TOH Reader Tool Test
Over the years, these handy curve-cutting saws have acquired a number of cool advances:
keyless blade changing, trigger-finger speed controls, and orbital sawing action for faster cuts through wood. Now they’re starting to lose their cords and rely on battery power. This Old House readers tried out four of the latest 18-volt lithium-ion versions. Here’s what they found.
DeWalt DC330K
Highlight: Comes with a wide blade that cuts flush with the front of the shoe.
Tester: Kevin Fowler, Concordia, Mo.
Skill level: Professional (“I’ve remodeled homes for the past 10 years.”)
Used tool for: Plunge cuts into 2x log siding for electrical boxes.
Verdict: “The motor did not slow down much, even when pushed hard and fast. Flicking on the
orbital switch really increased the cutting efficiency.”
Tool stats: 7.5 pounds; variable speed to 2,200 strokes per minute; 1-inch stroke length, four-position orbital setting; keyless blade change and shoe adjustment.
Pro Tip: Tom Silva, This Old House general contractor, is a longtime jigsaw user who keeps seven or eight on hand. He recommends the barrel-grip style over top-handle models: “A top-handle saw feels nice at first, but not once I start cutting. A barrel-grip saw seems more like an extension of my hand. When I move my hand, the saw just seems to follow along.”
Price: About $279; DeWalt
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Hitachi CJ18DL
Highlight: Built-in LED illuminates area ahead of blade.
Tester: Robert Clark, Arlington, Va.
Skill level: Professional (“I’m a licensed contractor.”)
Used tool for: Cutting decorative scroll work out of plywood and pine boards.
Verdict: “I was surprised at how strongly the battery performed, even after hours of constant work.”
Tool stats: 5.5 pounds; variable speed to 2,400 strokes per minute; 1-inch stroke length, four-position orbital setting; keyless blade change; shoe adjusts with Allen key.
The Hitachi CJ18DL was part of a wave of 18-volt lithium-ion cordless jigsaws tested by This Old House readers. Over the years, jigsaws have acquired a number of advances — keyless blade changing, trigger-finger speed controls, and orbital sawing action for faster cuts through wood — and the shift to battery power marked the next major evolution for these versatile curve-cutting saws.
Price: About $233, Hitachi
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Ryobi P521
Highlight: Ruby laser projects a cutline ahead of the blade.
Tester: Stuart Charlton, Ypsilanti, Mich.
Skill level: Seasoned DIYer (“I remodeled my entire kitchen, top to bottom.”)
Used tool for: Cutting receptacle box holes in a plaster wall.
Verdict: “I liked the orbital action, but I’d trade its long battery life for more power.”
Tool stats: 5.5 pounds; variable speed to 2,100 strokes per minute; ¾-inch stroke length, four-position orbital setting; keyless blade change; shoe adjusts with Allen key.
How Other Testers Compared: In contrast to Stuart’s wish for more power, This Old House reader Tim Lambert of North Yarmouth, Maine, who tested a competing cordless jigsaw for cutting a cooktop hole in a laminate counter, reported: “This tool has plenty of power; it didn’t bog down at all.” That model, however, weighed in at 7.75 pounds—two pounds heavier than the Ryobi—and offered a longer 1-inch stroke length and a five-position orbital setting.
Price: About $79 for jigsaw, $129 for battery and charger, Ryobi
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Ridgid R883
Highlight: Works with both 18- and 24-volt NiCad or lithium-ion batteries.
Tester: Tim Lambert, North Yarmouth, Maine
Skill level: Seasoned DIYer (“I’ve designed and built outdoor decks.”)
Used tool for: Cutting hole for a new cooktop in a laminate counter.
Verdict: “This tool has plenty of power; it didn’t bog down at all.”
Tool stats: 7.75 pounds; variable speed to 2,200 strokes per minute; 1-inch stroke length, five-position orbital setting; keyless blade change and shoe adjustment.
Technique Tip: When cutting a countertop for a cooktop like Tim did, avoid cutting corners to a sharp square. As Norm Abram demonstrated on This Old House, you should round the corners of your cutout because a square corner creates a stress point in the counter, and “very likely, the laminate will crack after a while.”
Price: About $119 for jigsaw, $150 for battery and charger, Ridgid
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