Purpose of the strobe light on the jigsaw?

[dragoneggs]

Did some googling and decided to post the question as the answer wasn't coming quick enough. Please explain.

 

[Gregor]

Better visibility of the blade, reduced visibility of the dust flying around. Results in easier to see cut line.

 

[morts10n]

It makes it easier to see that the tool is cutting out of square, as it always does regardless of adjustment

 

[Joebuck]

It makes it easier to see that the tool is cutting out of square, as it always does regardless of adjustment

I was considering getting this tool soon. Is this comment about not cutting square a valid concern? I’ve got a Bosch that for years has given me similar problems. Just wondering if others can vouch for it.

 

[Frank-Jan]

I think the cool thing about the strobe light was, that if you look at the blade when it's running, it appears to be standing still, and give a sharper image of where the teeth are cutting.


(Never tried a carvex myself, I was quite enthousiastic when it was annoounced, I liked that it was going to be lighter than the trion, because of the brushless motor; the cool strobelight, the toolless bladeguides, the exchangeable bases, the swiveling plug-it connector... but I decided to wait a bit, and it turned out to be not so great)
(after the introduction, the automatically adjusting bladeguide system didn't work well, so they "updated" it from the 400 to the 420 modelnumber, and put the bladeguidesystem from the trion on it, for which you need to use a tiny allen wrench)

I cannot speak from experience of it not cutting square, I use to have a trion, of which I was a bit underwhelmed given the lyrical reviews it got from everyone before I got it. (I didn't replace it after it got stolen

 

[Birdhunter]

I have both the corded and battery Festool jig saws plus an old Bosch. I use them mostly for rough cuts on 3/4” or thinner material. The battery machine gets the most use simply because of not being tethered to a wall socket.

If I were trying to get perfect 90 degree cuts from a jig saw, I’d buy the Mafell saw with its double thick blade. The thick blade has to resist following the wood grain and other deflection pressures better than a thin blade.

I have the Mafell dowel machine and it’s design and quality are amazing. I’d think the jig saw would have the same design and quality.

 

[MrToolJunkie]

The light has nothing to do with square cuts. It will help you you follow a line. My cordless works very well and cuts square. My Mafell is also flawless. I had a corded version and never like the quality of cut and sold it.  I think the battery gives a little more heft and it helps me cut straight and square. The corded version is light weight, but it vibrated more in the cut. YMMV.