Review of Black & Decker JS515 - 4.5 Amp Variable Speed Corded *** Saw (deal, used)
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The Black & Decker JS515 is a basic but powerful *** saw that is ideal for the home handyman or weekend DIY enthusiast. It doesn't pretend to be a professional power tool. Nevertheless it does all the tasks you can expect from any jigsaw: specifically cutting straight and curved lines into a variety of materials.
This distinctive red-orange Black & Decker power saw is better looking than its predecessors, and some of the designs of its competitors. It has a reasonably powerful 4.5 Amp motor and is suitable for cutting through wood, metal and plastic, although it is only supplied with a blade that may be used to cut wood. To date we have only used it to cut wood, plywood and pine planks, not metal or plastic. A blade storage compartment is incorporated in the design, which is a handy feature. This wasn't the case with the previous *** saw we owned.
The Black & Decker JS515 has a variable speed trigger that has an orbital action and is also shaped for control and comfort. It has an adjustable beveling shoe and a quick-clamp blade that enables the user to change the blade without using a tool. Both T-shank and universal blades may be used.
The first job we tackled with the JS515 was to cut shapes in the decorative trim for a small garden building. We cut the edge in a zig-zag shape and then used the saw to plunge cut holes above the patterned edge. Then we used it to cut curved and scalloped edges for a pine shelf which we photographed making it step-by-step for a DIY publication. The most recent project was not at all decorative. We used it to cut notches out of the corners of the plywood base we used for a homemade trailer. So it really is a versatile tool.
The blade support roller works well and has helped us to cut accurately. The dust blower also works well, effectively clearing the dust from the cut line, which also helps accuracy. There is also a sightline channel which makes cutting simpler.
The Black & Decker JS515 is inexpensive (cheap in comparison to many of the others on the market), and while certainly not suitable for a professional carpenter who will need to use it on a daily basis, it is proving its worth in our workshop.
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