Entry level cordless jigsaw

The technical characteristics of the Black & Decker BDCJS18 jigsaw are quite consistent with the status of a “home tool”. It is well suited for craftsmen who work in a home workshop or garage as a hobby because it can cut wood (up to 55mm thick), non-ferrous metals (up to 20mm) and steel (up to 8mm). During operation, you can change the frequency of the saw blade strokes (0 - 2500 strokes / min) and the amplitude of the pendulum movements, adjusting to the characteristics of different materials. A three-position pendulum switch allows you to select the most suitable cutting mode: fast and rough or slower, but with a neat cut.

Details and features

Although this jigsaw does not have a particularly large set of functions compared to professional tools, it also has something to brag about. It has good ergonomics for comfortable work. The handle and body are generously covered with textured rubber pads that are pleasant to the touch. They do not allow the palms to slip and dampen small vibrations from a working tool well. The shape of the body provides a good view of the cutting line. Although it is not possible to connect a vacuum cleaner, the working area is not clogged with chips and dust due to the large hole in the sole near the file. Thanks to the possibility of tilting the sole (45 ° in both directions), the jigsaw can perform miter cuts. The design of the keyless chuck allows the use of both the most common types of files (with U-shank and T-shank) without imposing restrictions on the choice of cutting equipment. The only criticism is the inability to fix the start button in the pressed position (there is no latch), which makes it inconvenient to make long straight and curly cuts, in which you need to change the position of the palm on the handle.

With battery or without battery - you decide

The Black&Decker BDCJS18 jigsaw is sold complete with a 2 Ah battery. The manufacturer claims that when sawing thin boards, such as parquet or laminate, the charge of this battery is enough for 100 - 150 cross cuts. If you already have an 18V battery from other Black&Decker tools, you can save some money and buy the Black&Decker BDCJS18N, the "basic" version without battery and charger.