Sabre Saw

• A sabre saw is a reciprocating saw, meaning that the blade rapidly oscillates up and down, which provides the friction required for the blade to cut. The blade juts out from the bottom of the handle unit (which contains the motor), and the saw can is typically used facing downwards, to cut material laid flat on a bench or in a vice. The primary difference between a sabre saw and jigsaw is the integrated turning wheel that sits on top of the handle unit of the sabre saw, which is used to turn the blade to cut intricate and tight crevices and incisions. It can also be calibrated to provide a consistent cut at a specific angle.
  
  

Uses

• The precision of the sabre saw makes it ideal for cutting out stencils and other accurate shapes. It can be utilized to cut a range of materials, from wood and plastic to Plexiglas, metal and plasterboard.
  
  

Jigsaw

• A jigsaw resembles a sabre saw in many ways. It too has a reciprocating blade which extends below the bottom edge of the motor unit. However, it often also incorporates a "jaw," which arches from the bottom of the unit to the tip of the blade, providing the worker with a guide. The jigsaw lacks the turning wheel of the sabre saw; the jigsaw blade has a single position and the worker "steers" it by moving the whole unit.
  
  

Uses

• Because the jigsaw is maneuvered by hand, rather than by the turning wheel integral to the sabre saw, it is typically used to cut more freeform shapes, making it ideal for artistic woodworkers. However, this feature also means that cutting a true straight line is more difficult with a jigsaw than with a sabre saw. Jigsaws can be used to cut a variety of materials, including wood and plastic.