Can we talk about using a jigsaw to cut dados instead of a router

I got tired of hauling my router out for simple shelf dados on cabinets. One day I tried using a jigsaw with a guide fence clamped to the board. I cut three 1/4 inch dados in 10 minutes with zero tear out on the plywood. The trick is to use a fine tooth blade and go slow on the plunge cuts. Has anyone else swapped a power tool for a different one on a job and found it saved time?

3 comments

3 Comments

milaprice29d ago

Worked great for me on plywood too, just gotta use a sharp blade.

james_singh729d ago

Wait, you mean you actually cut plywood with a circular saw? Because the post was about a track saw, right? I gotta say, using a track saw on plywood is way smoother than a circular saw for sure. The splintering is just way less if you use a fine tooth blade like a 60 tooth. But yeah, blade sharpness is key for either tool, a dull blade will just tear the wood up no matter what you're using.

the_rowan28d ago

Does a sharp blade make THAT much of a difference with a track saw versus a circular saw, @james_singh7? I've found that even with a decent circular saw, a fresh 60 tooth blade on some cheap plywood still gives me a little tearout on the top. But with the track saw's zero clearance splinter guard, I can get away with a slightly duller blade before I start seeing the same mess.