Black & Decker JS515 4.5-Amp Variable Speed Jig Saw

I'm not a contractor, I'm simply a home owner who needs an affordable, reliable tool to use from time to time when DIY projects come along. The JS515 fits the bill and more. For starters, this saw is well built; sturdy plastic contruction with a metal plate. It also has a built-in, magnetized blade compartment that truly comes in handy when doing projects. It accepts T & U Shank blades and has a dust blower out the back. It includes one T-shank blade.If you're thinking about this and an ORBITAL jigsaw, let me clarify something. If you are not a professional contractor or won't be cutting a LOT of wood, you DO NOT need an orbital saw. The orbital is meant for quick, NOT so clean cuts, meant for heavy volume.Here's another tip, the blade you see pictured, is a T-Shank blade, so try to buy T-Shank blades and DO NOT buy the one suggested by Amazon ( Black & Decker 75-626 Assorted Jigsaw Blades Set, Wood and Metal, 24-Pack )...those are U shank blades and so ARE SHORTER than the one included with this jigsaw. I made the mistake of buying them and ended up with blades that are almost an inch shorter than T-shank, which limits what you can and can not cut depending on thickness.BUY THESE instead: Bosch T10CHC 10 Piece Bosch Shank Jigsaw Blade Set With Pouch These come with a nice little nylon flat pouch and do a great job. Plus they fit exactly as the one pictured with the jigsaw.

A smallish saw, I use it for cutting trim for home DIY. It works well, nice clean cuts and precise if you're careful with it. I've used it both for table-top cuts (clamped) and free-hand cuts (installed trim).Negatives: it's got a pretty limited range of motion, which limits the type and thickness of wood you can cut. It's pretty loud and causes strong vibrations in the cut area (a faster blade would be smoother).This kind of saw is relatively easy/safe for the amateur to work with, with its short cutting range, the flat guide which helps stabilize the saw, and with its blade facing away from the user. But note it lacks a safety switch (once it's plugged in, it's live).If like me, you were wondering whether to get a reciprocating saw, or a jig saw, the jig saw is the better choice for detailed work and the reciprocating saw is better for coarse cuts or thicker wood like 2x4s.

I needed a saw that just cut wood and that I could drag from place to place without being concerned that it would break down when I needed it, yet still not spend a lot of money on it. I didn't need LED lights, digital readouts, or a lot of settings that I'd never use.Presenting the B&D JS515, an uncomplicated model that sells for under $25. One gets the B&D brand value and you don't have to dig deep. So far I've had this saw for over a year now and probably used it 100+ times without a hitch. It uses the standard blade or the T type at your preference.The power is more than adequate and I can go through just about anything but cement board, though I've done that as well in a couple of emergencies for cutting a couple of holes.And while this seems like a small thing, I like the orange color on the job, as it's easy to spot in a room full of other stuff. It also comes with a perfectly adequate canvas carry bag that keeps your extra blades handy and eliminates risk of scraping yourself on the edge while loading/unloading stuff from the truck

Wish I had bought this sooner but at last it went on sale!! UPS delivered at 1:00pm and by 7:00 pm I had cut all the cedar boards and lined my closet. The directions are so easy they are hard. No kidding this is 8th grade reading level directions. I never used one of these before today. The instructions were simple and I found the blade in the side storage. It is magnetic and the blade goes back and stays put. It is a "no tool" needed blade insert. OMG- so easy . Lift the lever and the blade slides in place. It will click in. and you line up the roller groove behind the blade. Ingenius design. I am off to go buy the extra blades. This completes my tool kit. I just do basic maintenance and repairs around the house. I might do a few picture frames. I am so happy with this I gave it 5 stars.