What types of jigsaw files exist and how to choose the best option for a particular case should be known to every craftsman who has this tool in his household.

There are many factors that influence the choice of cutting blade: the material that will be sawed, its thickness and density, the required cut quality, etc. In order not to make a mistake when purchasing, you should take into account the technical characteristics of the files, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of a particular model.

Material for making cutting blades

The first thing you need to pay attention to when choosing a file is the material from which it is made.

Each cutting blade from well-known manufacturers has its own marking. Knowing how to decipher it, you can easily determine whether the file is suitable for you for the upcoming work.

The marking indicating the material used to make the canvas is as follows:

Table on the use of files.

1. HCS. These files are classified as woodworking tools. They are made of high-carbon steel, which has ductility and elasticity. They can cut wood, chipboard, plywood and plastic. When choosing such a fabric, you should pay attention not to its hardness, but to its flexibility.
2. H.S.S. Hardened steel products that can be used at high speeds. Used for processing durable materials, including metals of varying densities. Despite all its rigidity, hardened steel is a rather brittle substance that must be used very carefully.
3. BIM. Bimetallic blades, which are made from a mixture of high-carbon and hardened steel, due to which they have all the advantages of the first two types. Depending on the shape and size of the teeth, they can be used for both wood and metal work.
4. HIM. They are made from high-strength alloys, due to which they are characterized by high strength and rigidity. Mainly used for cutting ceramic tiles.

The color of the file can also indicate the material of manufacture and purpose of the file:

• white (BIM) – for cutting wood and metal;
• gray (HCS or BIM) – for processing wood and wood-based materials;
• blue (BIM or HSS) – for cutting metal;
• black (HIM) – for performing special tasks (sawing ceramic tiles, durable steel, etc.).

Marking of jigsaw files

Files intended for working with wood are marked with the letters HCS.

On the tail of any jigsaw cutting blade there is a marking consisting of letters and numbers. The first is the letter “T” or “U”, which indicates the type of attachment of the blade to the tool: T-shaped or U-shaped. It is followed by numbers indicating the length of the file:

• 1 – short blade (up to 7.5 cm);
• 2 – standard cutting element (7.5-9.0 cm);
• 3 – extended file (9-15 cm);
• 7 – long file (more than 15 cm).

The longer the product, the thicker the workpiece it can cut.

After the numbers there are again letters that indicate the size of the teeth:

• A – the smallest teeth (perfect for cutting laminate);
• B – larger teeth (used for processing wood, fiberboard, chipboard and plywood);
• C and D are the largest teeth used for rough cutting.

Some manufacturers use two letters at the end instead of one (for example, T101BR). The second letter means:

• O – for figure cutting;
• R – with reverse tooth (improves cut quality);
• F – bimetallic products (considered the most durable and reliable);
• X – universal blade (it can cut both wood and metal);
• P – thick files (used for corner cutting).

For example, the T118AF marking means that the selected model has a T-shaped mount and fine teeth, its length is up to 7.5 cm, and the material of manufacture is bimetal.

Types of saw blade shanks.

When choosing a cutting blade for a jigsaw, you need to know what material it will work with. This tool capable of cutting not only wood and wood-based materials (chipboard, fiberboard, plywood, etc.), but also plastic, slate, brick, metal and even tiles. Moreover, for each material being processed there is its own type of saw with which the jigsaw will work with best efficiency. There are also universal cutting blades, which are equally suitable for wood and metal, for example.

Wood files. Depending on their purpose, such products are divided into two groups:

• for quick cutting;
• for a clean cut.

If you are faced with the task of sawing a large number of wood, spending a minimum of time, then the best option would be a cutting blade with large teeth.

The larger the teeth, the faster the cut. However, as the speed of work increases, the cleanliness of the cut decreases, so here you need to choose between speed and quality.

If speed of work comes first, then the best option would be a blade marked T101D. With its help you can quickly cut wooden blank up to 7.5 cm thick, for thicker material you can purchase model T244D or T344D.

For a clean cut good option is the file T101B. It is often used for professional purposes when assembling furniture and other work that requires high-quality cutting. This product can also cut thick workpieces, but you will spend twice as much time on this as when using, for example, the T244D model.

Canvas on laminate. When laying laminate flooring, it is important that the cut does not have burrs. This can be achieved using the T101BR file, which is equipped with a reverse tooth. However, if you don’t have this model at hand, and you need to cut the laminate with something, you can get by with the regular T101B blade. Only in this case, before starting work, it is recommended to paste over the place of the intended cut. regular tape, which will protect the processed material from chips, burrs and other defects.

Metal files. They have fine teeth and a blue tail. If you will be working with metal 3 mm thick, buy a T118A file. It is also suitable for cutting plastic. For thicker material, it is recommended to use a T123X cutting blade, and for aluminum - T227D.

Files for tiles. They are marked T150RIFF or T130RIFF. Instead of teeth, their cutting part is carbide coating. You need to know that using a jigsaw to cut tiles is recommended only in extreme cases, since the work will be slow and high level dustiness. In the absence of a specialized tool for cutting tiles, it is better to use a regular glass cutter.

Blade shape

For various tasks fits definite shape teeth, which differs not only in the type of sharpening, but also in the method of setting:

1. Milled set teeth. This blade is perfect for cutting wood. Divorce is carried out by analogy with a regular hand hacksaw. This allows you to slightly widen the cut, thereby preventing overheating and jamming of the tool in the thickness of the wood.
2. Milled teeth with wave setting. In this case, not a single, but a group setting is performed (for example, 4-6 teeth). Similar files are used for cutting metals.
3. Ground teeth without setting. The best option for finishing cutting. This canvas allows you to achieve High Quality cut in wood, laminate and plastic.
4. Set teeth with grinding. This product is used for quick cutting when there are no special requirements for the quality of the cut.

Manufacturers of jigsaw files

To choose the right file for an electric jigsaw, you need to pay attention not only to the technical characteristics and labeling of the product, but also to the manufacturer. On the market construction equipment cutting blades are presented in a wide range of European, domestic and Chinese models.

Chinese files have no best quality, they quickly wear down and overheat. Their only advantage is low cost. However, it will be cheaper and easier to choose one high-quality canvas for 300-400 rubles than to purchase a set of 20-30 Chinese products for 150-200 rubles. But, if you still need to saw, but there is no file at hand, you can sharpen the old one.

The most popular and reliable jigsaw files are products from Makita, Bosch and Praktika.

A few useful techniques for working with a jigsaw:

What is a jigsaw? - historical reference

The popular Makita jigsaw had a predecessor, which was completely undeservedly forgotten. The manual jigsaw was replaced by laser cutting, jigsaw, and milling.
You can use a hand jigsaw to cut wood, plywood, plastic, ceramics, and sheet metal. Previously, in schools, during labor lessons, children practiced cutting out homemade products with a jigsaw - frames, shelves, dolls and other homemade products. There was no time for gadgets...

Jigsaw design

A jigsaw is a U-shaped arc (1), at the ends of which there are clamping screws (4). A handle (3) is attached to the lower end of the jigsaw. Between the ends of the jigsaw arc, a file (2) is secured using clamping screws, which is installed with some tension (until it rings).
A jigsaw with a wooden arc has a third screw - a tension screw, which serves to tension the file between the ends of the arcs, since a jigsaw with a wooden arc does not have sufficient elasticity to tension the file to working condition.

Files for hand jigsaws (a, b, c) are made of high-quality carbon steel. but despite this, sawing with a jigsaw is quite painstaking work that requires patience and attention. I hurried a little and trinket! You need to insert a new file.

What can you do with a jigsaw?

The modern jigsaw has replaced manual jigsaw from many areas of activity, but if you need an accurate, curved cut, an ordinary, manual jigsaw cannot be replaced.
Craftsmen still use a jigsaw in jewelry production
for cutting complex figures from gold and silver. Using a jigsaw to cut out various shapes from plywood and wood for handicrafts is an excellent hobby; your hands are busy and your nerves are like ropes.

Jigsaw files photo

Jigsaw files: markings

The marking of jigsaw files can tell you a lot, including its purpose - you just need to look closely at it, meet and decipher familiar symbols, and everything immediately becomes clear. This is, of course, if you know how it is read. That is why, when studying replacement jigsaw blades, you need to start with their markings. As a rule, it is a set of Latin letters and Arabic numerals. The first is a letter and it indicates the type of shank. Typically, these are the letters "T", "X" or "U" - the latter is very rare, but the former is widespread and indicates that the shank is T-shaped.

Jigsaw blade: photo shank

Following the first letter there is a series of numbers - as a rule, there are three of them, but it is the first of them that is important. It indicates the length of the canvas:

• 1 – standard short file 75mm long
• 2 – Standard file middle length(90mm)
• 3 – Extended file, the size of which is 150mm
• 7 – Very long. Size over 150mm

After the numbers, there are letters again, but this time, they do not indicate the type of shank, but the size of the teeth - as a rule, this letters A,B,C and D. “A” is the smallest tooth, and “D” is the largest. "B" and "C" should be understood as intermediate options.

Quite often, in the marking of jigsaws, there may be not one letter at the end, but two - the last of them indicates unique qualities consumables. Let's look at them in a little more detail - we won't write long lists. As they say, only the most necessary and common:

What else can you read when studying the inscriptions that are applied to the jigsaw blade? In principle, you can additionally learn about the material that was used to make it. By by and large this is not important, but if you want to buy a really high-quality canvas that can work for a long time, you need to have this information. Between the T-shaped protrusions of the shank and the saw blade itself, you can find three Latin letters, which tell about the material from which the file is made. There are not many options here - only four:

• HCS – high carbon steel. Just what you need for soft materials.
• HSS – high-speed tool steel. This option is ideal for black and non-ferrous iron.
• BiM – bimetallic files. Flexible and durable, and most importantly universal.
• HM/TC – carbide files. Quite specific blades - they are used mainly when working with very hard materials (steel, tiles, fiberglass and even abrasive materials).

Saws for woodworking

I would like to note right away that the main purpose of an electric jigsaw is to work with wood and materials made from it (chipboard, plywood, ...) - everything else is, as they say, a secondary use. For this reason, jigsaw files for wood have a lot of varieties - they can differ both in the size of the tooth and the angle of its sharpening, and in the shape of the file itself. In general, without delving into the study of these instruments, we can distinguish two main types:

Well, as for the subspecies of these wood blades for jigsaws, you shouldn’t bother with them - as a rule, this is to a greater extent specialized tool, and it’s not a fact that he will show himself in the best possible way. Let me give you a simple example - blade T101BR, with a reverse tooth direction. One of the recommended uses for this file is on a laminated surface. Practice shows that an ordinary wood blade with fine teeth can do a good job - a reverse blade cuts worse and also creates vibrations and a lot of inconvenience in work.

Blades for metal work

Any jigsaw file for metal has a fine tooth and its marking, last or penultimate, always contains the Latin letter “A” - this is due to the strength of the material. The harder the material, the finer the tooth needed to cut it. There are no special varieties of blades for metal - the only thing that can be mentioned here is the shape of the cutting edge.

In many ways, the purpose of metal files for a jigsaw is determined by other factors - you need to understand that each different type of metal has its own characteristics. For example, aluminum is a soft and tough metal - if you use it for sawing standard canvas with a small tooth, then most likely it will be ineffective and will become clogged. For this material, files are produced separately - for example, T224D blade, which has Alu written on it.

And finally, a few words about the so-called special jigsaw blades - most of them have a narrow specialization, and they can only be used on a certain material. In particular, there are separate saws for plastic, aluminum, profiled metal, pipes, ceramics, cement, sandwich panels and even for boards with nails. The most notable of them, so to speak unique in their kind, can be called a diamond jigsaw file, which is used for very hard materials and ferrous metals, and the so-called jigsaw file. The latter cannot be used in mass production - it cuts confidently, but slowly.

Various jigsaw blades photos

In principle, all that can be highlighted in the entire variety of replacement blades for jigsaws is that there is not much left to say. For household, you don’t need to buy absolutely all types of files - there is a so-called “gentleman’s set” that includes five files that can cope with all household needs. These are T101D (for rough cutting of wood), T101B (for fine sawing of wood), T101BR (for finishing work with a reverse tooth), T119BO (for figured sawing of wood) and a standard metal file T118A. These jigsaw files will fully satisfy any home craftsman.
Author of the article Alexander Kulikov

It largely determines the accuracy and productivity of cutting material. The technical characteristics of the files discussed in the article and the key differences between them will help you choose the right blade for various types works

A file for a particular job is selected in two ways: firstly, they are guided by the inscriptions, and secondly, they look at the size, teeth and setting.

Reading the markings

There is no single standard for alphanumeric marking of blades for jigsaws, but most manufacturers adhere to the European classification from Bosch or indicate it in addition to their own designations.

Explanation of markings

Files are made from various brands steel, influencing the purpose of the blades and indicated by logos:

1. CV (HCS) is an elastic alloy alloy for cutting wood, synthetic and wood-composite products.
2. HSS is a strong high speed steel for hard materials.
3. BM (Bi-Metal) is a compound of the first two grades of steel that can withstand significant loads and is suitable for many operations.
4. HM is a carbide for cutting tiles and building blocks.

The purpose of the canvas is also indicated by the following marks:

1. Wood - soft lumber, fiber boards.
2. Hardwood - solid wood, laminated panels.
3. Inox - stainless steel.
4. Alu - aluminum.
5. Metal - tin, profiles and pipes.
6. Plaster, fiber - fiberglass.
7. Soft-material - rubber, polystyrene, carpets.
8. Acrylic - plexiglass, polycarbonate.

Sometimes there is an inscription on the file that specifies the type of work:

• basic - standard blade for high-quality cutting;
• speed - saw with set teeth for quick cutting;
• clean - blade without markings for a clean cut;
• progressor - saw with different teeth for cutting various materials;
• flexible - flexible blade for cutting metal;
• special - for cutting ceramics, plastic and other special work.

We cut wood materials

Cutting wood and everything made from it is the main purpose of a jigsaw. Therefore, a larger assortment saw blades is produced specifically for wood and is divided by type of work.

Fast cut

Certain construction works with wood do not require special care, for example, sawing bars for sheathing or dismantling old window frame. What is more important here is the speed provided by fast cutting blades with characteristic features:

1. Large teeth - up to 6 mm.
2. A fair amount of separation - about 1 mm.
3. Long blade - from 60 mm.
4. Width - up to 10 mm.

For thick workpieces, similar blades with large cutters are used, but without routing - they deviate less from the vertical. In principle, the thicker the file, the better it maintains perpendicularity.

Advice. A blade with an oblique tooth is better suited for cutting along the grain, and a blade with a straight tooth is better suited for a cross cut.

Clean cut

An operation such as pruning furniture board or parquet board, requires a smooth and precise cut. Such tasks are performed with less productivity, but with better quality, using blades for clean cutting that have:

1. Teeth less than 3 mm.
2. Minor divorce.

Most saw blades cut by retraction, so the material is placed reverse side. To mark and cut from the face, you need a blade with a reverse tooth. It is not very convenient for them to work - in addition to maintaining the direction of the cut, they have to overcome the force of pushing out the tool.

Advice. Allows you to cut panels laminated on both sides almost without chipping specialized file with two rows of teeth.

Curly cut

It is problematic to cut out small radii with a wide blade. Files for figured cutting They have a beveled back side, making it easier to turn, curves pass without chipping and differ in appearance:

1. Small (up to 2 mm) tooth.
2. Narrow working part - up to 4 mm.
3. Small length - up to 40 mm.

We cut polymer materials

PVC pipes and window sills are sawn using blades on wood or metal with a large tooth. Fine-toothed saws are also suitable, but you will have to cut at a minimum speed, otherwise the sawdust will soften and clog the blade - it will no longer be sawing, but cutting with heated metal.

For thin plastics and plexiglass, a metal file with no big teeth. For thick ones, you can take a wood blade, turn off the pendulum mechanism and cut at low speeds. Shaped sawing of polymer sheets is carried out with a narrow file on wood.

We work with metal

For cutting galvanized profiles and sheet metal products, wave saw blades are used, similar in profile to blades for hand hacksaw. They are distinguished by small (up to 1 mm) teeth, deflected not through one, but in groups of 3-5 pieces.

At permanent job take three blades: for steel, aluminum and for non-ferrous alloys. If you have to cut metal infrequently, then one steel file will be enough, which is also suitable for ebonite and textolite.

In general, a jigsaw is not suitable for sawing metal: the tool is heavily loaded, and the process is slow. Rather, this is an extreme method, justified only occasionally, for example, when cutting sandwich panels with bimetallic saws with small cutters at the edges and large ones in the middle.

Blades for specific tasks

Drywall and cement-containing materials quickly set any saw blade, with the exception of specially designed carbide-tipped blades, which also cut thermal insulation well.

The hole in the tile is cut with a ceramic saw without teeth coated with carbide. It is also suitable for working with glass fiber reinforced polymers.

The cutting part of the blades for cardboard, rubber and other soft materials is not made with teeth, but with polished waves or simply looks like a knife.

Designed for sawing combined materials special files, one half of the blade of which is equipped with small teeth, and the other with large ones.

Advice. The length of the file is chosen based on the thickness of the material. To prevent the blade from tearing out or breaking, its end must extend out of the cutting line in any position of the jigsaw pendulum.

For household needs, a set of 5-10 files for various purposes is enough. Just starting to use a jigsaw, they purchase an inexpensive set, master the intricacies of working with different types of blades, and, based on their own experience, select necessary files. Still, there are no strict recommendations; often one canvas copes well with tasks that are atypical for it. Here you can experiment, but think first.

Let's try to understand the labeling of such a common consumable as a jigsaw file.

The purpose is determined by the color of the shank on the side of the alphanumeric designations. If the shank

• gray - the file is intended for sawing wood:
• white - for wood and metal
• blue - only for metal work
• red - for sawing plastics
• black - other materials

Now let's go over the alphanumeric symbols mentioned above. Let's go in order.

First comes the letter T or U. It indicates the type of saw attachment. The more common T-shaped mount, but there is also a U-shaped one - see diagram

The letters M (Makita) and F (Fein) may also appear

The following numbers indicate the working length. They can be 1,2,3,7

1. short (length up to 75 millimeters)
2. medium (length from 75 to 90 millimeters)
3. long (length from 90 to 150 millimeters)
4. very long (length exceeds 150 millimeters)

The second and third numbers show the purpose of the file itself.

F - bimetallic files. They are of the highest quality: they cut cleaner and faster, last longer
O - narrow files for curved cuts
P - thicker files, due to which they move less from side to side and the cut is perpendicular to the surface.
R - regressive blades, that is, with a reverse tooth
X - universal blade (for any materials)

Then comes the steel grade

HCS(high carbon steel) - high carbon steel, its hardness is 45-48 HRC. This steel is optimal for work on soft materials, (wood and its derivatives - MDF, chipboard, fiberboard, as well as plastics);

CV(chrom vanadium) - Chrome is vanadium steel, its hardness should be 50-52 HRC. It is more wear-resistant compared to the previous one. Used for the same materials;

H.S.S.(high speed steel) - high-speed steel, also known as high-speed steel, hardness of at least 61-65 HRC, used for processing hard materials (aluminum and other non-ferrous metals and even mild steel). Compared to HCS, HSS files are thinner, but have significantly greater hardness;

BIM(bi-metal) is a combination of HSS and HCS steels in one sheet. Files of this kind are expensive and are usually used for professional use. They take both wood and metals well;

H.M.(hard material) - the hardest grade of steel hard alloy tungsten carbide, hardness 79 HRC. Such blades are used for special types of work - cutting fiberglass, tiles and aerated concrete.

This classification is quite arbitrary and is not followed by all manufacturers. Therefore, it is worth discussing each file separately.

Files used for woodworking

T101B- this is a fairly short fine-toothed file (length 74 mm). Designed for working on soft wood, plywood up to 30 mm thick. The fine tooth allows for a clean cut.

The same thing, but with the teeth in the opposite direction. Excellent for cutting materials where chips on the front surface are undesirable (for example, table tops). When working, additional force is required to press the jigsaw onto the material, since the working stroke throws the tool up.

T101P- has a larger tooth compared to T101B (4.5 mm). Allows you to cut the same materials, but their thickness can reach 45 mm.

An even longer file (91 mm), the maximum thickness reaches 65 mm.

A narrow thin file with a fine tooth (1.4 mm) is used for clean curved cuts of wood and its derivatives with a thickness of 1.5 - 15 mm.

Short fine-toothed bimetal file. Designed for sawing laminated materials up to 15 mm thick. - the same, the nose has a larger tooth (2.7 mm), the thickness of the materials reaches 30 mm.

The same, but with a reverse tooth.

This is a file with a fairly thick blade and large teeth (4 mm). The teeth are set apart. Due to its thickness, the file is more stable in one plane and does not move to the side. Disadvantages - it is a rough cut with a lot of chips.

The same thing, but with a bimetallic blade, it is more expensive, cuts longer and has a better length of 74 mm.

This file is twice as long as the above-mentioned one - it is 126 mm.

T345XF is another long bimetal file (106 mm). Its tooth is quite large. Designed for cutting wood with nails, plastic, metals (including aluminum).

Specialized metal files

T118A- a short, fine-toothed file for metal sheets no more than 13 mm thick.

T318A- this is a longer file, great for cutting metal pipes with a diameter of no more than 65 mm.

T118G- the file has the smallest teeth (0.7 mm) and is designed for cutting on the thinnest sheets of metal (0.5-1.5 mm)

Universal files

T234X, T123X are universal files for cuts according to various types wood, plastic and metal.

Special files

Thin saw blade of stainless steel(up to 2 mm)

Longer file for steel 2-5 mm thick

Fiberglass file. Thickness limit 65 mm

Drywall saw and cement particle boards up to 50 mm thick

Longer blade (106 mm), which makes it possible to cut materials up to 85 mm thick

T101A- file for plexiglass up to 20 mm thick

T113A- file for leather, rubber, cardboard up to 50 mm thick. It has no teeth and has a cutting edge similar to a knife.

Longer blade for similar materials thickness up to 100 mm. Has a wavy blade

T130Riff,T150Riff - saw blades designed for cutting ceramic tiles. They are equipped with diamond coating. T130 is intended for rough cuts, and T150 is for finishing cuts.

T308B, T308BF - file, for cutting materials laminated on both sides. Thanks to two rows of teeth, the number of chips is minimized. This is a fairly thin file, so it shakes quite a lot from side to side.

Properly selected components make working with any tool more convenient and enjoyable. Perhaps the most significant working element of a jigsaw is the saw blade. This consumable can turn the cutting process into a smooth and neat song, or vice versa, reduce the work to a crooked and nibbled nonsense. To save yourself from possible unpleasant situations and choose the optimal canvas for your purposes, it is useful to know their types and features. Jigsaw files, at first glance, may seem too diverse, but after reading this article, you will understand that their classification is simple and very convenient.

Explanation of markings

Today, there are several standards for saw blades, each of which is assigned to a specific brand. The most popular files in Europe are files from Bosh. In second place is Makita. The third place is shared by Festool, Hitachi and the rest. Since the marking of Bosch standard jigsaw files is the most common, we will analyze it in more detail.

As you may have noticed in the image above, the number and letter designations of the saw blade have their place and meaning. To provide a clearer picture of the overall picture, let’s talk about each symbol in a nutshell.

Shank type may have several different variations, which must be taken into account by owners of jigsaws with quick-release fastening. If your tool has a block or screw clamp, you can install a blade with any shank into it.

Saw blade length selected based on the assigned tasks and can exceed 150 mm. Choosing long file, it is important to understand the power of your jigsaw, since not every tool is designed to work with thick materials. Same, too long cloth, when working with relatively thin material, will vibrate strongly, which will significantly reduce the quality of the cut. Most optimal length for standard household jigsaws on wood, is 75 mm. This indicator is due to the fact that similar models will not be able to handle thicker material.

Teeth size affects the quality and speed of cutting. If you work with decorative or facing materials, then it is better to choose a file with the smallest teeth (A). This way the work will be much more accurate, although noticeably slower. For quick and rough cutting of boards, chipboards and similar materials, it is recommended to use blades with larger teeth (B, C, D). Determining whether to sacrifice speed or quality should be based on the tasks at hand.

Special Options indicate the features of the saw blade and have a direct impact on the quality of certain types of work. Briefly about each parameter:

• F – Bimetallic. A fairly flexible blade with very strong teeth, which is a symbiosis of two metals. It is used for straight and figured cutting of metal and has increased wear resistance.
• O – With a narrow back. A relatively thin jigsaw file used for curved cuts.
• P – For precise cutting. Thick fabric that is resistant to bending during operation. Great for precise, straight cuts at precise angles.
• X – Progressive teeth. Multi-purpose saw blades suitable for cutting wood, plastic and metal. What they pay for their versatility is the quality of the cut, which leaves much to be desired.
• R – Reversible (reverse) teeth. Unlike the standard direction, upward, the teeth of the reversible blades are directed downward. When working with a jigsaw with a similar file, chips form on the opposite side.

In addition to the standard European marking, which not all manufacturers adhere to, there is a single designation that can be found in the description of any saw blade.

Saw blade material
Depending on the material being processed, files can be made from the following steel grades:

• CV – chrome vanadium steel. Used in the production of saws for wood and its derivatives (plywood, fiberboard, chipboard and others).
• HCS – alloy (carbon) steel. Suitable for cutting wood and plastic.
• HSS – high speed steel. Used for cutting metals.
• BM (Bi-Metal) - a bimetallic blade is a mixture of two grades of steel (HCS and HSS), where the back of the blade has an HCS alloy and the teeth have an HSS alloy. Bimetallic blades are very durable and maneuverable, and can be used for straight and curved cutting of wood and metal.
• HIM is an alloy based on tungsten carbide. Files made from steel of this grade are used to work with ceramics, foam blocks and similar materials.

In addition to dry technical data, the manufacturer can indicate the clear purpose of the saw blade. Often, information about the type of materials and type of work is indicated on the packaging, but there are cases when these designations are written directly on the file. Below are options for the most common verbal designations with explanations.

For what material

• Wood – Saws for plywood, chipboard, fiberboard and soft wood.
• Hardwood – Blades for cutting dense wood and laminate.
• Metal – For working with ferrous metals.
• Alu – For cutting aluminum.
• Inox – For stainless steel.
• Fiber&Plaster – For cutting polymer products.
• Soft-material – Universal blade for working with metals, plastics and wood.

Work assignment

• Basic – File with average cutting quality. The best option for everyday use at home.
• Clean – Blade for making a clean cut.
• Speed ​​– For rough but fast cuts.
• Flexible – Flexible saw blade for working with metal.

Types of jigsaw files

The variety of saw blades today goes beyond the understanding of the average user. Jigsaw saws are divided by size, tooth pitch, types cutting edges and other parameters that are completely alien and uninteresting to most buyers. At the same time, everyone wants to work with an optimally tuned tool and get results of the required quality. To briefly and clearly explain to you how to choose a jigsaw file, we have divided them according to the most popular materials.

Jigsaw blades for wood

Wood and its derivatives are cut using steel blades of grades CV, HCS and BM. The size of the teeth depends on the type of material being processed and the quality requirements for the cutting line:

A and B are blades with the smallest teeth. Used for clean cutting of laminate flooring.
C – medium teeth with appropriate cutting quality. Popular for working with chipboard, fiberboard, plywood and wood.
D – maximum length tooth Used for quick but rough cutting of chipboard and wood.
For straight cuts decorative materials(coated boards or laminate), a T101BR file (with medium-sized reversible teeth) is suitable.

It is better to cut timber or thick wood with a T344C blade (long with large teeth). The size of the file should be selected based on the thickness of the material being cut.

The main qualities that a chipboard file for a jigsaw should have are short length (up to 75 cm), class A or B teeth with an average pitch of 2-3 mm.

It is better to make a figured cut using a dense type T101BO (with medium-sized teeth and a thin back).

Jigsaw blades for metal

Metal cutting electric jigsaw, occurs using files made of the following steel grades: HSS and BM. Such cutting elements are characterized by small teeth with a wave-like setting (like on a hacksaw for metal). Bimetal types of jigsaw (BM) files have larger teeth that become smaller towards the base.


For cutting sheet metal, 1-3 mm thick, a T118A file, up to 75 cm long, with a fine tooth, is suitable.

It is better to cut thicker metal, up to 6 mm, with a T118B specimen of the same length (up to 75 cm), but with larger teeth.

Pipes or metal profiles 1-3 mm thick can be conveniently cut with T318A blades (90-150 mm, fine tooth).

To work with very thin sheets(from 0.5 to 1.5), a metal jigsaw file, brand T118G (up to 75 cm, with a microscopic tooth) is suitable.

Files for plastic

To work with a jigsaw with PVC products, blades made of the following steel grades are used: CV, HCS, HSS and BM. Both special files for plastic (Fiber&Plaster) and regular ones for wood or metal are suitable here. When working with this material, it is better to give preference to large teeth (B, C, D). If you only have files with fine teeth, it is recommended to set the minimum speed on the tool, since heated plastic filings can seriously clog the cutting part.

It is better to cut thick plastic with a bimetallic blade T101BF (up to 75 cm, medium-sized tooth). The speed should be below average.

Plexiglas and sheets of plastic can be cut quite confidently with a T101A metal file with a fine tooth.

Jigsaw blade for ceramics

The fragile structure of ceramics is significantly different from flexible metal and fibrous wood. To cut such material, special blades are required, differing from ordinary ones in the absence of teeth, in place of which tungsten carbide or diamond spraying is applied. The jigsaw file for tiles is made of carbide material, marked “HM”.

In most cases, the copies presented in stores consist of a tungsten carbide alloy and can only cope with wall tiles. There are stronger diamond jigsaw blades available for masonry that can cut floor tiles.
When working with ceramics with a jigsaw, you should understand that this tool is not intended for such material. This device, it is better to use for curved cuts, and for straight cuts - a tile cutter or grinder.

For cardboard

Jigsaw blades for cardboard, rubber, foam and other soft materials have a wavy cutting part, without any teeth. During operation, the file does not crumble or tear the material, but smoothly and accurately divides it into even parts.

Great for cutting carpeting and costs significantly less than professional scissors.

The best jigsaw files

A variety of different brands allows us to make the best choice of saw blade for your budget. Among the products offered you can find consumables of different quality. If we talk about which jigsaw files are better, we can highlight several manufacturers: Bosh, Makita and Matabo.

The most common, with quality that exceeds the price, are the original Bosh brand canvases, of any classification. The jigsaw files of this brand are ideally designed and very easy to use. Unfortunately, among the offers there are often low-quality fakes that create a false impression about this company. Fortunately, there are several proven ways to distinguish a fake jigsaw file from an original one.

1. Counterfeit goods are produced by stamping from a large sheet of metal, as a result of which one of the sides of the saw blade has slightly rounded edges. Original Bosch files, machined perfectly smooth on all sides.
2. Low-quality metal with corrosion and defects indicates a defective product.
3. The inscriptions and emblems on the file must be clear, without blurry outlines. If the seal on the file is askew and blurred, then this means that this is a fake.

Find out about distinctive features You can find out more about fake saw blades in the video below.

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