The easiest inverted jigsaw jig? — or: How I learned to stop procrastinating and love the jigsaw
The easiest inverted jigsaw jig? — or: How I learned to stop procrastinating and love the jigsaw
Want to fall in love with your jigsaw? Just flip it upside down.
OK. An inverted jigsaw is not quite that good. But it still is a great tool for people who want to make intricate cuts but don’t have a bandsaw nor a scrollsaw. A few people have asked for more info about my setup, so let’s take a closer look.
Learn more at http://projectlab.how.
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Full disclosure: Purchasing stuff from any Amazon links below will support this column. Don’t feel obligated to buy anything, but if you do, thanks!
DIY Creators’ jigsaw jig: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmGZFi-cuV4
Paoson Woodworking’s jigsaw jig: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDbbcMRWX1E
Jack Houweling’s super-strong magnet jigsaw jig: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmPNkrfs2qU
DeWalt DW317K jigsaw (https://amzn.to/2PauahJ): I have worked the heck out of this thing. It has handled continuous running four hours without problem. And that’s with all sorts of dust and junk falling into the works from above. At 5.5 amps, it seems to have plenty of power. My only gripe is with the shoe. One side has an adjustable cutting angle, while the other lets you flip it around and lock in at 90 degrees. This feature should be nice; if you want to just make plain-ole square cuts, then you don’t have to worry about adjusting the shoe angle or checking to make sure that it hasn’t wandered away on you. But the 90-degree-cut side of my shoe is actually more like 94 degrees, making it unusable. I haven’t been able to fix it, either. Instead, I just leave it on the adjustable side. That being said, the proven reliability of the tool keeps me happy. No magic smoke yet!
Toggle clamps (https://amzn.to/2wgwxbn): These vertical toggle clamps feature 200 pounds of clamping pressure. This should be more than enough strength for holding the jigsaw in place, even when cutting grippy stuff like sheet steel. These are untested on vibranium; please let me know how it goes if you get the chance.
Spade bits (https://amzn.to/2TUmhAF): It’s nice to have a set of these around for quickly cutting big holes. You can use these either for rough work or for when you have to plunge the jigsaw blade into a surface for an inside cut.
Workmate (https://amzn.to/2E3DDpX): If a bench vise and a sawhorse had a baby, it’d be a workmate. This handy tool features a contracting surface that both clamps and supports your work. And when you’re not using it, you can fold it up and tuck it in a corner. Mine is some cheap brand that my wife got me for Christmas one year. While it’s falling apart, it still works fine. This Black and Decker one looks similar. Hopefully it has more robust clamping hardware than mine, but even if it doesn’t, the price is right.
I hope you liked this video! If you want to see more, then please consider subscribing. And if you have any thoughts or questions, please share them in the comments below. I try to respond to anyone who stops by.
Thanks for watching!
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That was really great…thanks!
Inspired solution! Nice video.
Excellent, just what I need! Tried to order the clamps using your link but it just brings me to the Amazon home page. Maybe these are no longer produced? Find another option? Wanted to use your link for your benefit, small as it may be, since you’re providing this cool build 🙂
Many thanks, not only for making this easy, but also for making it look and sound easy. Looking and sounding easy is what encourages certain folks to take the plunge; folks with a fear of failure, folks only just starting out on woodworking, folks with limited materials and limited time; i.e. me, ha ha ha. You also subtly shared some great life skills, thank you for that too! Your method, approach, and tone really struck a chord. Wish you well!
I used fender washers to hold it in place.
Go Andrew! I also am a fan of Robert Pirsig, and no stranger to gumption traps. Thanks for helping me break out of the current one!
Helpful to a fellow procrastinator who must now get this done in a hurry! You also gave me lots of chuckles throughout your video! Many thanks!!!!
Thank you for your video i have seen a lot of video but i fell inlove with the way you build yours… more power
thanx much again
jz
Looks like I can also make one. Thanks!
Excellent video and process
Thanks for sharing
I never knew Quentin Tarantino was so handy.
Thanks, I was looking at all the complicated jigsaw table builds and was kind of dreading building another tool when I ran across your video. Whipped it together in about an hour using stuff I had lying around. Saved me a ton of time and some money and is probably 95% as good as the more complicated builds on YT! Subscribed!
thanks my friend it’s great
Definitely putting this on my "build list". Thanks.
Jeez. Just when I had an excuse for everything. Just kidding…kinda. I’m so relieved that I can "just flip my jigsaw upside down and get to work" because I’ve been wondering how I could make those cuts while remaining true to my primary spiritual principle of procrastination. Doing it this way and putting the rest off til later satisfies it all. Kinda genius. Mr. Reuter, if I may be so bold, I believe this could be "Wood and the Art of the Disappearing Gumption Trap"…just sayin. Though my current standards are somewhere between extremely low and completely fictional, and while it’s not the most original thing I’ve ever come up with, it sounds pretty good to me at the moment. Begrudgingly subscribed.
Thank you
Is this safe?
Английский на слух такой же противный как и чеченский…
I like you sense of humor
Thanks for your ideas/advice I’ve been struggling cutting small metal parts in aluminium and mild steel by hand this should help a lot
Good idea with the clamps Andrew, I have 4 of those doing nothing in my cupboard. I’m just in the process of building a jigsaw table so great time too see your channel. Tony.
Excellent description, demo and editing. Not a shot second wasted. Dry delivery is so matter-of-fact and fun at the same time. I like your attitude about do it and get to work.
A second jigsaw from Harbor Freight could be as cheap as the toggle clamps. Anaco, Anz.
Thank you very much. you made it so easy, and explained it very, I can make one now. 👍👍
This is simple and brilliant, nice one!
Great stuff Andrew, my kind of jig.
Thanks for the video! Your toggle clamp link is pointed to the spade bits tho.
I’m not much for most "how to videos"… but this one is clear, to the point and simple….5 star as far as I’m concerned… jus sayin
If it happens that you use a Dewalt saw. Look carefully at your jigsaw shoe, there is two threaded holes on it. The problem is that they are not usable as is because the shoe surface block any access to them. I drilled small holes in the shoe to enable to attach it under the "table" using only two screws and those fancy threaded holes. I also drilled a hole in the table to access the screw that adjust the angle of the shoe. Bingo!
And instead of building a box, I just attached a chunky piece of 4×4 under the table and hold it securely in a bench vise.
Dr. Strangelove ha ha ha
I am going to use your clamp idea on my jig. Thanks
Lol oh no 🤦🏼♀️ my battery. You sounded kinda cute
Thanks dude
Man, I like your style.
And video itself is cool.
Thank you.
Best video I’ve seen all week, even with the editing for the word fumble.
Great video. Thanks for sharing. I have an m12 jigsaw that the button can’t be locked to on. Any suggestions on how I can keep the jigsaw button locked on while using your set up? Thank you
Excellent idea with the toggle clamps. I’ve been racking my braincell Tring to think of a simple solution. This is awesome.
Been going through all the fancy videos and the one question is — how are you keeping the saw in place?
The demonstration you give and the Toggle Clamps — great!
I have always wanted to build one on the end of my table saw. I do not know why I never thought of clamps. Thank you. It is a reality now and I enjoy it.
For those 5 times in a year, when I would need a jig saw rig, this solution is just great. Just the right amount of effort needed, to get the cut. Thank you!
Hello dude i made same thing but i face a problem that the wood stack in blade and its give a lot of kick back ,any recomandation?
Love this! Thank you for explaining the process. I have been frustrated with the videos I have watched because most of them have no explanation just music and I have no clue what most of the materials are that are being used. Thanks again from a newbie!
An inverted jigsaw is less dangerous than a table circular saw?
Great vid. Sort of sorry it came to an end. I was getting into it all. I actually have been looking for a way to cut out an internal 90 degree internal square corner. Solid timber. ( Basically an oblong inside a 20mm plank) I was hoping one of the local joinery firms in town would be able to do this with CNC machine but alas they either had trouble securing a smaller bit of wood or their drill bits still left a rounded bit in the corner. I thought modern CNC machines were able to angle the router bits to chew out the corners neatly. Anyway I have used a circular saw and biscuit machine for the ends and ten sharp Japanese saw to cut out corners. A bit fiddley. I was warned against jigsaws because they can wander a bit. Maybe upside down would be better. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Quoting Peirsig immediately warranted a Like and Follow!
Just what I needed to know, thanks!
I had to stop the video when you mentioned the gumption trap. I’m reading that book right now and I was just at that point in the book last night. This was the first video I watched today so you can imagine how crazy this seemed. How did YouTube know that I was reading that book?! 😉
Thank you for sharing this idea, I came here just to watch one more video and ended up making my own. After months of depression and procrastination, just finished my first project.
awesome idea, I just came across trying to do some chevy wood signs and this will work out great thank you so much i will definitely try it. Carlos T Quartz Hill Ca
Thanks for this. It works well with my amateur, on-the-fly woodworking style/skills. And the "gumption trap" I understand all too well.Good job!