My semi-old (early 1970's) sabre saw (from Black & Decker's first days of
cheapness - they made only pro-type stuff before that) has a bearing just
above the shoe to guide the blade, thus giving it a little more support than
a Sawzall. But you're right - it's a dagger-type blade held at one end
only. A jig saw holds both ends of the blade in parallel-moving jaws, for
instance a Dremel jig saw. Or does Dremel call them scroll saws now ? Mine
is from 1956 and says jig saw on it.
In any event, a jigsaw is a bench tool with a table the stock rides on, it's
not a hand-held portable tool. I always thought that a scroll saw had more
rigid upper and lower supports, long beams riding on bearings that kept the
blade moving quite vertically and accurately with only a bit of
reciprocating action, whereas a jig saw (at least the Dremels) had short
leaf-type spring beams to support the blade, and allowed lots more flex, not
for any purpose but just because of the simpler, cheaper design.
To further complicate this, I also have a Dremel Moto-Saw, which basically
an electric coping saw that uses the regular Dremel jigsaw blades .It's
from the late 1940's I think - my Dad had it as long as I can remember.
It's clearly an older vintage than my 1956 Dremel jig saw.
Karl
>> Wasn't a scroll saw originally a more refined, professional
>> version of a
>> jig
>> saw that had additional control over the direction of the blade or
>> something
>> like that ?? Like those big old Delta scroll saws I used to see ??
>
> I was told that a scroll saw supports the blade from both ends (allowing
> use
> of very thin blades for turning sharp corners), while a jig saw only
> supports the blade from one end (requiring a thicker blade). A sabre saw
> is more like a Sawz-all, but also only supports one end like a jig saw.
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