Drawings and templates on plywood with a jigsaw. Preparing a stencil for cutting plywood products with a jigsaw. Useful video: templates for wood carving

A jigsaw is one of the most common hand-held power tools. They can process the most different materials: wood, plastic, ceramics, metal, etc. However, the main material with which most jigsaw masters work is plywood.

Using a narrow file, this tool allows you to not only make straight cuts, but also create intricate patterns. And in this article we will look at some tips from experts working with jigsaws.


Features of working with a jigsaw

A jigsaw for cutting plywood is a very simple tool in appearance, and almost every beginner can make an even cut using it. However, if we talk about beautiful curly patterns, then here it is necessary not only to have certain skills, but also to select the right files.

Main nuances

When cutting out plywood with a jigsaw with your own hands, you should know the following:

  1. The main condition for obtaining an even cut is making the right choice tool files. To ensure that the cut on the front side is without scoring, you need to use a thin file with the teeth pointing downwards.
  2. The workpiece needs to be firmly secured, otherwise you won’t get an even cut

  1. A few words about files. A large number of saws are produced for jigsaws, which differ from each other in both thickness and design features.
    Depending on this they distinguish:
    • Saw or side divorce. The teeth bend to the right and left in turn, like hand saws. This method produces files with relatively large teeth. They are used for fast straight cutting. The cut has rough edges, so it needs to be processed sandpaper.
    • Canvas with undercut. In this case, the teeth do not have a pattern at all. These files allow you to make very thin and clean cuts. Naturally, the speed of work decreases. If such a file has a slight gap, then the work will go a little faster. However, in this case, the main emphasis is not on speed, but on the quality of the cut.
    • Wavy divorce. To enable very small and narrow saw blades to make wider cuts, cutting edge the canvas is made wavy. For the most part, such files are used when working with metal, but they are often used when working with plywood to obtain a narrow and clean cut in a fairly short time.

Sawing patterns with a jigsaw

Advice!
You can use patterns from magazines on embroidery, knitting or paper cutting.

In order to transfer a drawing to plywood you need to do the following:

  1. Translate the pattern to thick paper.
  2. Using a sharp utility knife or scalpel, cut out the stencil.
  3. We apply the stencil to the surface of the material, tracing it with a simple pencil.
  4. Now you can start cutting out the pattern.

Unlike making a straight cut, cutting out plywood with a jigsaw has its own characteristics.

This instruction will help you understand all the intricacies of the work:

  1. To cut along a curve, use a saw with a narrow blade.
  2. To do this, you need to use a special attachment - a circle cutter. The circle cutter is fixed in the center of the circle, after which you can start working.
  1. If you need to select grooves in a piece of wood, you can use a rasp instead of a file. It is also used to clean up uneven cuts.
  2. In order to make a perfectly accurate and even cut, you should use rip fence. It must be attached to the jigsaw using screws.
    A special guide ruler can be installed on the “ski”, thanks to which the cut goes parallel to the straight edge. Before you begin, you must make sure that the ruler is firmly attached and aligned with the canvas. Otherwise, the movement of the saw will be incorrect, and it may break or “burn” the material being processed.
  1. If you need to make a straight, long cut, you can use an auxiliary guide. In this case, the jigsaw will move along the firmly fixed bar.
  2. Using this tool you can make cuts at an angle of up to 45 degrees. The angle of inclination is set on a scale.
  1. Sawing a hole. Very often, when cutting out ornaments, the craftsman needs to make a hole in the plywood.
    There are two options for this:
    • The first option is the simplest. You need to drill a hole with a drill, after which you insert a file into it and continue cutting out the desired design.
    • The second option involves the use of plunge or plunge cutting technology. There is no need to drill a starting hole. To do this, you need to place the tool on the front edge of the “ski” without touching the workpiece with the blade.

Advice!
Plunge sawing should always start at the waste end of the material.
The saw should not enter the plywood too close to the cutting line, so as not to damage the material.

  1. If you need to cut a thick board and the saw blade is not long enough for this, you need to use a file with a pointed end. First, we saw through the workpiece on one side, then we turn it and saw through on the other.
  2. To cut out a shaped part, you can attach the tool to the bottom of the work table. If the workpiece is fed evenly and smoothly, you will be able to get a cut with clean, even edges.
The photo shows a tool attached to the bottom of the desktop.

Conclusion

From this article you learned how to cut plywood with a jigsaw. Here we discussed the basic principles of working with this tool, which will help you in implementing various construction and design solutions.

In the video presented in this article you will find additional information on this topic.

Similar materials

Incredible beautiful decoration Carved platbands are used for wooden residential buildings. The owner can make such elements with his own hands, which will add individuality to the residential building. The part has its own characteristics. One side of the casing is straight. The second is a figured carving.

DIY carved wooden frame

The framed windows on the façade evoke memories of grandma's house in the countryside. Structural element– the platband serves reliable protection from drafts, noise, rain, snow and dust. It completely covers the gap formed between the window frame and the opening. The carving makes the details attractive appearance. The whimsical pattern can be modern or borrowed from ancestors.

The master must first decide on the method of manufacturing the platbands:

If desired, the master can combine two together different types thread.

Repair of dilapidated platbands

If the owner summer cottage the house was inherited, then dilapidated frames may remain on the windows. Damaged items that cannot be repaired should be removed. Replace them with new parts. Carefully remove the old layer paint coating.

The tree is soft material, so it is easy to damage. How to shoot old paint depends on the thickness of the layer and the presence of damage. If the previous paint coating is thin, without cracks or blisters, then the surface of the wood is treated with sandpaper to remove the gloss and painted with appropriate paint.


The process of repairing carved platbands

When the surface has been painted in several layers or there are swellings and cracks on it, then the coating cannot be left. It is scraped down to the wood with a metal spatula.

The thin layer of old paint does not need to be completely removed.

It is also necessary to remove paint from wood when you plan to use another type of coloring composition. When incompatible substances interact, they destroy wood and coatings. To protect the wood, coat it with a special primer and apply new paint.

Preparatory stage

Prepare the necessary tools and materials for slotted carving:

Instead of a jigsaw, you can choose a set of chisels and knives, but a hand tool with electric drive there are a number of advantages:

  • house carving is performed quickly, accurately, and with high quality;
  • compact dimensions;
  • light weight;
  • the ability to make straight and curved cuts;
  • making round and rectangular holes with different diameters.

Professional carvers note that a universal jigsaw is convenient and easy to use. When choosing a tool, power is of paramount importance. Can be cut with a household jigsaw wooden frames for windows with a thickness of less than 70 mm.

Read also

Carved wood furniture self made

Carved window casing ready for painting

The professional model has more capabilities: a jigsaw cuts wood with a thickness of 80–135 mm. The cost of high-performance tools is influenced by the presence of additional functionality.
What equipment is required to work with a jigsaw?

The following items are often included with a jigsaw:

  • replaceable files;
  • several screwdrivers;
  • lubricating fluid;
  • storage case.

The master will also need a table on which the tool will be mounted at the workplace. With this convenient device you can move the material, not the jigsaw. This is necessary when processing small parts. If you attach to the support platform replacement plate, optimal glide can be achieved.

Carving with a jigsaw

Manufacturing process carved elements carried out in several stages:

Making a sketch

The jigsaw begins only when the master has prepared the templates. Those who are trained will help you execute exactly what you want on wood. Take your time to get to work on wood as quickly as possible. Let you have not one sketch, but several. Sculpt the pattern to feel its volume. When choosing a design, you can start with simple elements of an openwork pattern, characteristic of slotted carvings in Russia.

Find inspiration in the contemplation of immortal masterpieces folk art. You can look at samples if you look at furniture in the Baroque or Rococo styles. Select a sketch of a baroque ornament used by Russian master carvers. The pattern depicts national characteristics. Rococo motifs include motifs of plant elements, small birds, curved shells, and fancy curls.


in any of the above-mentioned styles involves the preparation and execution of complex technical compositions for window decoration. House painting contains all the richness of traditional patterns.
Any woodwork is available to skilled craftsmen today.

They do an excellent job of bringing the sketch to life. modern machines with CNC. With the help of high-precision equipment, any design idea can be easily realized.

Multifaceted and sophisticated elements can cause admiration among others. House carving can be represented by a combination of different types. In order not to spoil the future product, be sure to use templates or stencils to make markings. House paintings from the past are a rich source of inspiration, in which you will find all kinds of Russian ornaments.

Creating a template is the best option

In the process of making a template, the following steps are distinguished:

Select a file and install it in the tool

Never use saws designed for working with metal.
Buy wood saws for window frames in advance. It's better to take the whole set. These parts can quickly wear out and break.

A selection of sketches for carving platbands

It is difficult to cut according to the intended markings with a jigsaw with a narrow file, but with it complex shapes will turn out neat. The quality of the cut and the lifespan of the jigsaw file depend on how correctly the file was installed. The tension should be optimal.

Please note which files you don’t need to buy for a jigsaw:

  1. The nozzle is selected in accordance with the maximum possible length of the cutting part for a specific jigsaw model.
  2. Do not buy files with kinks. House carving will be of poor quality due to the bending of the blade of the cutting part. The quality of the cut will deteriorate or it will become impossible to make it completely.

Various kinds of crafts made of plywood and wood, made by skilled craftsmen, are highly valued all over the world, causing universal admiration. Undoubtedly, carving is creativity and art, but you can certainly master it with effort and constantly honing your skills. This optimal hobby related to wood and plywood will not require too much free time from you and equipment that is not very expensive. Of course, this means carving plywood using jigsaws!

Openwork carving

It is rapidly gaining popularity: who doesn’t want to make an excellent piece of decoration for themselves, decorating their home, furniture, and creating an artistic ambiance! Cut-out products of different thicknesses are optimally integrated into many existing decorative styles, and we get, for example, frames for photo cards with ornaments, words, individual letters, figured shelves made with jigsaw carvings on plywood. In addition, such creativity is an action that is accessible to anyone interested in the process, even a beginner. You just need to get an idea of ​​“how it works.” And you can start creating!

Using a hand jigsaw is quite easy

Video to get started:

This wood material is chosen for the following reasons:

  • moisture resistant;
  • temperature changes do not have a negative impact;
  • quite low cost;
  • ease of learning to cut with a jigsaw;
  • low weight of products.

It is also necessary to choose plywood of the 1st and 2nd grades for crafts. The rest are not suitable for creativity: the surfaces have cracks with knots and chips (unless they can be used for internal substrates). Most suitable for cutting birch plywood(3-10 mm thick).

At the present time, this material is divided into a fairly large number of subspecies - each for specific purposes.

  • Experts and folk craftsmen advise using sheets produced using a urea-formaldehyde composition. Such material is marked “FC”. This type of plywood can be bought “clean” or coated, for example, with varnish. It is most convenient to transfer the drawing to untreated plywood sheets for cutting with a jigsaw.
  • Plywood marked “FOF” is intended for furniture production, and is often produced over 12 millimeters in thickness.
  • The FB brand was originally developed as a boat material, which is why its cost is high (but if it is possible to use it, then it is suitable for cutting with a jigsaw).
  • But masters do not recommend purchasing FSF. Although attractive in appearance, it is toxic because it is made using a composition of phenolic resins.

Produced grades of working material

Types of carvings on plywood

It is divided into:

  • Openwork,
  • Patterned, on a painted sheet of plywood,
  • Ewing,
  • combined method.

What additional materials and tools will be needed?

  • Stencils and drawings with drawings for work. You can come up with them yourself or copy them on the Internet.
  • Carbon paper to transfer patterns and lines according to the drawing;
  • Glass paper and sandpaper, a set of files - for grinding parts;
  • Joiner's (optionally casein) composition for gluing parts;
  • Transparent varnish – for coating;
  • To make holes inside the material to thread the blade through, use a drill and an awl.
  • Before starting cutting with a jigsaw, carefully sand the material with glass paper, and only then transfer the patterns according to the drawing.
  • Transfer elongated shapes of designs with narrow elements onto plywood so that they are located along the fibers of the “face” of the material.

Artistic cutting with a jigsaw: drawing, stencil and work

Let's get to know the devices

A jigsaw is a tool that is designed to work along different contours. The device includes a blade equipped with teeth small enough to cut the working material, practically without forming burrs or chips.

Manual

The “founder” of the genus is, of course, the manual jigsaw. Everything ingenious is simple: a metal U-shaped arc, and a working blade is stretched between the ends, which is secured with clamps. They hold the files during operation, and with their help, its tension is also adjusted. Handle for comfortable work located on one side of the frame. The tool clamps can be rotated, thereby creating a different plane for carrying out work, providing opportunities for carving plywood with a jigsaw of increased complexity.

  • When creating with the help hand-held device Maximum care must be taken: the design is quite fragile, and with intense pressure the blade sometimes breaks and needs to be replaced. Every novice craftsman should stock up on additional working files.
  • When working with a jigsaw, it is convenient to use an auxiliary board: it protects the table and solves problems with the convenient location of the plywood workpiece.

Jigsaws

This device operates using electricity. It is a housing where the mechanism is located, and the control handle is also located there. The sawing element is located at the bottom of the device at the front. The blade is protected, and this allows you to cut along the contour very smoothly, without deviations. Professional models equipment has many attachments that greatly facilitate the work process, for example, leveling the edge of the material. Jigsaw blades can also have teeth that vary in shape and size. They should be selected in accordance with the material for the saw, so that the plywood sheets are not damaged during operation.

  • Household electric jigsaws for non-production purposes are usually of low power (from 350 to 500 W). For beginners, this is the most common option when you are just learning to cut out crafts and figures from plywood (usually of small thickness). It is quite safe to operate such a device, especially when it is equipped with protection.
  • A professional jigsaw is intended for industrial purposes and has a power of more than 700 W, high speed and cutting accuracy. It can cut sheets over 10 cm thick, aluminum, and thin steel.

Video: simple jigsaw:

Fraser

Sometimes this device is used for carving. It is a type of special hand tool, with the assistance of which living conditions can be performed different types wood and plywood work. However, working with it requires some skill; But craftsmen who deftly handle this equipment can create real, highly artistic masterpieces of folk art.

Preparing the stencil

Drawings for creative works there are different sizes, depending on the scale of the products being manufactured. For example, for diagrams of a shelf or a piece of furniture, for a three-dimensional toy, you should take a sheet of Whatman paper in A1 format, a roll of wallpaper remaining after repair may also be suitable, and for small figures (such as souvenirs) we take office paper (A4 or A3 format).

Using a marker or pencil, we draw the outlines of the future object on the surface of the paper, following specified sizes. Templates are presented in the public domain in a wide range, we choose the appropriate one (for beginners, as a rule, it is not too complicated). Or you can come up with your own options for cutting with a jigsaw and then transfer it to a paper base.

Then we transfer the images to the surface of the working material (plywood, boards). To do this, cut out a figure from paper, apply it to plywood and carefully trace along the contour with a pencil. The lines must be precise and even. If necessary, correct it by erasing it with an eraser.

The contours are applied “from the rear” of the material so that no remnants of the drawing are noticeable on the finished form. The internal areas can also be shaded so as not to cut off an extra piece, thereby indicating an inviolable fragment.

Example drawings

Snowflake

How to carve plywood

Working with the device will not be difficult if you properly prepare for the creative process.

  • The work area must have good lighting;
  • The working plane must be protected from damage. You can, for example, lay plywood sheet or cover it with film;
  • All necessary tools and spare blades should be prepared in advance. And we can begin.

The first step should begin with drawing the inner outline of the drawing or drawing. To do this, you need to make slots into which the blades of the device will be inserted. Usually, when cutting large contours, there is no problem, but in small remnants, working with a jigsaw from the inside can cause chips, burrs or cuts. You must act very carefully.

Working with a jigsaw


How to saw with a hand jigsaw

  1. Secure the piece of plywood with one hand and hold the cutting jig by the handle with the other.
  2. Start moving along the drawn contours, moving the jigsaw up/down. This should be done around the perimeter of the drawing.

Working with a hand jigsaw

As you can see, there is nothing super complicated in this work. And you will acquire a real creative hobby by learning how to operate these devices.

How to cut plywood with a jigsaw

Sawing plywood with an electric or manual jigsaw is undoubtedly a creative process. And you will be able to create decorative items of various styles with your own hands: from fairy-tale cartoon characters for children to decorations for furniture and home.

Photo gallery of examples of work

All photos from the article

According to historical data, mass production of plywood dates back to the beginning of the nineteenth century. And since this material at that time was produced exclusively for decoration and furniture production, almost simultaneously this type of craft appeared as a do-it-yourself craft.

For more than 2 centuries, this type of art has not lost its relevance. It is loved for its simplicity and the end product is of decent quality.

By and large, anyone, regardless of gender and age, can engage in this type of art. A huge advantage is the absence of serious financial investments.

Besides the big own desire you only need a sheet of plywood, the jigsaw itself and stencils or, as the craftsmen also call them, drawings for artistic cutting out of plywood with a jigsaw.

Preparing for work

Despite the apparent simplicity of this type of creativity, it should be taken seriously. Success here largely depends on how thoroughly you prepare. Namely, you will select and process a plywood sheet and select drawings that are suitable for your product that can be cut out of plywood with a jigsaw.

Choosing a quality sheet

Now plywood is divided into many types, each of them was developed for specific purposes. And as strange as it may sound, not every material is safe to work with.

Talking about artistic cutting, you should remember that during work you will inevitably breathe fine dust and fumes from plywood, and at the moment they are not always safe.

  • Experienced craftsmen prefer to work with sheets made on the basis of urea-formaldehyde compounds; they can be easily recognized by the first letters of the “FK” marking. Such plywood may already come with decorative coating type of varnish or have a clean “shirt”. In the latter case, it is more convenient to apply drawings to the sheet for cutting out plywood with a hand jigsaw;
  • Sheets marked “FOF” are aimed at furniture production and are often quite safe as well. But they have another disadvantage: they most often refer to and have a thickness of more than 12 mm;

  • The FB brand was developed as plywood for the construction or finishing of various types of boats and yachts, so the price of such material is too far from affordable, although this plywood is also safe;
  • What you definitely shouldn’t mess with is plywood like “FSF”. No matter how beautiful it looks, you should clearly remember that in its production compositions with high content phenol, which itself is considered one of the serious and quite toxic carcinogens.

Important: for artistic work, especially for cutting with a jigsaw, it is highly not recommended to take sheets that have knots in the top jacket. They will fall out during operation.

Let's move on to the drawings

The easiest way to make, for example, drawings of animals for cutting out of plywood with a hand jigsaw is to use scrap materials and simple carbon paper. Everyone has a lot of printed material in their home, such as old postcards with birds, fish and other living creatures.

A pre-prepared carbon copy is placed on the prepared and sanded sheet, the image you have chosen or a photo of your favorite animal is placed on top of it, and secured with push pins (now you can use tape for this purpose). After which you just have to clearly outline the outline of the image.

Important: do not worry about the carbon paper staining the clean sheet while you press your drawings for artistic cutting out of plywood with a jigsaw. After the workpiece is cut, it will in any case need to be sanded with sandpaper; during this processing, all contaminants will be removed.

You should not immediately take on complex highly artistic products with thin fragments. For an inexperienced craftsman, it will be difficult to process small parts without damaging them with careless pressure.

If there are children near you, then it is better to use, for example, simple drawings for cutting out a car from plywood with a jigsaw or make cutting board. Thus, you will not only gain basic work skills, but will also delight the kids.

Important: do not forget that professional drawings of plywood boxes for cutting with a jigsaw necessarily contain fasteners that are part of the overall plate. Therefore, it is better to start here by cutting out internal cavities and fragments.


If you don’t have enough choice of images from your home archive, we recommend turning to ready-made collections. Nowadays, such stencils are used not only for cutting plywood, but also a number of artistic crafts use them as a basis, so it will not be difficult for you to buy such sets in office supply stores, and sometimes even in underground passages.

Advanced users who have a good printer at home can download one of the common graphics programs to their computer and use it to create professional works of authorship.

Product cutting process

Particular attention should be paid to preparing the jigsaw. As already mentioned, it is better to start with manual option. The price of such a tool and instructions for working with it are accessible to almost everyone. A couple of decades ago, such work was part of the compulsory labor training program for boys in schools.

Initially, you should properly secure cutting blade. The teeth of the blade should only point down, towards the handle. First, one of the edges of the blade is securely clamped, after which the second end of the jigsaw is slightly compressed by 10 - 15 mm and the opposite edge of the blade is fixed. There is no need to stretch it too much; the fabric may burst during operation.

Today many people strive to decorate their interiors pleasant little things, for example, elements with threads. Wood products with beautiful ornaments and patterns are very popular. Wood always decorates a house, creates coziness, and most importantly, is natural material. Wood carving is a very pleasant and interesting activity that anyone can master if they carefully study the process and prepare for work.

Features of work

A jigsaw is a tool that allows you to cut out of plywood various elements, create ornaments. The thin serrated blade makes various cuts, lines and allows you to create wood decorations. A jigsaw is also used in construction, but in this article we will focus specifically on cutting out decorative elements. Cutting with a jigsaw has a number of features. There are many variations of this tool. The two main types are manual and electric jigsaws. The manual jigsaw was originally invented. This design consists of an arc and a blade. The blade is secured with clamps that allow you to change the tension. The frame includes a handle.

The clamps can be positioned to rotate. This allows you to change the plane and create complex carving elements. The file of a manual jigsaw and its entire structure are subject to wear, so the file has to be changed frequently. Masters who work hand tools, have a lot of spare files for replacement. A jigsaw is a tool that runs on mains power. The body contains mechanisms, there is a handle on the body, the sawing element is located in the front part at the bottom of the body. Sometimes there is a foot that helps you cut smoother. There are models with attachments used to facilitate sawing and edge alignment.

When working with a jigsaw, you should familiarize yourself with the parameters that are specified in the instructions in order to know exactly how to use the tool for cutting out patterns. This tool differs from a hand jigsaw in the way the file is attached, its thickness and weight. At the jigsaw more weight and lower accuracy, but significantly higher productivity.

You can use a jigsaw for construction work. It is difficult to work with such a tool for a long time. For decorative elements it is too heavy and not very accurate. The material may be damaged and the accuracy of the pattern may be distorted.

Choosing the right material

To work with a jigsaw, plywood is used for cutting. Birch is best thin plywood 2-8 mm thick; for very delicate and dense designs, sheets up to 3 mm thick are used. They also use specially prepared wooden blanks. It is more difficult to work with wooden blanks, but very beautiful edges remain. Plywood is easier to use and more affordable. Before starting work, it is worth preparing high-quality plywood. It is important to pay attention to some features of the material.

  • For artistic cutting, sheets less than 5 mm thick are used; for furniture elements, 1-2 cm sheets are used.
  • If you are going to coat the product with colorless varnish, then you need to choose the color of the plywood carefully. If the finished product is covered with paint, colored varnish or stain, then the plywood can be of any kind.
  • The plywood should be well dried to 40-65%. Raw material will cause the tool to jam.
  • The quality of plywood for artistic work must be high, plywood of the first or highest grade.
  • Carefully check the material for knots and foreign stains.
  • Check that the material is free of blisters, voids and stains from resin.
  • Check the sheet for material delamination.

You can check the quality of factory sizing of plywood like this: saw off a piece 1-2 cm wide; if the plywood is of high quality, then the strip will not delaminate and will not crumble.

Required Tools

When cutting with a jigsaw, a certain set of tools is used. So, to work you will need:

  • electric jigsaw and manual jigsaw;
  • plywood or special treated board (thickness depends on the product);
  • an awl, a drill with a drill, in order to make a hole into which the blade will then be lowered;
  • several different files and sandpaper to smooth the edges;
  • drawings, patterns, stencils for application to wood;
  • mallet, hammer, pliers;
  • desktop - a surface 20 by 30 cm with a hole converging to a cutout 3-5 cm in diameter at an acute angle;
  • a thin awl and a pencil for transferring the image onto the board;
  • spare jigsaw blades for various types cutting;
  • spare saw blades for hand tools.

Beginners will need a lot of files for a hand jigsaw. They are consumed in huge quantities by training carvers. To create patterns, you should use a hand jigsaw; longer and straighter cuts are made with an electric tool. The manual accuracy is higher, but the productivity is lower.

Jigsaw cutting technology

Like any hobby or craft, sawing will take time to learn, but if you can master this not-so-difficult stage, you will be able to create extraordinary gifts and decorations. You can implement many ideas without special costs for materials. Start by preparing a work area that has all the necessary tools, drawings and materials. It is recommended to sit in a chair that is high enough to prevent your back from slouching. Place your right (or left, if you are left-handed) hand with your elbow on your knee to relieve some of the stress. At the same time, make sure that your knee or arm does not go numb. Your workbench must be in order; remove all unnecessary tools and materials that you are not currently using. Place the sketches and drawings vertically in front of you at the same level as your eyes. Follow safety precautions.

In order to cut chipboard smoothly, you need to comply with a number of requirements.

  • Make only correct vertical movements with your hand using the jigsaw. Do not try to speed up the process by pushing the jigsaw to the side.
  • Work with the maximum possible amplitude of the tool up and down, without jerking or jerky turns, to make a cut, use the entire surface of the blade. It will be more effective.
  • Gently rotate and move the workpiece with your other hand. Do it slowly and calmly.
  • Do not put pressure on the blade from the side with the file.
  • The sawing process occurs when moving from top to bottom; when moving in the opposite direction, you should not put pressure on the tool.

When working with a hand tool, make the cut along the inner border of the contour of the design, because any material leaves a cut, and this should be taken into account when working. After cutting, loosen the jigsaw clamp to keep the arc elastic longer. Do not store the jigsaw with the file under tension. This will harm the operation of the instrument and its frame. To master carving with a jigsaw, you should start with the simplest elements. For example, with straight cut. A straight line is the basis of the most simple drawings. Sometimes to saw off simple table top, a lot of skills are required, any elements require a straight cut - as part of the design, as a joining point.

When carving, chips may form. This really spoils the appearance. A straight cut will allow you to create smooth elements and sharp corners. The main thing is to avoid chips and unevenness.

To reduce chipping, it is necessary to perform the carving correctly:

  • if the quality of the materials is low, use tools with small teeth and cut faster;
  • try a file with reverse or reverse teeth;
  • using masking tape or tape, reinforce the cut line;
  • Moisten the back side of the plywood with water.

  • secure the material as with a straight cut;
  • put it on work surface plywood with contour;
  • make the cut slowly, moving the workpiece so that it does not exceed the boundaries of the contour, with your left hand;
  • when deviating from the line, stop the feed and with a short straight movement move the blade back to the line;
  • The first circles you make probably won't be perfect, but after a few tries you'll be able to boast an even circle.

Similarly, it is worth cutting any elements, including obtuse corners. To avoid chipping, an acute angle is made with two lines connecting at the apex. U finished product All edges should be processed with a file, and then with sandpaper. After processing, the product is covered with varnish, colored paint, and stain.

On the Internet today you can find a huge number of diagrams, drawings and sketches for cutting. For beginner craftsmen, it would be better to use simple elements, for example, cartoon images without small details. Using various cuttings of figures, they create toys, parts for the artistic decoration of furniture, shelves, tabletops, doors, decorative boxes and candy dishes. Large and very small elements, for example, brooches.

Using a simple jigsaw you can make wooden decorative tiles. Such elements are used to decorate walls. Sawing with a jigsaw is also used to work with laminate, its edges and individual parts. When cutting according to a drawing, it is not necessary to complete the model with precision. When making a part, you can change the proportions, add additional elements: beads, buttons, decorative elements, tapes.

Here are some simpler and more interesting cutting patterns and designs. You can change their sizes and parts.

How to cut out patterns?

The most difficult, but beautiful thing is the artistic cutting of patterns. To create an ornament, you need to transfer the stencil to plywood. To make a stencil, use whatman paper, paper or leftover wallpaper. Large pieces of furniture can be placed on whatman paper or a piece of wallpaper; for small pieces, a simple A4 sheet is suitable. You need to create a drawing on the sheet using a pencil or take a ready-made one, then you need to duplicate it with a brighter pencil or felt-tip pen to make it easier to transfer the drawing onto wooden blank. In order to make a pattern or ornament using hand and electric jigsaw, necessary:

  • draw or find a drawing on the Internet that you will translate and cut out;
  • transfer this pattern to the workpiece;
  • cut out the design - large elements can be made with a jigsaw, small elements only with a hand jigsaw;
  • remove any remaining paper if you glued the stencil to plywood;
  • process the edges;
  • clean the product from dust and shavings;
  • cover with varnish, stain or paint.

There are the following options for transferring a design to a workpiece:

  • simple drawings can be transferred with an awl, and then connect the lines with a pencil;
  • You can use carbon paper;
  • stick the design onto the plywood with glue or double-sided tape, and after work remove the remaining paper.

Artistic carving with a jigsaw requires training and skills that require patience and hard work to learn. Start with simple patterns, gradually increasing the complexity of the patterns. Openwork products are very elegant and beautiful, and also provide an inexhaustible space for creativity and imagination. Figure cutting will require more work with a hand jigsaw than with an electric one, as mentioned above. Hand jigsaw allows you to make small elements in the drawing. Particular attention should be paid to corners, which can cause cracks or chipping of a corner.

A large number of elements and parts makes the workpiece more fragile, so do not make sharp turns, cut slowly, move the workpiece carefully, and work smoothly.

Adaptations

To work with a jigsaw, you should use a number of tools that were described earlier. But there are also a large number of devices for cutting out elements. At the first stage, most likely, you will get by with the necessary minimum set, then you can use special tools to equip the workplace. Their choice will depend on the initial set. You will understand as you work what you need. To make complex elements, different types of files are used. But also special attention worth paying attention to the countertop. All figures are cut out according to the same principle, but how finer details, the more difficult their execution.

Safety precautions

When working with a jigsaw it is worth comply with safety regulations.

  • To protect yourself from fine dust and shavings, use goggles, gloves, and a robe.
  • When working, keep distance between your hand and the blade. Carve carefully and calmly.
  • Carefully read the instructions for the tools and study the parameters of the jigsaw. Use the tool according to the instructions, this will avoid injury and tool malfunction associated with incorrect use.
  • If you are a beginner, read the instructions carefully, understand how to use.
  • Use only fully working and serviceable tools. Before each use, check the jigsaw and other equipment for damage and integrity of insulation.

  • Do not use damaged blades.
  • When working with an electric tool, secure the workpiece with a clamp and hold the jigsaw with both hands. If it is impossible to secure the workpiece tightly, work with an assistant, who must also follow safety precautions by wearing protective equipment.
  • Observe fire safety when working with flammable substances: open fire and electric heating elements and devices cannot be located closer than 5 meters from the workplace being used.
  • Provide proper ventilation for removing thread dust and paint fumes from the workspace.

Wood carving using a jigsaw should be neat and done with special care. Both your health and the beauty of the finished product depend on this. Use glasses even when manual way, since the file can easily break and its fragments will fly around. This important condition working with sawing tools.