How to use a DeWalt jigsaw
Updated: 21 October 2026
You have a DeWalt DCS334 or DCS335 on the bench and the first cut still to make. Most of what goes wrong happens before the motor starts: the wrong shank, the orbital lever on a rough setting, or a dust shroud still fitted when you try to tilt the shoe. This page is how to use a DeWalt jigsaw on those two cordless models. Prices and box contents are on the [DeWalt jigsaw comparison](/hub/power-saws/de-walt-jigsaw). It follows the DeWalt manual and the captured UK listings, not a workshop test. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
You have a DeWalt DCS334 or DCS335 on the bench and the first cut still to make.
You have a DeWalt DCS334 or DCS335 on the bench and the first cut still to make. Most of what goes wrong happens before the motor starts: the wrong shank, the orbital lever on a rough setting, or a dust shroud still fitted when you try to tilt the shoe. This page is how to use a DeWalt jigsaw on those two cordless models. Prices and box contents are on the DeWalt jigsaw comparison. It follows the DeWalt manual and the captured UK listings, not a workshop test. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Speed control | Orbital | Blade | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  DeWalt DeWalt DCS334B 20V MAX bare jigsaw | Trigger 0–3200 up to the dial | 4-position | T-shank, keyless | 9.6 | about £164.84 | View offer |
 DeWalt DeWalt DCS335NT-XJ 18V jigsaw with case | Dial 1000–3200, then on/off | 4-position pendulum | T-shank, keyless | 9.4 | about £221.41 | View offer | |
 DeWalt DeWalt DCS335N-XJ 18V body grip jigsaw | Dial 1000–3200, then on/off | 4-position | T-shank, keyless | 9.2 | about £179.00 | View offer |
On this page
Fit the blade and support the work
Take the battery off before you touch the clamp. Both models take a T-shank only. There is no screw for a U-shank. Hold the latch open, push the shank fully home, and check the back of the blade sits in the roller groove. If it rocks, it is not in. A blade that has just cut is hot. Support the board so the offcut can fall clear, and do not start with the teeth buried. If you are still choosing the saw, use the DeWalt jigsaw buying guide.
Orbital lever and the two speed controls
Position 0 is the straight stroke. Positions 1 to 3 add pendulum and suit only soft wood and plastic. Use 0 for metal, hardwood, and a clean face. Do not copy a 120 V note from a corded DW331 onto an 18 V XR tool. On the DCS334 the trigger runs from 0 up to the dial, within 0–3200 strokes per minute. On the DCS335 the dial sets 1000 to 3200 and an on/off control runs at that speed. If you want the trigger, that is the top handle or body grip page.
Bevel, blower, and extraction
The shoe will not tilt while the dust-extraction parts are fitted. Take them off, release the lever, and slide the shoe forward. Detents are at 15° and 30°, and the maximum is 45° either side. Slide it back to lock 0° or 45°. The blower clears the pencil line. A UK review of the DCS335N says the extraction piece can hide it. At work, wood dust is a COSHH matter, so the vacuum is for the air. Laminate chip-out is on the worktop cuts page.
When you should not finish the cut yourself
Stop when the board is already a fitted worktop, when the line runs toward pipes or cables, or when the job is all-day use. A scribed top you cannot replace is a fitter’s job. None of the three listings includes a battery, and this page does not state a runtime. Wait until the blade has stopped before you set the shoe down.
Common questions
How do I change the blade without an Allen key?
These models use a keyless latch, not an Allen screw. Remove the battery, hold the latch, and push a T-shank fully in so the back of the blade sits in the roller groove, then release the latch. To remove it, lift the latch and shake the blade out without touching the steel, because a blade that has just cut is hot. A U-shank has nowhere to clamp. If the blade rocks, seat it again before the pack goes back on.
Which orbital number do I use for wood and for metal?
Use position 0, the straight stroke, for metal, hardwood, and any face you want to keep clean. Positions 1 to 3 add orbital action and suit only soft wood and plastic, where a faster, rougher edge is acceptable. The DeWalt manual says the aggressive settings are not for metal or hardwood. A laminate show face stays on 0.
Why will the shoe not tilt?
The shoe stays on the 0° stop while dust-extraction parts are fitted. Remove them, release the bevel lever, and slide the shoe forward. Detents sit at 15° and 30°, and the shoe goes to 45° either side. Slide it back to lock 0° or 45°. If it still will not move, check the shroud is fully off before you force the casting.
Should I use the blower or the vacuum?
Use the blower when you need the pencil line. A UK review of the DCS335N says the extraction widget can hide that line, so the vacuum is for dust in the air rather than for sight of the mark. On a short DIY cut, sight usually comes first. At work, wood dust is a COSHH matter, so extraction is the air control even when the line is harder to follow.
How is the DCS335 switched on compared with the DCS334?
The DCS334 has a variable-speed trigger, from 0 up to the dial, within 0–3200 strokes per minute, so you can start slowly. The DCS335 uses an on/off control, and the dial sets a speed between 1000 and 3200 strokes per minute. It does not creep from zero. UK reviews say that switch takes practice and is not always under the thumb. That is a review comment, not a measured failure rate.
Can I rest the saw down while the blade is still moving?
No. Wait until the blade has stopped, then set the shoe down. A coasting blade can walk across the bench and catch a lead or your hand. The same pause applies when you move between cuts. Removing the battery is a separate step for a blade change, not a substitute for waiting until the blade is still.
What is the anti-splinter insert for?
The insert sits in the shoe and supports the fibres so the top face tears less. Leave it in for ordinary wood and for a clean face. The manual’s exception is the DT2074 flush-cut blade, which needs the insert removed, the shoe at 0°, and orbital action at 0 or 1. Do not start a cut with that blade, because the shoe is unsupported at the nose. On a kitchen face, tooth direction still decides whether the laminate lifts.
Related pages
Sources
Manufacturer pages, the DCS334 and DCS335 manual, HSE and GOV.UK. Listing prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures for these three ASINs. Retrieved 21 October 2026.
- DeWalt UK DCS335NT-XJ (retrieved 21 October 2026)
- DeWalt CEE DCS334N-XJ (retrieved 21 October 2026)
- DCS334 and DCS335 manual (retrieved 21 October 2026)
- DeWalt 20 V maximum, 18 V nominal (retrieved 21 October 2026)
- HSE vibration assessment (retrieved 21 October 2026)
- Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 (retrieved 21 October 2026)
- HSE wood dust (retrieved 21 October 2026)
- GOV.UK Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 (retrieved 21 October 2026)