JigSaw for Car Audio? Low Budget Tool Basics! 

I wanted to try something different with this video and show you guys a more basic tool and how you can still get good results with the proper technique. Are you guys interested in seeing more videos like this or do you prefer advanced fabrication?

Hey Mark - a low-budget way to enhance a low-budget straight cut is to use a simple straight edge as a guide. Clamp a ruler or a square across your piece and you suddenly have a laser straight cut.

This is perfect- I'm about to build my first box and all I have is a jigsaw. Thanks for the tips Mark!

Good stuff as always! One more quick tip, use your middle finger to operate the trigger and keep your index finger extended straight against the body of the tool in the direction you want to cut. This helps to limit wrist twist so you naturally cut straighter.

We have a ton of expensive tools in our shop but nothing gets used more than this little guy! In the last few years some cordless options have come available making this a very powerful tool! Good video Mark!

I'm in the early stages of starting a custom car audio shop... I've known what I was doing for years but lacked in "knowledge" of the technical side. You've helped & offered hints that has pushed my builds above & beyond! Thank you, and plz don't stop.. 🫡💪🫡

Great video! Learned a lot with the jigsaw. I used my grandfathers saber saw ,craftsmen, that he passed down to me. To cut out the hole on my 1st box. It was ported for a l7 kicker square sub. Worked well. Also cut all of my wood for the box in the dinning room. Most cuts were done by my new circular saw, also craftsman, that she bought me for Christmas. She wasn’t very impressed, but we got married a few years later and understands my love for car audio. She even comments on other guys stereos. Trying to show to her. I live in Maine, so the loud ones that sound great are far and few in between. Keep up the great work man! I learn sooo much from u!

A DeWalt jigsaw I got as a birthday gift was all I had for a very long time. Built multiple boxes with it. Still have it today 11 years later. I have a circular saw (panel saw, not worm drive) now, and eventually I'll get a table saw & router.

Dude thanks so much! I have been putting off any diy audio because I'm stuck with just a jigsaw! Hopefully something in this video will help me....

You can also use some guides for your jigsaw, so you get completely straight cuts.

Nice free hand straight cut. Whenever I want a straight cut whether I'm using a jigsaw or a circular saw I like clamping a straight edge so my saw rides along it for a perfect edge.

Such a great educating video! I emailed Mark about a box design he made for me. Asking what type of tool to get for cutting nice straight lines. And told him what I already had. And answered back with his nowledge and sent me two links that hit it dead on the money. Thanks again Mark

I do need to invest in a drill and a jigsaw, but for a few years I've been using manual hand tools. I still get some really good products, but it is definitely time consuming.

Jigsaw: I would like to play a game

Hey Mark, yet another great video from you... Regarding cutting straight lines with the jigsaw. You could use a large leveler or an other piece of (straight) wood to use as a guideline. I love this video, because the lack of professional gear have kinda kept me from "go at it" in my car.

I really appreciate that you show how you can use simple tools aswell as the more expensive advanced tools you use. I like that you always try to improve and be more advanced i almost every project. And also mentioning an alternative method if you don't have all the advanced tools shown in your videos. 100% the best "how to" car audio channel ever! Keep up the great work and lots of love!

Another great video, been learning so much from you. My only regret is not finding your channel years ago! Thank you so much for taking the time to share your knowledge and experience... appreciate ya'! 🙂

I'm super new to car audio fabrication and watch a ton of your vids for helpful tips and tricks so doing basic videos like this really help so keep up the awesome work mark

Mark thank for the informative videos. I've appreciated your latest posts regarding tools and thier usage. Alex

Was about to buy the materials to build a box this week. Wasn't sure if I should even try with the jigsaw. Nice video! Thanks.

I built a pair of awesome Adirondack chairs with just a hand saw, a hammer and a drill, I now have all the tools that I can possibly need, but as a personal challenge and to maintain a tidy garage, I try to use the minimum amount of tools for any given project, that allows me to come up with alternate uses for the tools, I have learned in one year what a lot of people learn in a lifetime.....

You are really good, along with all your other audio you share. Thanks! South Africa🇿🇦

Great video, The kids in school can learn a lot from the low buck stuff. Let's be honest young people want the best bang for the buck, but also want it to look nice. A drill, jig saw and a skill saw can go a long way. And you can pick them up cheap in pawn shops or from your parents as a gift. One complaint, you don't stress safety gear, ear plugs, cheap gear is loud. Safety glasses, have saved me a few times. Loose cloths, which you don't wear..just simple things like that, and always knowing were your fingers are. Those are the first things you learn in shop, but with cut backs in school, how many still have wood shop. Love what your doing, keep up the great builds,!

hahahaha thanks Mark, you have showed many out there how to use a basic way of making a speaker box. I still use my Jigsaw with other tools, router, skill saw, band saw, drill, and other machinery to make boxes. i really think that i use more of my Jig saw more often for lots of tasks around my man cave. again thank you very much for a great vid. I was wondering though how would you cut Plexi glass or abs Plastics (as you have mentioned many times in other videos).

I really like this video ...how u kept it to the basics...not everyone has those special tools .....good job🎉🎊

I'll invest on a good cordless drill and a wired jigsaw(because the wired one is cheaper than cordless, of the same power output)

Finally something for the everyday DIYer.

I was one of the people that asked for a video like this! Thank you!

Did I miss the video of the Jeep demo? I was excited to hear how it sounded after all the work Mark has put into it.

Nice;)Thanks Mark:)In my workshop I use jigsaw only for holes.

i just built my first box, And really the first thing I've ever built, some of the lines aren't the greatest but man it sounds good

Just bought one of these and love it wish they had the corded one instead

Great video, very informative, even for an oldie like myself. I always dreaded using the jig saw when cutting the speaker hole, but like you mentioned in the video just take your time and keep practicing.

Thanks Mark for the great tips, tricks, knowledge & how-to. You explain things well and make me want to build my own subwoofer enclosure. Tired of buying pre-fab "pre-crap" boxes. LOL

And gotta make sure when buying a jigsaw that the bevel adjust on base is secure enough so that it won't start cutting beveled as you push down on saw

I watched all your videos!! Very informative!! Thank u!

Best car audio fab on youtube. #changemymind

You are great!

now this was actually very helpful to me and l would like to see more videos like this

Sketchy for the win!

If I'm doing a double baffle, should I use jigsaw to cut through both baffles at the same time?

drill is number one in my opinion, jigsaw circular saw #2 &3 blades are more important than power for saws

You can get a Mulitmeter, jigsaw, circular saw, drill and router at pawn shops all for $60-70 dollars...

CarAudioFabrication - What do you think of the Black and Decker Matrix Series Drill/Multitool? I have the circular saw, jigsaw, and drill attachment and I think these three things work pretty well for basic box building.

Good job mark!! Awesome videos!! Very helpful and easy to understand!! And not boring haha or just goofing around and blowing my mind every 30 seconds like sound man lol he's funny but you're more professional and still like to joke

The blades are the most important thing to pay attention to rather than the saw.

Wait we don't need 3 router tables with expensive router lifts, 400 templates and $2000 worth of router bits? :) When I started I used a corded Dewalt Jigsaw, a black and decker circular saw, and a 3/8" chuck corded Makita drill. :)

Thank you for everything really really thank you.

Wow, I didn't think this before, thanks, but how to flush mount speaker

Hey mark , great vid for the newbs :) just wanted to say I do the same little trick you do with the cardboard to mark circles but I use the paint stirrers that home depot gives you for free when u buy paint from them, I marked the sticks so I can see what size hole they make at a glance and I'm good to go :)

thanks man learned alot.

i love Low Budget vods !!!! i buy whit your links too :D could you also make a video explaining the good use of other tools also and with deep explanations, for example, with the jigsaw, when should I use the cut with pendular movement? Personally I believe that under budget is sawing jigsaw, circular saw and drill. I love your videos and soon I will have my own router brought from USA (I live in Chile)

Awesome ep. brohammer. Very useful tricks of the trade.

#Mark I have a 10 inch car audio car speaker but don't no how go about cut the hold to the right measurements can you help me with this or better a video on it please 🙏🥺.

I gotta cut a circle on wood board to cut a circle on wood board thanks!

Awesome video

Question sir! I have a pair of orion 2ntense dvc 12 inch subwoofers that I have had since 1999. They have been sitting in a box in my closet since 2007. I am thinking about putting them into my 1995 Land cruiser along with my 2 5.25 boston pro mids with infinity reference tweeters, 2 mbquart q series reference 6.5 inch seperates an audio control 2xs crossover/linedriver powered by a ppi pc 450 and a ppi 2100, the good series of powerclass, the grey ones that each take a 60 amp fuse. Not the 2nd gen 30 ampers chrome series. This system was installed in my 1997 honda civic that I got when I was 16. Originally I had a ppi 250 powering the subs and my 300 total watts absolutely blew the doors off other guys systems with 3-5 times the wattage. I have always done all my own installs as well as about 75 other peoples installs. Then in 99 I worked installing Home theater systems in high end houses. So I do know what I am doing and have professional experience all be it quite a while ago. I have a dual battery system with an isolator for the 2nd battery that will be powering all the electronics.. I have all the required distribution blocks with anl fuses 1 gauge power wire and a 2 farad stiff cap. Ok enough back ground. I need to know if I can build a box that both subs can be in a common enclosure? They are both rated at 1 cubic foot including the woofer displacement. These subs still pound with a vengeance. I am just trying to make as small a box as possible. Can i put both subs in a 1 cube box with common air space or do I need to build at least a 2 cubic foot box if they share the interior volume. If that is the case I may just go with 1 sub in the back right quarter panel where the stock 5 inch "subwoofer" goes and build a custom fiberglass box into the vehicle. Then when I don't have all my overlanding gear in there I will put the 2nd sub in a removable box. 2nd question. If I cannot find room to mount all my amps, crossovers. line drivers in the rear there. I am thinking about a decent 5 channel small form factor amp. Do you have any advice on one of those. Sorry, I know this is a long one. But I just want to say thank you for all your informative videos! You rock!

Not trying to say I know everything because I clearly do not. But one piece of advice you should have given right at the end (or at least you yourself and then made for included it in a video for later) was when you're using your drill with the slip sleeve or whatever they call it. (I call it a no Port tool LOL) you should have recommended that you use the sleeve to slip over your screw so that you don't end up porting your brand new speaker. That is one of the most common mistakes I see all of the time. hell I did it myself when I first started making my own boxes back in the 90s.

Thanks, this video was very helpful. I want to ask, is having a flush mount too much too ask using the common household tools?

Great video

I have Two 4inch speakers, and i would like to make them a box, can you help me? i try, but the good that i use is half inch deep.

Make some video like '' How to make a PVC subwoofer box port.!

But isn't Ryobi jigsaw can't use Bosch T Shank blade bc it don't have that whole on top I read some review people say they try alot type t sank blade with out the whole and it won't fit in the ryobi jigsaw

Nice video

Do you have any videos on how to add a port to a speaker "box" (aka my cars panels) and stopping rattling? This would include how to cut thru the covering material (leather or carpet) while the box is still together if I can.

I really want to work with you I am from India and crazy about wood working have made so many things using hand saw and chisel...if you want I can show some of them like a portable radio gifted to my father, study table, speaker boxes, inverter and battery trolly, a portable fan etc...

As always, you deliver a great video...Where is the jeep??? Is it done??? Sorry. I've been waiting for the install of the sub, the final reveal of the whole system, etc. I realize the router and jigsaw vids are important also. But,... ... Where's the jeep?!?😢 Thanks. 😁

just a jigsaw? and hundreds of hours of experience!

I only got a jigsaw and a small hand drill :)

Couldn't agree with you less about getting a cheap jigsaw. I bought a $40 corded Ryobi and I hated that fucking thing. The difference between a cheap jigsaw and a good jigsaw won't blow your router budget.

Why make a port cut out when you can actually have the port wall, top, bottom and side piece make the port opening?

What's that woofer? :D Good stuff!

what is the battery life like on your saw I am a big Ryobi fan and I am curious and for tweeters it's very simple to just use a holesaw.....just my two cents

Good vid. Very helpful for us poor folk. Good stuff. I see alot of comments about using a straight edge for a cleaner cut.. True that.. Keep the good Vids coming. Maybe our boy Doug will catch on to your Pro-ness and get learnt something.. Lol jkjk 2 years later....................hahahhah

I don't have tools because they cost. How much is that tool that you are showing?

awe

like all ways nice

On blades I've bought some elcheapos and one side was sharper then the other and caused the blade to cut at a angle. Buy a quality blade.

Mark loves ryobi

How much would you charge for two sub in closures??? For a 2016 Ford Mustang... I love your work and would be really interested in getting two of them.

Plywood cutting with jigsaw will not be as good as MDF. Blade gets on a knot and starts drifting away making cut less straight.

Yah I would just get a router and get a jig...

I use a circuit saw lmao

jiggy

That's a POS jigsaw. Festool FTW.

Need a jig saw.plguide