Nothing is more frustrating than cutting curves on different materials using a standard saw. It tends to be slow and physically demanding. If you want to get the job done safely and efficiently, consider using an orbital jig saw.
An orbital jig saw is a versatile power tool for cutting wood, metal, and plastic. It features a handle and motor that powers the narrow jigsaw blade. It also has an orbital setting that allows for faster and more efficient cutting.
An orbital jig saw offers more benefits, which we will explore below. This article will also answer your other questions about this power tool, such as how it works and when to use it.
What Is an Orbital Jig Saw?
An orbital jig saw is a type of jig saw tool. It comes with a handle and trigger to control the motor. The motor drives the straight, narrow blade to cut various materials like wood, metal, and plastic.
As its name suggests, the orbital jig saw moves the blade in an orbital motion. It allows for faster and more efficient cutting. At the same time, it minimizes the chances of chips or splinters in the material.
Overall, an orbital saw is a useful tool for cutting tasks requiring precision.
How Does an Orbital Jig Saw Work?
An orbital jig saw combines the straight sawing movement of a traditional jig saw with an elliptical motion. That means the blade not only moves up and down but also shifts forward and backward. This orbital action delivers a faster and more aggressive cut. It can easily cut through wood, plastic, and other materials.
An orbital jig saw usually has a built-in motor or battery that drives the cutting blade. The power tool also accepts different types of blades, depending on the material and cutting requirements. Plus, most jigsaws offer variable speed settings to meet your desired result.
What Are the Advantages of an Orbital Jigsaw?
The main advantage of using an orbital jigsaw is its efficiency and speed of cutting. The elliptical motion increases cutting effectiveness to save time and effort.
Orbital jig saws are also known for their versatility. They allow the use of different blades to handle various materials, such as wood and plastic. Plus, most models have adjustable shoe angles to make beveled cuts at different angles.
Orbital jig saws can even produce smooth and precise curved cuts. They are ideal for creating patterns or artistic designs.
Finally, the orbital motion of the saw minimizes the chances of chipping and splintering. It ensures cleaner cuts, which are essential for delicate or brittle materials.
What Are the Disadvantages of an Orbital Jigsaw?
An orbital jigsaw also has its fair share of disadvantages.
First, it produces louder vibration and noise compared to other types of jigsaw tools. It can be slightly uncomfortable to operate the orbital jigsaw for long durations.
An orbital jigsaw also tends to be less accurate when it comes to straight cuts. The orbital action only excels at curved cuts.
Plus, it offers less control to the operator due to the high-speed rotation of the tool.
Lastly, orbital jigsaws are usually more expensive because of their additional features and capabilities.
It is best to know all these cons before buying an orbital jigsaw.
Orbital Jigsaw vs. Standard Jigsaw: What Are the Differences?
The main difference between an orbital and a standard jigsaw is their cutting capabilities.
A standard jigsaw only moves the blade up and down, whereas an orbital jigsaw uses vertical movement with forward and backward motion. Due to the orbital action, the latter offers faster and more efficient performance.
Orbital jigsaws can also minimize splintering and chipping in the material being cut. They deliver cleaner and smoother cuts because of the elliptical blade movement.
Plus, orbital jigsaws usually have a dial or switch. They can convert a standard jigsaw into an orbital with just a press of a button.
There is also a price difference between an orbital and a standard jigsaw. The former is usually more affordable than the latter due to fewer features.
How to Use An Orbital Jig Saw?
Using an orbital jig saw is relatively straightforward.
Look at the side of the power tool. You will usually see a dial with 0-3 markings that allow variable speed control. The zero position means that the motor is turned off. Simply switch the dial to your desired setting to activate the jigsaw orbital action. Then, pull the trigger to activate the cutting blade.
But before using an orbital jig saw, wear the appropriate safety gear to prevent severe injuries. These include safety goggles, ear protection, gloves, and a dust mask, if possible.
When To Use the Orbital Jig Saw Settings?
Switching to the jig saw orbital setting is not always ideal for every situation. It is best to know the best time to use the orbital jigsaw modes offered by your tool.
Below are a few guidelines on which orbital jig saw setting to use.
Wood
You can use different jig saw settings when working with wooden materials. However, consider your preferred cut and speed to narrow down which setting to use.
For instance, switch to the highest jigsaw orbital action setting if you want to make a curved cut. Doing so allows you to create curved patterns on the wood as fast as possible. However, be careful because the aggressive cutting action can lead to loss of control over the saw blade.
To balance speed and control, you can use a medium cutting speed. You can also create smoother and gently curved cuts with this orbital action setting.
Those who want to make tight or intricate curved cuts must keep the orbital action off. It gives you complete control over the power tool to make very precise cuts.
Metal
Cutting metal with an orbital jigsaw blade is perhaps the easiest one. Turn off the orbital action setting and slow down your speed. Believe it or not, slow blade speeds can cut metal faster. That is because this orbital mode minimizes heat buildup and increases efficiency.
Avoid more aggressive cutting action because it can dull the jigsaw blades quickly.
Other Materials
Switch off the orbital setting when cutting plastic and fiberglass. A standard jigsaw is already fast enough to cut through these materials.
However, if you need to work on laminates such as countertops, use medium or high orbital jigsaw settings.
But when dealing with drywall, use the highest speed setting on the orbital jig saw. You can also switch to the most aggressive orbital action setting when dealing with thicker or harder materials.
Conclusion
Using a standard saw to cut curves on different materials is difficult. Do yourself a favor and get an orbital jig saw for the job.
An orbital jigsaw has a built-in handle and motor that drives the narrow blade. It uses orbital motion to ensure faster and more efficient performance. It offers several benefits, as we covered in this article.
Do you have more questions about orbital jig saws? Visit our contact page to send your queries!
