Bang for the buck? Jigsaw vs Router

[wong05tsx 10+ year member]

Which of the two is the better bang for the buck? One that comes in handy the most...

Looking to buy either or to cut circles; I know router will give me a perfect circle, but I am only imagining that the jigsaw will give me more reasons to use it.

Which do you use more often?

Also, aside from circles, I'm not too sure what else the router can be used for, can anyone explain?

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[dragnix 5,000+ posts]

you probably won't be able to cut anything perfectly straight with a jigsaw.

 

[jmanpc 5,000+ posts]

There is so much you can do with a router... circles, rounding edges, rabbiting for carpet, cutting slots for fitting wood together....

 

[F3RR3T 10+ year member]

Which of the two is the better bang for the buck? One that comes in handy the most... Looking to buy either or to cut circles; I know router will give me a perfect circle, but I am only imagining that the jigsaw will give me more reasons to use it.

Which do you use more often?

Also, aside from circles, I'm not too sure what else the router can be used for, can anyone explain?

i can do anything with my router that you can with a jigsaw

with more precison and a cleaner cut

 

[wong05tsx 10+ year member]

you probably won't be able to cut anything perfectly straight with a jigsaw.

I figured that much, but unless I'm doing a flush mount, I don't think a perfect circle is needed to mount a sub.

What things would you use with a jig?

I was thinking to cut small pieces of wood that would be too large for a circular saw (since i don't have a table saw)

 

[Hintzyboy 5,000+ posts]

If you don't have a decent jigsaw, get it. A router is a great tool to have, but a jigsaw is a basic necessity. A router would be used for finishing edges on wood, cutting designs into the wood, cutting circles, etc. Definitely nice to have, but I can't tell you how many times I've used my jigsaw.

If you get a router later on, make sure you get a table with it. much easier to use that way.

 

[wong05tsx 10+ year member]

i can do anything with my router that you can with a jigsawwith more precison and a cleaner cut

Sounds good //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/thumbsup.gif.3287b36ca96645a13a43aff531f37f02.gif

Think I made my choice!

Thanks! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

If you don't have a decent jigsaw, get it. A router is a great tool to have, but a jigsaw is a basic necessity. A router would be used for finishing edges on wood, cutting designs into the wood, cutting circles, etc. Definitely nice to have, but I can't tell you how many times I've used my jigsaw.
If you get a router later on, make sure you get a table with it. much easier to use that way.

I'd love to have both, but can only afford one at the moment

 

[BoomBoomBoy 10+ year member]

You're comparing apples and oranges. One tool is designed for cutting, the other for shaping.

 

[90accordman 5,000+ posts]

jigsaw for me i can live without a router fine as i have a steady hand

 

[Hintzyboy 5,000+ posts]

Just buy both. You will find a use for them.

 

[F3RR3T 10+ year member]

You're comparing apples and oranges. One tool is designed for cutting, the other for shaping.

both are used for cutting. look at cnc routers

 

[dragnix 5,000+ posts]

the question here is, which fruit do you prefer, apples or oranges?

 

[Hintzyboy 5,000+ posts]

the question here is, which fruit do you prefer, apples or oranges?

depends what kind of apple. Golden delicious FTW

 

[dragnix 5,000+ posts]

there's a flipside to that, what kind of oranges are we talking about here? I prefer the sweet Texas kind

 

[Hintzyboy 5,000+ posts]

there's a flipside to that, what kind of oranges are we talking about here? I prefer the sweet Texas kind

Never met an orange I didn't like. But I like GD apples more than any orange

Unless it's the chocolate orange I always get or Christmas //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/yumyum.gif.0556df42231b304b9c995aefd13928a8.gif