Power tools are fantastic. They make short work of whatever you throw at them, but compared to their big brothers (i.e. full size powered tools you can’t move), they’re less accurate, and difficult for precision work. Then there’s the hybrid tools — power tools you can mount in stands or bases to get better control of your work piece. Some are designed for this, some aren’t. But sometimes, making your own stand for a power tool can be pretty darn easy.
[Yonatan] needed a bandsaw for one of his projects, and not being overly confident in his jigsaw skills (the tool he did possess), he decided to upgrade it, by building a jigsaw table. Still not quite a bandsaw, but almost.
The entire hack is actually very simple. He’s recycling an old computer tower side panel to use as the table. Add a hole for the blade and maybe some mounting features to the sheet metal and you’re almost ready to go! Using double-sided tape, he attached the jigsaw to the underside of the table, and mounted the whole thing in a vice on his work bench. Works like a charm.
Now if you really want a bandsaw, [Mattias Wandel] shows you how to make one completely from scratch!
Link missed out unfortunately – appears to be this one?
http://www.instructables.com/id/Building-the-Flat-Pack-Bandsaw-AKA-the-Jigsaw-Tabl/
Good searching. And fixed.
I’d liken it more to a scroll saw than a band saw.
Actually, it’s a sabre saw. In the manner of a sabre, a long blade held at one end.
This is one of those words that’s being recast in modern usage, though. Lots of people call a sabre saw a jig saw because it can make fairly tight turns. In an actual jig saw the blade is held at both ends (and can make extremely tight turns).
I once did some research on jig saws. There are ones where the the blade is held in the jaws of a fixed “harp” that pivots up and down, and there are modern ones where the blade is fixed to a spring and a motor pulls it up and down.
Turns out that the harp model has better characteristics – the slight forward/backward motion of the blade in the harp jaws tends to clear sawdust from the kerf, making for better and easier cuts.
I have some old Popular Mechanics and some DIY books from the 1930s-1950s, and yes what we now call a jigsaw was always referred to as a sabre-saw. And what we now call a scroll saw was usually called a jigsaw.
I have a Triton MK3 Workcentre that was designed so a jigsaw could be mounted upside-down under the table, at 2:23:30:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBHs4z6X3co
Very creative. I could use something like this for big acrylic pieces. Does anybody know how the saw holds up to all the debris falling into the mechanical section of it?
Not good from what I’ve tried. Put a scrap toothbrush so the bristles are parallel to the blade, problem solved!
Or a small blower/air hose. Never tried that but will certainly work.
Works better if you attach the saw to the table top rather than clamp the saw in a vise. I rather doubt that the curved handle is a solid hold in the vise. There have been many commercial versions of the idea.
If this encounters stock on the size of a computer case or smaller it works, double sided tape holds it together. Who wants to swing big sheets around in circles and curves. It would be great at slotting and other fab work. Most power tools have air coming in the rear, thru the motor, fan, and then blowing out at the cut only from the wrong side in this case. I would put a shroud over the end of the motor if dross ends up falling off the table and down into the intake for sure.
For a few dollars more than a good jigsaw, you can purchase this;
BladeRunner X2 Portable Tabletop Saw
https://www.rockwelltools.com/en-US/BladeRunner-X2.aspx
I own the Skil XBench and Workshop that has this attachment;
Jigsaw Plate for XBench Workstation
http://www.skilshop.com/skil-3100-09-jigsaw-plate-for-xbench-workstation/skln3100-09,default,pd.html?cgid=skil-x-bench-accessories
Hey look, a sockpuppet.
http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130814212021/creepypasta/images/a/a0/Sock_Puppet_2.gif
P.S. One link is a static image. Looks like something I would purchase though!
That’s not a few dollars more. A good jigsaw can be had for 20-30 dollars.
This can be bought for a few dollars more than a good jigsaw;
BladeRunner X2 Portable Tabletop Saw
https://www.rockwelltools.com/en-US/BladeRunner-X2.aspx
I own both the Skil XBench and Workshop that uses this insert;
Jigsaw Plate for XBench Workstation
http://www.skilshop.com/skil-3100-09-jigsaw-plate-for-xbench-workstation/skln3100-09,default,pd.html?cgid=skil-x-bench-accessories
Well. It’s taken 30 years for me to figure it out, but you just “dawned” it upon me what that thing was in the garage that dad had no idea about… Must have come with his jigsaw originally… Thanks!
Haha just thought of something. Has anyone ever done this with a laser, plasma, or waterjet cutter? I like having all ten digits.
This guy builds a complete portable workshop which includes a guided jigsaw. https://youtu.be/AA3qka61cws
In another video he builds his own scrollsaw out of a jigsaw.
All Mathias Vandel videos worth watching. Good quality, good intelligence.
In the vein of building your own workshop, I’m also a big fan of Izzy Swann.
Remembers me of this one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjG6lBGzl0k
now that’s fairly brilliant
Matthias Wandel has done this before as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80bgLQuCLuk
I did something similar a while ago. It worked great on thin material but the blade would wander on thicker material. I found a scroll saw better for curves. I am looking into using a cheap harbor freight oscillating saw in a similar manner. It should be able to safely and accurately saw material up to about 1 inch thickness. Not good for curves but my main interest is in accurate straight cuts. Has anyone done anything like that?
I’ve done this, with I think exactly the same B&D jigsaw. I screwed it to a 1/2″ sheet of wood which I used as a table. I found the blade would wander too easily to be any use for accurate cuts.
I find this idea very appealing, because a bandsaw is something I’d really like to own, but don’t have the room for it to spare. I might pursue this idea.
BUT: In this case, it’s so hilariously badly done, it makes me cringe:
– Uncomfortably wobbly computer case side panel as way too thin sheet metal plate –> Use thicker metal or wood for stability. It’s not even expensive.
– Attaching with double sided tape –> clamp it down for added stability. Look at the various commercially available saw tables to see how it’s usually done. Imagine the double sided tape giving up and having a running jigsaw wobbling around your metal plate with 2000 rpm. Also makes reusing the saw without the plate easier.
– Clamping down the rig on the plastic handle: Choose between cracked jigsaw handle or your jigsaw rig wandering around your room.
An emergency circuit breaker might also be worth a thought.
You could use a flat wood panel as table, thick enough to screw the jigsaw’s flat base to it upside down without the screws breaking through (or countersunk, fully through) – then just add a few feet (or two sides) to the “table” (taller than the whole jigsaw) and you’re done, no need for any vice or clamping…
Some machines are inherently dangerous. The table saw (especially without a riving knife will do big damage, not just to fingers. The router table has a nasty habit of flinging your workpiece across the room exposing your fingers to the blades. A radial arm saw needs very careful handling too.