Power Tools for Dummies, Part II

Saber saw, aka jigsaw

It's been said that, "Those of you who think you know everything are annoying to those of us who do." Think how annoying it must be to those who know everything to read some of the utter rubbish published by internet freelancers lusting after pennies. Take, for example, InfoBarrel.com's 44tracyann44, who pretended to know a power tool from her rear in "Portable Saber Saw Facts and Safety Tips." Those of us at the Antisocial Network who do know power tools from our hind ends were not amused...

Tracy Ann reveals her level of power-tool dumbassery right from the get-go, telling her readers in paragraph one:  

"The portable saber  saw is the best choice for any carpentry job.  The portable saber saw is a great tool for cutting straight or irregular cutting of materials. This tool can do the same cutting as a floor-type jig or band saw, with the added convenience of a hand tool. A larger jig saw can cut through material 2" thick. It also can cut through a 2" x 4" piece in less than 15 seconds. "

Four stupidities in five sentences (five if you count the clumsiness of "cutting straight or irregular cutting of"):

1. No, it isn't the best choice for any carpentry job; it's a lousy choice for many.
2. Is there such thing as a "floor-mounted... jig saw"? Not in general use, though there are industrial-sized reciprocating saws in saw mills; but that's not something an ordinary DIYer would need...
3. Is there really a jig saw that can't cut 2-inch material (non-metallic, of course)?
4. A 2-by-4 "piece"? Would anyone who's ever used a jig saw say that? We don't think so.

We also like Tracy's "detailed" instructions for changing blades:

"To install the blade, loosen the set screws or clamp, and slip the blade into the slot under the chuck cover until you are sure it is tightly seated. Then tighten the set screw or clamp." We suspect she's never changed a T-shank blade... if she's ever changed a blade at all. And then there's the useful information,  "For more accurate straight cutting, a ripping fence can be installed. The ripping fence can be used for cutting circles. A nail or peg must be driven into the center or the circle." We get that... sort of...

So, newbie jigsaw users, who you wanna get your information from: a dumbass like 44tracyann44, or some guy with an unpronounceable name who knows jig saws like the back of his hand? Us, we're going with Sandor because Tracy is precisely the sort of freelancer we like to hand the Dumbass of the Day award..

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