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Cack handed DIY amateur here.. I need to cut engineered wood planks lengthwise - they're 4mm oak on a 10mm MDF base. I'm having trouble getting a jigsaw to cut straight. With a "clean wood" blade the jigsaw almost immediately starts bouncing up and down vertically, even with a tight hold on the saw it feels like it's about to fly off. With a standard wood blade the saw stays down, but the cut veers off to the right in a banana shape. I've tried clamping another piece of wood to the top to steer the runner against and clamping the whole thing to a table, but it doesn't seem to help. I'd be grateful for any advice. Am I using the wrong tool maybe?

And Finally
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  • Wider jigsaw blades are less prone to bending. – Wayfaring Stranger Sep 03 '15 at 22:28
  • Also see: http://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/51300/should-my-first-power-saw-be-a-circular-or-jig-saw – Ecnerwal Sep 04 '15 at 02:30
  • If this is flooring, the core is probably Hdf (high density fiberboard), which is rough on all saw blades. If you're stuck with a jigsaw, you might try a blade specially designed for flooring. (Just an example -- not one I've used -- Bosch T101BIF.) – Aloysius Defenestrate Sep 04 '15 at 04:26

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You are, IME, IMHO, using the wrong tool, definitely.

  • A (sharp) hand ripsaw would be preferable.
  • A circular saw would be preferable.
  • A bandsaw would be preferable.
  • A tablesaw would be ideal

...but a circular saw is far less expensive than a tablesaw and still pretty capable with a rip guide.

Ecnerwal
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  • Hire a table saw from a local tool hire firm. You will not regret the quality of finish it gives on the flooring panels. – TravisPUK Sep 05 '15 at 09:19