Power Lock-On
Barrel grips by nature have lock-on switches. The DeWALT and Hilti have well-protected, mechanical slide switches which are least likely to be accidentally turned on. Despite not being ambidextrous these two saws are still pretty easy to operate with your index finger.
The Festool and Milwaukee have ambidextrous, electronic slide switches. Festool being the better of the two with an angled down throw, angled down with your thumb.
The Makita is an ambidextrous electronic two-step button switch. There is a 10-second, safety interlock and then the power switch.
The Milwaukee switch is too high on the saw and easily activated if picked up by the front of the saw. Additionally, the power switch has a “hair-trigger. ” Meaning that the switch will engage the power to the tool with only about a 1/8 th inch of the throw.
While there is a delay in the switch activation, the fact is that this tool can be inadvertently bumped or handled activating the blade and potentially injuring someone, bending a blade, or ruining their workpiece.
Milwaukee needs to look closer at this switch.
Ergonomics Winner – Hilti and Makita
Ergonomics is the science of designing and producing tools that improve a worker’s efficiency while reducing discomfort, fatigue, and risk of injury.
In laymen’s terms, ergonomics is the interface between the user and the tool. How’s it feel when using it? For this ergonomic section, we considered the following factors, rating them 1 thru 5. [1 being best]
| Grip | Trigger | Left / Right User | Blade Change | Total | TBB Rank |
| 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 2 |
| 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 3 |
| 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 18 | 4 |
Adjustments and Switches relating to right and left users. Hilti and Makita tied in ergonomics with 6-points, which was four points ahead of the Festool and 7-points ahead of the DeWALT. Hilti had the best grip, tied on the blade change, and was the most friendly t lefties. Makita had the best and safest trigger and tied for the best blade change.
Vibration – Winner Festool
Regardless of how fast a jigsaw cuts, the less vibration it produces, the better. All jigsaws employ some sort of counterbalance system to reduce the up-and-down shaking created by the reciprocating plunger and blade, and some work better than others.
| Peak Vibration Avg | TBB Rank |
| 0.119 | 1 |
| 0.150 | 2 |
| 0.167 | 3 |
| 0.228 | 4 |
| 0.294 | 5 |
During the speed/power test, we wanted to collect data on the relative difference for the vibration that each saw produced. To accomplish the data collection during actual runs, we attached a fixture to hold an iPhone firmly onto the sled. This phone has a built-in set of accelerometer sensors and we installed an app that not only created an image of the vibration but provided the average and peak vibration readings for each run.
The data between the average vibration and the peak vibration were close in the rankings. This validates the results of the readings recorded for the individual saws.
Based on our testing the top three saws with the least vibration were Festool, DeWALT, and Hilti.
One interesting thing to note is that the team felt that when using the tools the Makita cut the smoothest with the Hilti coming in closely behind it. The Festool was a smooth-cutting saw but the vibrations seemed more than we’d expect.
Dust Collection
From carpenters working in finished spaces, to shop workers who want to reduce the amount of airborne dust in their environment, knowing how well a saw will integrate with a vacuum is an important measure of performance for any user.
We did NOT test for dust collection since all of the TTB crew members agreed that they do not use dust extraction on a jigsaw.
During our discussion, we agreed that we usually use jigsaws for scribing, finishing cuts from a table or circular saw, and cutting openings. All these cuts are critical and the hose can drag the back of the saw around and mess up the cut. Plus the generally infrequent use means that the time and inconvenience isn’t worth it for the small amount of dust made.
The Hilti comes with an integrated air dust channel, the Festool has a dust chute that inserts into the base plate directly behind the blade. The Milwaukee comes with a dust port that inserts into the base plate and collects from directly behind the blade guide. The Makita has a dust port that attaches to the side with an attached screw and clip.
Price
| Model | Price | |
| DCS335 | 189.24 | Bare tool |
| 2737B-20 | 199.00 | Bare tool |
| SJT 6-A22 | 239.00 | Bare tool |
| XVJ01Z | 259.00 | Bare tool |
| PSC 420 EB | 499.00 | Kit only |
Below we’ve included the current pricing (at the time of publication). Pricing is based on the bare tools where available. We chose the bare tool because the jigsaw is typically a secondary tool to one’s tool arsenal.
The highest price saw in this testing was the Festool Carvex which sells for 349. As indicated in the testing, in order to cut bevels, the user must purchase accessory Kit – 201186 for 250.00.
Following our decision on the top-handles jigsaw Head-to-Head, we did not include pricing in our final scoring.
Best Cordless Jigsaw Winner –Festool and Makita
| Vibr | Erg | Features | Scroll Cutting and Tracking | GRAND TOTAL SCORES | Final Rank | |
| 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 12 | 1 |
| 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 1 |
| 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 2 |
| 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 3 |
| 1 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 4 |
The best barrel grip jigsaw score was a tie and went to the Festool and Makita with 12-points. Festool earned strong scores in Speed / Power Normalization, Vibration, and Scroll Cutting / Tracking. It is a highly engineered, well-made tool.
Makita had strong showings in Ergonomics, Features, and Scroll Cutting / Tracking.While the numbers tell a story the subjective feel of a tool can also mean something. During this testing, there were two saws that the crew kept talking about as being the nicest to operate and use – Makita and Hilti in that order. Makita being the crew favorite.
A close 2nd place went to DeWALT with 14-points. It scored tops in Features and earned high marks in Vibration and Ergonomics.
The third-best score went to Hilti and Milwaukee in fouth-place.
