By Dean Bielanowski
A jigsaw is perhaps not the most commonly used tool in a workshop, unless you install kitchen bench tops or sinks, but it is a versatile tool that can make cuts a lot of other saw types cannot. The jigsaw is ideally suited to irregular shaped cuts that involve curves, as you can readily make fairly tight turns or radius cuts (minimum 1” radius) in a wide range of material, be it wood or metal, using the appropriate blades.
Jigsaws come in both corded and cordless varieties, but for heavy duty jobs, a corded jigsaw makes light work. I first purchased the Hitachi CJ120v about six months ago as a general jigsaw for around the home and workshop. My previous Ryobi jigsaw finally bit the dust after 8 years of good service, so I thought I might as well make a step up in brand quality to a Hitachi model.
The CJ120V features a 5.8 amp motor which is more than powerful enough for full depth cutting in wooden materials. A good quality, sharp blade helps of course. The saw has a stroke length of 1”, which in practice means up to 2” of material can be cut with the jigsaw. Variable speed is offered via direct trigger action (from 800-3500 SPM). The saw offers an orbital cutting action for fast and aggressive cutting, with a 4-position blade angle adjustment switch to handle different materials and make bevel cutting simpler. The soul/base of the saw is adjustable using supplied allen wrench for bevel angle settings too should you need to make a bevel cut with the saw. The D-style main grip handle is large and comfortable to use.
The jigsaw uses T-type shank blades (sometimes called Bosch shank blades) of which 3 are supplied in the kit for cutting of varying material types. Jigsaw blades are available widely in this T-shank style and they are generic in size and design so any blade with a T-shank design will fit in the Hitachi. My preferred replacement blade brands are Sutton or P&N.
At the front of the tool is a clear plastic blade guard which helps keep fingers away from the sharp blades. Another nice addition is the splinter guard. This is a small drop in piece that acts somewhat like a zero clearance insert to support the material right beside where the cut is made. The theory is that supported material next to the actual cut area is less prone to chipping out and splintering, and that theory might as well be fact, because it does indeed help greatly reduce splintering and tear-out. Jigsaws cut on the upstroke, and there cut mechanic makes them one of the most prone tools for edge splintering and chip-out by nature.
A removable dust port can be connected to a vacuum extractor to help catch dust and debris creating during cutting, although the effectiveness of dust collection on jigsaws is not terribly great compared to some other tools.
In use the CJ120V works very well. You can often judge a good jigsaw from a poor one simply by how much vibration the saw creates while cutting. Quality saws will exhibit very little, hence making it easier to control a cut and produce a cleaner cutting result. Poor quality jigsaws exhibit excessive vibration making the saw difficult to control and guide along a cut line. Thankfully the CJ120V fits into the quality category when it comes to this aspect, showing minimal effects of vibration under load. Of course, quality blades can make a big difference in this area too.
What I like most about this saw is its relative light weight, easy blade changes and general reliability that comes with Hitachi tools. I’d be more than happy to buy another if this one fails, but I will be expecting it to deliver reliable service for many years to come. Recommended for the serious DIY enthusiast or tradesperson.
