Almost every craftsman has an electric jigsaw (electric jigsaw). After all, the tree is the most comfortable material for home crafts. However, today the electric jigsaw is not the only one in the teeth, and the secret of new opportunities lies in the saw blades - files for the electric jigsaw. In this article, we will introduce you to the standards saw blades, as well as their area of application.
The modern master makes high demands on the tool he works with. He is interested in productivity, geometric accuracy of the cut, as well as the end result - the quality of the cut line. To choose the right nail file for your jigsaw, you need to consider a number of criteria: the material to be processed; pitch of saw teeth and their shape; shank type; the width and thickness of the saw blade, as well as the material from which it is made.
Processed material
Different materials create different cutting resistance forces. Therefore, for each of them, optimal strength and geometric characteristics of the saw blade have been developed. So the first search criterion is by appointment. There are files for wood and for metal, for wood with metal inclusions, as well as many types of files for special purposes - for of stainless steel, abrasive materials, laminate, ceramics, cement, for various types of plastics and fibrous materials.
Tooth shape
According to the shape of the teeth, saw blades can be divided into four types, which are shown schematically in the figure. The capabilities of the file depend on the size and shape of the blade and the size of the teeth. A large number of fine teeth ensures accurate sawing, but the work progresses slowly. A small number of large teeth gives a quick but rough cut. The geometry of the tooth is largely determined by the manufacturing technology of the saw blade.
Saw blade geometry
The teeth are milled, divorced. The teeth are alternately bent in different sides. The wiring width is considered normal if it is equal to one and a half web thickness. The wiring prevents excessive heating of the saw blade and helps to remove sawdust that has fallen between the saw blade and the walls of the cut. Used for fast cutting of hard and soft woods, non-ferrous metals and plastics.
The teeth are milled, wavy. Cloth Wiring is performed not through one tooth, but in groups that deviate either to the right or to the left. The saw blade is designed to produce a smooth and clean cut when sawing in a straight line aluminium, non-ferrous metals and plastics.
The teeth are ground, with conical grinding. The saw blade with a conical non-working edge is designed for clean cuts in wood and plastic.
The teeth are ground divorced. Saw blade for fast sawing of wood with a rough cut line. Used for cutting soft wood (5-50mm), blockboard, chipboard and fiberboard.
Tooth pitch
In our country, pitch (t) is the distance between the tops of the teeth. In a number of countries, the pitch is designated TPI (teeth per inch) and is measured by the number of teeth per inch (for example, TPI \u003d 7, i.e. 7 teeth per inch). When sawing wood crosswise, it is convenient to use a saw with a large tooth t = 3.5-6.5 mm (TPI = 7-3.5), for ordinary carpentry work - with a medium tooth t = 3-3.5 mm (TPI = 9 -7), with responsible sawing - with a fine tooth t = 2-3 mm (TPI = 13-9). In this case, it is necessary to take into account the thickness of the material being cut. Sawing is easier if at least 5-8 teeth are involved in the work at the same time. If this rule is not observed, the blade will vibrate during operation, and the cutting line will turn out to be crooked and torn.
Saw blade width
The width of the saw blade determines the quality and speed of cutting when moving in a straight line, as well as the possibility of cutting curves. The wider the saw blade, the more stable it is: it allows a high cutting speed and deviates less from the cutting plane. Narrower saw blades should be used for sawing curved lines: they fit better into turns. It is important that the teeth of such a saw blade are located on the drive axis of the jigsaw. This increases the controllability of the tool: it can more accurately follow the intended cut line.
File thickness
The thickness of the saw blade affects the stability of the saw blade when cutting in a straight line and ensures that the cut is perpendicular to the plane of the workpiece. However, for cutting thick workpieces requiring high precision relative position of surfaces, it is better to use circular saws.
Saw blades for sawing wood
Below are saw blades for wood from Wilpu. Numbers in parentheses indicate the corresponding Bosch equivalent. 
Precise cut, also suitable for plastic. High carbon steel saw blade with pointed teeth and conical grinding. Provides a clean cut line in soft wood and chipboard up to 30 mm thick, as well as in plastic. (Wilpu HC 12 / Bosch T101 B)
Bimetal saw blade. The bimetal saw blade is very durable, made by laser welding: the back is made of flexible high-carbon steel, the cutting part is made of high-quality high-speed steel (HC 12 bi / T101BF)
Saw blade with reverse tooth system. Thanks to the teeth, directed in the opposite direction, the blade cuts when moving backward. At the same time, the visible cutting line remains clean and without chips. Scope - veneered boards (HC 12 R / T101BR)
Clean line for curved cuts. With a half-width of the saw blade, the teeth are located on the axis of the longitudinal stroke of the jigsaw. With the help of such a blade, you can cut along a very steep curve, as well as in a circle (HC 12 K / T101 AO)
Saw blades for floor coverings. Special saw blade designed for cutting materials such as laminate and parquet, the teeth are directed in the opposite direction and the distance between the teeth is smaller than with traditional nail files (HC 19 R bi / T101 BIF)
Wood sawing master. The new generation of saw blades: the teeth have a special geometry and are triple ground. Very sharp! (NS 123 / T234 X)
Universal saw blade. A saw blade for all occasions: it is a universal tool for rough and fast sawing of wood up to 5 cm thick. The saw blade is made of high carbon steel, the teeth are set and ground. Cuts fast and clean (HGS 14 / T144D)
Blades for wood up to 120 mm thick. The tooth geometry is the same as that of the universal saw blade, however, the length of the working part is -155 mm. With this saw you can cut timber with a thickness of 120-130 mm (HGS 54 / T744D)
Specialized saw blades
If there is a need to cut materials such as glass, stone or metal, you will need special saw blades with the appropriate characteristics. Obviously, the saw teeth must be harder than the material being cut. However, hard materials have a big drawback: they are brittle, which causes frequent breakage of saw blades. For such cases, manufacturers produce bimetallic sheets. They consist of 2/3 elastic high carbon steel and one third hardened high speed steel. Such files provide an optimal price-quality ratio and quickly pay for themselves due to the long service life.
File for soft wood and insulating materials. Such saw blades have a tooth pitch of 1.2 to 2 mm; with their help it is convenient to cut soft wood, as well as various insulating materials (HW12 / T119A
File for sheet metal. For sawing thin sheet metal with a thickness of 0.5 to 1.5 mm, saw blades with a small pitch and a wavy blade are designed. Since the tooth pitch is only 0.7 mm, a clean cut line is obtained (MG107 / T118G)
File for plexiglass and metals. Plexiglass, polycarbonate, non-ferrous metals and aluminum up to 30 mm thick - no problem if you use this saw blade with a positive angle and pointed teeth (MC 12 bi / T101A)
File for steel. A bimetal nail file with a wavy blade is designed for cutting sheet metal, laminated materials, pipes and aluminum profiles (MG11 bi / T318AF)
File for multilayer materials. A special bi-metal blade is designed for cutting workpieces up to 120 mm thick, consisting of different materials(metal, insulating material). Highly flexible (MG 51 bi / T718HF)
File for wood with metal. This saw blade with a tooth spacing of 1.8 to 2.5 mm is designed for sawing wooden structural elements containing nails and other metal elements (MG 1014 bi / T111HF)
Saw blade with special tooth system. Universal saw blade with a special M-shaped tooth system. The saw blade quickly cuts material (wood and metal) in both forward and reverse motion (ST-006 bi)
File for rubber, carpets and leather. Jigsaw file with a wavy edge for sawing materials such as cardboard, leather, rubber, polystyrene foam up to 120 mm thick, as well as carpets (313 AW / T313AW)
Saw blade shanks
Suitable for tools: AEG, Bosch, Metabo
Suitable for instruments: AEG, Atlas Copco, Bosch, Black&Decker, DeWalt, Elu, Festool, Flex, Hitachi, Holz-Her, Kress, Mafell, Makita, Metabo, Protool
Suitable for instruments: Black&Decker, Skil, Ryobi
Suitable for instruments: Fein ASt(e) 636.638; MOt 6-17-1
Suitable for instruments: Fein ASt(e) 649; MOt 6-18-1, Spitznas
Suitable for tools: Makita
Jigsaw accessories
Leading tool manufacturers produce accessories for their power tools. Such pleasant additions include a device that prevents chipping of the upper layer of material: it is mounted on a base plate. And the support panel itself can be made of different materials, which counteracts slipping when sawing.
It will not be superfluous in the workshop and a parallel stop, which ensures the cutting of the same type of rails; the distance between parallel lines can vary up to 140 mm. And the circular cutter will provide the possibility of precise processing of radius surfaces. Additional equipment greatly expands the possibilities of tools and gives a new impetus to creativity.
Several good examples different work files
The veneered panel was cut with a saw blade with the teeth pointing up (right) and with a saw blade with the teeth pointing backwards (left)
If you don't have a back-toothed saw blade handy when sawing veneered panel, apply Tesa adhesive tape along the cut line to help get a clean edge.
With a simple stop, consisting of a bar and two clamps, you will get a precisely calibrated, even saw line.
For circular sawing, use a circular cutter.
This is just a dream of a home craftsman - a table for sawing, for example, manufactured by Neutechnik.
Special clamps will protect the sawn panels from the appearance of monstrous cracks.
Description of saw blades
T 101AO– BOSCH 101 AO jigsaw blades are designed for working with softwood, plywood, coated boards (1.5–15 mm), for curved cuts.
T 101B- BOSCH T 101 B jigsaw blades are designed to work with softwood, chipboard, blockboard, fiberboard (3-30 mm), polymer / epoxy materials.
T 101BR- The file is used for working with soft woods, chipboard, fiberboard. File pitch - 2.5 mm., Length - 75 mm.
T 101D- The file is used for working with soft woods, fiberboard, chipboard. File pitch - 4.0 - 5.2 mm., Length - 74 mm.
T 127D– Use these files for cutting hollow profiles no more than 30mm with a thickness of the metal itself from 3mm to 15mm.
T 111D– Usage: fast rough cutting of plywood, plastic, wood 5-60mm thick.
T 244D– The saw is used to make even and curved cuts in softwood, fiberboard, chipboard, plywood. File pitch - 4.0 - 5.2 mm., Length - 74 mm.
T 144D– BOSCH T 144 D jigsaw blades are designed to work with softwood (5–50 mm), chipboard, wood core plywood, fiberboard
T 118 A– For straight cuts in thin sheet metal (1-3 mm).
T 118 B– For straight cuts in medium thickness metal sheets (2.5-6 mm).
T 119 B– For straight cuts in softwood (2-15 mm), plywood, chipboard, wood core plywood, fiberboard.
T 119BO– For shaped cuts in softwood (2-15 mm), plywood, chipboard, wood core plywood, fiberboard.
T 111C– For straight, fast cuts in softwood (4-50 mm), chipboard, wood core plywood, fiberboard.
T 123 X– Use: metal sheets with a thickness of 1.5-10mm, profiles and pipes (also made of aluminum) with a diameter of up to 30mm.
T 344D– Use: cutting soft wood 10 – 85mm thick, wood core plywood, chipboard and fibreboard. Used for fast cuts.
T 301CD– Usage: cutting 10-85mm thick softwood, wood core plywood, chipboard and fiberboard.
T 345XF– Use: building wood with nails (less than 65 mm), plastic, sheet metal, wood materials, profiles and pipes (aluminum and not only) from 3 to 10 mm in diameter.
T 234 X– Usage: 3-65mm thick softwood, fiberboard, chipboard, wood core plywood.
T 318A– Usage: 1-3mm metal sheets, profiles and pipes.
T 301 DL– Designed for fast, fine cuts in hardwood, softwood, chipboard, fiberboard (10 to 85mm thick), laminated plastic (4 to 40mm thick).
Files Hitachi and Bosch
How to work with a jigsaw
Most of the work can be done even by the most simple models. But technology has stepped far forward and such a tool has become more convenient and versatile. For a long time there have been hacksaws with electronic control and a pendulum motion of the blade. The choice of the right electric jigsaw is only difficult due to the abundance of offers. Electronics and pendulum action have become standard. Top Models have a simple and reliable replacement of the saw blade.
1.
The base plate of the electric jigsaw has a smooth adjustment of the angle of inclination up to 45 °. Additional equipment allows you to make oblique cuts (on the "mustache").
2.
The base plate moves and longitudinal direction, which makes it possible to saw close to the edge, for example, when working directly against a wall.
3.
The jigsaw compass allows you to cut circles, large holes and make precise roundings. The basis of the compass is an adjustable rod.
4.
The parallel stop is indispensable for long straight cuts. It is mounted on a base plate. The emphasis has an adjustable clamp of distance from the edge of the part.
Features and equipment of the electric jigsaw
Thanks to the eccentric transmission of the hacksaw, the rotational movement of the motor is converted into a vertical stroke of the slider. A saw blade is installed in the slider. The frequency of reciprocating movements of the blade indicates the speed of sawing. The speed can be controlled electronically. Wood is sawn at a faster rate, plastic and metal slower.
If you want to achieve the best results and have a versatile tool, then it is better to buy an electronically controlled model and special blades. The pendulum stroke allows the saw blade not only to move vertically, but also to move back. This ensures a better run of the blade into the material and the sawing speed is greatly increased.
The markings and the cut itself are always visible during operation. A modern tool is already equipped with local airflow and dust extraction. The base plate in most models changes its angle to the blade and allows you to make cuts on the “mustache”, and if you move it back, you can work right along the edge.
5.
If the distance to the outer edge is too large or the edge is not parallel to the cut, then the stop bar in the desired position is fixed with a clamp on the part
6.
A special workbench fixes the jigsaw permanently, which allows you to cut small parts. They can also be run parallel.
7.
An additional guide bar makes it easier to guide thin canvases. It can be equipped with its own tensioner for canvas.
8.
The protective protector, clinging to the surface of the material at the sawing point, prevents the material from tearing off along the edge of the cut.
Guides and fixtures for electric jigsaw
A jigsaw is a freehand tool, and in most cases this is how it is used. However, it is possible to make the job easier if long straight and round cuts are needed. A compass, parallel stop and stop bar will solve the problem. A slow saw blade will give the best results as it is flexible and tends to side slip and follow texture, especially in hardwoods. The workpiece to be sawn is always fixed. If the parts are so small that they cannot be fixed, then the tool itself is permanently installed. The necessary fixtures for this are offered.
9.
Soft materials such as rubber, leather, foam and carpeting are not sawn, but cut with special knives (often with a sawtooth blade).
10.
Even hard materials such as glass and ceramics will not complicate the jigsaw. Special carbide coated blades should be used.
11.
To avoid scratches on surfaces, a plastic shoe is placed on the base plate. Self-adhesive felt will perform the same function.
12.
When finishing rounded cuts, rasp and grinding attachments will help. Instead of a standard canvas, they can be installed in a jigsaw.
Quality cuts
Saw blades in such a tool work in tension, which leads to their straightening and the correct geometry of the cuts. But at the same time, edges without chips are obtained only from below. This must be taken into account when cutting furniture boards. Special canvases and experience will allow you to cope with this problem.
The teeth of a conventional jigsaw blade look up, so the material breaks out when it returns, which is furniture boards leads to cracks. If the part has to be cut from the front side, then they put a special saw blade with the reverse position of the teeth. In this case, the jigsaw is pressed tightly against the surface.
When it is not possible to cut from the back side of the part, and chips along the edges cannot be avoided, gluing adhesive tape along the marking of the part will help. Tape will prevent large edge chips. After finishing work, it is carefully removed.
http://remstd.ru/archives/kak-rabotat-elektrolobzikom/
The process of owning and operating a power tool is combined with the constant replacement of consumable work items.
The saw blade gradually loses its carbide tips, becoming inefficient; drill bits tend to break or grind off from constant contact with one or another dense material; a cutting disc for a grinder is enough for no more than ten minutes of intensive work.
File classification
The purpose of the jigsaw is similar to the purpose circular saw- making a cut in a particular material. However, unlike a circular saw that can only make straight cuts, a jigsaw allows you to make circular and curly cuts. In many respects, this possibility is due to the consumable material of the tool - its file. The thin metal of the blade and small teeth of small size allow the jigsaw to maneuver when processing any material.
Most people use a jigsaw for sawing wooden blanks and wood-based products - chipboard, fiberboard, using the appropriate wood files. However, using special files, the tool can also process metal, plastic, cut finishing materials - such as tiles, stone and porcelain stoneware.
Wood saws.
Many jigsaws, regardless of brand, have an article number consisting of two capital letters and two numbers, separated from each other by a fraction sign.
Example: LE 80/800. LE - "electric jigsaw". The number 800 means the power of the position in watts. But the number 80 indicates the maximum thickness of a wooden product that a jigsaw can cut using the file that comes with it. That is, in this case, the thickness is 80 mm.
Important: The number in the article reflects the thickness of the wood! blanks. Modern jigsaws are capable of cutting metal, plastic and aluminum, but the maximum thickness of products in the case of processing products from these materials will be much smaller, and its value is never reflected in the model article.
Marking saw blades for wood:
- Т101D: The most popular file model. It has large teeth, large pitch and is designed to make a rough cut.
- T101B: Has finer teeth than the previous model and is designed for a clean cut.
- T101BR: Same tooth size and pitch as previous model.
- T119BO: The cross section of this model is very thin, which makes it possible to perform curly cut.
The shape and size of the teeth of this model allows it to cut not only standard wooden blocks and boards, but also large-section plywood.
Typically, files of this type are used to work with plywood and plexiglass.
The difference is that the position of the teeth is reversed. Allows you to process such material as laminate, glued wood.
The size of the teeth is very small, which allows the file to leave behind a clean and even cut on materials such as plywood, chipboard, fiberboard.
There are models of long files for electric jigsaw. For example, such as the T 345 XF. This variety allows you to easily cope with a board thickness of 100 mm.
Files for different types of work on wood, metal, plastic
Metal saws.
The thickness of the processed metal product is much less than the same value for a wooden workpiece. For the LE 80/800 electric jigsaw model given above, this characteristic will be 6 mm. A very small value compared to the fact that the maximum thickness of a wooden workpiece for the same tool position would be 80 mm.
Classification of saw blades for metal:
- T118A: The ability to cut metal is made possible by the strong structure of its material and a very fine tooth.
- T224D: Designed to work with aluminum products, the thickness of which can reach 20 mm.
Apart from metal products, the size of the teeth of such a file makes it possible to work with plastic.
Diamond saws.
Files of this kind are designed to work with fragile materials that tend to crumble during sawing. We are talking about materials such as tiles, slate and ceramic tiles. A diamond-coated blade allows you to cut metal, but such an application will lead to the fact that the consumable element will quickly fail and require replacement.
The peculiarity of diamond files is that their blade is completely devoid of teeth. The cut occurs due to the crumbs of diamond coating.
As a rule, an abbreviation of three Latin letters - DIA - is applied on the saw blade with an abrasive diamond coating.
Diamond plating and inscription DIA. Designed for ceramics.
How to insert a saw blade into a jigsaw
Replacing the saw blade is a fairly common procedure, provided that the tool is used regularly. Jigsaw blades that have lost their effectiveness cannot be restored - it is much easier to purchase this consumable at the nearest tool store and replace it. Buying is not a problem.
Fortunately, we have not seen a shortage of such products for a long time, and the cost of a saw blade is clearly not affordable.
But replacing a file for an inexperienced user of a jigsaw can cause some difficulties. In order to avoid them, consider the main options and features of replacing the saw blade.
Shoe fastening.
For many models of household-grade jigsaws, the saw blade is fastened with a quick-clamping block, which fixes the saw blade with two front adjustment screws. Such a clamp for sawing a jigsaw is a slightly outdated design, however, it is not without advantages, the main of which is versatility - blades of any type and size are suitable for such a saw holder.
The disadvantage is that if the adjusting screws are unevenly tightened, the saw blade may be skewed, which will lead to a distortion of the cut.
The latter feature, however, can also be regarded as a positive factor in some cases. The fact is that the jigsaw rod can be bent over the course of operation. So, using the degree of freedom that the saw blade mount allows, you can use the same adjusting screws to bring the saw blade into a vertical plane.
Quick clamp.
A more modern saw blade attachment is a quick-clamping one. This design allows replacement without removing the tool cover. The process algorithm is very simple:
- We pull the lever located on the tool body - in this case, the rod automatically extends to the plane of the sole.
The shank of the file is inserted into the mount.
– With a special hex wrench, we fix the web by turning the adjusting screw. You can immediately tighten it to failure, and then, gradually loosening it, achieve the desired position.
With all the seeming simplicity and convenience of this design of the mount, there are points that can be called disadvantages. While the previous shoe system is universal in that all saw blade sizes are applicable to it, in the case of a quick-clamping design, only consumables with a specific shank shape are used.
On the other hand, a similar consumable is found everywhere, so this nuance should not be considered as a clear disadvantage. Another point is that the file in this type of mount has a small longitudinal play. It can be compared with the degree of freedom of the drill, which, being in the cartridge of the perforator, has the possibility of longitudinal movement. This feature does not affect the quality of the jigsaw in any way.
In the photo, the moment the web is inserted into the mount while the lever is pulled
There is another type of fastening that does not apply to quick-clamping and lies in the fact that the file is fixed with only one screw, unlike the first case, where there are two screws. This design is quite rare and is found, for example, on the jigsaw of the Protool brand.
Protool has a mount different from other electric jigsaws
Jigsaw blades DeWALT DT2216-QZ/ DT2220-QZ
These DeWALT blades belong to the XPC series and are designed to work with wood. High-quality steel guarantees wear resistance and long service life. Optimized tooth geometry, as well as increased blade stiffness, improves controllability, cut accuracy and reduces the chance of the blade accidentally breaking out of the material during cutting.
Large interdental cavities increase cutting speed and clear chips faster. Bimetal blades DT2220-QZ with a working length of 75 mm are recommended for processing wood, chipboard, plywood and plastic up to 60 mm thick. The unique geometry of the plunge point teeth allows you to comfortably make clean plunge cuts while avoiding kickback. Blades DT2216-QZ with a working length of 54 mm are designed for fast and accurate curved cutting of wood, chipboard and plywood up to 15 mm thick.
Now in the world of hand tools and tools, it is the jigsaw that is an example of a truly indispensable mechanism for processing the widest range of materials, equally suitable for working with both straight and any curved cuts. However, such wide opportunities are caused by manual jigsaws not only by the features of their design, but also by the richest assortment of consumable tools for it - among saw jigsaw blades (colloquially - jigsaw saws). Undoubtedly leading in the production of such files German manufacturers concern "BOSCH", therefore it will be interesting to get acquainted with its classification of the modern generation of jigsaws, learn the arguments and details from its weighty assessments.
Experience dictates that in sawing with an electric jigsaw it will be very important to choose the right file for the intended purpose. When choosing a jigsaw model for yourself, it is best to use those varieties that use files with a u-shaped or t-shaped shank, since such shank samples are more securely attached to this tool.
Tooth profiles y are selected based on the density of the material being cut and the particular requirements for the quality of the cut (whether a wide and rough line of a quick rough cut will be tolerated, or will it have to be thin and clean, straight or figured ...). For example, if a jigsaw blade has set teeth, but it is not sharpened further after the milling stage, then such a blade will cut quickly, but with a rough cut quality. On the contrary, the teeth on the file, which are sharpened, but not divorced, will cut very cleanly. When sawing, parameters such as the tooth pitch and the material of the jigsaw itself will also be decisive. After all, say, in the process of sawing any metal, three or four teeth of the file will have to participate simultaneously in interaction with the workpiece (one or two teeth will turn out to be few in this sawing, and five to eight are already many). Therefore, for sawing thick workpieces, files with a fairly large pitch are used, for thin ones, on the contrary, with a small one.
Thus, Bosch specialists believe that their jigsaw blades, which have set milled teeth, are most convenient for cutting sheets with a relatively clean edge, making quick cuts on soft and hard wood, aluminum, plastic and non-ferrous metals. These are, for example, Bosch jigsaw files of articles E 127 D and T 345 XF.
Bosch saw blades, which have a wavy saw blade line with milled teeth, are designed for cutting workpieces in a straight line, where it is required to leave neat edges along the cut line: the material cut by such saw blades can be plywood, aluminum, non-ferrous metal, and plastic ( examples of such files can serve as jigsaw files of the "Boszew" articles T 119 B, T 118 A).
Varieties of "Boshevsky", whose teeth are set and ground, are recommended for quick and clean cutting of wood and plastic (for example, files with the article "Bosch" T 144 D, T 244 D).
Bosch also produces jigsaw saw blades in which the teeth are ground at a free angle. For example, jigsaw blades with a tapered back side are effective for making free cuts, for precise, clean cuts in wood and plastic (sample of such blades have BOSCH articles T 101B, T 101DP, T 234 X).
A large assortment of BOSCH is also observed in the materials that are used to make saw blades from them. Them short list is:
HSS- this brand denotes blades made of high-speed, perfectly hardened, hard and durable steel. The downside of these characteristics of such steel is that it is brittle and difficult to machine. HSS steel files are effectively used for work on metal, aluminum and non-ferrous metals.
HCS- brand of saw blades made of high-carbon tool mild steel. These qualities dictate its most successful use for cutting soft workpieces - wood, artificial materials.
HAS- brand of high carbon steel files, much stronger than HCS. Therefore, saw blades from this steel grade can be successfully used for sawing wood with nails inside its fibers, for sawing aerated concrete and soft non-ferrous metals.
Now at BOSCH you can also find in the assortment more complex, combined in composition materials for jigsaw blades:
Bimetal (F)- they are a highly elastic, inseparable connection of the blade of the HCS steel file itself, and on it there are strips of HSS steel, along which the tooth is cut. As a result of such a connection, a universal, very flexible, non-fragile file with a hard tooth is obtained, which significantly increases its service life and suitability for curved narrow lines of any figured cut, as well as for a clean straight cut. For curved cuts, it is better to use a narrow and short Bi-metal combination file.
H.M. (Piff)- in this combination of material for files, the HCS steel carrier is coated by spraying with a layer of special grains of hard metal (there are simply no individual teeth on such files). It is convenient to use such files for sawing glass, tiles, bricks and abrasive materials. If the HCS carrier is still made with teeth that are spray-coated with a layer of hard metal, then such a saw blade can successfully saw hardwoods, reinforced fiberglass, asbestos cement, and even abrasive material.
Files "progressor" saw blades are called, in which - different pitch teeth made of HSS steel at the end and beginning of the file. Thus, nporpeccop jigsaw blades with the article BOSCH T123 are universal in purpose for cutting wood and ferrous metals. The "progressor" file of article T234 made of HCS steel is produced by the "" concern for clean and fast sawing of wood.
This is the minimum knowledge about saw blades for electric and cordless hand jigsaws. However, in order to consider in detail the true variety of these blades, depending on the different combination of materials from which they are made, and the shape of the tooth that is cut into them, a convenient summary table can be provided to help you make an accurate and successful choice for the job.
So, the areas of application of various jigsaw saw blades from the BOSCH concern are as follows:
| For straight cuts | For shaped and curved cuts | in thick material | in thin material | For high precision cuts | In rough cuts | File flat, semicircular, three-sided | Creating high-precision parallel cuts | |
| Options wood |
||||||||
| hard wood, soft wood, plywood, fiber wood | T 132 | T 101DP | ||||||
| fiber tree | T 132 | T 101DP | ||||||
| Wood fiber polymer coating | T 101 AO | T 101 AO | T 101D | T 101DP | ||||
| glued tree | T 101DP | |||||||
| Varieties metal |
||||||||
| Metal, mild steel | ||||||||
| Stainless steel | T 11I8 BOF | T 318 EHM | T 118AHM | T 118 ENM | ||||
| Non-ferrous metals | T 318A | |||||||
| Puff materials |
T 318 A/BF T 318 B/BF |
T 318 A | ||||||
| Polymers | ||||||||
| PVC, polymers | T 101 V | T 101 BR | ||||||
| Plexiglass | TI01 A | T 119 VO | T 101 A | T 118 BF | T 101 A | T 119 V | ||
| Asbestos cement, glass fiber polymers | T 341 HM | T 101 BF | ||||||
| Miscellaneous | ||||||||
| Brick, glass, ceramics | T 130 RIFF | T 130 RIFF | T 15O RIFF | T 15O RIFF | T 130 RIFF | |||
| Leather, cardboard, rubber, insulating materials, carpet | T 101 AO | T 113 A | T 119 B | |||||
Let's also touch on the scope of hacksaw saw blades from the BOSCH concern.
| materials | ||||||||||||||||||
| material - metal | material - wood | |||||||||||||||||
| S 234XF | S 617 K | S 1111 K | S 1617K | S 644 D | S 744 D | S 1344D | S 1531 L | S 1542 K | S 123XF | S 418 BF | S 427 D | S 518 A | S522AF | S 518 B | S 522 BF | |||
| wood materials | 1 | Solid wood | + | + | + | + | ||||||||||||
| 2 | Freshly cut wood | + | + | + | - | + | + | |||||||||||
| 3 | chipboard | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||
| 4 | + | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
| 5 | wood with nails | - | ||||||||||||||||
| Plastics | 6 | PVC, polymers in general | - | + | + | + | - | + | ||||||||||
| 7 8 | Glass fiber reinforced plastics INOX/stainless steel | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
| 9 | Metals | + | - | + | + | + | + | |||||||||||
| Metals | 10 | metal sheets | - | - | + | - | ||||||||||||
| 11 | Non-ferrous metals | + | + | - | ||||||||||||||
| 12 | Aluminum | - | + | + | - | - | ||||||||||||
| 13 | metal pipes | - | - | + | ||||||||||||||
| 14 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Various materials | 15 | Laminate/Cement bonded chipboard | - | |||||||||||||||
| 16 | Aerated concrete Gypsum boards | |||||||||||||||||
| 17 | Brick | |||||||||||||||||
| 18 | ||||||||||||||||||
| materials | ||||||||||||||||||
| metal | universal purpose | |||||||||||||||||
| S 518G | S522EF | S 918 A | S922AF | S 918B | S 922 BF | S 918 E | S922EF | S 1122AF | S 1122 BF | S 1122 EF | S 3456XF | S 611 VF | S 811 H | S 1211 N | S 1211 E | |||
| wood materials | 1 | solid wood | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||
| 2 | Freshly cut wood | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | chipboard | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||
| 4 | - | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | wood with nails | + | - | + | + | - | ||||||||||||
| Plastics | 6 | PVC, polymers in general | - | + | - | |||||||||||||
| 7 | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
| 8 | INOX/ stainless steel | |||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Metals | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | |||||
| Metals | 10 | metal sheets | + | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | + | - | + | |||||
| 11 | Non-ferrous metals | - | - | - | + | - | + | |||||||||||
| 12 | Aluminum | - | - | - | - | + | - | - | ||||||||||
| 13 | metal pipes | - | - | + | - | - | - | + | - | + | - | |||||||
| 14 | - | - | ||||||||||||||||
| Various materials | 15 | - | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Aerated concrete Drywall | + | + | |||||||||||||||
| 17 | Brick | |||||||||||||||||
| 18 | Leather Insulation materials Carpet/styrofoam | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| materials | Main application categories | |||||||||||||||||
| special appointment | universal purpose | |||||||||||||||||
| S918H | S 1018 N | S920CF | S 1020 CF | S922HF | S 1122HF | S 922 VF | S 1122 VF | S 1222 VF | S 1411D | S 1411 DF | S 828 D | S 518 EHM | S 641 HM | S 1141 HM | S 1241 HM | |||
| wood materials | 1 | solid wood | - | + | - | |||||||||||||
| 2 | Freshly cut wood | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | chipboard | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
| 4 | Plywood, composite wood materials | - | - | |||||||||||||||
| 5 | wood with nails | - | - | - | - | + | + | - | - | - | - | |||||||
| Plastics | 6 | PV C, polymers in general | - | - | - | + | + | |||||||||||
| 7 | - | - | - | + | + | + | + | |||||||||||
| 8 | INOX/ stainless steel | + | ||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Metals | + | + | - | - | - | + | + | + | + | - | |||||||
| Metals | 10 | metal sheets | - | - | - | + | ||||||||||||
| 11 | Non-ferrous metals | - | - | + | - | + | - | |||||||||||
| 12 | Aluminum | - | - | - | + | + | - | |||||||||||
| 13 | metal pipes | - | - | + | + | - | - | - | - | |||||||||
| 14 | Steel pipes, cast iron pipes | + | + | - | - | - | ||||||||||||
| Various materials | 15 | Multilayer material Cement bonded chipboards | + | + | + | + | ||||||||||||
| 16 | Aerated concrete Drywall | + | + | + | + | |||||||||||||
| 17 | Brick | |||||||||||||||||
| 18 | Leather Insulation materials Carpet/styrofoam | 2 | + | |||||||||||||||
| materials | Main application categories | |||||||||||||||||
| special appointment | ||||||||||||||||||
| S 2041 HM | S 1130 Riff | S 1121SB | S 1122 UB | S 1123 GB | S 1505 | S 1508 | S 713 A | S713AW | ||||||||||
| wood materials | 1 | solid wood | + | + | F | -F | ||||||||||||
| 2 | Freshly cut wood | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | chipboard | -F | -F | |||||||||||||||
| 4 | Plywood, composite wood materials | + | - | |||||||||||||||
| 5 | wood with nails | |||||||||||||||||
| Plastics | 6 | PVC, polymers in general | -F | -F | ||||||||||||||
| 7 | Glass fiber reinforced plastics | + | + | |||||||||||||||
| 8 | INOX/ stainless steel | |||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Metals | + | + | + | + F | |||||||||||||
| Metals | 10 | metal sheets | - | - | ||||||||||||||
| II | Non-ferrous metals | - | - | + F | ||||||||||||||
| 12 | Aluminum | -F | ||||||||||||||||
| 13 | metal pipes | |||||||||||||||||
| 14 | Steel pipes, cast iron pipes | + | ||||||||||||||||
| Various materials | 15 | Myogolayer material/Cement bonded chipboard | ||||||||||||||||
| 16 | Aerated concrete Drywall | |||||||||||||||||
| 17 | Brick | |||||||||||||||||
| 18 | Leather Insulation materials Carpet/styronor | |||||||||||||||||
Standard blades for manual jigsaws have a length of 130 mm, while in the assortment of modern manufacturers you can find options with a length of 150 and 160 mm. Types of files are classified according to two main parameters: their dimensions and tooth configuration.
In general terms, blades for manual jigsaws are similar to, but have one important difference: they always choose pinless files with flat ends, which can be fixed in tool clamps and threaded into thin holes without problems when creating small patterns.
The dimension of saw blades for a manual jigsaw is similar to that of a machine tool: #2/0 to #12. But practice shows that the most optimal options for manual sawing are numbers #3 to #9.
What files are better?
The quality of sawing directly depends on the characteristics of the blade. Therefore, it is better to always choose products from trusted brands. Their products are made from high-quality carbon steel, blades have clearly formed teeth with a positive sharpening angle; Blades are hardened for maximum hardness and longer life. The overpayment in this case turns out to be a justified investment in the convenience of work, the high quality of the project and the long service life of the blade.
Let's understand the basic concepts
The marking of saw blades for a manual jigsaw contains basic information that allows you to choose the blade that is best suited for a particular type of wood and the project as a whole. To decipher this marking, it is important to get acquainted with the key concepts.
TPI is a value indicating the number of teeth per inch of blade. For a manual jigsaw, it is appropriate to choose blades with a high TPI coefficient. They cut wood more slowly, but allow better control of the cut line.
reverse tooth - a blade with a reverse tooth that cuts the material during the return movement of the file, thereby preventing the formation of chips on the wrong side of the sawn product. They are especially relevant when using plywood blanks.
Tooth setting
- designed to prevent jamming of the file in the workpiece, which in turn ensures trouble-free sawing (especially steep turning and curved lines) and minimizes the formation of chips. The width of the cut when using such files increases slightly, which should be taken into account when preparing the project.
File classification
Based on the characteristics of the configuration of the teeth, blades for a manual jigsaw are classified into the following types:
- Standard (Standard Tooth) - classic files, the teeth of which have the same size, direction and distance from each other.
- Files with a missing tooth (Skip-tooth Blades) - the absence of teeth provides effective chip removal from the surface of the workpiece and increases sawing speed. Unlike the classic options, they heat up less and wedge less often.
- Blades with double teeth (Double-tooth Blades) - these blades cut a little slower, but leave a perfectly smooth cut line. They also effectively remove chips and overheat less.
- Reverse files (Reverse Skip-tooth) - blades, part of the teeth of which is directed upwards. They cut the wood when the jigsaw moves back, which reduces the number of chips on the back of the workpiece.
Dimension table
The table below contains basic information regarding the dimensions and markings of modern saw blades for manual jigsaws. Referring to it, you will know how to choose the right blade number for cutting wood of a specific thickness.
Despite the motley palette of options, the gold standard for sawing with a manual jigsaw is the blade number #3 , #5 and #7 .
At first, it can be difficult for beginners to control the file, which constantly leads to the side. Without gaining proper experience, it is advisable to use canvases With great value TPI: they cut more slowly, but allow better control of the cut line.
Working with files with a reverse tooth is not the best solution for a beginner. It takes some experience to master this blade. Otherwise, the workpiece will bounce up and sawing will be very slow.
What to choose for thin plywood?
When working with thin material, blades with a maximum number of teeth per inch are used. Thin blades with a high TPI value cut less aggressively, exert little stress on the fragile edges of the workpiece, and do not lead the jigsaw to the side. These characteristics make them optimal for sawing. small parts and patterns from thin plywood.
There are 4 classes of files for:
- for sawing wood;
- for sawing wood with metal;
- for sawing metal;
- for sawing other materials (plastic, tiles, foam, cardboard, etc.).
According to the type of fastening - with T-shaped and U-shaped fastening. Files with a T-shaped are the most common.
According to the saw blade material:
- High carbon steel (HCS)
- High speed steel (HSS)
- Bimetal (BiM)
- Carbide (HM)
By type of cut - standard (basic), clean (clean), fast (speed), at the exact angle (precision).
Basic- the most common saws. They have wavy milled teeth. The price is the minimum. Used when the quality of the cut is not important.
Clean- files with polished undiluted teeth. They are used when you need to get a clean cut, without chips.
speed- saw blades with polished set teeth. Used when cutting speed takes precedence over kerf quality.
precision- files with ground divorced teeth and a thick canvas. Used when you need to get a smooth, parallel cut. Indispensable when cutting laminated chipboard for making furniture at home.
Also distinguish:
- saw blades for straight and curved cuts. Files for a curved cut have a characteristic bend in the upper part;
- saw blades with straight and reverse teeth. Files with a straight tooth are sawn when the file is moving down and therefore the upper surface of the sawn part is obtained with chips. Files with a reverse tooth are sawn during the sawing up, so chips are formed on the lower surface. When sawing with such files, it is necessary to firmly fix the part.
The class of the file can be determined by the color of its shank, which is marked:
- Gray - for wood;
- White - for wood with metal;
- Blue - for metal;
- Red - for polymers
- Black - for other materials.
Blade marking.
The first letter is T or U. The type of attachment of the file. Most jigsaws have a T-shaped saw blade, but there are also U-shaped mounts.
The first digit 1,2,3,7 is the working length of the file.
1 - short (up to 75mm)
2 - medium (75 - 90 mm)
3 - long (90-150 mm)
7 - very long (more than 150mm)
The second and third digits determine the purpose of the file.
Subsequent letters:
A,B,C,D- saw tooth size.
F- bimetallic files. Such files have an increased service life, they cut faster and better.
P- cut at a precise angle. Such files have a thick blade, so they cut the material strictly perpendicular to the surface.
O- curved cut
R- reverse tooth
X - universal file for any materials
HM- carbide saw blade
This classification is conditional and not always respected, so the most reliable way to choose the right file is to know its characteristics.
Wood files
T101B- short file (74 mm) with fine teeth. Serves for sawing soft wood, plywood up to 30 mm thick. Thanks to the fine tooth, the cut is clean.
T101BR- differs from T101B back tooth. Serves for sawing laminate and other materials when chips on the front surface are undesirable. In practice, the use of such a file is quite difficult, since it requires reliable support for the part being cut and sufficient pressure on the jigsaw due to the fact that the file “cuts up”, that is, when moving down, the file goes idle, and when moving up, it cuts. Because of this, with insufficient pressure on the jigsaw, the sawn part will vibrate. It is easier to use a regular file (for example, T101B) and turn the part over with the laminated side down.
T101P- differs from T101B larger tooth (4.5 mm). You can cut the same materials, but up to 45 mm thick.
T301CD- differs in length (91 mm) that allows to cut materials up to 65 mm thick.
Т101AO- short saw blade with fine teeth (1.4 mm) for clean curved cuts in wood and plywood with a thickness of 1.5 to 15 mm.
T101BIF- a short file with fine teeth and a bimetallic blade. Serves for sawing laminated chipboard up to 15mm thick.
T101BF- differs from T101BIF with a larger tooth (2.7 mm), which allows sawing materials up to 30 mm thick.
T101BRF- differs from T101BF back tooth.
T144DP- thick file with polished, large (4 mm), strongly spaced teeth. Due to these properties, the saw cut is even, strictly perpendicular to the surface, the file does not lead away. The disadvantage of this file is a rough cut and a large number of chips due to fairly large teeth. Serves for sawing thick joinery slabs (doors, countertops).
T144DF- Differs from T144DP bi-metal blade, thanks to which this file lasts longer and cuts better. True, its cost is 2-3 times more.
T344DF- differs from T144DF only working length 126 mm, instead of 74 mm for T144DF.
T345XF- universal long file (106 mm) with a bimetallic blade and large teeth. Serves for sawing wood with nails, as well as wood, plastic, metal (including aluminum).
Files for metal
T118A- short file with fine teeth for sawing metal sheets up to 13 mm thick.
T318A- differs from T118A in the working length of the file, for sawing metal pipes with a diameter of up to 65 mm.
T118G- file with very fine teeth (0.7 mm) for sawing very thin metal sheets (0.5-1.5 mm)
Universal files
T234X, T123X - universal saw blades for sawing various types of wood, metal and plastic.
Files for special purposes
T118AHM- file for thin stainless steel (up to 2 mm)
T118EHM- file for stainless steel of medium thickness (2-5 mm)
T301CHM- saw blade for fiberglass up to 65mm thick
T141HM- file for drywall and cement-bonded particle boards up to 50 mm thick
T341HM- different from T141HM working length (106 mm), which allows you to work with material up to 85 mm thick
T101A- file for organic glass up to 20 mm thick
T113A- file for cardboard, leather, rubber up to 50 mm thick
T313AW- file for cardboard, polystyrene, rubber up to 100 mm thick
T130Riff,T150Riff- files for tiles. These files are made of hard material and have a diamond coating and are designed for sawing wall tiles and fiberglass. The difference between these files in the quality of the cut: T130 - coarse cut, T150 - clean.
T308B, T308BF - a specialized file that allows you to cut materials laminated on both sides. Thanks to the two rows of teeth, the cut is practically chip-free. But it is relatively thin, so in inexperienced hands the file is taken away and it is quite difficult to get a straight cut.
What kind of saw blades exist and how to choose the best option for a particular case, every craftsman who has this tool in his household should know.
There are many factors influencing the choice of cutting blade: the material to be sawn, its thickness and density, the required cut quality, etc. In order not to make a mistake when buying, you should take into account the technical characteristics of the files, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of a particular model.
Cutting blade material
The first thing you need to pay attention to when choosing a file is the material from which it is made.
Each cutting blade of 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 of manufacture of the canvas is as follows:
Table for the use of files.
- HCS. Such files are related to wood 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 canvas, you should pay attention not to its hardness, but to its flexibility.
- HSS. Hardened steel products that can be operated at high speeds. Used for processing durable materials, including metals of various densities. Despite all its rigidity, hardened steel is a rather brittle substance that must be handled with great care.
- BIM. Bimetal 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 woodworking and metalworking.
- HIM. Manufactured 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 the purpose of the file:
- white (BIM) - for cutting wood and metal;
- gray (HCS or BIM) - for processing wood and materials based on it;
- blue (BIM or HSS) - for cutting metal;
- black (HIM) - for special tasks (sawing ceramic tiles, durable steel, etc.).
Jigsaw saw blade marking
Files intended for working with wood are marked with the letters HCS.
On the tail of any cutting blade for a jigsaw there is a marking consisting of letters and numbers. The first is the letter "T" or "U", which indicates the type of fastening of the blade to the tool: T-shaped or U-shaped. It is followed by numbers indicating the length of the file:
- 1 - short canvas (up to 7.5 cm);
- 2 - standard cutting element (7.5-9.0 cm);
- 3 - elongated file (9-15 cm);
- 7 - a long file (more than 15 cm).
The longer the product, the thicker the workpiece can be cut with it.
The numbers are again followed by 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 instead of one letter at the end (for example, T101BR). The second letter means:
- O - for curly cutting;
- R - with a reverse tooth (improves the quality of the cut);
- F - bimetallic products (considered the most durable and reliable);
- X - universal blade (they can cut both wood and metal);
- P - thick files (used for corner cutting).
For example, the marking T118AF means that the selected model has a T-shaped mount and fine teeth, its length is up to 7.5 cm, the material of manufacture is bimetal.
Types of saw blades.
When choosing a cutting blade for a jigsaw, you need to know what material it will work with. This tool is able to cut not only wood and materials based on it (chipboard, fiberboard, plywood, etc.), but also plastic, slate, brick, metal and even tiles. At the same time, for each material being processed, there is its own type of saw with which the jigsaw will work with the best efficiency. There are also universal cutting blades, which are equally well suited, for example, for wood and metal.
Wood saws. Depending on the purpose, such products are divided into two groups:
- for fast cutting
- for a clean cut.
If you are faced with the task of sawing a large amount of wood, while spending a minimum of time, then the best option would be a cutting blade with large teeth.
How more 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 the speed of work is in the first place, then the best option would be a canvas marked T101D. With it, you can quickly cut wood up to 7.5 cm thick, for thicker material, you can purchase the T244D or T344D model.
For a clean cut, the T101B file is a good option. It is often used for professional purposes when assembling furniture and other jobs that require a quality cut. This product can also cut thick workpieces, but you will spend twice as much time on this than when using, for example, the T244D model.
Fabric on laminate. When laying laminate flooring, it is important that the cut is free of burrs. This can be achieved with 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 usual T101B blade. Only in this case, before starting work, it is recommended to paste over the place of the intended cut with ordinary adhesive tape, which will protect the processed material from chips, burrs and other defects.
Metal saws. They have small teeth and a blue tail. If you work with metal 3 mm thick, buy a T118A file. It is also suitable for cutting plastic. For thicker material, the T123X blade is recommended, and for aluminum, the T227D blade.
Tile saws. They are marked T150RIFF or T130RIFF. Instead of teeth, their cutting part is carbide coating. You need to know that it is recommended to use a jigsaw for cutting tiles 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 conventional glass cutter.
Blade shape
For various tasks, a certain shape of the teeth is suitable, which differs not only in the type of sharpening, but also in the wiring method:
- Milled set teeth. This blade is perfect for cutting wood. Divorce is carried out by analogy with a conventional hand saw. This allows you to slightly expand the cut, thereby preventing overheating and jamming of the tool in the thickness of the tree.
- Milled teeth with wave setting. In this case, not a single, but a group wiring is performed (for example, 4-6 teeth each). These blades are used for cutting metal.
- Ground teeth without setting. The best option for fine cutting. This blade allows you to achieve high quality cuts in wood, laminate and plastic.
- Grinded set teeth. Such a product is used for fast cutting, when there are no special requirements for the quality of the cut.
Jigsaw blade manufacturers
To choose the right saw for electric jigsaw, it is necessary to pay attention not only to the technical characteristics and marking 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 are not of the best quality, they wear down quickly and overheat. Their only advantage is their low cost. However, it will be cheaper and easier to pick up 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 cut, but there is no file at hand, you can sharpen the old one.
The most popular and reliable saw blades for electric jigsaws are products from Makita, Bosch and Praktika.
A few useful tricks for working with a jigsaw:
Lobzik what is it? - history reference
The popular makita jigsaw had a predecessor that was completely undeservedly forgotten. The manual jigsaw was replaced by laser cutting, electric jigsaw, milling.
A manual jigsaw can cut wood, plywood, plastic, ceramics, sheet metal. Previously, in schools at labor lessons, children practiced cutting homemade products with a jigsaw - frames, shelves, dolls and other homemade products. There was no time for gadgets ...
Jigsaw design
A jigsaw is an arc, U-shaped (1), at the ends of which are clamping screws (4). A handle (3) is attached to the lower end of the jigsaw. Between the ends of the arc of the jigsaw, with the help of clamping screws, a file (2) is fixed, 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 pull the file to working condition.
Jigsaw blades (a, b, c) are made of high quality carbon steel. but despite this, sawing with a jigsaw is a rather painstaking work that requires patience and attention. Slightly hurried and trine! You need to put in a new saw blade.
What can be done with a jigsaw?
The modern electric jigsaw has supplanted manual jigsaw from many fields of activity, but if you need an accurate, curvilinear cut - a regular, manual jigsaw is not replaceable.
In jewelry production, craftsmen still use a jigsaw 
for sawing complex figures out of gold and silver. Cutting various shapes for handicrafts with a jigsaw from plywood and wood is a great hobby, hands are busy and nerves are like ropes.
Jigsaw blade holders are divided into 2 types. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. When buying, it is first recommended to find out what types and features of jigsaw files are.
The choice of a jigsaw file requires close attention. Material, type of work, cutting requirements, etc. must be taken into account.
Types of saw blades
Shank type is one of the main parameters. There are 2 main types:
- T-shaped. The type was introduced by Bosch and has become widespread among power tool manufacturers. Often, T-shaped files are called "Boshevsky". They are used in jigsaws of almost all manufacturers: Makita, DeWalt, Bison, Skil, Interskol, etc.
- U-shaped. It is used in obsolete American-made models: DeWalt, Stayer, Skil, Black&Decker, etc.
There are files with Makita and Bosch shanks, which were used in older models of equipment from the respective manufacturers. Now they are not only not used, but they are difficult to find on sale.
Dimensions
When choosing a canvas, pay attention to its size. The choice depends on the work and materials to be used.
The length of the saw ranges from 40 to 250 mm. The larger the parameter, the thicker the material is able to process the device. However, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the equipment itself, since it also has limitations.
For cutting workpieces of small thickness, you should choose a short tooling. It does not give a strong deformation, and the cut is smooth, without burrs.
The width of the file is selected in accordance with the operations performed. For a straight cut, wide blades are taken. They provide a smooth, clean cut. For figured work, narrow files are placed, allowing you to create all kinds of bends and patterns.
The thickness of the saw blade affects how a straight cut is made vertically. The larger the parameter, the less likely the cut will deviate from the perpendicular. However, when choosing the thickness, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the jigsaw itself. So, not all devices with a quick-clamping fastening system can work with thick files.
Varieties of saw blades according to the geometry of the cutting edge
Blades for electric jigsaws differ in the layout of the cutters and the geometry of the cutting edge. The stronger the teeth are retracted, the faster it will be possible to cut the workpiece. However, this reduces the quality of the cut. Also, the choice of geometry is influenced by the material with which to work. There are the following types of saws:
- Milled with a classic divorce. In such canvases, the even incisors are bent in one direction, and the odd incisors in the other. This geometry helps to reduce the heating of the file and increase the processing speed. However, the quality of the cut suffers. Milled blades are intended for wood processing, polymer materials and metal blanks.
- Milled with a wavy divorce. In this case, the incisors are bred in opposite directions not by 1 piece, but by 5-10 at once. In this case, the teeth in the group are bent from the axis by a different amount. As a result, a wave-like shape of the edge is formed. Such canvases are intended for a clean cut of wood, plastic, plywood, chipboard.
- Polished with a classic divorce. The cutters of the files are bent one by one in different directions, after which they are polished. After cutting, a wide cut line of medium purity is obtained. Used to work with wood, plywood, chipboard, etc.
- With conical polishing without divorce. The incisors of the canvases are not bred to the sides, but only polished. Such equipment gives a thin line of a cut of high purity. The blade is intended for cutting wood, plastic and blanks with laminated coating.
Classification by type of processed material
Jigsaw blades are classified according to the material they are designed to process. However, the main function of the tool is wood processing. Therefore, canvases on wood are the most common and numerous. They are divided into the following types:
- For fast cutting. Provide a fast cut with low quality. Distinctive features: the maximum length of the file is 60 mm, large incisors - up to 6 mm, large wiring - about 1 mm.
- For a clean cut. Provides a smooth, burr-free cut. They differ in the average size of the incisors (up to 3 mm) and small wiring. The teeth may be tilted away from or towards the jigsaw. For work on laminate, it is recommended to use the 2nd version of the canvas. If you cut plywood with a jigsaw, then you can use any of the options.
- For shaped cutting. Used for cutting curves, incl. with a small radius. Often used when cutting plywood. Distinctive features of a saw for a figured cut: a blade of small width no more than 4 mm, cutters - up to 2 mm, length - no more than 40 mm, the back with a bevel.
The next type of files is designed for metal work. Although the tool is rarely used for processing material, canvases for work are produced.
Distinctive features of the equipment: made of high-strength steel, have small teeth no larger than 1 mm and wave-like wiring. The canvases, in turn, are divided for work on aluminum, steel and other non-ferrous metals.
Fabrics for processing glass and ceramics are produced. For their manufacture, special high-strength alloys are used, and a tungsten carbide coating is applied to the cutting edge. Diamond coating is less common. Power tools are used only in the case of a curly cut.
Files for drywall and other materials with abrasive particles have hard alloy soldering on the working edge.
Equipment for processing workpieces made of soft materials resembles a knife. The edge has a wavy polished surface without incisors.
Universal blades are also produced, which are used for sawing various materials. For their manufacture, high-speed steel is used. Cutting with such files is of low quality.
How to decipher the marking?
There are no uniform marking requirements for jigsaw blades, however, many manufacturers adhere to Bosch standards.
The main information is marked in the tail section. The first letter indicates the type of shank (T- or U-shape).
Then comes a number characterizing the length of the file:
- 1 - short (up to 75 mm);
- 2 - standard (from 75 to 90 mm);
- 3 - elongated (from 90 to 150 mm);
- 4 - long (from 150 mm).
The second and third digits indicate the purpose of the canvas.
Then again comes the letter indicating the size of the incisors:
- A - small;
- B - medium;
- C and D are large.
The final letter gives Additional information:
- F - bimetallic files;
- O - narrow canvas;
- P - thick canvas;
- R - files with reverse teeth;
- X - nail files with a variable size of incisors.
The purpose of the blade also characterizes the color of the shank:
- gray - for wood;
- white - for wood and metal blanks;
- blue - for metal blanks;
- red - for plastic;
- black - other materials.
The steel grade is indicated on the neck of the tooling:
- CV - chrome vanadium (for blanks made of wood and wood boards);
- HCS - high carbon (for wood and plastic blanks);
- HSS - high-speed (for metal blanks);
- HM - hard alloy based on tungsten carbide (sawing on tiles, glass, ceramics, etc.);
- BM (BIM or Bi-Metal) is a combination of HSS and HCS (professional equipment for cutting wood and metal blanks).
The designation characterizing the purpose is also marked on the canvas:
- Wood - for softwood and fibreboard;
- Hardwood - for hardwood and laminated panels;
- Inox - for cutting stainless steel;
- Alu - for cutting aluminum;
- Metal - for cutting tin, metal profiles and pipes;
- Fiber&Plaster - for cutting fiberglass;
- Acrylic - for sawing plexiglass and polycarbonate;
- Soft-material - for cutting cardboard, rubber, etc.
Types of file holders
There are 2 types of saw blade attachment in a jigsaw: automatic and mechanical.
Automatic quick clamping system
At automatic system the canvas is installed in the grip with the shank and fixed with the help of grooves.
To replace the file, a special lever is provided, thanks to which it is not necessary to remove the protective cover. With the help of the adjusting screw, the required position of the file is attached.
The advantages of this method are the speed and ease of replacement, which do not require special skills.
The disadvantage is the wear of parts, leading to a decrease in the quality of the cut, and the difficulty of repair due to the lack of spare parts (especially for Chinese equipment).
Mechanical (manual) fastening method
With the mechanical method of fastening, the replacement of the file and the adjustment of its position is carried out manually. Such fastening differs in reliability, durability, good quality of a cut. In the event of a breakdown, repairs are cheap. Parts are easy to find (bearings, Interskol jigsaw rollers, etc.). The disadvantage is the complexity of the process and the ability to correctly insert the file into the jigsaw.
The mechanical method of fastening is divided into shoe and screw.
In the first case, the jigsaw blade holder is made in the form of a block with a slot, which is clamped with 2 front screws.
This clamp is suitable for various files. However, uneven tightening of the screws leads to a skew of the blade, which affects the quality and speed of the cut.
With a screw clamp, the file is fixed and adjusted with 1 screw. This ensures the correct installation and quality operation of the equipment.
Jigsaw files photo
Jigsaw files: marking
The marking of jigsaw files can tell a lot about its purpose, including - you just need to take a closer look at it, meet and decipher familiar symbols, and everything immediately becomes clear. This, of course, if you know how it is read. That is why, to study interchangeable blades for a jigsaw, you need to start with their marking. 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. As a rule, these are the letters "T", "X" or "U" - the latter is very rare, but the first is widespread and indicates that the shank has a T-shape.
Jigsaw blade: photo shank
Following the first letter is a series of numbers - as a rule, there are three of them, but it is the first of them that is important. It denotes the length of the canvas:
- 1 - standard short file 75mm long
- 2 - Standard file medium length (90mm)
- 3 - Elongated 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, these are the letters A, B, C and D. "A" is the smallest tooth, and "D" is the most large. "B" and "C" should be understood as intermediate options.
Quite often, in the marking of jigsaw saws, at the end there may be not one letter, but two - the last of them indicates unique qualities consumable. Let's deal with them in a little more detail - we will not write large lists. As they say, only the most necessary and common:
What else can be read by 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 it doesn’t matter, but if you want to buy a really high-quality canvas that can last a long time, you need to know this information. Three Latin letters can be found between the T-shaped protrusions of the shank and the saw blade itself, which tell about the material from which the file is made. There are not many options here - only four:
- HCS - high carbon steel. For soft materials just what you need.
- HSS - tool high speed steel. This option is ideal for black and non-ferrous iron.
- BiM - bimetallic files. Flexible and durable, and most importantly versatile.
- HM/TC - carbide saw blades. Quite specific canvases - they are used mainly when working with very hard materials (steel, tiles, fiberglass and even abrasive materials).
Saws for woodworking
I want to note right away that the main purpose of an electric jigsaw is to work with wood and materials made on its basis (chipboard, plywood, ...) - everything else, as they say, is a side application. For this reason, wood jigsaw files 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 tools, two main varieties can be distinguished:
Well, as for the subspecies of these paintings on wood for a jigsaw, then you should not bother with them - as a rule, this is more specialized tool, and it is not yet a fact that he will show himself in the best way. I will give a simple example - the T101BR blade, with the reverse direction of the tooth. One of the recommended uses for this file is a laminated surface. Practice shows that an ordinary blade on wood with a fine tooth also does a good job - the reverse direction cuts worse and also creates vibrations and a lot of inconvenience in work.
Cloths for metal work
Any jigsaw file for metal has a small tooth and in its marking, the last or penultimate one, there is always the Latin letter “A” - this is due to the strength of the material. The harder the material, the finer the tooth required to cut it. There are no special varieties of metal blades - the only thing that can be mentioned here is the shape of the cutting edge.
In many ways, the appointment of metal files for a jigsaw is also due to other factors - you need to understand that each different type of metal has its own characteristics. For example, aluminum is a soft and ductile metal - if you use a standard blade with a fine tooth for sawing it, then most likely it will be ineffective and will clog. For this material, the files are produced separately - for example, the T224D blade, Alu is written on it.
And finally, a few words about the so-called special blades for a jigsaw - most of them have a narrow specialization, and they can only work on a certain material. In particular, there are separate saws for plastic, aluminum, profile metal, pipes, ceramics, cement, sandwich panels and even 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 file for. The latter cannot be used in mass production - it cuts confidently, but slowly.
Various canvases for a jigsaw photo
In principle, everything that can be distinguished in the whole variety of interchangeable jigsaw blades - there is not much left to say at all. For household, absolutely all types of files do not need to be bought - there is a so-called "gentleman's set" which includes five files that can cope with all household needs. These are T101D (for rough cutting wood), T101B (for fine wood cutting), T101BR (for fine work with reversed teeth), T119BO (for shaped sawing of wood) and the standard T118A metal saw. These jigsaw files will fully satisfy any home craftsman.
Author of the article Alexander Kulikov
A manual electric jigsaw is a handy tool that allows you to cut not only wood, but also other materials. To obtain a high-quality cut without unnecessary loss of time, you need to install a file that will perfectly cope with the task. Therefore, you need to know the characteristics of the product and be able to choose the right jigsaw files.
Shank type
The shape of the part of the file inserted into the jigsaw - the shank - determines the way it is clamped in the tool.
Files with a tail resembling the letter T are ubiquitous. They are suitable for most modern models wood jigsaws, such as the tools developed by BOSCH, a trendsetter in this field. They are called "European type" in jargon.
American models (DeWalt, Black & Decker) use saws whose tail ends in a semi-circular cutout resembling the letter U. Such shanks fit all clamps with a shoe or screw. In jargon - "American type".
Until now, there are special Makita shanks and T-shaped "Boshev" shanks, but with two stops. They are suitable only for old models of jigsaws of these companies and, rather, are rarities.
Tooth shape
The width and cleanliness of the cut, as well as the suitability of the file for cutting specific materials, depends on the method of sharpening and setting the teeth of the jigsaw on wood. There are 4 categories.
The first category includes milled files with the usual divorce. The classic divorce is an alternate bending of the teeth in different directions. Such a divorce has an ordinary saw or hacksaw. It gives a wide kerf and high cutting speed, but does not provide cleanliness. The best results are obtained with fast cutting of any kind of wood, plastics and even metals.
The second category is milled with a “wave” type divorce. The teeth are not bred one by one, but in groups of several pieces. The amount of set is different for each tooth in the group, so the cutting edge looks like a wave. Such a file provides good cutting quality, it is used for different materials, if necessary, to obtain an even and smooth cut without chips.
Next come saw blades with ground teeth and a classic alternating divorce. They feature high cutting speeds and a wide kerf that is cleaner than the milled version. Their purpose is fast, but high-quality cutting of wood and materials based on it (chipboard, fiberboard).
Finally, there is the category of jigsaw files for wood without divorce with conical tooth grinding. The absence of a divorce gives a clean and thin cut, but is not suitable for fast and rough cutting. Used for finishing wood and polymers.
Tooth pitch
The pitch is the distance between the two nearest teeth of the saw blade. It is measured in millimeters and is denoted by the letter t. Marking t3 means a tooth pitch of 3 mm. But often, when marking this parameter, it is not the step itself (distance) that is used, but the inverse value - a figure showing the number of teeth per inch of the web length. The generally accepted designation is TPI. The higher the TPI, the more frequent the teeth and therefore the smaller the pitch.
According to this parameter, jigsaw files for wood are divided by type of work:
- for rough cross cuts, TPI = 4–7 (t = 3.5–6.5) is suitable;
- ordinary carpentry - TPI = 7–9 (t = 2.5–3.5);
- high quality cuts - TPI = 9–13 (t = 2).
When choosing a suitable step, you need to pay attention to the thickness of the material being processed. 5-7 teeth should be involved in the cutting process. With a small material thickness and a large tooth pitch, the blade will vibrate and tear the kerf edge.
Canvas dimensions
Not only the size and shape of the cutting edge determine the capabilities of jigsaws. The geometric characteristics of the canvas itself also affect the speed and quality of work. Plus, its dimensions must be selected based on the type and dimensions of the material being processed.
Length
The lengths of the jigsaw blades are in the range of 40–250 mm. When choosing a specific length of a jigsaw file, you need to take into account the thickness of the material in the work. It is clear that for sawing thick wooden blanks, a long saw blade for a wood jigsaw is needed. But if you cut thin sheet materials with a long blade, then due to the possible bending of the metal, it is difficult to get an even cut.
Note! When working with long blades, it should be understood that the power of the jigsaw affects the working depth of cut.
Width
It is necessary to select the width of the saw blade, based on the type of work to be done. For simple sawing, where a straight and even edge is required, take wide files. A narrow blade can walk during operation, and a smooth cut line will not work.
But with curly sawing of varying degrees of complexity, you need to choose narrow canvases for a jigsaw. They are easier to direct to the side, writing out curved lines.
Thickness
For sawing thin sheet materials The thickness of the blade doesn't really matter. But when working with thick workpieces, this size affects the quality of the sawn-off surface. Thin canvases during operation will deviate from the perpendicular line, and the cut will turn out to be uneven. The thicker the blade, the smoother the cut it provides. But there is one caveat - too thick a blade is not suitable for all models of electric jigsaws. Jigsaws equipped with quick-clamping devices may not be suitable for thick blades.
What does the marking on the files mean
Even knowing all the intricacies of choosing a suitable jigsaw blade and having determined the necessary parameter values for yourself, you can get confused among the many products on offer. Do not go to the store with a ruler and calipers, measuring the dimensions of each blade and the pitch of the teeth!
On the files of well-known manufacturers, various markings are necessarily applied, giving approximate information about the parameters of this product. Of course, if you want to know the exact values, then you can measure it with a ruler. But it is better to do this not with every canvas, but with only one - pre-selected by marking.
There is no mandatory labeling standard. Most manufacturers of jigsaw blades adhere to the BOSCH rules. Rarely, but you can find markings that differ from these rules.
According to BOSCH standards, the alphanumeric marking is applied to the shank of the jigsaw blade. The first letter of the marking just indicates the type of shank: T-shaped or U-shaped.
The number following the letter refers to the length of the canvas. But this is not the length itself, but the number of the corresponding length range.
1 - short files with a length of up to 75 mm;
2 - average length: 75–90 mm;
3 - long: 90–150 mm;
4 - very long, more than 150 mm.
The next two digits encode the purpose of the file (according to manufacturers). This same information is usually present elsewhere on the saw blade in a more user-friendly way.
The first letter following the numbers indicates the size of the teeth:
- A - small;
- B - medium;
- C and D are big.
The second letter (if any) gives additional information about files that are somewhat different from ordinary ones.
F - especially durable material of manufacture, bimetal.
O - small width, for curly cutting.
R - large thickness.
R is the reverse direction of the teeth.
X - teeth of variable size.
Important information about the purpose is duplicated by marking twice: the color of the shank and the words on the canvas itself.
For wood - gray; the words Wood (plain wood) and HardWood (hard wood and laminate).
For metal - blue; the words Metal (metal), Alu (aluminum), Inox (stainless steel). Universal tool for wood and metal - white.
For polymeric materials - red; the words Acrylic and Fiber&Plaster (fiberglass).
For other materials - black; for example Soft-material (soft materials - rubber, foam).
For ceramics - Ceramics.
Elsewhere on the canvas, verbal information about the method of application and special properties may be contained (usually in smaller letters than about the material of application):
- basic - standard type of canvas;
- speed - for fast cutting;
- flexible - with a "wave" type divorce;
- clean - no streak, clean cut;
- progressor - variable tooth size;
- special - highly specialized applications (ceramics, durable plastic, etc.)
On the neck of the file (between the shank and the blade itself), an alphabetical marking of the type of metal from which it is made is applied:
- HM - hard alloy;
- CV - chrome vanadium alloy;
- HSS - high speed steel;
- HCS - high carbon steel;
- VM or BiM is an especially strong alloy.
Thus, having studied the markings on the jigsaw file, you can get comprehensive information about it.
Varieties of files for the intended purpose
The word "jigsaw" still evokes associations with a tree. And although modern jigsaws are used with might and main for sawing plastics and metals, wood and plywood remain the main material for work. About what blades to choose for a jigsaw on wood, you also have to think most often.
woodwork
For ordinary work for wood and its derivatives (plywood, chipboard, MDF), standard files with a gray shank are chosen for simple or hard woods. The dimensions of the blade, the divorce and the size of the teeth are selected individually. But sometimes you need to perform work that differs from ordinary sawing.
If speed is important, even to the detriment of the quality of the cut, then you need to choose long files with large teeth and large pitch. Divorce is also desirable more.
If you need to get an even and smooth cut without chips, then take canvases with a small divorce or without it at all. Teeth - medium or small. Materials that have a clean side (laminate, chipboard) have to be cut upside down. If you want to see the cut from the front side, then the files must be selected with the reverse direction of the teeth (the last letter of the marking is R).
For an artistic cut, there should be a narrow blade no wider than 4 mm, small teeth and a short length. Compliance with these conditions will allow figured cutting at small turning radii.
For metal
The electric jigsaw is still not the best suitable tool for cutting metal. But if necessary, he will cope if you choose the right file. The teeth of such files are very small and wave-like, the blades are made of especially strong alloys, but they quickly become dull. It is advisable to select files with markings for exactly the type of metal with which you have to work.
For polymeric materials
In the markings of the files, there are designations just for working with such materials. Ordinary plastic and PVC products can also be sawn with wood sheets. In this case, the teeth must be chosen larger and with a large divorce. A small tooth will not only cut, but also melt the material. For plexiglass, it is better to choose a metal sheet with a wave-like divorce.
Manufacturers
BOSCH is considered the leader in the production of jigsaw blades. This is perhaps the only company that provides its tools with a complete range of saw blades. HITACHI and MAKITA are also popular, but they sometimes use the services of other manufacturers for the production of tools. From domestic files with good quality, Ermak products can be noted.
In general, the range of products is quite wide, but in order not to be mistaken, it is recommended to give preference to proven brands.
