12 Amazing Home DIY Projects You Can Create With A Jigsaw Tool

If you've already made something with a jigsaw, you'll know it's one of the most versatile tools in your workshop. If you've never even held a power tool in your hands, let alone one with a blade, you'll be happy to know that using a jigsaw is an almost foolproof way for beginners to level up their DIY acumen.

Unlike other saws, jigsaws allow you to make straight, irregular, and round cuts, or even cut down large pieces of wood without a table saw. They're also known for their precision. In fact, with a little know-how, using a jigsaw is one of the best ways to cut circles in wood for your home DIY projects. But jigsaws are also excellent for cutting metal, plastic, and certain types of foam. 

With some jigsaws costing less than $30, the following home DIY projects won't lacerate your budget goals, (even if you have to specifically purchase a jigsaw) especially if you use scrap wood or materials neighbors and friends are throwing away. Before you get to work, though, take safety precautions, no matter your skill level: Wear safety glasses, ear muffs, cut-resistant work gloves, a mask, pants, and closed-toe shoes. When cutting, clamp the material you'll be working with to a table where there is enough space underneath so that you're not cutting the table itself.

You can show pride, or show off where you've traveled, by creating a wooden map to hang on the wall. Project the map onto a piece of wood and outline the borders. Then, cut. Some suggest wiggling the jigsaw as you go along so the edges look natural. Once done, you'll end up with two maps you can then decorate: The 3D version of the map, and also the wood containing the outline. Paint, stain, burn, stencil, or turn into a chalkboard with chalkboard paint or a bulletin board by affixing cork, foam, or fabric.

If you have heavy houseplants, this stand will make it easy to move them around, whether you want to give them a new location, or shift them to a spot where you can rinse down the leaves. Use a jigsaw to create the base, either cutting a simple square or circle, or creating a pattern around the edges, such as waves or starbursts. After painting, staining, or covering with oil and decorating in any other way you fancy, attach wheels (like these swivel plate casters from The Home Depot for $9.07) to the bottom.

It's easy to create this minimalist magazine rack, which can be painted, stained, or left natural. Start the project with a simple series of measurements and cuts. To help make sure that the cuts are straight so that the rack doesn't rock or tumble, use another piece of wood as a guide. Finally, use the jigsaw to make cross-cut joints so that the wood boards slide into one another. You can add a piece of glass to the top to turn the rack into a table!

Any plank will do for this DIY, as long as you treat the wood so the bathboard will be waterproof and sand the edges so they won't scratch your skin. Cut the plank to the width of your tub. Decide what elements you want. For a wine glass holder, measure the stem and use your jigsaw to notch out a space so the glass can sit flat on the board. Handles or thin wooden strips can be screwed on to create a stand for a book, e-reader, or phone. You can also attach handles to the ends for extra portability. 

You know all those old hutches, dressers, end tables, chairs, china cabinets, and headboards that you walk right by in the thrift shop thinking there's only so much that paint can do? A jigsaw can allow you to reimagine these pieces so they work with your home décor. Give a tired Gothic-style bedside table a second life, for instance, by first removing medallions and molding. Then use the jigsaw to, say, create straight clean lines on the base. The table will then be ready for the next step: Giving it an equally modern finish with the right stain or paint color.

Some swear by jigsaws for cutting rough lumber because the tool can prevent binding and kickback. You can use a jigsaw instead of a circular saw to make your own stool. For this project, you'll need a single 10-foot long, 2-by-4-inch plank that you'll cut into nine pieces, securing them together with screws. Once done, sand rough edges with a sanding block. The stool looks particularly nice in two tones, which adds dimension to its simple shape. Stain the legs and then paint the top black to create a piece that will seamlessly fit any modern farmhouse décor scheme. 

If you like to festoon your front stoop for the holidays, the jigsaw will allow you to make all kinds of decorations, from a giant spider to an oversized snowflake to a big bunny. You can draw the shape yourself, or go to the web and print a pattern. Trace the shape on wood, cut, and decorate. Use exterior paint, since this will go outdoors. If you drill holes in the decoration, you can snake through LED lights, using hot glue or a power stapler to secure excess wire to the back, so that the decoration twinkles.

A treat wall isn't only a great project for gatherings, from a house party to a wedding in the backyard, but also a wonderful way to impress the kids. Start with a large sheet of plywood, using the jigsaw to cut an arch at the top. Make shelves and screw them into the arch. You'll have to also create a base, which will be easy work. After painting, attach canisters and fill with treats. Little dishes can be placed on the shelves for users to help themselves.

Start by outlining the letters on plywood or particleboard and cut. There are many possibilities for embellishing the letters, such as adding lights. As you become experienced with a jigsaw, you can create more complicated designs, such as curlicue monograms. This one by Instagrammer @board_n_hammered looks like it was made with a CNC machine, but it wasn't. "I use a jigsaw with a very fine blade to cut out all my work!" she writes. While it took her some time to perfect her steady hand, you can start off with something a little easier to pull off. 

Using your jigsaw to create a puzzle for a child could be one of the most satisfying ways to employ the tool. Trace simple shapes for puzzle pieces directly onto the wood. Use your jigsaw to cut them out (you might need to practice plunge cutting first). If you aren't able to successfully plunge cut, you might need to cut the shapes and slots from separate pieces of wood. Taking additional wood, attach it as a backing, so the pieces don't fall through. You can affix handles to the puzzle pieces to help little thumbs and fingers.

This is one of the easiest jigsaw tool projects, because cutting boards are usually made of simple shapes. You'll want to use a hardwood, (such as beech, acacia, teak, walnut, or maple) to resist dents and wear and prevent knives from getting dull. Trace an outline on the wood and cut. You can also tape a paper shape onto the wood and cut around it. You won't want to get a splinter while you're serving yourself from a charcuterie, so sand the edges to ensure they are smooth.

This potentially transformative home improvement project will have you working with large-scale bits of materials, maybe even enormous pieces of MDF. The jigsaw will be there to help you make nonnegotiable cuts. You can build the countertop upon existing pieces such as cabinets or furniture, using overhangs to create the illusion that the workspaces were always meant to be that way. Employing faux painting techniques, you can make the countertops appear to be marble, granite, or another stone. This is a low-cost project with high-value rewards.