Reciprocating saw vs jigsaw – Find the Difference

Introduction:

For demolishing, remodeling and cutting, you need a reciprocating saw and jigsaw for these purposes. You must know the difference between both of them before using them. You need to know what are their features and functions and what makes them unique and useful. In this article, we deeply study what reciprocating saw and jigsaw are. How we differentiate both of them, why they are necessary and when and where we use them, and their characteristics.

Reciprocating saw:

A Reciprocating saw is a multi-purpose tool used for demolishing, remodeling, and cutting. A powerful tool can cut deeply cut the material because of its sharp blade and edges. DIYers used it for demolishing and remodeling walls. It can also cut all types of wood and then new shapes of things could make from that wood. For instance, it can cut plastics, pipes, metal sheets, and glass as well.

Blades that we used for reciprocating saw:

Before buying a blade for a reciprocating saw, you have to know several things about the blade that is good for reciprocating saw: Two types of blades have considered the best for reciprocating saw that is high carbon steel blades and diamond-tipped blades. We commonly use carbon steel blades (HCS) because they can easily cut softwoods, plastics, and plasterboard whereas; diamond-tipped blades have mostly considered the best. After all, it can cut larger materials like cement, glass, masonry, and stone.

Next, we have to check the size of the blade that is perfect for a reciprocating saw. The best length of the blade lies between 6 to 9 inches that we commonly used. If the length of the blade is shorter and the diameter of the material is thicker then it is difficult to cut it properly. If you are cutting rough woods then the teeth per inch of the blade must be 5 to 8 TPI whereas, if you are cutting metal or plastic then 14 to 24 TPI is a good range for it. As the TPI number is lower the more, quickly you can cut and if the TPI number is higher than more smoothness, you can see in its cut.

How to use reciprocating saw:

Here are some of the tips to use a reciprocating saw effectively:

• A proper balance of the saw shoe is important, the more tightly it is adjusted on the material the more speedily it cuts.
• Pressure exertion plays a vital role in its use, the more grip you put into it and balance is maintained the more easily it cuts the materials.
• For increasing its speed you have to use rocking and apply up and down motion with the saw, it will help in the better cutting of the materials.

What is a jigsaw?

A jigsaw is a user-friendly tool that helps to cut wood in all shapes you want. This handy tool can cut wood curves and when you put the right blade on this then it can cut metal, steel, and fiberglass. A jigsaw tool can cut the materials with a vertical angle of 45 degrees which makes unique shapes of the materials. It is lighter in weight and slim in size so you can easily add it to your cupboard.

Best blade for jigsaw tool:

For better cutting and making shapes blades play an important role in it, let us discuss which material is good for the manufacture of blades that are best for jigsaw tool:

• Tungsten carbide is a powerful compound and when you use it for cutting the woods it is not good because it is used to strengthen the teeth and when there are no teeth it is not good for wood whereas, it is good for cutting tile and other ceramics.
• Bi-metal is a good material, It is a combination of both high carbon steel and high-speed steel and is very effective for cutting all types of material because it can bear overheating, and most commonly, we used this one for jigsaw blades.

You must check the length of the blade, it not is too long or too shorter than the length of the material because it can create difficulty in cutting proper shapes and would not show a proper grip on the material. At least if the blade is a half inch longer than the thickness of the material then easily smooth cutting can happen.

What makes jigsaw unique and necessary?

Jigsaw can cut all types of curves making it unique in itself. With the correct use of blades, a jigsaw can cut materials with varying densities and thicknesses. Jigsaw can also use by children of particular ages, they need proper instruction and they can safely use this tool because they only need to plug the right blade in it, and then you are ready to use it. It can also cut the pumpkin that you all are mostly craving. These all characteristics of the jigsaw make it unique and necessary in all other tools.

Difference between jigsaw vs reciprocating saw:

Both jigsaw and reciprocating saws are different in many aspects as if we see their design; reciprocating saws have only hacksaws whereas jigsaws have a complicated design. They both are also different in shape as jigsaws are in vertically designed shape whereas reciprocating saw is curve shape designed.

A Reciprocating saw is lighter in weight than a jigsaw as its weight is approximately 3 to 5 pounds whereas a jigsaw’s weight is approximately 6 to 12 pounds. A reciprocating saw can work for destruction, and remodeling purposes and a jigsaw can only work for construction purposes. For instance, the jigsaw is cheaper than a reciprocating saw.

Conclusion:

While comparing both reciprocating saw and jigsaw we see that both are unique in their ways and different from each other. A Reciprocating saw is good for cutting thicker and wider materials and use for destruction purposes whereas a jigsaw is used for construction purposes and good for making shapes and blending cuts. We discuss their differences in all aspects in this article. Now it is up to you which one you use according to your needs because both are good in their perspectives.