A Beautiful Jigsaw with a Standout Feature No Other Company
Extremely well built and with power to spare, the 36V Metabo HPT cordless jigsaw (CJ36DAQ4) has a lot to like about it. It has all the standard features you would expect from a high-quality saw and very few downsides. As of August 2021, Metabo HPT is still the only company to have a universal AC / DC adapter for 36V cordless tools. If your battery runs out of juice, you can plug this jigsaw into the wall.
Advantages
- Tooless blade modification
- Orbital action
- Auto soft start mode
- Variable speed
- Lock button to mount the jigsaw on a table
- Lots of power
- Brushless motor
- Runs on either 36V Multivolt battery or Multivolt 36V AC / DC Adapter
Weaknesses
- Shoe / blade rolling is not a good experience
- Does not include shoe cover which is not harmful
I am a woodworker and know that any jigsaw will cut down on pine 2x4s. I prefer to do my test on wood to be used by a cabinetmaker or furniture maker. So I chose red oak because it was so hard. If a jigsaw could handle it, it could handle most tasks. The Metabo HPT CJ36DAQ4 jigsaw is 36V so I wanted to see how powerful you are doing it. I stacked three red oak planks on top of each and covered them all together. That’s a 2 1/4-inch thick stack of oak! In full orbital action, it cut wood at the same speed my previous 18V NiCad saw cut a single board. I was excited.
Metal Cutting
Of course, we also ask our jigsaws to cut the metal. The Metabo HPT cordless jigsaw is easily penetrated by 1/4-inch mild steel. In theory, you should turn off orbital action when cutting metal. I found this jigsaw cutting through steel with the best orbital action at the lowest setting. In my experience, I’ve found that’s the case with other jigsaws as well. I cut it dry because I didn’t like cutting the oil oil later and I had no issues. The variable speed dial allows me to slow down the saw enough so that the blade is not too hot.
Cutting Curves
Most people buy a cordless jigsaw to cut arches and curves. On a thin blade, theThe Metabo HPT CJ36DAQ4 makes it easy to cut tight curves with small radii. I always felt like I had great control and could follow my line. Some prefer a barrel grip saw for curve cutting, but the Metabo HPT does not give us that option in the US market.
There are two things we are all worried about when buying cordless tools. The first is, “will my cordless tool be as powerful as a corded tool?” I stopped worrying about years ago. The answer is a resounding Yes. When you buy from leading manufacturers, cordless tools are common more stronger than the corded model.
The other question on everyone’s mind is “will I run out of battery power?” Metabo HPT users don’t have to worry about that in their line of 36V Multivolt tools. The 36V Metabo HPT AC / DC Adapter is an optional device that works with any Metabo HPT 36V Multivolt tool. Snap the end of the “battery” into the tool and plug the other end into the wall. With a 21-foot cable, you probably won’t need an extension cord.
Controls and Functions
The Metabo HPT CJ36DAQ4 Cordless Jigsaw has a handy one-handed blade changing mechanism. The orbital action has four settings-from Off to very aggressive for the fastest cutting. There is a lock-on button that locks the tool while running. I found it perfect for mounting it under a table and using it as a portable bandaw / scrollsaw.
Auto Start Mode
The Auto Start mode has become controversial with some other jigsaw brands that are not well implemented such as the Metabo HPT jigsaw. In Auto Start mode, the blade does not produce much vibration before contacting the wood with the saw. This will really help your line cut your line more accurately. Once the cut begins, the motor will ramp up to full power, and the saw will dislodge.
If you do not like this feature, you can disable it by changing the speed dial from A to the speed you want. I thought this feature would work well for the Metabo HPT, but I hate it on jigsaws from most other companies.
Missing Shoe Cover
I was disappointed that a non -abrasive shoe cover was not included. When cutting plexiglass or painted surfaces such as siding, it’s a hassle to have to cover the shoe with tape every time. As of the date of this review, Metabo HPT has not produced one. As a more permanent solution, I plan to cover the shoe with ultra-high molecular polyethylene tape. This will reduce friction and protect the work from steel shoes. This is what woodworkers used to do before most saws arrived with shoelaces.
Angling the Blade
Aside from the lack of a non -marring shoe, the other real issue I saw was the angling of the blade… shoe. However, you want to think about it. Many manufacturers make free checkout shoes incredibly convenient. Metabo HPT prefers to stick using a socket head cap screw and hex wrench. It’s annoying enough if there are detentions in the main degree mark, but none – even at 45 degrees. There is only a positive stop at 90 degrees.
If you don’t catch your jigsaw, then this is the perfect jigsaw for you. If you do, it’s a great jigsaw, but you’ll get angry every time you need to change the angle.
Price of Metabo HPT Cordless Jigsaw
The Metabo HPT CJ36DAQ4 jigsaw should retail for around $ 199 for the bare tool. This makes it very comparable to models from DeWalt, Flex, Milwaukee Tool, and others.
Conclusion
Metabo HPT (also known as HiKoki in other countries) makes an amazing jigsaw. This saw would be perfect in any professional cabinet shop or woodworking facility. This would be a great saw for any serious woodwork. Its only Achilles heel is the time to take the angle of the blade. A pair of jigs can make setting the angle easier and faster, though you’ll still need a hex wrench. Even with that annoyance (and remember, it’s an annoyance, not a dealbreaker), everything else about this jigsaw is superb.
Details of Metabo HPT Cordless Jigsaw
- Model CJ36DAQ4
- 45 degree max cut left and right
- 26 mm stroke
- Orbital action
- 800-3,500 strokes per min
- Brushless motor
- 36V Multivolt battery
- 36V MultiVolt AC adapter compatible
- 5.5 lbs bare tool (2.49 kg)
- Lithium-ion lifetime tool warranty
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