Bosch jigsaw

Almost every craftsman has an electric jigsaw. After all, a tree is the most comfortable material for home crafts. However, today the jigsaw is not the only one that can handle it, and the secret of new possibilities lies in saw blades – jigsaw files. In this article, we will introduce you to the standards of saw blades, as well as their areas of application.

The modern master places high demands on the tool he uses. He is interested in productivity, geometric accuracy of the cut, as well as the final result - the quality of the cut line. To choose the right file for your jigsaw, you need to take into account a number of criteria: the material to be processed; the pitch of the 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 purpose. There are files for wood and metal, for wood with metal included, as well as many types of files for special purposes - for of stainless steel, abrasive materials, laminate, ceramics, cement, for different types plastics and fibrous materials.

Tooth shape

Based on 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 its blade and the size of the teeth. A large number of small teeth ensures precise cutting, 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 and set. The teeth are alternately bent in different directions. The width of the layout is considered normal if it is equal to one and a half thickness of the canvas. The routing prevents excessive heating of the saw blade and helps remove sawdust trapped between the saw blade and the walls of the cut. Used for quick cutting of hard and soft wood, non-ferrous metals and plastic.
	Milled teeth, wavy. Blade The setting is performed not through one tooth, but in groups, deviating either to the right or to the left. The saw blade is designed to obtain an even and clean cut when sawing aluminum, non-ferrous metals and plastics in a straight line.
	The teeth are ground, with conical grinding. The saw blade with a conical ground non-working edge is designed for clean cuts in wood and plastic.
	The teeth are ground and set apart. Saw blade for fast cutting of wood with a rough cutting line. Used for cutting soft wood (5-50 mm), blockboard, chipboard and fiberboard.

Tooth pitch

In our country, pitch (t) is the distance between the tips of the teeth. In some countries, pitch is designated TPI (teeth per inch) and is measured by the number of teeth per inch (for example, TPI = 7, i.e. 7 teeth per inch). When cross-cutting wood, 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), for critical 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. It is easier to saw if at least 5-8 teeth are involved in the work at the same time. If this rule is not followed, the blade will vibrate during operation, and the cutting line will turn out crooked and torn.

Saw blade width

The quality and speed of cutting when moving in a straight line, as well as the ability to cut curves, depend on the width of the saw blade. The wider the saw blade, the more stable it is: it allows a higher cutting speed and deviates less from the cutting plane. To cut curved lines, you should use narrower saw blades: 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 cutting line.

File thickness

The thickness of the file 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 that require high precision relative position surfaces, it is better to use circular saws.

Saw blades for cutting wood

Below are saw blades for wood from Wilpu. The numbers in brackets indicate the corresponding Bosch equivalent.

	Precise cut, also suitable for plastic.High carbon steel saw blade with pointed teeth and conical grind. Provides a clean cutting line in softwood and chipboard up to 30 mm thick, as well as in plastic. (Wilpu NS 12 / Bosch T101 V)
	Bimetallic saw blade.The bimetallic saw blade is very durable, made by laser welding: the back part 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 backwards. At the same time, the visible cut line remains clean and without chips. Scope of application: veneered boards (NS 12 R / T101BR)
	Clean line with curved cuts.With the saw blade width halved, the teeth are located on the axis of the longitudinal stroke of the jigsaw. With this blade you can cut along a very steep curve, as well as in a circle (NS 12 K / T101 AO)
	Saw blades for flooring.Special saw blade designed for processing materials such as laminate and parquet; the teeth are directed in the opposite direction and the distance between the teeth is smaller than that of traditional files (HC 19 R bi / T101 BIF)
	Wood sawing master.New generation of saw blades: the teeth have a special geometry and are triple sharpened. Very spicy! (NS 123 / T234 X)
	Universal saw blade.A saw blade for all occasions: this is a universal tool for rough and quick cutting of wood up to 5 cm thick. The file is made of high-carbon steel, the teeth are set apart and ground. Cuts quickly and cleanly (HGS 14 / T144D)
	Saw blades for wood up to 120 mm thick.The geometry of the teeth is the same as that of the universal saw blade, however, the length of the working part is 155 mm. Using 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 saw materials such as glass, stone or metal, you will need special saw blades with relevant characteristics. Obviously, the saw teeth must be harder than the material being cut. However, hard materials have a big disadvantage: they are brittle, which causes frequent breakage of saw blades. For such cases, manufacturers produce bimetallic sheets. They are 2/3 made of elastic high-carbon steel and one third of hardened high-speed steel. Such files provide an optimal price-quality ratio and quickly pay for themselves due to their long service life.

	Saw 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 saw soft wood, as well as various insulating materials (HW12 / T119A
	Sheet metal file.Saw blades with a small pitch and a wavy blade are designed for sawing thin sheet metal with a thickness of 0.5 to 1.5 mm. Since the tooth pitch is only 0.7mm, a clean cut line is obtained (MG107/T118G)
	File for plexiglass and metals.Plexiglas, polycarbonate, non-ferrous metals and aluminum up to 30 mm thick are not a problem if you use a saw blade with a clearance angle and pointed teeth (MC 12 bi / T101A)
	Steel file.A bimetal file with a wavy blade is designed for cutting thin sheet metal, multilayer materials, pipes and aluminum profile(MG11bi/T318AF)
	File for multi-layer materials.A special bimetallic blade is designed for cutting workpieces up to 120 mm thick, consisting of different materials (metal, insulating material). Highly flexible (MG 51 bi / T718HF)
	Wood file with metal.This saw blade with a tooth spacing of 1.8 to 2.5 mm is intended for sawing wooden structural elements containing nails and other metal elements (MG 1014 bi / T111HF)
	Saw blade with a special tooth system.Universal saw blade with a special M-shaped tooth system. The saw blade quickly cuts material (wood and metal) when moving both forward and backward (ST-006 bi)
	File for rubber, carpets and leather.A jigsaw file with a wavy sharpening is designed 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 tools: Black&Decker, Skil, Ryobi
	suitable for tools: Fein ASt(e) 636,638; MOt 6-17-1
	suitable for tools: Fein ASt(e) 649; MOt 6-18-1, Spitznas
	fits tools: Makita

Jigsaw accessories

Leading tool manufacturers produce additional accessories for their power tools. Such pleasant additions include a device that prevents chipping of the top layer of material: it is mounted on a base plate. And the support panel itself can be made of different materials, which prevents slipping when cutting.

It would also be useful to have a parallel stop in the workshop, which ensures cutting of the same type of slats; the distance between parallel lines can vary up to 140 mm. A circular cutter will provide the ability to accurately process radius surfaces. Additional accessories significantly expand the capabilities of tools and give a new impetus to creativity.

A few visual examples of how saws work differently

Cuts were made in the veneer panel using a saw blade with teeth pointing upward (right) and using a saw blade with teeth pointing backward (left).	If you don't have a reverse-toothed saw blade handy when sawing veneer panels, apply Tesa adhesive tape along the cut line to help get a clean edge.
Using a simple stop, consisting of a bar and two clamps, you will get a precisely calibrated, even saw line	Use a circular cutter to cut in circles
This is just a dream for a home craftsman - a sawing table, for example, produced by Neutechnik	Special clamps will protect the panels being cut from the appearance of monstrous cracks

The combination of accurate cutting of workpieces with good speed of work is possible only with the correct choice of cutting blade for each specific operation. When choosing files for a jigsaw, you need to understand their technical parameters 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 performed with a long blade with large teeth, a wide working part and a fair gap. This canvas is useful for 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 cut furniture panels or parquet boards. 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. A curved cut of polymer materials is made 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 also cut heat-insulating mats quite well. 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 the right jigsaw files.

The process of owning and operating a power tool is combined with the constant replacement of consumable working parts.

The saw blade gradually loses its carbide tips, becoming ineffective; drill bits tend to break or wear off from constant contact with one or another dense material; A cutting disc for an angle grinder is enough for no more than ten minutes of intensive work.

Classification of files

The purpose of a jigsaw is similar to the purpose of a circular saw - to make a cut in a particular material. However, unlike a circular saw, which can only make straight cuts, a jigsaw allows you to make circular and shaped cuts. This possibility is largely due to the consumable material of the tool – its file. The thin metal blade and small, small teeth allow the jigsaw to maneuver when processing any material.

Most people use a jigsaw to cut wooden blanks and wood-based products - chipboard, fiberboard, using appropriate wood saws. However, using special files, the tool can also process metal, plastic, and cut finishing materials such as tiles, stone and porcelain stoneware.

Wood files.
Many jigsaws, regardless of brand, have a part 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 when processing products from these materials will be much less, and its value is never reflected in the model number.

Marking of wood saws:

• T101D: The most popular file model. Has large teeth big step and is designed for making rough cuts.

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.

• T101B: Has finer teeth than the previous model and is designed for clean cuts.

Typically, saws of this type are used for working with plywood and plexiglass.

• T101BR: The size and pitch of the teeth are similar to the previous model.

The difference is that the position of the teeth is reversed. Allows you to process materials such as laminate, laminated wood.

• T119VO: The cross section of this model is very thin, which gives it the ability to perform figured cutting.

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 saw blades for jigsaws. 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 files.
The thickness of the metal product being processed is much less than the same value for a wooden workpiece. For the LE 80/800 jigsaw model given above, this characteristic will be equal to 6 mm. A very small value compared to the fact that the maximum thickness of a wooden workpiece for the same tool position will be 80 mm.

Classification of metal files:

• T118A: The ability to cut metal is made possible by the strong structure of its material and very fine teeth.

In addition to metal products, the size of the teeth of such a file makes it possible to work with plastic.

• T224D: Designed to work with aluminum products, the thickness of which can reach 20 mm.

Diamond files.
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 can also cut metal, but such use will lead to the consumable element quickly failing and requiring replacement.

The peculiarity of diamond files is that their blade is completely devoid of teeth. The cutting occurs due to diamond dusting crumbs.
As a rule, an abbreviation of three Latin letters – DIA – is applied to the blade of a diamond-coated abrasive file.

Diamond coating and DIA inscription. Designed for ceramics.

How to insert a file into a jigsaw

Replacing the saw blade is a fairly common procedure, provided that the tool is used regularly. Jigsaw files that have lost their effectiveness cannot be restored - it is much easier to purchase this consumable at the nearest tool store and replace it. Purchasing is not a problem.

Fortunately, we haven’t seen a shortage of such products for a long time, and the cost of the saw blade clearly won’t hurt your pocket.
But replacing a file for an inexperienced jigsaw user can cause some difficulties. In order to avoid them, we will consider the main options and features of replacing the saw blade.

Block fastening.

In many models of household jigsaws, the saw blade is fastened with a quick-clamping block, which secures the saw blade using two front adjustment screws. A similar clamp for a jigsaw file is a slightly outdated design, however, it is not without advantages, the main one of which is versatility - blades of any type and size are suitable for such a saw blade holder.

The disadvantage is that if the adjusting screws are unevenly tightened, the saw may become skewed, which will lead to a distorted cut.

The latter feature, however, can be considered as a positive factor in some cases. The fact is that the jigsaw rod can bend over time. So, using the degree of freedom that the saw fastening allows, you can use the same adjusting screws to bring the saw blade into a vertical plane.

Quick-release fastening.

A more modern fastening unit for the file is the quick-clamping one. This design allows for replacement without removing the tool casing. The process algorithm is very simple:
- We pull the lever located on the body of the tool - in this case, the rod automatically extends to the plane of the sole.

The shank of the file is inserted into the mount.

Using a special hex key, we fix the blade by rotating the adjusting screw. You can immediately tighten it until it stops, and then gradually loosen it to achieve the desired position.
Despite all the apparent simplicity and convenience of this design of the fastening unit, there are points that can be called disadvantages. If the previous block system is universal in the sense that all standard sizes of saw blades are applicable to it, then in the case of a quick-clamping design, only consumables with a specific shank shape are used.

On the other hand, such consumables are found everywhere, so this nuance should not be considered as an obvious drawback. Another point is that the file in this type of mount has a slight longitudinal play. It can be compared with the degree of freedom of a drill, which, being in a hammer drill chuck, has the possibility of longitudinal movement. This feature does not affect the quality of work of the jigsaw in any way.

The photo shows the moment of inserting the blade into the mount while the lever is pulled

There is another type of fastening that is not quick-clamping and consists in the fact that the file is fixed using only one screw, unlike the first case, where there are two screws. This design is quite rare and is found, for example, on a jigsaw from the Protool brand.

Protool has a different mount than other jigsaws

Files for jigsaws DeWALT DT2216-QZ/ DT2220-QZ

These DeWALT blades belong to the XPC series and are designed for working with wood. High-quality steel guarantees wear resistance and a long service life. Optimized tooth geometry, as well as increased blade rigidity, improves controllability, cutting accuracy and reduces the likelihood of the blade accidentally coming out of the material during cutting.

Large interdental cavities increase cutting speed and clear chips faster. Bimetallic 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 perform a clean plunge cut while avoiding kickback. DT2216-QZ files 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.

Today we will analyze the types of files for an electric jigsaw, because when choosing, the buyer has many questions. There are a lot of types of saws, because with a jigsaw you can cut not only wood, the list is much longer. Therefore, in this article we will figure out which saws are best for cutting simple wood, and which chipboard or fiberboard, and which saws are used to cut various types of metal.

And of course, we will pay attention to the markings, so after reading this article, you will begin to understand which file is suitable for which work. It’s not for nothing that there are different letters and numbers on the files. What do they mean? We will analyze all this using the example of popular models from Bosch, since they are of good quality and their price is very low.

Marking

If you have ever been to a tool store, you have seen that there are letters and numbers on the shank of any saw. Let's figure out what they mean.

The letter T means the type of fastening, that is, T-shaped (Fig. 1). There is also U, which is much less common (Fig. 2).

The numbers on the shank mean:

The first digit is the length:

• 1 - standard short, length up to 75 mm.
• 2 - average length, up to 90 mm
• 3 - extended, up to 150 mm
• 7 - the longest (over 150 mm)

The following letters indicate the size of the teeth:
A,B,C,D

Tooth A is the smallest, so all metal files have an A, for example T118A means a file with a T-shank, short, very fine tooth. Next, accordingly - B - a slightly larger tooth (most often these are saws with fine teeth for plywood, chipboard, fiberboard and wood for a clean cut). Files with the letters C and D - with the largest teeth, for rough sawing on wood.

There are also saws with two letters at the end, for example the T119BO model, so let’s look at what the last letter means:

• F - bimetal (the coolest, highest quality)
• X - universal for wood, metal and plastic.
• O - for a curved cut (to cut a circle, for example, usually thin, so that the file can be turned directly while sawing).
• P - thick options for sawing strictly at the exact selected angle (thick, do not bend, so they cut perfectly). A prominent representative is the T144DP, which costs significantly more than the standard ones.

On wood

The main purpose of an electric jigsaw is sawing wood. There are a huge number of files for this purpose and they are all different. Let's go in order.

If you need to cut ordinary boards and you don’t care about the quality of the cut, its cleanliness, you work for speed (for example, cutting ordinary boards for firewood or for a fence), then buy jigsaw files with large teeth. Thanks to this, the sawing speed will be high, and if you work with a jigsaw in pendulum mode, then everything will be just fine.

In addition, also pay attention to the length of the saw, since you won’t be able to cut a board or block 70 mm thick (for example) with a regular saw, you will need an extended one.

Well, the third nuance when choosing is thickness, standard files are not thick, but there are thicker ones (they cut much better because they don’t bend). Since most jigsaws use a standard mount (T-shaped), the name of the saw blades for such a mount begins with the letter T.

For a standard set of nail files, see the photo:

Well, now we’ll look at each file separately, what it can cut, and what kind of work it’s best suited for.

For metal.

T118A is a standard metal file, has a very fine tooth (like metal blades). You can cut metal up to 3 mm, but there is a terrible grinding noise, so use hearing protection. Highly recommend. Also, due to the fact that the tooth is very small, it is also recommended to saw plastic with it; many finishers do this.

These are 5 files that we constantly sell along with jigsaws. By by and large they are enough for all household chores.

In addition to the standard metal file, there is special options for some other metal. For example, an aluminum file has a larger tooth, so the teeth do not clog. After all, aluminum is a soft metal, so the standard one for metal gets clogged with shavings very quickly.
T224D - for aluminum, special. It says Alu on it.

Sawing on tiles, stone and porcelain stoneware.

Not everyone has tile cutters and grinders, so they came up with special files for jigsaws on tiles. The blade has tungsten carbide coating instead of teeth, which actually cuts any stone surface.

T150Riff - special for tiles, cost about 250 rubles. Excellent for cutting tiles.

Standard blades for hand-held jigsaws have a length of 130 mm, with a variety 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 size and tooth configuration.

IN general outline blades for manual jigsaws are similar to, but have one important difference: pinless saw blades with flat ends are always chosen, which can be secured in tool clamps and easily threaded into thin holes when creating small patterns.

The dimensions of files for a manual jigsaw are similar to those for machine tools: from #2/0 to #12. But practice shows that the most optimal options for manual sawing are numbers from #3 to #9.

Which files are better?

The quality of cutting directly depends on the characteristics of the blade. Therefore, it is better to always choose products from trusted brands. Their products are made of high-quality carbon steel; the blades have clearly formed teeth with a positive sharpening angle; The blades are hardened to achieve maximum hardness and increase service life. The overpayment in this case turns out to be a justified investment in ease of use, high quality of project execution and long service life of the blade.

Let's understand the basic concepts

In the marking of files for hand jigsaw contains basic information that allows you to choose the best blade for a specific type of wood and the project as a whole. To decipher this marking, it is important to become familiar with the key concepts.

TPI – 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 over the line of cut.

Reverse tooth – a blade with a reverse-directed tooth, which cuts the material during the return movement of the saw, thereby preventing the formation of chips on the wrong side of the sawn product. They are especially relevant when using plywood blanks.

Tooth set – created to prevent the saw from jamming in the workpiece, which in turn ensures trouble-free cutting (especially sharp 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 making the project.

Classification of files

Based on the characteristics of the teeth configuration, blades for manual jigsaws are classified into the following types:

Dedicated to all happy owners of an electric jigsaw.
Choosing the right jigsaw file.
The scope of application of an electric jigsaw is simply enormous. But for each type of work, for each type of material, you need your own, suitable file.
It’s very easy to get confused about the labeling of saw blades, but we will help you using the example of saw blades from a leader in this industry company BOSCH.

Compatibility of nail file and jigsaw shank

First you need to pay attention to first letter in the file marking, which indicates the type of shank and compare with the one used in your jigsaw.
« T» - T-shank, the most popular, worldwide standard from BOSCH

« U» - U-shaped shank, mainly used in USA

« M» - for jigsaws Makita

Choosing a nail file depending on the material of the workpiece

Now you need to determine what you will cut. The material from which the canvas is made depends primarily on this. For convenience, BOSCH marks its files with the appropriate symbols and the color of the shank.

Wood- Soft wood, fiberboard, chipboard
Material HCS– high carbon steel, gray files

Hardwood- Solid wood, wood boards, laminate, countertops
BiM– bimetallic files, gray

Metal- Ferrous and non-ferrous metal, pipes, profiles
H.S.S.– tool high-speed steel or BiM – bimetallic, blue blades

WOOD and METALL- Wood with nails, tin, aluminum
BiM– bimetallic files, white

ALU- for aluminum
steel H.S.S., blue files

There are also black and gold nail files for non-standard materials.

Choosing a nail file depending on the type of work

Suitable for most tasks standard universal files with inscription
BASIC(base)

If necessary quick rough cutting you should buy nail files
SPEED(fast)

For ultra-precise cutting You will need nail files marked CLEAN. The special tooth shape makes the cut smooth and neat.

CLEAN(clean)

FLEXIBLE(flexible) – a type of bimetallic (BIM) files specifically for metal cutting

SPECIAL(special) – SAW SAWS for specific work (sawing ceramics, plastic)

PRECISION(accurate) – for precise parallel cutting while maintaining angles

For sawing laminated materials such as chipboard, saw blades with letter R in the notation.

Marking of jigsaw files

In principle, this data should be enough when purchasing a BOSCH nail file for any purpose.
But for those who are especially curious and for professionals, we will provide a decoding of the symbols with all the details.
The jigsaw file marking looks like this: for example - T101D
First letter we sorted it out - this fastening type.
T- T-shaped;
U-U-shaped;
M – for Makita jigsaws

Next digit stands for length saw blade:
1 – standard, most common file up to 75 mm long;
2 – medium - 90 mm;
3 – extended – 150 mm;
4 – extra long, more than 150 mm
The length of the blade should be such that when working, the tip of the file is always outside the workpiece being cut.

Second digit points to appointment files:
0 – plexiglass, polycarbonate, wood;
1 – wood, steel, non-ferrous metals;
2 - steel, non-ferrous metals, aluminum;
3, 4, 5 – files for special purposes (plasterboard, cement, porcelain)
As you can see, there is no clear relationship, so usually the second and third digits are skipped when deciphering the files.

And here letters, coming after the numbers, deserve close attention

A, B, C, D(immediately after the numbers) – tooth size(Ascending);
The larger the tooth, the higher the cutting speed, but the rougher the cut.
A- small tooth. Used when a clean cut is important;
IN- middle tooth. Universal nail files. Excellent sawing speed and a very clean cut;
C And D- the largest tooth. Files with such a tooth are used for quick cutting and for soft materials.

The next letter (it may not exist) indicates the features of the file:

F– bimetallic sheet BIM
Files with such a blade have increased strength and durability
ABOUT– file with a narrow back Forcurvilinear(curly) cut
R– canvas for precise cutting from any angle. The canvas is thicker and does not bend at all
R– a file with teeth directed in the opposite direction, it works by moving the file downwards. This feature is necessary for sawing laminated chipboard materials(the top edge is clean)
X– “progressive” tooth pitch. Universal a file for any materials, but like everything universal, it loses to special ones. Convenient when you need to cut a little and the material is different all the time
G- for very thin sheet metal(tooth pitch of the blade is 0.7 - 0.8 mm)
H.M.– with carbide inserts along the edges of the teeth
Riff– with finely dispersed carbide inserts along the edge of the blade (such as abrasive chips)

In our case, the marking T101D means:

file with T-shaped shank, blade up to 75mm, for wood, with big tooth for quick cutting

The inscription “clean” indicates that the tooth spread is minimal and the file is suitable for finishing cuts.

Most users do not need to remember and read the symbols correctly. We have already taken care of you and have placed the most popular and versatile jigsaw files in the catalog.

Wood files

– for direct sawing of soft wood, chipboard, fiberboard up to 30 mm thick. The only saw for finishing chipboard cutting.

An electric jigsaw is a very popular tool and is available to almost every craftsman. Currently in production a large number of jigsaw blades that can easily handle not only wood, but also many other materials. In order to understand what types of jigsaw files exist, let’s consider this issue in more detail. Exist universal files for a jigsaw, but with the help of such blades it is impossible to perform any type of work efficiently. They are rather intended for rough work, in which the quality of the work performed does not matter much. Therefore, for narrowly focused activities you will have to choose a canvas that meets your requirements. The canvases differ not only in characteristics, but also in appearance. There are saws for wood, files for metal, as well as for drywall, ceramics, and so on. When choosing a blade, an important criterion is the pitch of the teeth. In Russia, a step is considered to be the gap between the tops of the teeth, which is denoted by the letter t. In some other countries, the pitch is the number of teeth per inch of blade, which is denoted by the abbreviation TPI. Therefore, when choosing a step, you should pay attention to the markings (inscriptions on the side) and only then draw conclusions. In addition to the pitch, an important criterion is the width of the file. The width affects the speed and quality of the cut. When cutting complex lines, it is worth choosing narrow blades, which are much easier to control and create different cutting lines. It is advisable that between five and eight teeth be used when operating a jigsaw. Otherwise, the jigsaw will vibrate and create a crooked and rough seam. When choosing a blade for a jigsaw, you should pay attention to the material of manufacture. You can find out this information from the inscription on the jigsaw file.

Types of web markings

Let's look at the types of markings indicating the material used to make the canvas:

1. H.S.S. This means that the file is made of hardened steel, which can be used at high speeds. These blades are widely used for cutting durable surfaces, including metals of various densities. Despite their impressive rigidity, steel files often break, so they must be used with extreme care.
2. HIM. Blades with this inscription are used for cutting tiles and tiles, as they have a high margin of safety.
3. HCS. This tool is suitable for working with wood. The blades are made from high-carbon steel, due to which they have great elasticity. Suitable for any wood products.
4. BIM. Bimetallic alloy blades incorporate all the best from the above models. It combines strength and elasticity. Thanks to these technical characteristics, the blade can be used to cut not only wood, but also metal products.

Not only the inscription, but also its color can tell about the purpose of the canvas:

• white color of the blade - for cutting wood and metal products,
• 
grey colour- for cutting wood and various products made from wood,
• blue color - designed exclusively for cutting metal structures,
• black color indicates that the file is intended for special materials (tiles, stone).

In addition, there are many more file markings:

• the first number “1” means a short length of the canvas up to 7.5 centimeters;
• the first number “2” means the average length of the canvas from 7.5 to nine centimeters;
• the first number “3” means that the canvas is long from nine to fifteen centimeters;
• the first number “7” means a very long file, more than fifteen centimeters;
• The letters (A,B,C,D) after the numbers indicate the size of the teeth.

Marking of wood files

Saw blades for woodworking are marked as follows:

• T101B is a short blade with small teeth that provides an even and neat seam.
• T101BR has a reverse tooth and is suitable for cutting materials with a decorative surface. Such materials include laminate. The peculiarity of this fabric helps to avoid unwanted chips.
• T301CD is designed to work with material whose thickness does not exceed 6.5 centimeters.
• T101AO file is designed for figure cutting.
• T101BIF is a blade made of a bimetallic alloy. Used for cutting materials up to fifteen centimeters thick.
• T101BRF bimetal blade with reverse tooth.
• T144DP is a large toothed blade designed for fast, rough cutting.

The markings for metal files look like this:

• T118A file with fine teeth, for accurate cutting of small structures.
• T318A is designed for sawing metal pipes, with a diameter of up to 6.5 centimeters.
• T118G is a blade for cutting very thin metal plates.

Special files can be identified by the following markings:

• T118AHM blade for working with thin stainless steel products,
• T301CHM sheet for fiberglass, the thickness of which does not exceed 6.5 centimeters,
• T141HM blade for accurate cutting of drywall,
• T101A organic glass cutting blade,
• T313AW blade for cutting cardboard and rubber, the thickness of which does not exceed five centimeters,
• T150Riff is a specially designed blade that allows you to cut tiles and tiles.

Jigsaw blade for wood

The wood saw allows you to work with plywood, soft and hard wood, parquet, laminate and many types of boards. The jigsaw file for wood has a very important feature. The fact is that it has a large pitch between the teeth. The distance can reach four millimeters. When compared with other types of paintings, the difference is noticeable to the naked eye. The wood file can also be different. They differ from each other in the working length of the tooth and pitch. Such differences allow you to ideally select the canvas for specific type wood In connection with such diversity, the question arises of how to choose a blade for a jigsaw for wood. In this case, you need to set priorities, since the blades are divided into two main categories: quick cutting and smooth seams. The larger the teeth of the blade, the faster you can cut the wood, but this may result in an inaccurate seam. Therefore, you will have to sacrifice something or choose a middle ground. If cutting speed is a priority, then for such purposes you can purchase a blade marked T101D. With it you can quickly cut wood up to eight centimeters thick. For thicker workpieces, wood blades labeled T244D or T344D are suitable. For more delicate work and neat seams, model T101B is suitable. This model is often used in furniture factories to carry out clean work. Using this blade, the cut is smooth and without jagged edges. It can be used to cut even thick wood, but it will take a lot of time. When cutting laminate or parquet, chips, torn seams or nicks are unacceptable. The seam must be perfectly smooth, without visible defects. This work can be done using a wood saw with a reverse tooth. As a last resort, you can use T101B, but before doing this, cover the cut area with tape or tape. This precaution is necessary to avoid chipping the decorative surface.

Metal file

To cut metal products you will need an electric jigsaw and a thick blade. The density of the blade should be higher than the density of the material being cut. But the whole problem is that dense materials They crack and break very quickly. Therefore, bimetallic blades are used for cutting metal. Thanks to their strength and elasticity, they easily cope with the task and do not break after the first use.

Jigsaw file for working with tiles

A file for tiles or tiles looks very recognizable. It is simply impossible to confuse it with other paintings. The fact is that this file is completely devoid of teeth. Instead of the usual teeth, the blade has tungsten carbide coating, which cuts tiles and other stone surfaces well.

Shape cutting files

Jigsaw files for figure cutting are easily recognized by the presence of small teeth. Such canvases are specially produced very narrow. This is done so that the canvas can easily pass through any turns without getting caught in the wood. Jigsaw files for shaped wood cutting can be recognized not only by their external features, but also by the markings applied. On such canvases, the markings always begin with the letter “O”.

Manufacturers of jigsaw blades

When choosing a file, you need to pay attention to a number of indicators, while the manufacturing company has great value. On store shelves there is a huge number of products from Russian, Chinese and European manufacturers. With this large selection, sometimes the question arises of how to choose a file for an electric jigsaw. The most attractive in terms of cost are canvases from Chinese manufacturers. The cost of such files is almost two times lower than that of European manufacturers. This is all very attractive, but there is one problem. Canvases from China are no different good quality. They constantly wear down, overheat and burst. Therefore, it will be cheaper to purchase a high-quality canvas once and use it for a long time.

Jigsaw equipment

The majority of manufacturers are constantly working to improve their tools and develop additional equipment for their devices. Among these additions, we can note a system that helps to avoid chipping on the upper surface of the material. This issue is especially relevant when cutting materials with a decorative surface (laminate, parquet, facing boards). A circular cutter and a rip fence are also considered a very useful addition. Thanks to the rip fence, you can special effort cut an unlimited number of one-size slats. A circular cutter allows you to cut a perfect circle of varying radii. Having such devices in your arsenal, you can carry out a wider range of work and at the same time significantly save time.

Installing a blade into a jigsaw

The file is installed in a special slot and securely secured with clamps. There are a huge number of jigsaws on the market, while some manufacturers introduce individual features into the fastening mechanism. But in most cases, the installation of the canvas occurs according to the standard scheme.

1. The jigsaw is equipped with a special lever, which in one motion loosens the clamps and allows you to remove the blade without any problems.
2. After the clamps are loosened, you need to take a file and insert its tail into a special hole.
3. Now I'm left The final stage, which includes the adjusting screw clamp.
4. After everything is installed, you need to make sure that the canvas is installed securely and evenly.
5. Let's get to work.

Types of tails

Cross-shaped ponytail or there is another name for T-shaped ponytail. This name was obtained due to its visual resemblance to the letter “T”. There are a wide variety of blades with this type of tail, ranging from wood blades to tile saws. The U-shaped ponytail also got its name due to its corresponding shape. A very rare type of canvas that is suitable only for American instruments. In addition, there are conical and immersed tails, but there is practically no point in considering them, since in Russia the predominant part of the market is occupied by canvases with a “T” shaped tail. The remaining models are practically not used, since there is no suitable tool. Any type of ponytail is securely attached to the appropriate one. electric jigsaw. Therefore, the difference is purely in form.

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

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

Reading the markings

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

Explanation of markings

Files are made from various grades of steel, which influence the purpose of the blades and are indicated by logos:

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

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

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

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

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

We cut wood materials

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

Fast cut

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

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

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

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

Clean cut

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

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

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

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

Curly cut

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

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

We cut polymer materials

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

For thin plastics and plexiglass, a metal file with small teeth is suitable. For thick ones, you can take a wood blade, turn off the pendulum mechanism and cut at low speeds. Shaped sawing of polymer sheets is carried out with a narrow file on wood.

We work with metal

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

For constant work, three blades are used: for steel, aluminum and for non-ferrous alloys. If you have to cut metal infrequently, then one steel file will be enough, which is also suitable for ebonite and textolite.

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

Blades for specific tasks

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

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

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

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

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

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

A hand jigsaw is a convenient tool that allows you to cut not only wood, but also other materials. To obtain a high-quality cut without wasting unnecessary time, you need to install a file that will ideally 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.

Saws with a T-shaped tail are ubiquitous. They are suitable for most modern models of jigsaws for wood, such as those developed by BOSCH, a trendsetter in this area. In jargon they are called "European type".

American models (DeWalt, Black&Decker) use saws whose tail end ends in a semicircular cutout resembling the letter U. Such shanks fit all clamps with a block or screw. In the jargon - “American type”.

There are still special Makita shanks and T-shaped “Bosh” shanks, but with two stops. They are suitable only for old models of jigsaws from these companies and, rather, are rarities.

Tooth shape

The width and cleanliness of the cut, as well as the suitability of the saw for cutting specific materials, depend on the method of sharpening and setting the teeth of a jigsaw on wood. There are 4 categories.

The first category includes milled files with a regular set. The classic set-up involves alternating bending of the teeth in different directions. A regular saw or hacksaw has such a problem. It produces a wide kerf and high cutting speed, but does not provide cleanliness. The best results are obtained when quickly cutting any type of wood, plastic and even metal.

The second category is milled with a “wave” type pattern. The teeth are not set one by one, but in groups of several pieces. The amount of spread is different for each tooth in the group, so the cutting edge looks like a wave. This file provides good cutting quality and is used for different materials when it is necessary to obtain an even and smooth cut without chips.

Next come files with ground teeth and a classic alternating set. They are characterized by high cutting speed and a wide kerf, the cleanliness of which is better than that of the milled version. Their purpose is fast but high-quality cutting of wood and wood-based materials (chipboard, fiberboard).

Finally comes the category of jigsaw files for wood without cutting with conical grinding of the teeth. The absence of a mark 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 closest teeth of the saw blade. It is measured in millimeters and denoted by the letter t. Marking t3 means a tooth pitch of 3 mm. But often when marking this parameter, it is not the pitch (distance) itself that is used, but the inverse value - a number showing the number of teeth per inch of blade length. The generally accepted designation is TPI. The higher the TPI, the more frequently the teeth are spaced 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. The cutting process should involve 5–7 teeth. If the thickness of the material is small and the tooth pitch is large, the blade will vibrate and tear the cutting edge.

Canvas dimensions

The capabilities of jigsaw blades are determined not only by the size and shape of the cutting edge. 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 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 to cut thick wooden workpieces you need a long saw blade for a wood jigsaw. But if you cut thin sheet materials with a long blade, then due to the possible bending of the metal, it is difficult to obtain an even cut.

Note! Working with long canvases, it should be understood that the working depth of the cut is affected by the power of the jigsaw.

Width

You need 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 may move during operation, and a straight cutting line will not work.

But when figure sawing With varying degrees of complexity, you need to choose narrow jigsaw blades. It is easier to direct them to the side, drawing curved lines.

Thickness

For sawing thin sheet materials The thickness of the file does not matter much. But when working with thick workpieces, this size affects the quality of the sawn surface. Thin blades will deviate from the perpendicular line during operation, and the cut will be uneven. The thicker the blade, the more even the cut it provides. But there is one caveat - too thick a blade is not suitable for all models of jigsaws. Jigsaws equipped with quick-release devices may not be suitable for thick blades.

What do the markings on files mean?

Even knowing all the intricacies of choosing a suitable jigsaw file and having determined the required parameter values ​​for yourself, you can get confused among the many products offered. Don’t go to the store with a ruler and calipers, measuring the dimensions of each blade and the pitch of the teeth!

On files from well-known manufacturers it is necessary to apply different markings, giving approximate information about the parameters of this product. Of course, if you want to know the exact values, you can measure them with a ruler. But it is better to do this not with every canvas, but only with one - pre-selected by marking.

There is no mandatory labeling standard. Most manufacturers of jigsaw files adhere to the rules adopted by BOSCH. It is rare, but you can find markings that differ from these rules.

According to BOSCH standards, alphanumeric markings are applied to the shank of the jigsaw file. The first letter of the marking 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 numbers encrypt the purpose of the file (according to the manufacturers). The same information is usually present in other places on the saw blade in a form that is more understandable to the consumer.

The first letter following the numbers indicates the tooth size:

• A – small;
• B – average;
• C and D – big.

The second letter (if there is one) gives additional information about files that are somewhat different from ordinary ones.

F – especially durable material, bimetal.

O - small width, for figured cutting.

P – large thickness.

R – reverse direction of teeth.

X – teeth of variable size.

Important information about the purpose is duplicated by the markings twice: by 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 color; the words Metal (metal), Alu (aluminum), Inox (stainless steel). Universal tool for wood and metal – white.

For polymer materials- Red color; 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 there may be verbal information about the method of application and special properties (usually in smaller letters than about the material of use):

• basic – standard type of canvas;
• speed – for fast cutting;
• flexible – with a “wave” type connection;
• clean - without streaks, clean cut;
• progressor – variable tooth size;
• special – for highly specialized applications (ceramics, durable plastic, etc.)

A letter marking of the type of metal from which it is made is applied to the neck of the file (between the shank and the blade itself):

• HM – hard alloy;
• CV – chrome vanadium alloy;
• HSS – high-speed steel;
• HCS – high carbon steel;
• VM or ViM is a particularly strong alloy.

Thus, by studying the markings on a jigsaw file, you can obtain comprehensive information about it.

Types of files according to purpose

The word jigsaw still evokes associations with wood. And although modern jigsaws are widely used for sawing plastics and metals, the main material for work is still wood and plywood. You also have to think most often about which blades to choose for a jigsaw on wood.

On wood

For ordinary work For wood and its derivatives (plywood, chipboard, MDF), choose standard saw blades with a gray shank for simple or hard wood. The dimensions of the blade, the spread and the size of the teeth are selected individually. But sometimes it is necessary to perform work that differs from ordinary sawing.

If speed is important, even at the expense 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 blades with a small mark or without it at all. Teeth – medium or fine. Materials that have a finishing side (laminate, chipboard) have to be cut upside down. If you need to see the cut with front side, then the files must be selected with the teeth in the opposite direction (the last letter of the marking is R).

For artistic cutting there should be a narrow blade no wider than 4 mm, small teeth and short length. Compliance with these conditions will allow figure cutting to be carried out at small turning radii.

For metal

An electric jigsaw is still not the most suitable tool for cutting metal. But if necessary, he can handle it if you choose the right file. The teeth of such files are very small and wavy; the blades are made of especially strong alloys, but they also quickly become dull. It is advisable to select files marked specifically for the type of metal you will be working with.

For polymer materials

The file markings contain designations specifically for working with such materials. Ordinary plastic and PVC products can also be sawed with wood blades. In this case, the teeth must be chosen larger and with a larger spread. A small tooth will not only cut, but also melt the material. For plexiglass, it is better to choose a metal fabric with a wavy pattern.

Manufacturers

BOSCH is considered the leader in the production of jigsaw files. This is perhaps the only company that provides its tools with a full range of saw blades. HITACHI and MAKITA are also popular, but they sometimes use other manufacturers to produce instruments. Among the domestic files with good quality, we can mention Ermak products.

In general, the range of products is quite wide, but in order not to make a mistake, it is recommended to give preference to proven brands.