Using an electric jigsaw, curved and straight cuts are made when processing different materials- from wood to glass and steel. The tool itself is universal, but this does not apply to jigsaw files. For each individual task you need certain canvas. In order not to make a mistake in choosing this element, you need to know how the canvases differ from each other.

Classification Features

Nowadays, high demands are placed on the instrument. Speed, productivity, evenness and accuracy of the cut are important. All jigsaw files can be divided into several groups according to the following criteria:

• canvas width;
• shank type;
• workpiece material;
• shape and pitch of teeth;
• thickness of the canvas.

Now in more detail about this.

Shank type

Shanks vary according to the type of fastening. There are different options:

• T-shaped or “Boshevsky”. It was Bosch that came up with the idea of ​​its creation. Since the company is a leader in its field, other manufacturers have also started producing jigsaws with T-shanks, and these models are now flooding the market.
• U-shaped. It occurs less frequently than the previous one, but is also common - the second most common. American version, suitable for older types of jigsaws. Compatible with models with block and screw terminals.

There are also Makita and Bosch shanks. These are already outdated samples that are suitable only for old-style instruments from “their own” manufacturer.

Processing material

The material of manufacture can be called the main classification feature that most accurately separates jigsaw files . Allows you to describe in detail the operating features of the canvases:

There are universal blades that can handle both wood and metal with equal success, since the saw has large teeth on one side and small teeth on the other. Figure processing and this blade will not provide a perfect cut. If the material contains abrasive particles, as in gypsum or cement, the blades become dull very quickly.

Here we need products with carbide tipped on the cutting part. Cardboard or rubber is cut with “toothless” saws that resemble knives. The cut is made using a wave and grinding.

Difference in tooth shape

In addition to the material, the files differ in the shape of the tooth.. The possibility of use also depends on this. The teeth are as follows:

By width, thickness and pitch of teeth

The width is selected taking into account the requirements for the work results. Wide products are more stable, so they can be cut at high speed without deviations. If you need a high-quality sawn curve, narrower files that are easy to make turns are also suitable. The teeth should be located on the drive axis - this makes the tool more controllable.

The thickness determines how strong the deviation of the file from the vertical will be. Thick canvases the best way provide a perpendicular, even cut, but are unlikely to be suitable for jigsaws with a quick-release mechanism.

The pitch of the teeth is the distance between their tips. Most countries use the designation TPI (“teeth per inch”). Measured by the number of teeth per inch of length. If the TPI is 5, for example, that means there are five teeth per inch of blade. For cross-cutting wood, it is more advisable to use a saw with TPI 7−4. For ordinary work 7-9 is enough. A file with TPI13−10 will help you make an extremely accurate cut.

It is necessary to take into account the thickness of the workpiece - 6-8 teeth must work simultaneously, otherwise the blade will vibrate and the cut will come out torn.

Especially for those who are just learning the basics of carpentry, it will be very useful to familiarize yourself with the markings of saws. After all appearance the canvas does not always give an idea of ​​its purpose.

Most manufacturers label products using the Bosch system. The marking is done on the shank and includes letters and numbers.

The first letter indicates the type of shank:

• U-shaped;
• T-shape;
• Fein standard;
• M - for Makita jigsaws.

After that there is a number indicating the length:

1 - no more than 75 mm;

2 - 75−90 mm;

3 - 90−150 mm;

• A - small;
• B - average;
• C or D - large.

The last letter gives important additional information:

• P - precise cut;
• F - working part made of bimetallic alloy of special strength;
• O - narrow back;
• X - progressive tooth pitch;
• R - reverse direction of teeth.

The color of the shank will also say a lot:

• Gray - for wood processing.
• Blue - for metal.
• Red is for plastic.

The steel of the blade is represented by a combination of letters on the neck:

• CV - chrome vanadium steel;
• HM - hard alloys;
• HSS - high-speed steel;
• BM (BiM) - CV and HSS connection (strong and durable);
• HCS (CV) - high carbon steel.

There is often on the file letter designations, directly speaking about its purpose. If you have basic knowledge in English There will be no difficulties in deciphering these letter combinations. We are talking about the following:

With knowledge of the specifics of the product, you will choose the most suitable file that will last a long time and accurately complete the task. If you need a jigsaw a couple of times a year, it is better to purchase a universal model for rough work, and entrust the precise cutting to the masters.

Choice the right file for a wood jigsaw largely determines the performance and accuracy of cutting material. It’s worth clarifying right away that cutting blades for jigsaws come in the most different forms, types and sizes. That is, each material needs its own file.

Let's try to classify cutting blades and figure out how, for example, a file for metal differs from one for wood. How to choose a blade for a particular wood material will also be discussed in this article.

Features of files for power tools

The thickness and density of each material is different, which immediately imposes some specific requirements on the quality of steel sheets. This also includes the size and shape of the files, as well as the angle of the teeth. There are simply no universal models, so you shouldn’t buy into cunning marketing ploys about “omnivorous” canvases.

Even if you have the best quality jigsaw files for wood, they are unlikely to cut the metal properly. They can also cope with chipboard or plastic only partially (you will have to cut for a long time and persistently).

Steel

All cutting blades, including jigsaw files for wood, differ from each other in the quality of steel. Each model has a marking coating on the shank, where the material of manufacture can be determined by the code.

For example, Makita wood jigsaw files are always made from high-quality carbon steel marked “HC S”. This type of canvas is suitable for any wood material, be it wood, fiberboard, chipboard, plywood or even plastic. In our case (wood), it is not so much the hardness of the steel that is important, but its elasticity.

The “HS S” marking means that the blade is made of hardened and high-speed steel, which is the best option for working with light and middle group. The material of such files is noticeably harder, but lacks elasticity, that is, more fragile.

The marking “BIM” (biferrum) implies the presence of both of the above properties, that is, both hardness and ductility with flexibility in one person. Such blades are used for cutting metals senior group and some complex alloys. On the shelves of some brands you can find jigsaw files for wood (Bosch, Gross) with this marking, but you will be sawing with them for a very long time (and expensive), so it is better to use regular “NS S”.

The inscription “NM” means that the canvases are made from hard alloys. Files of this type find their use mainly in the ceramic field, where intensive work is carried out with tiles and similar materials.

Canvas size

Wood materials, as a rule, are thicker than the same metals or plastic, so jigsaw files for wood come, as they say, with a reserve, that is, they are long. If the material is rough, like ordinary boards, then it is better to use thicker blades, and for figure cutting- thin. The former are noticeably easier to drive in a straight line, while the latter are more convenient to turn.

Teeth

Blades with large teeth are designed for working with soft wood, and it is worth noting that the larger the teeth and the distance between them, the wider the cutting step, that is, the cut will be coarser. The same rule works in reverse side: fewer teeth - more beautiful cut.

In addition, the quality of the cut is greatly influenced by the width of the fangs. The smaller it is, the more accurate and accurate the cut will be. But it is worth keeping in mind that a very short distance significantly increases the work time, making it more labor-intensive. It would also be worth noting that saws with small wiring require higher speeds from electrical equipment, so you must ensure that neither the tool nor the material burns.

The shape of the teeth can be either oblique (at an angle to the edge of the blade) or straight, like an isosceles triangle. Moreover, in stores you can find, instead of the usual setting, cutting in “waves”, where each next tooth is slightly shifted to the side from the previous one (often found on the shelves of the Makita brand). Such blades are used mainly for clean cutting: table tops, kitchen fronts and some other small elements made of wood and chipboard/fibreboard.

If we summarize the features of choosing blades by teeth, we get the following picture:

• rare tooth - soft wood and figured cut(thick and thin file respectively);
• medium frequent tooth - neat cutting chipboard, plywood and treated wood;
• fine fine tooth - cutting plastic and metal in a straight line;
• medium beveled tooth - clean saw on small radii (countertops, small chipboard elements, plastic).

Shank

There are several types of shanks available for sale. The most common type is a blade with a semicircular base and two stops closer to the teeth. These files are universal and will fit most jigsaws.

Some brands produce cutting blades exclusively for their tools with some specific shanks. Therefore, at the time of purchase, be sure to check this point with the seller. The same rule is true for purchasing a tool of this kind: it is better to look for something universal and not bother with finicky consumables.

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

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

Material for making cutting blades

The first thing you need to pay attention to when choosing a file is the material from which it is made. Each cutting blade well-known manufacturers have their own labeling. Knowing how to decipher it, you can easily determine whether the file is suitable for you for the upcoming work.

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

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

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

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

Marking of jigsaw files

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Choosing a file for its intended purpose

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

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

• for quick cutting;
• for a clean cut.

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

How more teeth, the faster the cut takes place. However, as the speed of work increases, the cleanliness of the cut decreases, so here you need to choose between speed and quality.

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

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

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

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

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

Blade shape

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

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

An electric jigsaw is a very popular tool and is available to almost every craftsman. Currently, a large number of jigsaw blades are manufactured that can easily cope not only with wood, but also with 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, during which the quality of the work performed does not have of great importance. 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 canvas, important criterion is the tooth pitch. 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 specifications, 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,
• gray color - 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 digit "2" means average length canvases 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 decorative surface. Such materials include laminate. Peculiarity of this canvas Helps 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 for the implementation of clean. 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 external signs, but also according to the applied markings. 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. Very rare view blades that only fit 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.