Comparison Intertool Storm WT-0358 vs Intertool Storm WT-0490

The maximum electrical power consumed by the jigsaw during operation. It is worth noting that this parameter uniquely determines only the amount of electricity spent on the operation of the tool; its practical characteristics, for example, the thickness of the material and the speed of operation, depend primarily on the output power (see below). On the other hand, the output power is not always indicated by the manufacturer, and therefore a comparison by power consumption is quite acceptable — to a certain extent, it allows you to evaluate the characteristics of the tool. So, it is believed that electric jigsaws up to 600 W are enough for domestic use, and more powerful models belong to the professional segment. For more information on selecting a jigsaw for power, see "Output Power".

The minimum stroke frequency of the jigsaw blade during operation. In some cases (for example, when working on metal), a low stroke rate is preferable to a high one; accordingly, the lower the minimum frequency, the more opportunities you will have to set up the instrument for working on a particular material.

The maximum stroke frequency of the jigsaw blade during operation. The higher the stroke rate, the higher the performance of the tool and the cleaner and more accurate the cut, usually. On the other hand, high speed is not optimal for all materials; picking up a "high-speed" jigsaw is worth it if it is planned to be used mainly for woodworking.

Also note that the characteristics of the tool usually indicate the maximum frequency at idle; at work, it is usually less. However, this parameter quite allows you to compare different tools with each other.

The length of the stroke of the working blade of the jigsaw during operation. The longer the stroke, the more of the file will be in contact with the material in one movement; accordingly, at the same frequency of movement of the blade, a jigsaw with a longer stroke length will be more performant.

The maximum cutting depth when working on aluminium and its alloys, in other words, the maximum thickness of a workpiece made of these materials that a jigsaw can cut through. In general, aluminium and its alloys are softer than steel, and therefore the depth of cut through them is greater - in professional models it can reach 30 mm.

The maximum depth of cut in steel, in fact, is the maximum thickness of a workpiece made of steel or other metal of similar characteristics that a jigsaw can handle. For more information about the depth of cut, see "Wood", here we note that due to the hardness of the material, even in professional models, this parameter rarely exceeds 10 mm.

— Soft start. With a normal start, the jigsaw motor reaches operating speed very quickly. A sharp jerk of the tool at the same time can ruin the work and increases the risk of letting the jigsaw out of your hands, which is fraught with various unpleasant consequences. In addition, high starting currents, characteristic of modern electric motors, increase their wear and tear, and are undesirable for the power grid. The soft start system avoids the troubles described above: the speed increases smoothly, the jerk of the tool is minimal, and the starting currents are low. This feature is especially important for high power jigsaws (from 600 W).

— Adjustment of turns. This function allows you to select the optimal stroke rate for different types of materials: for example, soft materials such as wood can be worked at high speeds, while hard materials (metal, ceramics, etc.) are recommended to be worked at low speed. See "Min. frequency" and "Maximum frequency".

— Presetting the number of revolutions. The function provides the fastest speed presetting. The stroke rate of the cutting tool is selected for optimal work with workpieces made of certain materials.

— Maintaining momentum. An electronic system that regulates the power supplied to the working tool so that the speed of its work is constant regardless of the load. This improves the quality and pro...ductivity of work, as well as the service life of the tool and the jigsaw itself.

— Brushless motor. The presence of a brushless electric motor in the jigsaw. The carbon brushes used in traditional electric motors run with a lot of friction, get very hot, tend to spark, and wear out relatively quickly. Accordingly, brushless motors are safer, more economical and more durable. Their main disadvantage is their high cost.

— Keyless file replacement. The ability to replace the jigsaw blade without the use of special tools (wrenches, screwdrivers, etc.) — thanks to a special mount that can be opened and closed by hand. This feature greatly simplifies and facilitates the process of changing the blade.

— Anti-vibration system. A mechanism or system of mechanisms designed to reduce the vibration of a tool during operation. Strong vibrations not only worsen the quality and accuracy of cuts, but also increase tool wear, lead to rapid fatigue of the operator, and during prolonged work, they also adversely affect health. To prevent all this, various designs are used in the form of shock absorbers, counterweights, etc.

— Sawdust blowing system. The possibility of blowing sawdust from the place of cutting directly during the operation of the jigsaw. It is usually implemented by a fan that provides cooling for the electric motor: the air flow is directed to the web, and the resulting waste is immediately blown away. Thus, the sawdust does not cover the marking line, which greatly facilitates the work, especially with complex figured cuts.

— Connecting a vacuum cleaner. Possibility of connecting an external vacuum cleaner to the jigsaw; for this, the tool is equipped with a special nozzle. The role of such a vacuum cleaner is similar to the blowing system (see above): it is primarily designed to clean the cutting line from sawdust and other debris. However, at the same time, the vacuum cleaner also additionally ensures cleanliness: sawdust does not scatter around the room, but is collected in a dust collector. At the same time, there is a drawback: the tool becomes more cumbersome and less suitable for complex jobs.

— Built-in lighting. The jigsaw has its own lighting system in the form of a flashlight aimed at the work area. Such a tool allows you to work in low light conditions without any additional light sources.

— Laser marker. The presence of a laser marker-target designator in an electric jigsaw: such a marker projects a light mark onto the workpiece during operation, which indicates where the cut will go. This greatly improves the accuracy of the work.

— Network. Power jigsaw from a conventional household network 220 watts. The advantages of such a power supply are reliability combined with high power. So, the tool will work as long as there is voltage in the network, and you do not have to worry about whether the battery is enough. And the characteristics of this network usually allow you to power jigsaws of any power, including professional models. On the other hand, the ability to move such a tool is limited by the length of the power cord, the location of the nearest outlet and the availability of extension cords.

— Battery. The electric jigsaw is powered by its own built-in battery. The main advantage of this type of power supply is maximum battery life: the tool can be used anywhere, regardless of whether there is an electrical network nearby, and there is no power cord in the design that tends to interfere and get tangled. At the same time, the battery life is limited, charging it can take quite a long time and still require the presence of the mains. In addition, batteries significantly increase the weight of the tool, and it is rather problematic to provide high power to the tool with such power supply.

Number of batteries supplied with the corresponding tool (see “Power source”). This item may also indicate the presence of a built-in battery.

The included battery allows you to use the device right out of the box. To expand the capabilities, manufacturers can equip the electric lobster with two or more batteries. This provides additional benefits that are especially convenient when using the tool for long periods of time. So, when the charge of one battery is exhausted, you can quickly exchange it for another; while one battery is in use, the second one can be charged. This allows charging interruptions to be minimized or eliminated altogether.

In addition, many modern cordless tools are supplied without batteries. This configuration assumes that the user will purchase additional batteries at his own discretion (many models are compatible with several brands of batteries at once). In addition, this option can be useful if the battery is already on the household. This happens quite often, since many well-known manufacturers use universal batteries suitable for different types of branded power tools. So a battery, for example, from a previously purchased screwdriver or sander may well be compatible with a jigsaw from the same company.

As for non-removable batteries, this is a rather rare and specific option. Such tools turn out to be as compact as possible, but the batteries themselves cannot be quickly changed - so during work you will inevitably...have to take breaks to charge. Therefore, this power supply method is typical for low-power instruments. In them, small size is more important than a long period of continuous operation; moreover, the low capacity allows you to achieve good autonomy even with small sizes (and, accordingly, capacity) of batteries.