The saber saw is a hand-held power tool used for cutting curves in wood and other materials. It was first invented in 1947 and has since evolved to include variable speeds and different blade types. Safety precautions include wearing wrap-around glasses and checking the power cord for fraying.
Older versions of the saber saw – also spelled saber saw – were unpowered hand saws that consisted of a thin blade with a handle at one end. Today, however, the term usually refers to a hand-held power tool with a blade that moves at adjustable speeds. Some people refer to saber saws as jigsaws or reciprocating saws, although these saws can also come in stationary form. The saber saw is primarily used for cutting curves at a variety of angles in wood, but with the proper blade and guide, the saw can be used for a variety of other purposes.
The date of the first saber saw is unknown, but the first electric saber saw was invented in 1947, and while some of its basic components have remained the same since then, new features have also emerged. All saber saw models feature a housing containing a motor, on-off switch, and blade assembly, with some newer models offering variable speeds. Corded models have a power cord, but newer, cordless models have a battery. Although early power models featured a top handle or barrel handle, a D-shaped handle was also introduced. Most saber saws also come with a guide rail that helps the user hold the power. wire saw of the material it is cutting. Early models featured blades with a standard reciprocating motion, while more recently there is also an “orbital” version that allows the blade to move back and forth as well as up and down.
Cutting with a saber saw may require a different setup, depending on the type of cut you are making. Curves are often cut by simply clamping the wood in place and moving the saw to follow a line drawn on the wood. For perfect circles, however, a circular guide may be employed. The “normal” saw setting is 90 degrees, but to cut a bevel, the saber saw angle can be adjusted between 45 and 90 degrees and a miter guide can also be used to guide the cut angle . For a straight cut, you can use a guide, a straight piece of wood used to keep the saw in a straight line, and some people use two guides, one on each side of the saw.
A variety of blades allows you to use the saber saw in different ways and on different materials. When first introduced, the saber saw was touted as a replacement for a variety of other saws, including band saws and crosscut saws, and, given the appropriate blade, is capable of performing both parallel cuts, parallel to the grain of the wood, and cross cuts at right angles to the grain. Also available are fine-cut and coarse-cut blades, characterized by ever smaller tooth size, and special blades for metal cutting. The burr-resistant blades are made for cutting veneer and laminate wood.
To use a saber saw safely, wrap-around glasses are generally recommended. Before each use with a corded model, check the power cord for fraying and the user should ensure that the power switch is in the “off” position before plugging in the saw. For all saber saws, the appropriate blade must be chosen and checked for sharpness. When the saw is stored, the blade can be removed and placed in a case for safer storage.
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