A table with the characteristics of jigsaws allows you to quickly compare all the devices included in the selection. Other good tools that have been left out of our attention due to article size restrictions can be found in the cordless jigsaw catalog.

Price, pendulum stroke, keyless saw blade replacement.
There are backlashes in the attachment of the file.

Power tools sold under the Einhell brand are designed for use in the home workshop or garage and for do-it-yourself repair and finishing work. The Einhell Classic TC-JS 18 Li Solo cordless jigsaw is no exception. It is also a classic "household" tool, so it has a fairly simple design and affordable price. However, it has some features that distinguish this model from the gray mass of low-cost jigsaws. For example, speed control has no fixed positions. It is carried out using the start key: the harder you press, the faster the file moves (up to a maximum of 2700 strokes / min). Since the frequency is adjusted from zero itself, the saw blade accelerates smoothly, without a sharp jerk at the start (this works like the “soft start” function, which is found on some powerful jigsaws). In addition to revolutions, the user can change the intensity of the pendulum movements, which increase the cutting speed of soft materials.

The spindle of the Einhell Classic TC-JS 18 Li Solo jigsaw has a quick-clamping mechanism that allows keyless blade replacement. Saw blades with a thickness of 0.8 mm to 1.6 mm can be inserted into the chuck. Thus, you will be practically unlimited in your choice of cutting equipment and will be able to buy and use any files for wood, metal, plastic, ceramics and drywall(provided that they have T-shaped shanks). True, this cartridge has some unpleasant feature - a small backlash, which is found in many specimens (however, this also applies to many other Einhell jigsaws). That is why the Einhell Classic TC-JS 18 Li Solo is not suitable for professional use, because even a slight backlash of the file in the chuck does not allow you to make cuts with the accuracy necessary, for example, for making furniture.

The jigsaw comes with one wood file, an adapter for connecting a household or construction vacuum cleaner, as well as a protective pad on the sole. It should be used when working with materials that have a "delicate" surface so as not to leave scratches and marks. And there are no batteries and a charger in the kit (the presence of the word Solo in the names of Einhell cordless tools indicates their absence). This jigsaw is compatible with 18-volt Einhell Power X-Change batteries (they are compatible with more than twenty types of construction and garden tools of the same brand: from screwdrivers and angle grinders to lawn mowers and cultivators). The test measurements provided by the manufacturer show that when cutting 19 mm thick chipboard, a 1.5 Ah battery is enough to make a cut 7 m long, 3 Ah for 14 m, and 6 Ah for 32 m. Therefore, choose a battery that based on what volumes of work you plan to perform in one go.

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Price, pendulum action, maintenance of speed, keyless saw blade replacement, lighting, case.
Narrow speed range.
Price from 2 100 ₴

The Parkside PSTKA 12 B3 stands out from other inexpensive jigsaws by having a mushroom-shaped front holder instead of the more traditional D-handle. Many believe that this shape contributes to the implementation of curly cuts with maximum accuracy and is better suited for cutting small details. The tool body is narrow and elongated. It provides excellent visibility of the cutting line when sawing straight, curved or at an angle. Such features of the jigsaw plus the ability to work without wires allow craftsmen to demonstrate aerobatics in figured sawing. The manufacturer claims that this tool can cut wood up to 70 mm thick and aluminium up to 3 mm. But it should be noted that 70 mm is almost at the limit of the jigsaw's capabilities (after all, Parkside jigsaws are a DIY tool and do not claim to be professional equipment). So that he does not “choke” from the load and sawed at an acceptable speed, it is better to limit himself to working with materials having a thickness of up to 20 - 30 mm (for example, parquet board, plywood, MDP, chipboard, OSB and other wood processing products).

Although the power of the Parkside PSTKA 12 B3 jigsaw is not particularly impressive, it has such an interesting and rare feature as the speed control function. The user can adjust the frequency of the saw strokes (though not in a very wide range of 1500 - 2800 strokes / min), and the engine will automatically maintain the set value, regardless of the change in load during sawing. Due to the constant speed, the cleanest cut and the uniform movement of the jigsaw over the surface are ensured - indispensable conditions necessary for accurate cutting of thin boards and sheet lumber. Turnovers are regulated by a wheel, which is located in the back of the case, and the start button is located under the thumb of the right hand. Next to the button there is an indicator of multi-colored LEDs that shows the remaining charge in the battery, and a white LED built-in near the cartridge acts as a backlight. The pendulum mechanism switch has two operating positions that differ in "aggressiveness" and a zero position at which the pendulum is completely off. For bevel cuts, the soleplate tilts to both sides (to the left by 22.5° and 45°, and to the right by 15°, 30° and 45°). The quick-clamp saw blade clamping mechanism can hold T-shank saw blades.

The jigsaw comes with a parallel stop, two files (a long one with large teeth - for sawing wood, a short one with a fine tooth - for woodworking) and an adapter for connecting a vacuum cleaner. The kit also includes a sole pad that won't leave marks on delicate surfaces like laminated materials. All of the listed accessories, along with the tool itself, are in a compact plastic case with metal locks. But the battery and the device for charging it are not included. You must purchase a 2 Ah or 4 Ah Parkside charger and battery separately. These 12-volt clip-on batteries also fit other inexpensive cordless tools of the same brand: screwdrivers, renovators, planers and mini grinders.

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Deep cut, pendulum action, keyless saw blade change, backlight.
Large weight (by the standards of jigsaws).
Price from 3 713 ₴

At first glance, the Ryobi RJS 18-0 is virtually indistinguishable from other cordless jigsaws. It has a standard D-shaped handle with a rubberized coating, a stamped steel sole, a narrow and tall body with an almost vertical front wall (for a better view of the cutting line) - nothing particularly interesting, everything is exactly the same as other middle-class tools. But inside the case there is a saw mechanism with an increased range of motion (25 mm) and a decent stroke rate (3000 strokes / min). Thanks to him, the jigsaw can make significantly deeper cuts than competitors - up to 101 mm when sawing wood. Efficiency is added to it by an adjustable pendulum mechanism, which allows you to significantly increase the speed of work when making rough cuts.

With ergonomics, the jigsaw is also all right. It is comfortable and well balanced. The frequency of saw blade strokes in the entire working range (800 - 3000 strokes / min) can be controlled using the start key (unlike corded jigsaws, where a rotating wheel is most often used for these purposes). The support sole can be tilted 15°, 30° or 45° to either side (these are fixed positions, other positions are difficult to set). The jigsaw chuck is designed for files with T-shank. It is quick-clamping, so the process of installing or replacing the saw blade takes a minimum of time and is performed without the use of auxiliary tools. Next to the cartridge, an LED is built into the housing, which illuminates the working area during operation.

As is often the case with Ryobi cordless tools, the jigsaw is sold without a battery and charger. It is assumed that you yourself can buy a battery of the most suitable capacity or take an existing one (after all, thanks to the growing popularity of this brand of tools, many home workshops already have at least one 18-volt battery of the ONE + system from a screwdriver, grinder, renovator or other device). The manufacturer recommends using a 5 Ah battery. Ryobi claims that with such a battery, when sawing 13 mm thick plywood, the Ryobi RJS 18-0 jigsaw can make cuts up to 19 m long - enough to cut a couple of plywood sheets along and across. But when choosing a battery, you should remember that it affects the overall weight of the tool. With a 2 Ah battery, the Ryobi RJS 18-0 will weigh 2.4 kg (already a bit much by the standards of manual jigsaws), and with a 9 Ah battery, as much as 3.2 kg.

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Pendulum action, keyless saw blade replacement.
There is no push button release.

The Black & Decker BDCJS18N jigsaw has a fairly simple, but solid design. Although it lacks some of the features that are found even on low-cost jigsaws, the build quality and attention to detail leave a very good impression of the tool. For example, such a feature as an abundance of rubber pads made of non-slip material with an embossed texture deserves praise. Not only the main handle is completely rubberized, but also the front part of the body, where the palm rests when leading the jigsaw along the intended path. Equally remarkable is the user's good view of the line of cut, which eliminates the need to bend the neck and squint to see if the saw blade is following the line exactly or being pulled to one side. Despite the absence of a sawdust blowing function or the ability to connect a vacuum cleaner, thanks to the large cutout in the sole, the cutting area is not clogged with chips and dust, and nothing prevents you from observing the sawing process.

Due to the ability to change the settings, this jigsaw is well suited for working with different materials. The stroke rate is adjustable from zero to 2500 strokes/min using the start button, which makes it possible to cut at the optimum speed. But it should be noted that the key cannot be fixed in a certain position, and this function is not enough when you need to rearrange your hand when making long cuts. But the jigsaw has a pendulum mechanism (two steps plus the ability to turn off), which helps to quickly and roughly cut materials such as softwood boards or drywall. Depending on the settings and the saw blades used, the jigsaw can cut wood (up to 55 mm thick), plastic, non-ferrous metals (up to 20 mm) and steel (up to 8 mm). The design of the chuck that holds the saw blades allows you to change saw blades without using keys and quickly switch from one type of work to another. At the same time, files of different standards can be inserted into the chuck: with U-shank and T-shank. Therefore, you are not limited in any way in the choice of cutting equipment, and you can buy any files: even branded ones, even low-cost ones.

In this configuration, there is no battery and charger, you need to buy them separately (or immediately take the Black & Decker BDCJS18 - the same jigsaw, but complete with a battery). The manufacturer recommends using batteries with a capacity of 2 Ah (according to the observations of users, a fully charged battery of this volume allows you to make about 100 - 150 cross cuts of a typical lining or laminate). In the line of 18-volt Black & Decker batteries there are batteries with a larger capacity (up to 4 - 5 Ah), but many believe that the weight of the jigsaw is violated with them, and it becomes less convenient to work.

Cast sole, pendulum action, deep cut, keyless file change, case.
Large weight (by the standards of jigsaws).

Although among professional carpenters, the Metabo STAB 18 LTX 100 cordless jigsaw is not considered a professional tool (DeWALT and Bosch blue are valued in this environment), but it closes the needs of the home master almost one hundred percent. It has a solid construction, a perfectly flat molded sole and a good mechanism for fixing files. The spring-supported guide that supports the saw blade during operation is very low. Thanks to this, the file does not “walk” and does not play, but goes clearly along the intended path and makes clean and even cuts. Therefore, Metabo STAB 18 LTX 100 is ideal for those who make furniture or other products that require maximum precision with their own hands. But even with rough cuts, Metabo jigsaws do just as well. This model has an adjustable pendulum mechanism that allows you to cut wood quickly (albeit at the expense of a worse cut cleanliness). The jigsaw can not only make deep cuts in wooden workpieces (up to 100 mm), but also (if you use the appropriate saw blades) cut non-ferrous metals (up to 25 mm) and steel sheets (up to 10 mm).

Although the tool is slightly heavy (2 kg excluding the weight of the battery or 2.4 kg with a battery) by the standards of modern manual jigsaws, its ergonomics are at its best, and vibrations are practically not felt. It has a comfortable arc handle with Softgrip coating and a sensitive start button, with which you can change the frequency of the saw strokes (up to 2800 strokes / min at maximum speed). The quick-release keyless chuck allows saw blades to be changed without using keys. Of the functions necessary for safe operation, it should be noted the inertial brake, which provides an instant stop of the file after releasing the button, and protection against accidental restart. Unlike many other tools, this jigsaw has a truly efficient system for removing sawdust from the cut line. They can be blown forward with a directed air stream. And if you switch the direction of flow, insert a plastic nozzle into the sole and connect a vacuum cleaner, then dust, chips and sawdust will go straight into its bag. The owners of the Metabo STAB 18 LTX 100 jigsaws blame only the lack of illumination, so you need to decide in advance the issue of lighting the workplace.

The Metabo STAB 18 LTX 100 601003840 jigsaw comes with a Metabo MetaBox 145 L plastic box and a small set of accessories: an adapter for connecting a vacuum cleaner, a protective glass for more efficient chip collection and a plastic pad on the sole so as not to leave marks on the material being cut. But the battery and charger, despite the rather high cost of the tool, are not included in the kit, they need to be bought separately. Experienced owners of Metabo tools recommend buying batteries with a capacity of 4 Ah, as it is difficult to fully exploit the potential and use all the advantages of a cordless jigsaw with smaller batteries.