Black & Decker JS680V 6 Amp Jig Saw with Smart Select
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Product Details
Manufacturer: Black & DeckerModel: JS680V
Product features:
- LineFinder system allows for increased visibility
- Smart select technology
- Cast shoe for improved accuracy and durability
- Tool free blade change provides fast, easy blade changing
- Accepts T and U shank blades
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Black & Decker JS680V 6 Amp Jig Saw with Smart Select
Customer Review: A good try, but...
Summary: 2 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
Fundamentally, a jig saw has one job...to move the blade up and down, while holding it at whatever angle is set relative to the base. Everything else, while nice, is gravy. From that perspective, the JS680V falls short. Even when locked down, the base can be wiggled by a few degrees relative to the blade. I originally thought that this might be an issue with just my unit, but other reviewers have commented on the same problem...it appears to be a design "feature". If it wasn't for that, this saw would warrant a solid four stars. Unfortunately, however, I view this as a serious enough design flaw that I'm knocking it down to two stars. Here's the saw in some more detail...
Motor - At 6 amps, the motor has enough power for anything you're likely to tackle with a jig saw...the more expensive pro models are in the same amperage range. In my testing, using a sharp, new blade, it zipped through plywood, 2x4's, ¾" and 1½" hardwood with ease. With a longer blade, it shouldn't have any trouble with 4x4's and other 4x lumber.
Speed/Orbit adjustability - The dial on the side of the motor housing adjusts both the speed of the blade (measured in strokes per minute) and its orbital movement, matching it to the material being cut. This is not an adjustable speed jig saw - with the speed changing according to how hard the trigger is pressed - rather the saw is fully on or off, with the speed being set by the dial. Common cutting tasks are covered: sawing laminates; rip sawing; crosscutting; sawing PVC pipe along with a few others. Almost anything that you'll need to cut is covered by one of the options. If it's not explicitly listed, use one of the close choices on some scrap material and see how it works.
Cutline illumination - With the JS680V, Black and Decker added a downward pointing ultraviolet LED at the front of the motor housing. If you to use the included thin-line highlighter marker to draw your cut lines, they'll glow brightly in the UV light. This makes them extremely easy to follow while sawing. When the marker wears out (or is swiped by the kids), a replacement can be purchased at your local stationary store. You can, of course, use a plain old pencil to draw a line, but it won't have anywhere the visibility of the glowing marker ink.
Blade holder and base - The saw can use both type of jig saw blades - the "t" shank and the "u" shank. Both types can be found at any hardware store or here on Amazon. Personally, I prefer the t-shank in the (probably mistaken) belief that they are held more securely. The base of this saw is cast, rather than being made of stamped and bent sheet metal. There's a smooth plastic plate on the underside, to reduce sliding friction while cutting. The plastic plate also covers a channel in the base that's used for sawdust collection. Without some active suction, though, it falls into the "good try, but no cigar" category. Connecting the exhaust port to my Shop-Vac markedly improved the sawdust pickup, however the exhaust port is oval, which doesn't match any standard adapter. You can buy one from B-D, but I used some tubing that I had along with some duct tape. The base can be easily rotated to allow sawing at an angle; however the options are limited to the click stops at 15, 30 and 45 degrees. My major complaint is the amount of play in the base. Other than indicating sloppy design, side to side base rotation is immaterial, but the bit of play that affects the blade angle affects the cut quality...you want the blade to stay at the angle that you set it. In my unit, the blade/base angle could move a degree or two off 90 degrees by putting a slight pressure on the base. No amount of fiddling with the base mounting screws could eliminate this play. My other jig saws all lock tightly in position and don't have this problem at all.
Cosmetic design - The designers of this saw included a magnetic blade holder on the side of the motor housing. The compartment, behind a small door, can hold three spare blades. Personally, I'm not crazy about the orange/black/silver color scheme (it reminds me of Halloween), but that's standard for all Black and Decker tools. Somebody else may equally dislike DeWalt's yellow, Milwaukee's red, or Makita's blue-green. And Hitachi's Green/Black looks like the designers dropped LSD. I will say that the orange color makes it difficult to misplace in a disorganized shop...
My conclusion - If it wasn't for the base stability problem, this would be a good saw for the homeowner. Everybody carries Black and Decker products, so I recommend that you look at it in-person before mail-ordering it. If the one that's in your local store seems ok, you might then consider mail-ordering it...they might have updated the design.
Description of Black & Decker JS680V 6 Amp Jig Saw with Smart Select
Includes 6.0 Amp LineFinder Orbital Jigsaw - JS680V, Wood Cutting Blade, Pen, Pen Holder, (3) AAA BatteriesIdeal for making curved and straight cuts in wood, metal, and plastic, the Black & Decker JS680V Jigsaw with Smart-Select Dial will give you accurate results on your first pass. Complete with a blade and an innovative feature set that includes LineFinder, a Smart Select dial, easy angle adjustments, and more, this fast, powerful, and precise jigsaw is perfect for novice cutters and serious do-it-yourselfers alike.
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 Jigsaw automatically sets the optimal orbit and speed for your cut. View larger. |
 The cast shoe provides increased durability and accuracy. View larger. |
Line Finder and Smart-Select Provide Accurate, Precise Results
Ideal for a range of around-the-house cutting projects, from deck construction to baseboard, trim, and furniture work, the JS680V improves productivity and saves you time.
First, the LineFinder illuminates your cut line for optimum visibility and accuracy. This feature also makes it easy to cut wherever you are, so you don't need to move your project to a better-lit location every time you need to make a cut.
Additionally, the Smart-Select dial allows you to get precise results with the first pass by automatically setting the optimal orbit and speed for your type of cut.
Chock-Full of User-Friendly Features
Powered by a robust, six-amp motor, the JS680V also includes a cast shoe that provides durability and accuracy.
Other features include an accu-bevel angle adjustment that provides accurate bevel adjustments with a quick-action lever and an indicator window. Additionally, this jigsaw allows for fast, easy, tool-free blade changes--onboard blade storage holds up to three blades and has a convenient see-through door.
This easy-to-use jigsaw has a 3/4-inch stroke length, accepts T- and U-shank blades, and is backed by a two-year limited warranty.
What's in the Box
JS680V Jigsaw, blade, and LineFinder pen.
Jig Saws
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