Festool Jigsaws: How clean do they cut?

I am starting to play around with my Trion upside down.
It has been difficult in the past for me to do that as my back goes out very quickly.
I have tried using a 2x6 as a crutch and it is much easier.
I have an old crutch in the attic somewhere that i have to use occasionally when my back goes.
I am thinking to adjust it to help out when using the Trion from underneath.
I was thinking of using a stool, but there just isn't space.
The crutch could be hung from my shoulder with bungee if i have to move around to move material between cuts.
I had thought of making up a plate to mount in my CMS, but I think the crutch idea might work better for me.
If my experiments work out, the Trion will become a much more go to toy for me.
Tinker

PS:  I was very impressed with Eric's video.  that is what got my idea about the crutch support.
thanks Eric.
WHT
 
Used my Festool Jigsaw today to cut a couple notches out of Birch plywood for some shop  base cabinets I am building.  Forgot I needed to clear the baseboard.

Anyway, I have not used the jig saw much as I don't need it often.

Thought I would attach a picture.  The 'rough' cut on edge is table saw and the 4 x 3/4 notch is the Festool jig saw.  And NO, its not sanded :)
 
Paul,

Thats how I roll. Id rather have a tool and not need it all the time then have one and need it and not have it. I dont use my jigsaw that much. But when I do, Its a pleasure to use.
 
rrmccabe said:
Used my Festool Jigsaw today to cut a couple notches out of Birch plywood for some shop  base cabinets I am building.  Forgot I needed to clear the baseboard.

Anyway, I have not used the jig saw much as I don't need it often.

Thought I would attach a picture.  The 'rough' cut on edge is table saw and the 4 x 3/4 notch is the Festool jig saw.  And NO, its not sanded :)

What blade did you use?

Scot
 
When using a festool jigsaw with a guide rail, would you say its a great alternative to a ts55/75?

 
zapdafish said:
When using a festool jigsaw with a guide rail, would you say its a great alternative to a ts55/75?

It can dig significantly deeper than a TS 75 and still give great cut quality.

Tom
 
zapdafish said:
When using a festool jigsaw with a guide rail, would you say its a great alternative to a ts55/75?

Well, it's an alternative, though I am not sure I would use the term "great".  I think with the proper blade and good technique, you will get a quality cut. Also you can with the proper blade, cut deeper than the TS saws. However, it is also way easier to introduce slight burning or not exactly perfect 90 degree cuts with the jigsaws. If you choose to make a bevel cut, I think it the TS saws win hands down.

Bob
 
zapdafish said:
When using a festool jigsaw with a guide rail, would you say its a great alternative to a ts55/75?

I recently purchased the guide rail accessory for my Trion so that I can straight-line cut lumber that is too thick for my TS55. It's not an alternative to the TS55 because I would always use that where possible, but for 12/4 lumber the Trion is perfect.
 
Suggest the OP view the videos produced by Peter Parfitt in Britain regarding the upcoming Carvex Jigsaws. Awesome!!

There are three videos from him. Here's the first...follow with YouTube part 2 and the extra.

Carvex PSC420
 
erock said:
My first jigsaw was a Sears craftsman I inherited after my Grandfather passed.  It was probably from the 80's. 

Eric

Geez, Eric, you're making me feel old.  My first jigsaw was also a Craftsman but bought back in the early 70's.  [blink]

Nice video though!

Back to the jigsaw... I saw a post on SMC about someone having a tough time getting their jigsaw to follow a straight edge.  The only time I use a jigsaw it to make curved cuts.  For straight cuts, the jigsaw just can't compete with a circular saw, IMHO.  I don't understand why anyone would be looking to use the jigsaw for straight cuts.  Or am I missing something?
 
Julie Moriarty said:
erock said:
My first jigsaw was a Sears craftsman I inherited after my Grandfather passed.  It was probably from the 80's. 

Eric

Geez, Eric, you're making me feel old.  My first jigsaw was also a Craftsman but bought back in the early 70's.  [blink]

Nice video though!

Back to the jigsaw... I saw a post on SMC about someone having a tough time getting their jigsaw to follow a straight edge.  The only time I use a jigsaw it to make curved cuts.  For straight cuts, the jigsaw just can't compete with a circular saw, IMHO.  I don't understand why anyone would be looking to use the jigsaw for straight cuts.  Or am I missing something?

Only when your lumber is too thick for the saw, the jigsaw can cut 4" or more.
 
noob said:
In person, does the strobe light look less... uhhhhhh..... seizure-inducing?

As was pointed out, the lights can be programmed for 3 different modes: stroboscopic, steady-on, or off. However, even in the stroboscopic mode, the lights will not strobe until the motor reaches 2100 rpm (35 cycles per second). The reason why the strobe is so noticeable in videos is because the camera is shooting at 29 frames per second, which is fairly close to the speed of the strobe. This is the same reason why spoked wheels sometimes look like they are turning backwards in movies.

By the way, this is what showed up on my doorstep on Tuesday...... [ban]

[attachimg=#]
 
Rick,

You have one of the coolest jobs...your get four of the new jigsaws to play around with!!  of course I know that your excellent manuals come as a result and that it is a lot of hard work, but it would be awesome to get a chance to play around with these saws.  I cannot wait to read your comments as you put them through their paces. 

Scot
 
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