In the context of periodic home repairs, there is a need for a tool such as a jigsaw. They can cut any material quickly and, with a little skill, evenly. It will help you cut out round or square holes, and also cut off a straight strip. With its help, you can even create any piece of furniture yourself.

Such manipulations are done using special files, which differ in their characteristics.

Marking

To choose the right file, you need to know features types of product. Labeling can help with this. These are certain alphanumeric abbreviations that indicate the properties of the nozzle and its quality characteristics.

Such designations are necessary primarily for people who do not carry out repairs professionally and cannot determine the purpose of a particular attachment due to its external characteristics.

The main piece of information you need to the right choice, is located on the tail of the file. It includes letter designations and numbers. Each symbol carries specific information.

The initial letter characterizes the type of tail section, which can be:

• T- figurative form;
• U- figurative type;
• M- the mount is only suitable for Makita brand;
• Fein standard.

The second sign indicates the length of the fabric that is being produced:

• 1 - length up to 7.5 cm;
• 2 - sizes from 7.5 cm to 9 cm;
• 3 - length from 9 cm to 15 cm;
• 7 – with a maximum length of over 15 cm.

To recognize the material the saw is designed to cut, you need to pay attention to the color of the shank.

Thus, a gray tip indicates the possibility of sawing wood, a blue tip indicates any metal structures, and a blade with a red tip can be used to cut a plastic surface.

In addition, by the abbreviation on the neck you can find out the type of steel of the blade.

There are:

• H.M.– hard metal alloys;
• HCS(CV)– steel products with high carbon content;
• H.S.S.– steel that cuts quickly;
• CV– steel made of chromium and vanadium;
• BM (BiM)- combination hard alloys and high-speed steel.

The last combination is the strongest and most durable.

There are also universal blades that can be used when cutting any material. However, it will be difficult to cut out various shapes with such a blade, so for professional work you need a set of a large number of files.

Materials

Generally speaking, all canvases are made from metal alloys. To cut softer materials, simply metal blades are produced. If you need to cut metal, then the technology of fusing several components is used to increase the strength of the product.

There are materials that are super durable. These include ceramic tiles, porcelain tiles and granite, decorative rock. To cut them accurately and efficiently, you need non-standard solutions, since they are very durable and easy to prick. That's why Blades for cutting with a jigsaw are produced with a special coating or soldering made of hard alloys.

Yes, coverage cutting edge often diamond. Its main indicator is graininess, which can be high or low. The absence of chips and cracks along the cut, as well as the speed of the process itself, directly depends on the level of grain. The higher it is, the easier it is to make a high-quality and accurate cut.

For all types of materials there are several general rules. A blade with a large width can make a straight cut. If you intend to perform figured cutting, then it is better to choose a slightly narrower blade.

However, cutting electric jigsaw hard materials(ceramic granite), in any case the process is long. That's why this device justifies its use only for shaped cutting of parts.

Purpose

These products are also distinguished by the material that can be cut with them.

The canvases are produced:

• for plastic;
• wood;
• metal;
• ceramics;
• concrete;
• stone;
• cardboard (chipboard);
• universal.

Modern jigsaw files have a large number of parameters by which they can be distinguished. However, these markings mean virtually nothing to ordinary users. The simplest and most understandable is the difference in purpose. That is, the difference between the blades is the materials that can be cut with them.

When working with wood, use blades made of steel grades: BM, CV and HCS. As for chipboard, to obtain a neat cut without chips, the size of the saw teeth should be A or B. Big sizes type D help to make straight rough cuts in wood large thickness and chipboard or fibreboard. An example is the T344C blade.

There is also a modification of the file for cutting cardboard. It has a rather unusual wave-shaped blade without teeth. During operation, the blade smoothly separates the material into parts.

This option is also suitable for other soft materials:

• rubber;
• polystyrene foam;
• carpeting.

The blade marked T101BR is considered the most suitable for them. The medium teeth of this blade help avoid damage to the material in areas along the cut.

For figure cutting For the above materials, it is best to choose a small, narrow blade with medium teeth (T101BO). Small dimensions make the tool easy to maneuver.

Sawing metal constructions, you need to know that BM and HSS steel files with wave-like teeth give a clearer and more even cut. Metal sheets that are up to 0.3 cm thick can be cut with T118A blade, and up to 0.6 cm - T118B. When the metal is very thin (up to 0.15 cm), then the blade is taken with microscopic teeth, designated T118G.

If we are talking about metal profiles or pipes up to 3 mm, which is important when repairing water supply and hanging towels in the bathroom, then use T318A fabric. Its length can reach up to 15 cm.

When it comes to PVC, it is used as special files for processing plastic materials, so ordinary products on wood or metal. A smooth cut will be obtained when using a blade with large teeth, since the plastic crumbs heated by friction can fill the working part of the file. It is better to keep the operating speed of the jigsaw to a minimum. The steel grade of the blade can be either CV or HCS, or HSS.

Thick surfaces are easier to saw with a blade with a medium tooth and short length - T101BF.

Plexiglas can be cut well with a T101A metal saw with fine teeth.

An important element repairs are and ceramic products. They have a very fragile structure, so using a saw with teeth is impossible. In such cases, a special blade is needed, which instead of teeth has an abrasive coating of diamond chips.

It is also possible to use a device with tungsten carbide coating, but they are only suitable for thin wall tiles. Cutting them on tiles will be ineffective. The marking of such a file must contain the letters HM.

If necessary (in the absence of a sander) concrete coverings, blocks or stone can also be cut with a jigsaw. The blade for such cutting has a double marking: Gasbeton/Kunststoffe and Fiber/plastic HM/CT-31137. Some experts say that a metal file is also suitable for such work, however, the blade does not last long.

And finally, a universal blade that is convenient for making not only rough cuts wooden surfaces up to 5 cm in thickness, but also saws steel, plastic and soft metals.

Dimensions

The jigsaw blade size markings given above allow us to draw conclusions about the types of blades by size. Files can be small, medium and large in size. In this case, the dimension describes the length. In this case, the marking C simply means long cloth, and D indicates the maximum file length.

It is believed that the longer the blade, the better it cuts straight. Average and short options Suitable for figure cutting.

But there are also features of canvases of different widths. This parameter determines the amount by which the blade deviates from perpendicular while cutting. The wider the file, the greater the deflection it gives.. Therefore, wide variants of jigsaw attachments are used for straight cutting, and thin ones - for figured cutting. In addition, the characteristics of the tip of the blade most often do not allow it to be secured in the self-clamping mechanism of the tool.

Ponytail shape

Using this indicator, you can determine which brand of equipment and type clamping mechanism The file of an electric jigsaw is suitable.

The T-shaped tail was invented by Bosch engineers, so this canvas Suitable for this brand of equipment. Later, other companies also began to use this form.

The shank in the shape of the English letter U is the know-how of American craftsmen. In the equipment sold on our market, such a shank is suitable for older models of jigsaws, as well as for units with clamping block and screw types.

The ends of the Makita and Bosch type files are suitable for the equipment of the same manufacturers, respectively.

Geometric parameters of teeth

The width of the cut, its accuracy, and the speed of work directly depend on the shape and location of the teeth.

The tooth geometry is:

• set apart milled;
• wave-like milled;
• conical grinding;
• set, polished.

Milled teeth set in both directions in turn help the blade avoid overheating. These files are convenient for cutting non-ferrous metals.

When wavy milling, the teeth are moved apart in groups smoothly, with a slightly greater inclination of each subsequent tooth, also alternately to the right and left. They are used for clean cutting (cutting with cleanly processed, edged edges).

Conical grinding blades also provide a clean cut on plastic, wood, and laminate.

Files with set teeth are used when it is necessary to make rough cuts in materials such as fiberboard, chipboard and soft wood.

How to choose?

In the modern market there is big choice files for jigsaws. The canvases vary dramatically in both price and quality. Considering the unsafety of using low-quality files, it is advisable to purchase proven products. This can be selected based on the brand's popularity. The policy of such companies is to maintain a positive reputation for their products, so they only release reliable products to the market.

The most the best manufacturers components for jigsaws are considered Makita, Bosch, and Matabo. The optimal combination of price policy and quality are sets of Bosch brand blades. Their canvases are very easy to use and have high level execution. Sadly, the products of this manufacturer are also the most frequently counterfeited, so it is best to buy files from specialized construction stores who can provide quality certificates for their products.

However, counterfeit components can also be distinguished visually. For example, when there is corrosion or other damage on the product, there is no doubt that the canvas is fake. Counterfeit can also be identified by the edges of the product. Files produced “in basements” have an end that is rounded on one side. This defect occurs due to the stamping process of canvases from sheet metal. For real products, the ends of both sides will be equally rectangular.

And, of course, you should pay attention to the quality of the labeled inscriptions. If they are poorly executed or blurred due to the use of cheap paint, then it is obviously a fake.

Subtleties of operation

In order for the canvas to last as long as possible, it must be used and stored correctly. First of all, if the work is performed by a non-specialist, you need to familiarize yourself with the instructions for clamping the blade in a jigsaw, since a wide variety of manufacturers has led to the presence of non-standard designs of locking mechanisms.

Sharpening is also important to maintain working condition. The need for such manipulation can be determined by the deviation of the cutting angle from the guide (from 90 degrees to 45).

When the saw teeth become dull, they must be sharpened using a diamond file if the teeth are small, and a medium or diamond file if they are large or medium in size.

Learn how to choose jigsaw files from the video below.

The combination of accurate cutting of workpieces with good speed of work is possible only with the right choice cutting blade for each specific operation. When choosing files for a jigsaw, you need to understand them technical specifications and the key differences between them.

When purchasing consumable equipment for a jigsaw, first study the product markings, then look at the shape of the shank, blade geometry, type and size of teeth.

Types of paintings - deciphering the inscriptions

Some manufacturers use the European standard from Bosch to classify products, others indicate it in addition to their labeling.

The purpose of a saw for any material is indicated by the following inscriptions:

1. Wood – soft wood and medium density composite boards.
2. Hardwood – laminate, hard wood.
3. Fiber, Plaster – fiberglass products.
4. Acrylic – polycarbonate, plexiglass.
5. Metal – galvanized profile, tin, pipes.
6. Inox – stainless steel.
7. Alu – aluminum.
8. Soft-material – cardboard, rubber, carpets, polystyrene.

Inscriptions indicating the grade of steel used in manufacturing:

1. HSS is a high quality alloy for fast cutting of hard materials.
2. HCS – alloy steel for cutting wood and composites.
3. Bi-Metal (BM) is a blade consisting of the two previous alloys and is suitable for most tasks.
4. HM – a saw with a carbide working part for cutting blocks and ceramics.

Marking specifying the type of work:

1. Clean – for a clean cut.
2. Basic is a regular file suitable for various tasks.
3. Speed ​​– for fast and straight cuts.
4. Flexible – flexible metal file.
5. Progressor is a universal blade with teeth of different shapes.
6. Special – blade for plastic, ceramics or other specific materials.

Jigsaw files for wood

Quick cutting of timber or boards, which does not require smooth edges, is carried out with a long blade with big teeth, with a wide working part and a fair spread. This canvas will be useful when construction work, in which speed is important. For example, when breaking an old window or cutting sheathing bars.

It is better to saw along the fibers with a blade with oblique incisors, and across - with straight ones. A cut in a thick board will move less away from the vertical if you use a saw with large teeth without setting.

Saw blades for fine cutting of wood have small teeth and a small gap. These blades can be used to carefully saw furniture panels or parquet board. A minimum of chipping on the laminated panel is ensured by jigsaw files, on which the cutters are arranged in two rows.

A blade with a reverse inclination of the cutters cuts the material as the pendulum moves downwards, which allows marking and sawing from the front surface. In fact, this is not entirely convenient - you have to hold the jigsaw harder, overcoming the pushing of the blade from the cut line.

Figure cutting is performed with narrow files with a semicircular back side. These blades have fine teeth and a short length. They pass curved sections without chipping and can be easily rotated in the cut.

Blades for electric jigsaw for metal

Blades with wavy teeth, reminiscent of hacksaw files, are designed for cutting profiles and sheet metal. Their incisors are small and separated in groups of several pieces. Special bimetallic blades with large teeth in the middle and small teeth at the edges are used for cutting sandwich panels.

Files for polymers

Thin plastic, ebonite, plexiglass and textolite are cut with a metal blade. Thick plastic workpieces are cut with a wood saw by turning off the jigsaw pendulum and setting the speed to low. Curvilinear cut polymer materials performed with a narrow wood blade.

Window sills and pipes made of polyvinyl chloride are cut with a saw with large teeth into medium frequency stroke or fine-toothed at low speed, eliminating heating of the material.

Special files for jigsaws

For sawing drywall and materials containing cement, blades with carbide tips are intended. They cut well thermal insulation mats. A blade without cutters coated with a carbide compound can cut tiles or cut fiberglass-reinforced plastic. The working part of jigsaw files, used for rubber, carpets, cardboard and similar soft materials, is similar to the blade of a knife.

The length of the file is selected based on the thickness of the material being processed. The tip of the blade should always come out of the cut, regardless of the stroke of the pendulum.

In a home workshop, a set of 6–10 files is enough. To begin with, you can purchase an inexpensive set of canvases for various purposes and master the intricacies of the work. Then, based on your experience, choose necessary files for a jigsaw.

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 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. Also, the blade is too long, when working with relatively thin material, will vibrate strongly, which will significantly reduce the quality of the cut. The most optimal length for standard household jigsaws on wood, is 75 mm. This indicator is due to the fact that such 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 parameters indicate the features of the saw blade and have a direct impact on the quality certain types works 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 according to dimensions, tooth pitch, types of 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 chipboard and wood.
For direct cutting of decorative materials (coated boards or laminate), the 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 with an electric jigsaw is done using saw blades made from 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 others soft materials, has 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.

Excellent for cutting carpet and much cheaper 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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There are times when you need to cut something metal, but the only power tool you have at hand is a jigsaw. This is not the most a good option, but not the worst either. A jigsaw is quite suitable for sawing metal.

But if up to this point you only had experience working with wood, you need to understand a very important thing: wood and metal - different materials by its structure. This means that the approach to the selection of tools and the cutting process itself is significantly different.

How to properly cut metal with a jigsaw

Some power tool manufacturers do not recommend working with metal parts, if their thickness exceeds 5 mm. But there are also those that allow you to work with parts up to 10 mm thick. It all depends on the reliability and quality of a particular model. In particular, on the quality of the pendulum assembly.

Before you begin the sawing work itself, you need to carry out some preparation and set up the tool. To properly configure the jigsaw, the pendulum pitch when cutting must be reduced to the first position or removed completely. So to speak, remove the beating of the pendulum. This is done in order to reduce wear on the jigsaw components and avoid dulling the cutting surface of the saw.

It is not necessary to press hard on the jigsaw. You still won’t be able to cut faster, and the risk of damaging the tool increases. The speed of the jigsaw should also not be high. At high speed, you can overheat the cutting element, and this will lead to a decrease in the sharpness and hardness of the saw. Keep in mind that one file may not be enough for the whole job. Especially if you don't have enough experience. Always keep one or two spare parts on hand.

Main types of metal files for jigsaws

Now let's move directly to cutting tools. The inscription on the file itself or on the packaging will tell you that this blade is intended for working with metal. Such products are marked with the inscriptions: “For Metal” or “For Metal,” depending on the manufacturer.

By marking you can find out about the material from which the file is made. The most common steel is HSS. From the manufacturer's description it follows that this is high-speed steel.

Some products are marked BIM. This is a designation for Bimetal, a hard cutting edge and a soft body of the blade. Two materials of different densities are joined by surfacing. The soft body of the blade prevents the brittle steel on the teeth from breaking.

The cutting tool differs in shape. The most popular products are those with small milled wavy teeth. They provide an even cut, with a slight twist if necessary. But such blades cut material 1–3 mm thick.

To cut parts with greater thickness, there are special files with a set “tooth” and modified geometry. The so-called “progressive step”, in which the teeth increase from the jigsaw to the edge of the blade. Similar models can cut parts up to 10 mm thick.

A saw with a set tooth can be used to process non-ferrous metals (such as aluminum, copper, brass) and hardwood. They can cut metallic profile(pipe or square), if the diameter does not exceed 30 mm and the wall thickness is 1.2 mm.

The conclusion is obvious: You can cut metal with a jigsaw. But this process must be approached wisely. Remove the beating of the pendulum, lubricate and do not overheat the cutting surface, apply correct canvases for various materials.

Don't be discouraged if you don't succeed the first time. A little patience and attention - and you will succeed!

Today, every craftsman has a jigsaw in his home range. This device is quite useful because it will easily allow you to accurately and accurately perform any manipulations with the material. When buying a jigsaw, as a rule, most people also buy files “in reserve”, the purpose of which they have not the slightest idea.

But when it's time to put the jigsaw to the test, then the choice of the required blade is done at random, since it is quite difficult to immediately figure out which file is needed. To correctly select a tool such as a jigsaw, you should know the type of blade, their markings and other nuances.

Markings

Knowledge of labeling will make it possible to choose the right blade for a jigsaw, since it can tell quite a lot, including about its purpose. To do this, you just need to take a close look at the canvas and decipher the symbols that are indicated.

Marking, as a rule, consists of a set of Latin letters and numbers. The first place in the marking is the Latin letter, which indicates the type of shank.

The most common letters that you can see on the canvas are “T”, “X”. The most commonly used marking is the Latin letter “T”, which means that the tool shank has a T-shape different shapes. Quite a rarity is a canvas with the letter U.

Immediately after the letter there is a series of numbers; you should pay attention to the first one. The numbers indicate the length of the canvas:

• standard blade 75 mm long;
• medium file 90 mm;
• extended file 150 mm;
• long file, the size of which is more than 150 mm.

Immediately after the numbers there are again letters that will help you find out the size of the teeth. The size of the teeth is indicated by the following letters:

• “A” - small teeth;
• "D" - large;
• “B”, “C” - medium teeth, so to speak, an intermediate option.

Sometimes there is more than one last letter, but several. In this case, the last letter indicates the quality of the consumable. The quality of consumables is indicated by the following letters:

If you are interested in the canvas material, in this case, the following markings, which can be seen under the T-shaped protrusions of the tail and the canvas, will help. Three Latin letters tell you about the material from which the instrument is made. This marking is divided into four options:

What to look for when choosing a jigsaw file?

Tooth shape

Such a nuance as “tooth shape”, cannot be ignored, since their configuration can determine the capabilities of the purchased jigsaw. Before making a purchase, it is worth understanding for what needs this or that canvas is being purchased. A huge number of small teeth will significantly improve the quality of the cut, but at the same time the speed will be reduced. A blade with large teeth will significantly speed up the process, but the cutting will be rather sloppy. Based on the shape of the teeth, the blade can be divided into the following groups:

File width and thickness

Such a nuance as the width and thickness of the jigsaw blade, cannot be ignored when choosing a jigsaw, since criteria such as the quality and speed of performing various types of work depend on these two nuances. Both wide and narrow products have their positive aspects. Wide file quite strong and stable. When using it, you don’t have to worry that it will deviate from the intended course. Narrow blades make it easier to perform various maneuvers compared to wide ones. Thickness is also important because the thicker the canvas, the greater its stability.

Wood canvases

Purpose of a jigsaw- direct work with wood, and with those materials that are made on its basis. Wood jigsaws come in many varieties. Jigsaws are distinguished both by the size of the teeth and by their sharpening and by the shape of the file. There are two main varieties:

They are distinguished by the following parameters:

1. File length. This parameter determines the immediate thickness of the cut.
2. Blade width.
3. The size of the teeth directly affects the cleanliness of the cut.
4. Orientation of teeth.

Cloths for metal

Jigsaw blades They are usually made from high-speed steel. This product is quite hard and has a bluish tint. The file has a different tooth shape and the geometry of the blade itself. Depending on what kind of cut is needed, products with fairly fine teeth that are exactly the same size are used. As a rule, a blade with such teeth is used for soft metals.

If the choice fell on a product that has teeth with varying geometry, the saw is used for cutting harder metals. This product has teeth, where the pitch and size increases towards the edge. The advantage of this option is the direct simplification of the cut, since this structure of the teeth, as it were, planes the metal, with each of the teeth performing its own function. This structure of the file minimizes the load on the tool, therefore increasing its service life. The same function is performed with a slightly curved blade at the bottom.

All, without exception, jigsaw files for metal have small teeth. These products have a certain marking, where you can always see the Latin letter “A” in the last or penultimate place. This letter indicates the strength of the metal. Before choosing a saw for cutting metal, you need to understand what material it will be intended for. Because the harder the metal, the smaller the tooth should be.

When choosing a file for a jigsaw, it is worth taking into account the peculiarities of the material, because the wrong tool will not bring the desired result. To choose the right file, it is important to study the following marking list:

• T111CHCS - a carbon steel product that is used for cutting wood and plastic (length 75 mm, tooth pitch 3 mm);
• T119B0HCS – carbon steel, designed for working with soft wood (length 56 mm, tooth pitch 2 mm). Typically used when performing fine work, figure cutting;
• T101BHCS - carbon steel blade, used for cutting soft wood. The advantage of such a blade is an even cut (length 75 mm, tooth pitch 2.5 mm);
• T101BRHCS - carbon steel is also used for manufacturing; the main nuance of the blade is the reverse teeth. Designed for working with soft wood (length 75 mm, tooth pitch 2.5 mm);
• T118AHSS – hardened steel is used for manufacturing and is intended for hard metals (length 50 mm, tooth pitch 1.2 mm);
• T144D HCS – carbon steel is used, the blade has set teeth. The direct purpose of the blade is cutting hard and soft wood. (length 75 mm, tooth pitch 4 mm);
• T127DHSS – hardened steel is used, designed for working with non-ferrous metals. The blade has milled set teeth (length 75 mm, tooth pitch 3 mm);
• T118GHSS – made of hardened high-speed steel. The main difference is the wavy teeth and is used for hard metals. (length 50 mm, tooth pitch 0.8 mm);
• T118BHSS – made of hardened high-speed steel, tooth shape – slotted wavy. Main use for cutting hard metals (length 50 mm, pitch 2 mm).

Such markings can be found directly at the foot of the jigsaw blade.

Naturally, when choosing jigsaw files, you cannot remember all the nuances and criteria. When buying jigsaw files, pay attention to following points:

Speaking of the manufacturer, you can safely mention “Bosch”, "Makita", "Practice". Jigsaws from these manufacturers have proven themselves to be excellent in quality and durability. When choosing a file, remember its intended purpose, otherwise your goals will not come true. Knowing the types of files used, and paying attention to the markings, method of fastening, as well as the manufacturer, the correct choice is guaranteed.

A jigsaw is a high-speed device, which is why do not neglect safety rules!