A jigsaw is a great tool whenever you need to make curved cuts and perfect trims with design patterns, yet the same can be said for an angle grinder in terms of overall versatility. When it comes down to it, should you use an angle grinder or a jigsaw when it comes to making complicated cuts?
As versatile and useful as an angle grinder can be, a jigsaw is the better tool when it comes to making difficult cuts and perfect cuts with stenciled designs. An angle grinder provides great handheld mobility but a jigsaw is the better tool for making complicated cuts.
This article will explore a comparison between a jigsaw and an angle grinder when it comes to cutting wood, metal cutting, and how well each tool performs when compared. Additionally, I will also take a look at circular saws to find out which is the better tool for making straight cuts and which is better for more complicated cuts.
Can You Use an Angle Grinder as a Saw?
When it comes to cutting metal, angle grinders are probably the best tool in the world depending on the type of blade that is used. But what about using an angle grinder to cut wood like a saw?
An angle grinder will cut through almost anything, so yes you can definitely use an angle grinder in the same way you would use a saw. The problem is, wood is like paper to an angle grinder. The blade is simply far too sharp and powerful to cut material without many possible problems occurring.
Using an angle grinder to cut wood can result in kickback. Angle grinders are made to cut through metal, sheet metal, concrete, and other thick materials. When you use an angle grinder to cut wood, there is very little resistance since the blade is far too powerful for wood, therefore, unless you are just wanting to make straight cuts, using an angle grinder as a saw is not feasible.
Wood is not thick enough to hold the grinder in place. When you are making cuts, the blade will run all over the place because the density of the material (wood) is not strong enough to control the blade based on your movements.
The angle grinder will run off course if you are not careful. Since wood is so thin to a grinder, you will have a powerful device running at up to 15,000 RPM veering of course, and potentially cutting you because there is no resistance to focus the blade on.
A saw blade has a line of jagged blades that are used to cut through the material one piece at a time. The jagged edges that are characteristic of a jigsaw, for example, exist to make sure there is enough pressure to prevent the saw from running off course, or worse, kicking back and becoming dangerous.
So while you can rest assured that an angle grinder will cut through wood and function much in the same way as a saw, this is not recommended due to the power of the tool for such a lightweight material.
How Do You Cut Wood Straight with an Angle Grinder?
An angle grinder is an incredibly fluid and seamless cutting tool if used properly. To make perfectly straight cuts on wood, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Always use a marker to make your cuts. A piece of metal or flat bar is ideal to use to line up your cut. Make sure you use something that is sturdy and can easily withstand any abrasions from the cutting blade.
- Pencil in the line you wish to cut. The flat bar will help guide your hand, but you do need to have a line clearly marked to ensure that you get a perfect cut.
- For cutting wood, use a least a 1mm thick disc. Run the angle grinder along the edge of the flat bar without running the blade into the flat bar. Having the drawn line and the flat bar to help you stay on course is crucial for a material like metal, which can cut very quickly with the force of an angle grinder.
There is no special tip to keep in mind when it comes to slicing wood with an angle grinder except the need to exercise safety precautions and to use a clamped piece of metal or flat bar to hold the line in place and prevent the grinder from shifting to the right or left.
Take a look at this video to get a visual simulation of how to make the best cuts with an angle grinder:
Which Is Better Jigsaw or Circular Saw?
When it comes to saws, most people will easily think of a jigsaw or a circular saw. Both types offer benefits to the user, but both are going to operate differently depending on the overall experience of the user.
When it comes to deciding on which is better overall, a jigsaw is perfect for an inexperienced user just as it was years ago before circular saws became popular, yet a circular saw is definitely the better of the two in the grand scheme of cutting. A circular saw is better for making longer and more even cuts and can get even the most non-ferrous of materials to come out with perfect cutting designs.
A Circular saw does not respond well to metal, and this has more to do with the inadequacy in the circular saw motor design than it does with any possible issues with the blades. Therefore, there are instances where a circular saw is going to be a better option to choose from.
A jigsaw is commonly used to make cuts of any shape or size with relative ease. If you ever used a jigsaw, you are likely aware that the cuts are fairly easy to make and more patterns are possible than what is frequently seen with using a circular saw.
In the end, a jigsaw is great for making patterns but a circular saw will provide a bit more power and versatility when it comes to the number of materials that can be lined up and cut with a circular saw.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Should You Use an Angle Grinder?
An angle grinder can be used for virtually any type of cutting task, but metal is usually the most common material that is used for angle grinder cutting. A grinder provides a great way to work with stubborn materials that do not respond to traditional cutting or edging methods. The right tool will help you perform a variety of grinding, cutting, and polishing jobs with ease.
Always opt for a versatile machine that features multiple attachments and accessories. This will allow you to perform a variety of jobs with minimal efforts.
The ideal grinder is not only able to sharpen and grind objects efficiently but is also lightweight and not too bulky, which offers you maximum control when using one of the most powerful tools in the hardware market.
When it comes to cutting, metal is obviously the best material for an angle grinder, however, you can use an angle grinder to cut wood granted that you wish to make quick cuts that a saw may not be capable of making. As previously mentioned, using an angle grinder to cut wood will not be as easy of an experience as cutting metal with a grinder.
For wood, always choose a saw as your go-to equipment since a saw is primarily designed for cutting fibrous materials in the first place. Save your metal work for an angle grinder.
Do You Really Need a Circular Saw?
You can get a lot out of having just a jigsaw in your toolbox, however, a circular saw will also be a good investment to make for cutting a variety of different materials both large and small.
The cutting versatility of circular saws is ideal, and not all of these tools have to be corded. The 10A 5800 RPM by Galaxy Pro is a great example of a cordless circular saw that packs just as much power when it comes to cutting as a corded model.
When it comes down to whether or not you need one, it is always good to have both a jigsaw or circular saw since you can get different results out of both types.
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Conclusion
Years ago, it was established that a jigsaw was the perfect machine for wood cutting just as it was established that an angle grinder was the go-to machine for slicing through metal. In terms of which machine is better to have, the answer is that both machines are great to own.
You can get amazing results out of both models, and although it is true that angle grinder can be applied for woodwork, it is always better to go for a powerful saw when it comes to wood.
