Customer Reviews

Black & Decker JS680V 6 Amp Jig Saw with Smart Select

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

3 stars overall with an extra half star for the "Linefinder." Other jig saws have lasers or lights, but this *might* be better because the other two techniques don't help as much when your pencil line is covered with dust. Except that the saw does a good job of blowing the dust away and that the blade release lever blocks part of the light and if you're in a brightly lit shop or outdoors, you can't see the line as well (in which case you'd probably use a pencil instead). I guess that half star is for effort - I'm going to see if I can replace the UV LED with a normal white LED.

I have been doing woodworking for >30 years and doing extensive home handyman and repairs for >15 (neither professionally) in addition to Habitat for Humanity and other similar volunteer work.

B&D make the majority of hand power tools used in manufacturing and also make DeWalt which is targeted towards the professional. B&D is targeted towards the homeowner and hobbyist - someone who is more sensitive to price rather than having something which is bulletproof. I have a number of B&D tools and, price considered, am quite satisfied with them (the 18V cordless drill I panned was because the price is ~5x what I paid for it.)

I'm afraid that my less than glowing review is because this tool falls into the "No Mans Land" between a reliable and inexpensive tool for a homeowner and something that a frequent user would be happy with. This saw has features which the entry level user probably won't appreciate (Quick release bevel, cast aluminum base and dust collection) but is priced where a "Pro" level tool is within reach.

LIKES: Very powerful. Relatively quiet. Good dust blower keeps your path clear. Onboard blade storage. Non marring plastic over cast foot, T and U blade compatible. Quick release blade holder. Quick release bevel adjustment. Dust collection. Good range of speed control for the entry level user. Ergonomic switch and lock.

DISLIKES: Dust collection port is strange, non-standard oval shape. Plastic foot cover flimsy, not flat. Plastic Blade guards obscure visibility, would prefer bent wire or clear plastic. Instead of a battery for the LED, couldn't they have made one that turns on with the saw automatically? Click stops on bevel mean you can't easily get 42 degrees since you'll slip into the 45 degree slot. (you often find that you want to butt something at 45 degrees but that in order to get a proper fit that you need to cut just over or just under 45) Whole lotta plastic going on.

For a better product at a similar price point I'd recommend either
Black & Decker JS700K 5.5 Amp Top Handle Jigsaw
or Skil 4690-01 6 Amp Laser Guided Jig Saw

For an entry level saw I'd recommend
Black & Decker JS660 Jig Saw with Smart Select Dial
or Kawasaki 840276 6-Amp Orbital Jig Saw, Green

As for the "Pro" level saws, you probably wouldn't be reading this review if you were planning to get a Bosch, Dewalt, PC, Freud, etc....

Disclosure: I received this item through the Vine program.

Please check out my other reviews (including several tool reviews). If you have any questions or have found this review helpful, please let me know!

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.

I've needed a new jig saw for quite some time, since my old one gave up the ghost. But not being a serious woodworker, it was something I just wouldn't commit myself to buying. Not because I didn't need one (ask the folks I've borrowed one from), but because I just didn't have the time to sort through all the ins-and-outs of jig saws. What speed? How many amps? What tools did I need to go with it?

Well, if you need a good jig saw for those around-the-house projects such as building shelves, etc., look no more! As noted in the details, the 6amp JS680V Jigsaw will deliver any cut you need in almost any material that can be cut! Unsure what speed setting you need? It's easy with the "Smart-Select Dial", which allows you to just set it for the project you need, and the saw automatically adjusts its speed. This was awesome for me, because I don't like looking at my tools wondering where I put the manual or what a certain setting is for. Keep in mind, this is NOT a band saw. But it will make some nice cuts where you need them. Some may say that this does not compare to a $200 DeWalt or Makita, but to me I don't need that level of a saw. The Black & Decker JS680V does the same thing those saws do for a third of the price!

This saw also comes with the "LineFinder" system, which is a rather unique concept. Instead of using the traditional laser, which of course can't follow curves, the linefinder consists of a special UV-type pen that looks like a highlighter. The light on the saw illuminates the lines that you draw on your project almost like a blacklight. It's actually pretty impressive. I can't say how well it will hold up, long term, or how much a replacement pen will cost, but I'm hopeful it will hold up. I can see it being especially helpful when making curvy cuts.

As noted, the JS680V Jigsaw feels very durable and well-built. It has rubber gripping along the handle, which allows for a solid grip while using it. It also has a cast shoe, which seems as solid as any other brand I checked out. The shoe is then covered with heavy plastic so it glides smoothly. And you don't need any special tools to change out the blades, which is nice. The saw is weighty, but is not too heavy in the hands for most folks to use.

Finally, as a casual user, there are two small features that I really like: first, the saw comes with a magnetic on board blade storage that will hold 3 blades. It's basically a little storage compartment on the side. So no more digging around wondering where I put that extra blade! The other feature is that you can easily change the angle adjustment, and it has bevel markings that show you the bevel (15°/30°/45°) through an indicator window, taking the guess-work out of whether you have it set right.

Overall, you will not be disappointed with this saw. I really feel that Black & Decker has "stepped up" the quality of their products lately, and the JS680V Jigsaw demonstrates this as well as anything. The only thing that I can see that would add to the overall value would be for B&D to include cutting blades for metal or plastic (it comes with a blade for wood), and a kit box for storage. As it stands, you have to find someplace to put it when not in use, which of course requires that you remove the blade so it doesn't get broken or you don't get cut.

I recently received this saw and decided to put it to the test on my current project. I am installing some kitchen cabinets which involve several cuts at the base of the cabinets where the jig saw comes handy. I also used the saw on some PVC pipes for the sink. Finally, I used the saw on some simpler plywood cuts, trying to follow a line and make a clean cut.

The saw is relatively heavy but comfortable in the hand. The switch/lock buttons are at the right place for me (which is not the case on all the saw I have used).
Changing the blade is very easy and the blade holder is an excellent idea.
The saw is equipped with a 6 amp variable speed motor which for the cuts I did was perfectly appropriate and comparable to the other saws I own. I suspect cutting 4x4 should not be a problem.
The base can be rotated for bevel cuts. An indicator shows clearly which angle have been selected. The base is also equipped with a dust port which with the addition of an optional hose adapter can be connected to vacuum cleaner (I haven't tried it).
The saw comes with a light powered by 3 AAA batteries (included)
Finally, a pen storage compartment comes attached to the cord of the saw. The nice thing about the pen is that its ink react to the light of the saw making it easier to see.

Despite all those features, I am not fully satisfied with the saw.
First, I believe that the pen storage is dangerous. It got stuck unexpectedly on the base of one of my cabinets in the middle of a cut which luckily didn't end up causing any harm but could very well have. At least, the pen holder can be removed easily from the cord.
Second, and more important, the base is wobbly and vibrates when doing the cut (I noticed that when the blade is locked, you can still move it a little with your hands). This gets worse when doing bevel cuts. Over all, doing a clean cut is not an easy feat with this saw.

The overall results is that in my opinion this saw is over priced for what it is. For the homeowner with a small budget, similar saw (some from black and decker) can be purchase for less than $30 dollars. Sure you might get a little less features but usually if you are only doing an occasional project you do not need to do a bevel cut and can get around not having a light or a pen holder. On the other hand, for the enthusiast that want to spend a little more money, there are some high quality saws that can be purchased for a somewhat similar price (at the time of this writing you can get a factory reconditioned top handle bosh jigsaw for $99 which is the listed price of this saw) which are in my opinion far superior.

As a homeowner I use power tools a lot. One that I don't use enough, though, is a jigsaw. Probably the biggest reason is that the one I have is a VERY old Craftsman that is a hassle to use and seems to break a blade every time I use it.

The B&D obviously represents much newer technology. My first impression upon opening the box is it is heavier, which is a good thing to keep the saw from bouncing over the work like my old saw. One of the most obvious differences is the "Smart Select" knob that adjusts the saw for various projects, not only speed but whether it uses orbital cut or not. I find this a better idea than a variable speed trigger, which is hard to keep at the right speed. It has a trigger lock for longer projects.

The saw also what is known as "Accu-Bevel" which tilts the saw from side to side. While there are detents along the way with a handy window that shows the degree of the tilt, it does not snap into place when in the default upright position but instead has some play to it. That is until you read the directions very carefully and realize you have to pull the plate backwards a little to make it click into position. If you don't and try to lock it down with the locking lever you have to be sure the platform is positioned exactly correct. While not a serious design fault, it could have been better thought out.

A major improvement over my old saw is how you insert the blade. Instead of two screws that have to be tightened with a screwdriver, the B&D uses a lever lock that holds the blade securely in place. There is also a guide that keeps the blade from bending and wobbling. It looks like it will do a great job of preventing broken blades.

The saw features a few gimmicks that may or may not interest everyone. One is a blue light called "Linefinder". My circular saw has a red laser and I love it for making straight cuts. This isn't that. It's a blue ultraviolet light that illuminates the blade area. It's designed to work together with the included Linefinder pen. It seems to be the better choice when making curved cuts.

Next down is a door with a magnetic latch to hold up to 3 spare blades (not included but which I will buy). This seems like a good idea. Who wants to start a project and end up not being able to finish because you can't find a replacement blade?

The final gimmick really is one , a little plastic sleeve on the power cord that holds the Linefinder pen. I almost laughed when I saw it, but when you stop to think about it, it's nice to have the pen handy. Maybe all power tools should have something like that.

How well does it work? This is a powerful and well-balanced saw. It is also relatively quiet. I like how it channels much of the dust out of an "exhaust pipe" at the rear (which can be connected to a shop vac). In my opinion this is a must-have tool, whether you work on home projects only occasionally or every day. I would rate it as an excellent value for the money.

I love tools and have a lot of them. Every once in a while you find one that incorporates a new concept into its design and you ask yourself "why didn't I think of that?" This isn't the case for me at least with this tool. It has a black light mounted in the tool and has a special marker pen that glows under the light to make the line easy to see. The pen mounts in a holder on the cord so it won't get misplaced, a very good idea. Since this thing is a saw and not a video game I can't fault them for trying, and maybe other people will find the light and pen helpful. For me it doesn't detract or add to the package. The tool itself just plain works nice.

The saw has a very stout 6 amp motor. It runs without vibration and shifts from orbital action to straight line action with a twist of the dial that also changes its cutting speed. It has an easy to use bevel control, a plastic base on the bottom of the rigid cast metal shoe to prevent scratches on fine finishes. It has a built in dust extraction port and on board blade storage and tool free blade changes. It has a good sight line while still providing guards to prevent amateur operators from cutting themselves. I like the blade speed dial being independent of the on off trigger, it makes it easy to maintain control when used in less than ideal positions.

My first couple of cuts with this tool were on 2" thick material. It cut very quickly and with little vibration.
The noise level was relatively low and the position of the controls and the balance of the tool fit my hand very well. The ergonomics are similar to my Porter Cable and the blade changing is much easier. For a consumer grade tool I think this saw would be hard to beat. It is sized right and has enough heft to stay planted on the surface. All in all I think it raises the bar a little and blurs the line between consumer grade and professional grade tools. The consumer is the winner.

If they wanted to make this thing perfect is all they would have to do is replace the black light with a white LED for use in dim areas with standard pencils.

I do quite some small house improvement projects for my house. And I have quite some tools. This is not my 1st jig-saw. But it's a very decent one to have.

1. The 6amp motor is in the same amperage range of those expensive professional models.
2. This saw has multiple speeds based on the material to be cut. And it has small pictures next to the selection to help you to pick the speed. Nice.
3. Compared with other jig-saws, this one is more quieter.
4. It's easy to handle with very low vibration.
5. It has a light mounted in the tool with special marker pen to draw lines that can glow under the light. This makes the marker line easy to see. This is better than laser beam because laser beam won't help if the pencil line is covered with dust.
6. It has an easy to use bevel control. An indicator shows clearly which angle has been selected.
7. The plastic base on the bottom of the rigid cast metal shoe to prevent scratches on fine finishes.
8. Good dust blower keeps the path clear.

Yes, this jig-saw is more expensive than other low-end jig-saw, but it comes with those additional features. If you do quite some home projects, I think it's worth to get this one. Otherwise, there are plenty cheaper ones to pick.

Very nice saw for the price.So far only used it a handful of times,but has gone through everything ive needed like a hot knife through butter.Very quiet to for a jig saw.I dont know just how much ill use the light & pen combo,but nice to have the option.The on tool blade storage is handy to,love the quick change blade feature.So far no complaints at all.B&D along with some others always seem to surprise me with the quality of the tools.Some ive had outlast more expensive brands.I would buy again in a heartbeat.

This was a big step up over my previous jig-saw that had a power on/power off button. This saw offers multiple speeds based on the material that you are cutting. No need to pull out the manual as the small pictures next to the speeds give you an idea of what speed is required.

The linefinder is pretty much worthless when working in direct sunlight. I was working with HDPE and marked it with a permanent marker. I was able to make all of my cuts, even after running the base over the marker lines numerous times. The HDPE was 3/4" thick, and the saw cut through it like a hot knife in butter.

Compared to other jig-saws, this is a very quiet saw. I didn't feel like I needed ear protection when using this saw.

The on board blade storage is nice when you're traveling and don't want to lose blades in the bottom of your tool bag. No tools are required to make blade changes, which is pretty standard for jig-saws.

This tool is very professional, the original blade was excellent for cutting curves in a thick plywood and pine tables. Easy to handle, very low vibration. Very recommended.