Why.......

[jonmulzer]

.......is it even possible to get a jigsaw with a laser on it? Craftsman and Skil (possibly others) have jigsaws with straight line lasers on them as though they would be the tool of choice for rip cuts. I realize it is just a fancy gizmo to add on to a tool so Joe Somebody sees it as an added feature, but it boggles my mind.

I have a laser on my circular saw, it has maybe been turned on twice. Does anyone use lasers on circular saws? I watch the cut and my line, not a laser. I think the only tool I can think of offhand that I have really found them useful are miter saws. I have not tried a drill press with one but could see it being incredibly handy there also.

The jigsaw really gets me though. And this concludes my weekly rant.

P.S. I picked up a Weber charcoal kettle grill off craigslist today for $10 in great shape and only needs a cleaning. Woohoo! I don't need it, but for that price I could not pass it up.

[Uncle Cracker]

I sometimes use the laser on my circular saw, mostly when I'm not in position to look straight down on my cut notch. It has always been quite stable and accurate. I would think a laser-equipped jig saw might be a little too herky-jerky to be effective, plus it wouldn't help much on a curve.

[jonmulzer]

As I said, I can see the use of one on a circular saw, but a jigsaw? Even if the vibration did not bounce the beam everywhere, the point of a jigsaw is to cut curves.

This only comes up because I need a new one. The blade guide roller on mine went out and Craftsman wants an arm and both legs for the parts. It is cheaper to just buy a new saw.

[Uncle Cracker]

Buy the saw for the features that are important to you. If you don't have a use for the laser, don't use it.

[cabinetman]

While a laser guide may be of some help in a straight line cut, it seems as useful as a laser guide on an car...maybe for those heavy drinkers. For whatever costs that are added to the tool for the laser, I would prefer to purchase a tool without that added feature.

If you're shopping, there are a lot of very good jigsaws out there. I would look for one with at least 5 amps and a 1" stroke.
.

[jonmulzer]

Yeah, I am probably going with a Hitachi. I am ordering a 12" miter saw from Reconditioned Sales next week anyway, may as well toss a jigsaw on the order. Unless someone knows of an inferiority with their jigsaws that is.

[docrowan]

I agree - there has to be additional cost for adding a useless feature. Perhaps it's only that the engineer designing the tool wastes his energy and creativity on this rather than on designing a more comfortable grip or putting extra length on the cord so the plug doesn't catch on the workpiece. I much prefer the tool that only has features that are thoughtful and of value than buy a tool that has features that I won't ever use.

I had a circular saw that had a laser. After playing with it a couple of times, I never used it again.

[jackellis]

C'mon, guys. I haven't even had my Sunday morning coffee yet and I can figure it out!

Laser jigsaws are meant to be bought by certain kinds of DIY'ers and by wives and girlfriends who don't know better.

Putting a laser on a jigsaw is a bit like the Black & Decker battery powered crescent wrench. Gimmicky but not necessarily that useful. Meant to be bought by folks who like gimmicks.

I'll tell you, though, that putting small levels on the back of cordless drills was a stroke of genius.

[WayneJ]

Would you belive , Harbor Freight sells a pair of scissors with a laser on them.
Wayne

[SARGE..g-47]

Jack Ellis nailed it for me.. if you put a laser on my Bosch barrel grip jig-saw it would never get turned on or I would rip it off the first time the control got in my way. A selling gimmick to DIY'ers IMO.

[jonmulzer]

I'll tell you, though, that putting small levels on the back of cordless drills was a stroke of genius.

I thought that same thing last night but did not post it for some reason. That is one little feature I do use a lot. I am waiting for the first scroll saw with a laser.

[LCHIEN]

used to be that laserw were unobtainable or the average person but everyone heard about how precise, powerful and expensive they were. then the cost $100 and specialty machines had them for some good uses. When they came down in price to below $5 retail and OEM for less than a buck, then they became a sales gimmick driven by past perceptions of cost/value and elitism. But some of the uses now are getting pretty questionable.

[Uncle Cracker]

I'm considering some sort of laser aiming device for those middle-of-the-night toilet expeditions...

[RodKirby]

I'll tell you, though, that putting small levels on the back of cordless drills was a stroke of genius.

Should be on EVERY cordless drill - don't ask me why I say that