Table-mounted jig saw?

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Am I hair-brained here? I'm rather limited on room in my garage. I think I've talked the wife to allowing half of the 2-car for metalworking.Anyways, I'm not about to go buy a metal-quality bandsaw for metal cutting because, frankly, they're just too pricey for what I'd use.So, I was thinking of building a table for an undermount jig saw. Obviously not for thick material, but, opinions? Good ? Bad? Indifferent?My other cutting tool is a 4.5" angle grinder, and I have a cheap air saw. I put a chop saw blade on a 10" miter saw and it's hating life but does work.Hobart EZ-Tig newbie.
Reply:Or you could just buy the Rockwell Blade Runner.It even has a quick wall mount.I've been thinking about getting one. https://www.rockwelltools.com/us/Bla...Saw-P1564.aspxhttp://all-a-cart.comWelding Cart Kits and accessories
Reply:Interesting. Wonder what thickness it can cut. But, for a hundred more than that, I'd be looking at a low-end band saw.Hobart EZ-Tig newbie.
Reply:Originally Posted by ZTFabOr you could just buy the Rockwell Blade Runner.It even has a quick wall mount.I've been thinking about getting one. https://www.rockwelltools.com/us/Bla...Saw-P1564.aspx
Reply:http://www.harborfreight.com/horizon...saw-93762.htmlThat's the one I was looking at, but I kinda want the ability to get some decently straight cuts with plate. Hmm.Hobart EZ-Tig newbie.
Reply:Originally Posted by chimmikehttp://www.harborfreight.com/horizon...saw-93762.htmlThat's the one I was looking at, but I kinda want the ability to get some decently straight cuts with plate. Hmm.
Reply:Do you use it to cut vertically, like a stand up jigsaw? What kind of cuts to you make with plate on it, like size material?btw thanks for the info so far.....*stashes away some cash to save for it*Hobart EZ-Tig newbie.
Reply:Funny you should mention this. I purchased this small portable router table many years ago for $18.00 new and threw it into the back of the garage. It is a much older version that allows for mounting of a router and a jig saw from underneath the table. It is nothing fancy, just a metal table. I needed a small portable routing solution for remote jobs.http://www.vermontamerican.com/NR/rd...uterTables.pdfHope this helpsLast edited by yakdung; 04-05-2012 at 03:00 PM.
Reply:chimmike, what are you cutting?  A jig saw has a lot of limitations, whether you're holding it or mounting it like that Blade Runner.  Ideally, you'd have four or five different saws.  But if you're limited to one, it would help a lot to have an idea of what you're going to be working on the most.Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:Originally Posted by chimmikeInteresting. Wonder what thickness it can cut. But, for a hundred more than that, I'd be looking at a low-end band saw.
Reply:I'd like to be able to cut UP TO 1/4" plate but ultimately I won't cut anything thicker than that.I have a lincoln port-a-torch set I've never used, I could use that for 1/4 and thicker if necessary too.Hobart EZ-Tig newbie.
Reply:A HF Portaband is like $80.  A Dewalt or Milwaukee can be found used pretty easily for around $100.You can get a table mount for it, too.  Lots of flexibility that way.Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:Hmm. Yeah, I didn't see a table for the portaband. I see Milwaukee makes one for their portable band saws. Probably have to snipe one off ebay then.Hobart EZ-Tig newbie.
Reply:Originally Posted by chimmikeI'd like to be able to cut UP TO 1/4" plate but ultimately I won't cut anything thicker than that.I have a lincoln port-a-torch set I've never used, I could use that for 1/4 and thicker if necessary too.
Reply:There are multiple ways to cut things.Speed of cut, quality of cut, cost, noise, debris/dust/swarf, etc, etc are some of the things to consider.Your call as to where the trade-offs are.Straight cuts on thick(er) sheetmetal and thin plate can be done with a straight-edge guide and a regular 'skil' saw (circular saw) with the appropriate blade.  A non-ferrous cutting blade for aluminum and a ferrous-cutting blade for cuttting steel.  Freud makes both types of blades, and Lenox makes at least the steel-cutting one (or relabels it anyway).  Good for 1/8 inch steel, IIRC.  Some may go up to 1/4 inch thick steel.Plasma cuts it all, metals anyway.  Your call and you choose where the trade-offs go.    The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:Swag Offroad makes the best bases for the Milwaukees and Dewalts.  You need to get a deep throat model of saw.  There is a newer model than the one that I have and it's awesome.  Still, it's hard to pick one saw.  You've got to know the work it will be used for.A portaband is easy to take to the metal, quick, and with a base it's a decent substitute for a vertical band saw.  A circular saw with a metal-cutting blade is cheap ($40 for the blade) and can make very long straight cuts in sheet.A toothed chop-type saw is a $400 deal, but great for making 90° (and mitered) cuts in lengths of stock.A good Bosch jig saw is a little over $100, but great for curved cuts.A pair of good shears (Beverly and straight) are great to have for sheet.  So are good snips.Grinders with cut-off wheels and abrasive chop saws have their place.  But can also make you crazy.Then there's Oxy-AC and plasma.  A whole 'nuther world.  It can get pretty expensive, and one tool does not cover all bases.Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:Yeah. Trade offs, I'm fine with dust, I can vacuum it up. Shop vac good for that. I have a good makita circular saw, that may do for 1/8" material and I can just buy multiple cut-off wheels for the angle grinder for thicker unless I feel OA would benefit me more on something. Vertical band saw is my dream......but reality is I can't justify the expense at all for one. That Swag Off road site is great! Portable band saw sounds like a great option.....Hobart EZ-Tig newbie.
Reply:For quantity cuts, a horizontal band saw is awesome.  Set it and walk away while it goes through a bundle of stock.For the hand-held saw, get the Freud Diablo blade.  It's rated for 1/8", but I've heard about guys cutting up to 3/4" plate with it.  It's great for long straight cuts.Here's a video I did of cutting 3/16" material for a welding table I was making.  It was the first time I used the metal cutting blade.[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92KA-LgNBUM]Cutting 3/16[/ame] Using just the circular saw, a jig saw and a welder, I was able to take this old cabinet -- and chop it up - - and turn it into this.In this case, a portaband, a band saw or a chop-type saw would have been useless to me.Last edited by Jack Olsen; 04-05-2012 at 04:05 PM.Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:I'm impressed! thanks for the tip on the diablo blade. Definitely will pick one of those up. The Makita is leaps and bounds better than a skil saw I had.Hobart EZ-Tig newbie.
Reply:Originally Posted by chimmikeDo you use it to cut vertically, like a stand up jigsaw? What kind of cuts to you make with plate on it, like size material?btw thanks for the info so far.....*stashes away some cash to save for it*
Reply:Originally Posted by GambleCan you take a vacation or just stop posting. First you post your mig welds and have every member on the forum trying to figure it out. So you are killing all my free time.Now you post this and are going to make us all broke!
Reply:See what do you do/use to get more than 1 perfect cut like the last pic here^^I bought a metal blade for my jig saw and went to cut some .080 aluminum and the freaking blade broke.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:Originally Posted by GambleSee what do you do/use to get more than 1 perfect cut like the last pic here^^I bought a metal blade for my jig saw and went to cut some .080 aluminum and the freaking blade broke.
Reply:Originally Posted by GambleSee what do you do/use to get more than 1 perfect cut like the last pic here^^
Reply:I think the deep cut milwaukee portable band saw is gonna be my thing, with a good table, it'll serve me very well to accompany my other crap, i mean tools.....hahaThat's a good idea though....how about some good suggestions for jig saw blades?Hobart EZ-Tig newbie.Originally Posted by chimmikeI think the deep cut milwaukee portable band saw is gonna be my thing, with a good table, it'll serve me very well to accompany my other crap, i mean tools.....hahaThat's a good idea though....how about some good suggestions for jig saw blades?
Reply:Originally Posted by weldermikeSTOP GOING TO HARBOUR FREIGHT ONCE IN A WHILE!!!!!! LOL
Reply:Originally Posted by chimmikeYeah. Trade offs, I'm fine with dust, I can vacuum it up. Shop vac good for that. I have a good makita circular saw, that may do for 1/8" material and I can just buy multiple cut-off wheels for the angle grinder for thicker unless I feel OA would benefit me more on something. Vertical band saw is my dream......but reality is I can't justify the expense at all for one. That Swag Off road site is great! Portable band saw sounds like a great option.....
Reply:Hah, so the mitre saw bit the dust tonight. Oh wellHobart EZ-Tig newbie.
Reply:I also use the bosch bi metal blades. I have a bladerunner and it will cut 3/16 but not very fast. And try and make any turns with this saw it will chatter your teeth out.Hypertherm Powermax45Miller auto 140 migMiller Econotig Watercooledwith wp24w TorchLincoln Power255XTNew(Lincoln V205 ac/dc)Miller Elite Helmet
Reply:Got an abrasive chop saw for cheeep the other day, but I'm thinking I'll just suck it up and get the HF horiz/vert band saw as that'll do basically what I want.Hobart EZ-Tig newbie.
Reply:Just make your own stand for it. Mine folded flat when i tried to put the saw on it.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:yeah. I really want to see how it works as used vertically, too.Hobart EZ-Tig newbie.
Reply:Originally Posted by ZTFabHey...don't blame me!! Although Oxy Moron and Legacy both might disagree with that...since they've been hanging around my shop they've started to amass quite a tool collection. I swear it's not my fault.
Reply:I use general woodworking tools for aluminum w carbide blades. For steel straight cuts recip saw or chop saw, depending on length. Only bust out the plasma for tricky steel cuts. I tape up aluminum when using jig saw or sawzall. It's more about the blade and technique than brand. I don't have a brake or shear and I do quite a bit of aluminum sheet fabrication.HammerFile Big Hammer------------------------------Here, let me Google that for you...
Reply:Concerning Nomenclature of some things being discussed. Sometimes the name ' jigsaw' and ' scrollsaw' are used interchangeably by those not familiar with their method of operation.  A correctly named jigsaw uses a spring on one side to retrieve the blade...and that can be a limiting factor for speed of cut and life of the blade.    A correctly named Scrollsaw ( often a small version of what used to be called a ' walking beam  saw ' ( which has a slight difference in the length of those arms causing it to retract slighty on the upstroke saving wear on the teeth ) has two parallel arms with the blade attached to the ends... so it can pull the blade both directions under tension as fast as it can work... not being reliant on the spring speed to return the blade.   I do not think that technically what most of us call a ' hand electric jigsaw' as shown above would be in the jigsaw category...but more in the reciprocating saw ( like a ' sawsall ' )....  and it is not a scrollsaw either because it is pushing the blade on one stroke. Anyway, between a standalone jigsaw and a standalone scrollsaw the latter has many advantages...Weldandpower Lincoln 225 AC,DC with Briggs 16hp gas engine.WW2 era Miller TIG.