In our search for the best cordless jigsaw puzzles, we've found several great options
While some people think of jigsaws as just carpentry tools, they are multipurpose tools that will be found on nearly every contractor's job site at some point. Choosing the best cordless jigsaw puzzle isn't just about cordless convenience. They're just as powerful as wired models, and some have extremely rich feature sets.
Best Cordless Jigsaw Overall
DeWalt 20V Max XR Puzzle
Whether you want top handles or barrel handles, we choose the DeWalt 20V Max XR as the best cordless jigsaw overall. It doesn't cut as fast as some of the others, but it has better vibration control, and it can reduce blade deflection to zero for tough cuts. For the top handle model, the lower height gave us a better sense of control.
For both versions, the controls seem to be well positioned and within easy reach without having to move the grip. This is especially noticeable on the barrel grip, where the on/off switch on other models was out of reach for many of our test team's hands. While there are trade-offs, the DeWalt gave us the best overall cutting experience.
Price: $199 bare, $349 kit with 5.0Ah battery
Best Cordless Jigsaw Cutting Speed
Milwaukee M18 Fuel Puzzle
Not everyone needs to cut 2x and other thick materials, so the fastest speed is not always a high priority. However, there are a few teams that can make quick cuts, and Milwaukee showed us the fastest cuts. Keep in mind that you'll need an orbital motion to get the fastest cuts, and this will make your edges rougher. The Milwaukee's 3500 SPM and brushless motor cut through any material faster, even when the track is off.
Price: $199 bare, $239 kit with 5.0Ah battery
Best cordless jigsaw puzzle for precision and control
Makita 18V LXT Puzzle
For the best precision and control you need a combination of line of sight (a blower really helps), tracking and yaw control. Good vibration control also goes a long way toward preventing hand fatigue. In our testing, no other saw does this quite like the Makita, and both the top handle and barrel handle design are excellent.
Price: $289
Best Wireless Jigsaw Vibration Control
Hilti Nuron 22V Cordless Jigsaw
Hilti's Nuron cordless jigsaw includes AVR (Active Vibration Reduction) with vibration control in the clinic. It has a top speed of 3,000 SPM, which is slightly lower than some products, and it uses a brushless motor. However, AVR technology makes the Hilti a smooth operator.
Price: $234 bare metal
Skil PWRCore 20 Brushless Puzzle
There aren't many jigsaw kits on the market, and if you don't already have the necessary batteries and charger, using a cordless puzzle is slightly more expensive. That helps the Skil PWRCore 20 Brushless Jigsaw Kit a solid value at $169, since it includes a 2.0Ah battery and a PWRJump fast charger.
However, this is not a barebones value. In addition to the brushless motor, it adds tool-free bevel adjustment and a unique push-up blade release that's easier than other shaft-mount designs. This is one of those saws where you need to cut a little slower to get the highest quality results. In our opinion, this is a very easy tradeoff for cost savings.
Price: $169 with 4.0Ah battery
Best Budget Cordless Jigsaw
Hart 20V Rail Jigsaw
At just $64 bare-bones and $89 for a kit with a 1.5 Ah battery and charger, there's no better way to get started with a budget cordless jigsaw than with Hart's 20V jigsaw. With selectable track actions, shifting sliders, lockout buttons, and more, it's rich for the price.
Even better, as we write this, you can get the puzzle, two 4.0Ah batteries, and a charger for just $99!
Price: $64. $89 with 1.5Ah battery
The Best Cordless Jigsaw Blades
Cut quality depends on the blade – so we want to start there. When it comes to choosing the best jigsaw blade, you have many options. We have always turned to Bosch because of its deep history in jigsaw and blade development. They have a full line of standard and specialty saw blades for just about anything you could ask your jigsaw to do. For a great general purpose kit, check out Bosch's 10-piece Wood and Metal Blade Set (T5002).
- 11–14 TPI base metal cutting blades (2)
- 17–24 TPI base metal cutting blades (2)
- 12 TPI Basic Roller Blades (2)
- 10 TPI Clean Wood Cutting Blades (2)
- 5–6 TPI Fast Wood Cutting Blades (2)
Price: $13.99
The best cordless puzzles from more brands we trust
Best Bosch Cordless Jigsaw: 18V JSH180B
Bosch's cordless jigsaw cuts a bit slower than others, but it's a smooth operator. Its vibration control is excellent, and we like that the top handle saw has a lower height, which gave us a better sense of control. This one doesn't have too many bells and whistles. Overall, it's well built, and $159 is very reasonable for a professional-grade model.
Price: $159
Best Hartt Cordless Jigsaw: 20V HPJS01
HART now has a brushless jigsaw as part of its 20V range that goes a step further than its brushed counterpart. It has 3350 SPM at the top and 1 inch of full travel. It has a great feature set, including three track modes, variable speed dials, tool-less bevel adjustment, locking switch, and more.
Price: $128
Best Flex Wireless Jigsaw: 24V Brushless FX2231-Z/FX2221-Z
The Flex has one of the fastest cutting cordless jigsaws with a 3500 SPM stroke rate. It differs from traditional variable speed dials with 4 electronic speeds and an effective automatic mode. It also has a button to turn off the LED light if you don't want to use it. The only big feature they have left is the tool-free bevel change.
The barrel handle version has a more ergonomic design than most, thanks to an on/off switch that's easily accessible without taking your hands off the tool.
If you register your tools, chargers and batteries before 12/31/22, you will get a lifetime warranty on all of them.
Price: $199 bare metal, $358 with 2.5Ah battery
Best Kobalt Cordless Jigsaw: 24V Max Brushless KJS 324B-03
The Kobalt is a great value option with a design that can compete with some of the best Pro models at a much lower price point. It features a brushless motor, blade release lever, tool-less bevel adjustment, selectable tangent blower and 3+1 track selection. You're really just missing the dust collection and the variable speed dial. At $129 bare-bones, it's one of the more affordable battery items and an attractive option for value shoppers, though it doesn't have the kit option for system newbies.
Best Metabo HPT Cordless Jigsaw: 36V MultiVolt CJ36DAQ4
Sadly, Metabo HPT has discontinued their 36V MultiVolt Jigsaw. In addition to its great performance, variable speed dial, and auto mode that works better than most, it's the only cordless model with an AC adapter option.
Price: Discontinued
Best Ridgid Cordless Jigsaw: 18V Octane Brushless R8832B
Ridgid's Octane Jigsaw is another high-value option with the most complete feature set of any saw we tested. It's priced at just $149 bare metal. The design team didn't miss anything at all. It features tool-less bevel adjustment, selectable tangent blower, blade release lever, variable speed dial and trigger (including off mode), lock button, 3+1 track selection and shoe cover. It even offers dust collection and a separate button to turn the LED light on and off.
You need to cut a little slower to control deflection in thick or hard materials, and it's not as fast or smooth as some others. However, it will still give you professional-quality results. Also, don't forget about the lifetime service agreement if you sign up for the tool.
Note that Ridgid has been replacing Octane tools with new brushless cords. We haven't seen an updated puzzle yet, but we bet there will be one.
price:
Best Ryobi Cordless Jigsaw: 18V One+ HP Brushless PBLJS01B
When Ryobi offered an 18V One+ HP brushless upgrade to its cordless puzzles, it improved on other features. In addition to the new brushless motor, it now features tool-less bevel adjustment, a blade release lever, and a shoe cover. However, all of this comes with price increases. You can still find the previous model for around $69, which is a great option for beginners. The 18V One+ HP brushless model—our pick—is a better option for more serious users at $129.
Price: $129 bare metal, $159 with 2.0Ah high-performance battery
What is a puzzle?
Jigsaws use an up and down reciprocating motion to saw through wood, metal, PVC, and other materials. Primarily a logging tool, it uses a narrower blade that allows you to cut curves better than other types of saws. It is also useful for finishing corner cuts thanks to the straight blade design.
If contractors don't have a handy multitool or drywall cutting tools, they often use them to cut sink countertops or cut drywall. With these cuts, you'll usually drill a hole in the scrap area that's big enough to fit the jigsaw blade, making it easier to start cutting.
There are many other ways to cut with a jigsaw, these are just the main ways we use them. Any other ideas? Feel free to share them in the comments below!
Top Handle vs Barrel Grip Puzzle
At the risk of starting an argument about top handle versus barrel grip puzzle design, here's the skinny: it mostly comes down to personal preference. Shocking, we know!
We prefer top handle jigsaws when we are cutting with one hand. This is a great help if you are in a situation where you cannot clamp material securely. When cutting with two hands, your second hand simply moves to the front handle of the saw.
Some people feel they have better control with a barrel grip. It keeps your hand in a low position while your other hand can rest on the front or top of the saw.
Hand size can also play a role. In our experience, men and women with smaller hands tend to prefer top handles. However, 12V barrel grip jigsaws have a narrow enough grip area that even those folks can enjoy using them.
Regionally, the US tends to favor top handle models, which is what every brand we tested makes. However, the following brands offer both:
- flexible
- Bosch
- Dewalt
- Makita
- milwaukee
- Skills (12V only)
Cordless Jigsaw Puzzles Buying Guide | What We Look For
Performance
Any jigsaw worth buying has to be able to cut through your work efficiently. If you custom stair stringers, it's best if your saw is able to cut 2x. As a woodworker, you need to cut hardwood without burning it. Having selectable speeds or at least a variable speed trigger helps a lot.
Brushless motor helps improve cutting performance and uptime. It's not as critical as some power tools, but it's a nice boost.
Also, look for optional track actions. It increases the aggressiveness of the blade attack and cuts faster with an elliptical motion. The tradeoff is rougher cuts.
A quick note on automatic speed control – this feature takes some getting used to, and some of our teams refuse to use it outright. However, those who really like the consistency of its start and performance through the clip. Start with a soft start, and it will increase speed based on the pressure you apply in the cut.
Accuracy, Control and Deflection
Because the main job of a jigsaw is to cut curves, control is important. A big part of this is the design of the saw and how it fits in your hand. The other part of it is using a quality blade that's sized for the curves you're cutting.
Pay attention to the blade itself. The saw needs to keep running straight up and down to control deflection and drift. Most models have a guide behind the blade, but we've used some jigsaws that allow the blade to pop out easily and keep your cut off course.
All of the jigsaws we recommend are capable of cutting 2x more material without deflection. However, you'll need to slow down some of them. DeWalt, Flex, Makita, and Milwaukee all handle faster cuts than the others with no or minimal deflection.
Remember how far the front of your shoe is from the blade. As these edges taper, you allow the sides of the shoe to rest on your material when you need to make thinner cuts.
visibility
You get as good control as you can get, but if you can't see the blade touching the cut line, it doesn't mean it's pointless. Most jigsaws do a good job of keeping the blade area clearly visible. LED lights and a tangential blower dramatically improve your visibility.
vibration
Once performance, control and visibility are down, you can narrow down your options by choosing products with lower vibration. Your hands will thank you, and you'll feel like you're wrestling with the saw less when it's smoother.
price and value
Of course, price plays a big role in your choice, and we all like to stay on budget. The tool provides a large portion of value for money. Keep the warranty in mind if the series has any other tools you might want to add to your collection. Take a look first at the puzzles available on the battery platform you already have. You can save a ton of money by getting bare tools.
Features that can make using puzzles easier
- optional track action
- gear selection
- automatic speed control
- slow start
- cutting blower
- led lights
- Dust collection adapter
- Tool-less bevel adjustment (or on-board tool storage, if not tool-less)
- Housing mounted blade release lever
- No-mar floor cover
- Lockout Switch (Standard on Most Cylinder Saws)
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