Water pipes      06/17/2019

Jigsaw files: what to cut and with what. Jigsaw files: main types of fastening options and file markings (150 photos) What are wide jigsaw files used for?

There is a jigsaw not only in every workshop, but also, perhaps, in every home. This tool has gained such popularity due to its versatility and compactness. With its help, you can cut various sheet materials: wood of any species (from the softest to very hard); sheet metal; plastic; glass and ceramics, etc.

To work with a particular material, you need to choose the right saw blade (more often called simply a “file”), since the quality, cutting speed and overall ability to work depend on it. This will be discussed in this article.

Each saw has its own unique parameters, the combination of which determines the material that can be cut with it, as well as other cutting characteristics: the quality and speed of the saw. In addition, each file has design features, allowing you to use it with one or another. A separate article is devoted to this, but choosing the “right” file will be discussed in this article.

Parameters of jigsaw files

First you need to decide on the list of saw blade parameters that need to be taken into account. So this:

  • File fastening standard (shape of shank);
  • Dimensions (length, width, thickness);
  • Geometric parameters of teeth;
  • Purpose (according to the type of material being processed).

Let's look at these parameters in more detail.

File fastening standard (shank shape)

To determine the standard for fastening the saw blade to, you need to look at the passport of your power tool - this should be indicated there. Although quite often several files are included with the kit and by looking at them, you can understand the type of shank that suits you.

Listed below are the main types of shanks found today.

  • T-shape
  • U-shaped
  • Shank for Makita
  • Shank for Bosh

The T-shank type is the most common type nowadays. This solution turned out to be the most successful and was “adopted” by a large number of power tool manufacturers. This type is often called Boschevsky, because it was the Bosch company that first offered this type of file attachment to the market. Subsequently, other manufacturers began to support this type of shank. Such companies include:

  • Bosch,
  • Makita,
  • Metabo,
  • Hitachi,
  • Skil,
  • DeWalt,
  • Sparky

and others.

Shank having U shape, is considered an American standard, however, it can be considered obsolete, since it is almost never used now, although previously this type of shank was used on jigsaws with screw and block clamps from famous manufacturers:

  • Ryobi,
  • stayer,
  • Black&Decker,
  • Skil,
  • DeWalt,

This is Makita's proprietary shank type. These files are distinguished by their reliability and strong base. This blade can now also be considered outdated and is suitable only for some Makita jigsaws. In this regard, when changing the blade, it may be difficult to purchase it, since the demand for them is now very low, it will be difficult to find such files in the store.

This type of shank is very similar to the T-shaped one, but unlike it, it is proprietary to Bosch, and accordingly is suitable for jigsaw models only from this manufacturer. This type of fastening can also be considered outdated, and therefore it is very difficult to find it on sale.

conclusions

So, to summarize, it becomes clear that the T-type shank is now some general standard and it has supplanted all other modifications that previously took place. Thus, this greatly simplifies the task for us (consumers) - there is a large selection and there is no need to think too much about shanks, although it is also necessary to know that, theoretically, I can come across non-standard options.

Saw blade dimensions

Like any object in Euclidean space, a file has three geometric dimensions: length, width and thickness. Each of these parameters is important and affects the result of the work in its own way. Now about this in more detail.

Length

The parameter is clear and understandable - the longer the file, the greater the thickness of the sawn workpiece can be. The range of saw blade lengths for jigsaws is very large - from 40 mm to 250 mm. It would seem that you need to take the longest file and you won’t go wrong. Yes, a long saw is good, as it allows you to cut thick workpieces, but there are a number of issues.

  1. you have to pay for excess length; the longer the file, the more expensive it is; It is obvious;
  2. When sawing workpieces of different thicknesses, there will be uneven wear of the saw blade; accordingly, the wear of the teeth at the base will be higher than at the end of the file.
  3. files bend, and it is much easier to bend a long file than a short one;
  4. There are cases when the excessive length of the file simply interferes with sawing, for example, it rests on something, while a short file would go through without problems.

It is important to pay attention to important point– to cut thick workpieces, you need not only a long saw blade – you need enough power for the jigsaw to cope with the load. If you don’t take this factor into account, you can simply ruin the tool - the jigsaw can simply “burn out.”

Width

For an even saw (in a straight line), wide files are more suitable, since due to their width they prevent the cut from being pulled to the side. Accordingly, the wider the file, the more even the cut it can give. With narrow files the situation is the opposite - they are used where you need to make a figured or radius cut, respectively, the narrower the file, the greater the curvature of the cut.

Thickness

And the last, but not least important parameter is the thickness of the file. The thicker the blade, the stronger the file, and accordingly, the more resistant it is to the applied forces and will not “be pulled” to the side. It would seem - the conclusion is obvious - we take the thickest files, however, as in the case of length, it is necessary to point out a number of circumstances. The thicker the file, the wider the cut width, which means:

  • more effort will have to be put in
  • the cutting time will be longer,
  • heating of the workpiece will be greater,
  • more material consumption.

In addition, it should be mentioned that not all thick files are suitable for the quick-release mechanism.

conclusions

As always - there is no one universal solution for all occasions. Each time you need to support a file that is suitable for exactly the this moment, for this task, and, of course, for your instrument. You probably shouldn’t run to the store every time and select saw blades, but simply have a set of the most commonly used saw blade options.

Geometric parameters of teeth

The geometry of the cutting edge and the tooth set play an important role. The speed and quality of the cut depends on this. Obviously, the wider the teeth are spread in different directions, the wider the cut will be, and due to the fact that the blade itself does not rub against the edges of the cut, there is less resistance, less heating and more speed cutting Of course, the downside of these advantages will be the poor quality of the saw, as well as the difficulty of making an even cut due to the “pull” of the file to the side (since the blade is not fixed in the plane of the saw). There are several types of cutting edge geometry:

Each of these types of geometries has its own characteristics. Let's take a closer look at them.

This type of geometry is used for simple hand saws and consists in the fact that the teeth alternately move left and right. It is clear that in this case the blade practically does not rub against the walls of the saw, sawing is easy and fast, but in this case there is no need to talk about the quality of the cut and evenness. This type of wiring is quite popular, as it is easy to manufacture and has its undeniable advantages.

For saw blades with this form of setting, the cutting edge has a wave shape, with several teeth falling into one half-wave and each of them has a different deviation from the central axis. This type of setting gives a clean cut, so it is mainly used when sawing hard wood, metal, etc.

As in the case of the option “Milled with classic wiring» the teeth alternately move in different directions, but at the same time undergo an additional processing process - grinding. In this case, the cut is much cleaner, but the speed of work is maintained. This type of wiring is used for sawing, VDF, MDF, etc.

With this option, the teeth are almost not set, but they are specially sharpened and polished. When sawing with such blades, a very clean and even cut is obtained, but the speed of work suffers accordingly and requires larger number revolutions (saw blade speed) of the tool.

Purpose

From the very beginning, jigsaws were used exclusively for, but over time, the versatility of this tool has significantly expanded the scope of its use. Thus, at the moment, it is possible to saw almost any sheet material - this includes wood of various species and densities, metal, glass, ceramics, various glued and pressed boards (fibreboard, MDF, etc.). Manufacturers of saw blades, during development specific models files, their purpose is determined by the type of material being cut; accordingly, the entire variety of saw blades for jigsaws can be divided into the following groups:

  • for wood and wood boards;
  • for metal;
  • for polymeric materials and plastics;
  • special purpose.

Let's take a closer look at each group of these classifications.

Saw blades for wood and wood panels

Sawing wood is the main purpose of a jigsaw, which is why there is the greatest variety of wood saws. This is dictated by the wide variety of types of wood and various boards derived from it (fibreboard, fiberboard, etc.).

All wood files are divided into several categories:

  • for quick cutting;
  • for a clean cut;
  • For figured cutting;
  • for a “blind” cut.
Saw blades for quick cutting of wood

Quite often you need to quickly saw off a workpiece and the quality and cleanliness of the cut is not at all important. In this case, special files are used, which have some distinctive features:

  • long length;
  • large, large teeth;
  • large tooth set
Saw blades for clean wood cutting

In furniture production, cutting parquet board and in other cases, a high-quality and clean cut is required. For this purpose, special files are used, which can be recognized by the following distinctive features:

  • average tooth size;
  • there is no or very slight tooth spread.

Typically the teeth point towards the jigsaw. This is done so that the main cutting movement occurs at the moment of retraction of the file (the movement of the file towards the jigsaw), while the master does not experience much effort when sawing. The disadvantage of this principle is that chips from the file are obtained on the side that is visible to the master - where the marking line is. But sometimes it happens that you need to do the opposite in order to front side the cut (without chips) was exactly from above. In this case, special files with teeth are used that are directed away from the jigsaw. Sawing with such files is accompanied by increased efforts by the master, who must overcome the force of pushing out the file with a jigsaw.

Files for shaped cutting of wood

A jigsaw is a universal tool - it allows you to make figured cuts, that is, with small radii of curvature, and in some cases it is even possible to “turn on the spot” (make the saw not smooth, but at an angle). For such a cut, special files are again needed - they are easy to recognize - they have:

  • narrow canvas
  • short length
  • fine teeth
Files for blind cutting of wood

A blind cut is a cut when the size of the maximum overhang of the file is less than the thickness of the workpiece.

This topic is quite controversial and there are many opinions on this matter. Nevertheless, we will state our position. A blind saw is possible and does occur. But you need to understand a number of points:

  • The file must have a special shape;
  • The load on the jigsaw increases many times;

The file must have a special shape of the last tooth and the tip of the file, as shown in the picture.

When making a blind cut, the entire saw blade is used - this is the maximum load for it and the load on the jigsaw itself. In addition, the cut is made in such a way that the last millimeter (or two) of the wood is simply crushed, so there are shock loads on the holder at the moment of maximum projection of the saw. Thus, it is not recommended to make a blind cut on hard wood, or on soft wood - for example, but the master must understand that the wear of the tool at this moment increases many times and the likelihood of breakdowns is very high.

Metal files

The main work of sawing metal is done with a grinder, but sometimes you need to make a curved or radius cut. In such cases, a jigsaw with a special file will help. You can saw both steel blanks and non-ferrous metals. Metal is much denser than wood, so when working with metal you need to understand that the jigsaw works under a heavy load and you need to load it wisely.

Metal files are usually made of durable alloys and have fine teeth with wave winding (see above).

The jigsaw handles sawing easily various types polymer materials, plastics, plexiglass, etc. There are specialized files for sawing these materials, although in practice wood or metal files are usually used. A simple rule works: the denser the material, the smaller the saw tooth should be, so for most plastics they are suitable simple files on wood. It must be remembered that sawdust from plastic begins to melt at high temperatures; in this case, the saw teeth become clogged with melted plastic and lose their sawing properties. Therefore, it is important to monitor the temperature of the file and not overheat it; accordingly, you need to cut at low speeds and regularly let the file cool.

There are various situations when it is necessary to saw various exotic materials that are not typical for sawing with a jigsaw - glass, ceramics, etc. There are special-purpose saws for these purposes. They are rare and unique, nevertheless they still find their place among craftsmen who work with these materials.

Manufacturers of saw blades must label them so that users can navigate the parameters and purpose of the proposed saw blades. There are various classifiers, but at the moment the most popular is the standard from Bosch, which is the leader in this topic.

The main marking is usually done on the shank, and additional information is indicated on the saw plane.

Basic markings

Position in code Description Values
First character (letter) Shank type “T” – T-shaped shank type “U” – U-shaped shank type “M” - Makita shank
Second character (number) File length “1” – short (up to 75 mm) “2” – standard (75-90 mm) “3” – extended (90-150 mm) “7” – long (more than 150 mm)
Third and fourth character (numbers) Purpose of the file /no information/
Fourth character (letter) Tooth size “A” – small (metal, laminate) “B” – medium (wood, fiberboard, MDF, etc.) “C” and “D” – large (quick cut)
Fifth character (letter) Additional Information “F” – bimetallic blade (considered the strongest and most durable) “O” – narrow blade (for figured cutting) “P” – thick blade (allows you to cut strictly perpendicular to the surface) “R” – with reverse tooth “X” – with variable tooth size (universal blade, suitable for cutting any materials)

The color of the shank can also tell the master about the purpose of this file:

Additional information on the saw plane

On the neck of the file (between the shank and the saw plane) there is a marking of the type of material from which the file is made.

Marking Material
CV Chrome vanadium steel (for wood and wood panels)
HCS High carbon steel (for wood and wood-based panels, as well as plastic),
H.S.S. High speed steel (for ferrous and non-ferrous metals)
H.M. Hard alloy based on tungsten carbide (for ceramics, fiberglass, etc.)
BM(BIM or Bi-Metal) Highly elastic combination of HSS and HCS (professional saw blades for wood and metal)

Purpose of the file:

Marking Purpose
Wood For soft wood and fiberboards
Hardwood For hardwood and laminated panels
Inox For stainless steel
Alu For aluminum
Metal For tin, metal profiles and pipes
Fiber&Plaster For fiberglass
Soft-material For soft materials(rubber, foam, cardboard, etc.)
Acrylic For polycarbonate and plexiglass

Clarifying information defining the type of work:

Marking Type of work
Basic Standard blades for quality cuts
Speed Fast cutting files
Clean Blades for clean cutting (without toothing)
Progressor Universal files with variable tooth sizes
Flexible Blades with wavy layout for cutting metal
Special Files for cutting ceramics, plastic and other highly specialized work

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

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

Reading the markings

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

Explanation of markings

Files are made from various 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 is a carbide for cutting tiles and building blocks.

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

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

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

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

We cut wood materials

Cutting wood and everything made from it is the main purpose of a jigsaw. Therefore, a larger 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 bars for sheathing or dismantling old window frame. What is more important here is the speed provided by fast cutting blades with characteristic features:

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

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

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

Clean cut

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

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

Most 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. A specialized saw with two rows of teeth allows you to cut panels laminated on both sides almost without chipping.

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 with bimetallic saws with small cutters at the edges and large ones in the middle.

Blades for specific tasks

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

The hole in the tile is cut 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.

A set of 5-10 files is enough for home needs. for various purposes. Just starting to use a jigsaw, they purchase an inexpensive set, master the intricacies of working with different types of blades, and then use 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 jigsaw can be called universal tool, which allows for straight and shaped cutting of a wide variety of materials - from soft wood to steel and glass. It is worth noting that the tool itself is universal, but not its equipment: cutting of each material is carried out using a specific type of blade. However, in order to choose the right file, you need to find out what criteria to use during the selection process. In this article we will talk about what jigsaw blades are, what types of jigsaw files there are, and also how to insert a file into a jigsaw.

Jigsaw files types and features

If you go to a store and say you need jigsaw blades, the salesman will show you a variety of various options. They come in different lengths, widths and thicknesses, and have different tooth sizes and shank types.

Jigsaw files, based on the material being processed, are classified into:

  • jigsaw file for metal. Such blades are made from high-speed steel. They can cut different types metals, including aluminum and non-ferrous metals
  • jigsaw file for wood. These files are most often made from high carbon or chrome vanadium steel. They are designed to work with softwoods and wood-based panels.
  • files for glass and ceramics. Such blades are made from an alloy of carbide with tungsten, which has high strength. You need to purchase such a blade if you need to carry out a large amount of work using a manual jigsaw, for example, with ceramic tiles
  • universal files. They are created from high-speed steel for sawing wood, metal and plastic materials.

According to the type of operations performed, saws are divided into two categories:

  • for straight cutting. These blades have a wide back, which makes it possible to guide it in a specific direction to obtain a straight cut.
  • for figured cutting. These canvases have a narrower back than the shank, making them easy to direct in different directions. The result is a smooth figured cut.

If you look closely at jigsaw files, you can see that they have different sizes tooth layout and sawing edge geometry. Not only the cleanliness of the cut depends on the type of wiring, but also what material such a file can be used for working with. Highlight:

  • milled with classic layout. The classic setting is teeth alternately bent in different directions, by analogy with hand hacksaw. This type of routing reduces the heating of the saw during cutting, because the file experiences virtually no friction in a fairly wide cut. However, it will not be possible to obtain a neat cut, but the cutting speed is achieved at a high rate. These saws are used to cut different varieties wood, plastic and non-ferrous metals
  • milled with wavy layout. In such a file, the teeth are directed in groups of several pieces. It is noteworthy that each tooth has a different amount of deviation from the central axis with its nearest neighbors. The working edge of the saw blade resembles a wave. The use of such a blade helps to make clean cuts on wood, chipboard or plywood, as well as on non-ferrous metal and plastic
  • polished with classic layout. The teeth of these blades are set apart and polished. The cut with such files is quite wide. Such blades help to quickly and fairly cleanly cut wood and its derivatives - chipboard, fiberboard
  • with conical grinding without routing. The blades of such saws do not have a tooth spread, but their segments are ground, resulting in a thin cutting line and straight cut. With the help of such saws, you can carefully cut wood, laminate, and polymer materials.

The most significant parameter for a file is the grade of steel from which it is made. The files bear the following markings:


Main characteristics

However, the high quality of steel is not a guarantee that the file will cope with the assigned tasks. An important role is also played by:

  • workpiece dimensions. Before purchasing, you need to decide on the size of the workpieces to be cut. For timber with a cross-section of 50x50mm and furniture panels, it is worth using different files. For timber, saws with working part sizes from 51 to 126 mm are suitable. While short blades (51mm) are needed for cutting sheet metal, for cutting pipes these are more suitable long files(106mm)
  • type of cut. An important criterion for choosing a saw blade is the geometry of the cut. The straight cutting blade holds its direction perfectly, but it won’t be possible to create even a small radius with it, because it has a wide back. A special thin file for figured cutting is perfect for this type of work.
  • cleanliness of the cut. The quality of the cut is very important role in the process of creating furniture
  • tooth shape. The cut quality indicator directly depends on the tooth geometry. The larger the pitch of the teeth, that is, the gap between adjacent vertices, the faster and rougher the line will turn out
  • tooth set. To give the canvas more “spaciousness”, its teeth need to be spread apart. In this case, it will cut at a higher speed, but the cutting line will not be very neat
  • Progressor files. The changing size of the teeth as it increases from shank to tip is a sign of versatility. As the thickness of the material being processed increases, a larger number of large teeth are connected to the work.

Types of shanks

An important parameter in choosing a jigsaw file is the type of its shank. There are such shanks:


Attaching jigsaw blades

The accuracy of the device and the level of its performance directly depend on the features listed above. However, there are other factors on which the ease of working with a jigsaw depends. In the process of working with a jigsaw, every master is faced with replacing the saw blade. The most common type of shank is European or “Boshevsky”. It features a cross configuration. Such canvases can be bought in every store, this is their main feature.

The most common methods of fastening the canvas are:

  • front attachment to jigsaw
  • quick-release fastening in a jigsaw.

In more budget options The block, tightened with two screws, clamps the blade with a cut. Such screws are located in the frontal plane. This system has high compatibility, but is inferior in other respects. For example, a crookedly clamped fastener can cause misalignment. If this happens, additional wedging needs to be done. Impacts of the saw on the workpiece with the butt end cause the front block to break in half or the screw threads to break. Such problems can arise if the tool is not handled correctly.

The most convenient are jigsaws equipped with a quick-release blade fastening system.

A significant difference from “regular cartridges” is that there is no versatility. Only blades with the same shank are suitable; in addition, there is some play. However, often this does not play a big role, because the choice of paintings is simply huge. since there are a huge number of paintings. The disadvantage of quick-release locks is the limited thickness of the blades. Inserting the blade in these jigsaws is quite easy.

Fastening the blade in jigsaws with a fastening method using locks implies the following sequence of work:

  • open protective screen devices
  • turn the lever located on the rod to insert the blade
  • After lowering the lever, you need to smoothly move the file into the clamp. However, it is worth considering that the file must have a thickness corresponding to the slot.

In order to insert the blade into a device with a screw fastening system, you need to do the following:

July 19

All photos from the article

Wood jigsaws come in many varieties. They differ in width, length, tooth, material and even tail. In this article we will look at the subtleties the right choice, on which the quality of the cut and the speed of your work depend.

General provisions

The file for a manual jigsaw for wood is cutting tool, which in the process of work makes translational movements up and down, making straight or figured cuts.

Tip: When purchasing an electric jigsaw, check for the pendulum function.
Thanks to it, additional movement of the blade forward and backward occurs, which speeds up the process and reduces the load on the engine.

The use of such equipment greatly simplifies the processing of wooden and other products with your own hands. In addition, it makes it easy to create shaped cuts necessary when assembling certain structures or for the purpose of decorating them.

Varieties

The first thing you need to pay attention to when choosing a suitable file for a jigsaw for wood is its marking, which determines the material from which it is made:

Canvas material

Marking Description
HCS The presence of such letters on the tail of the blade means that it is made of carbon steel and is intended exclusively for working with wood, as well as with chipboards and fibreboards of a similar structure. Be careful, even the presence fine teeth should not be misleading, only wood materials.

It should also be taken into account that the cutting part may have flaring, which speeds up the process, but worsens the quality of the cut.

H.S.S. In this case, high-speed tool steel is used in the manufacture of the file, which is ideal for cutting soft and hard metals such as steel, aluminum and cast iron, but not wood, and has noticeable brittleness.
BIM Under this designation are blades that are equally suitable for both metal and wood.
HM/TC A hard alloy is used here, which copes well with hard and abrasive materials, which include tiles, aerated concrete, and ceramic tiles. The price of such paintings is quite high.

It turns out that if you need a jigsaw for wood, then you should buy products marked HCS, but if the range of work can alternate with metal, then buying a set of BIM blades will be more rational. HSS is definitely not suitable for wood due to the short tooth travel, and HM/TC is too expensive to waste on cutting wood samples.

Canvas size

  1. Jigsaw files for wood, as a rule, have a length of 7.5-15 cm, which allows you to cut fairly wide boards.
    It is designated as follows:
    • “1” is the shortest option, 75 mm.
    • “2” – medium file 90 mm long.
    • “3” is an elongated blade reaching 150 mm.
    • “4” – extra-long saw exceeds 150 mm.

  1. Patterns for cutting wood with a jigsaw are made only with a thin blade, but sawing chipboard and fiberboard is done with a thick blade.

Tooth profile

The video in this article will introduce you to additional materials. Good luck with your choice!

Now in the world of hand tools and tools, the jigsaw is an example of a truly indispensable mechanism for processing a wide range of materials, equally suitable for working with both straight and any curved cuts. However, such ample opportunities are determined by hand jigsaws not only by the features of their design, but also by the richest assortment of consumable tools for it - among jigsaw blades (in common parlance - jigsaw files). Of course, the German manufacturers of the BOSCH concern are the leaders in the production of such files, so it will be interesting to get acquainted with its classification of the modern generation of jigsaw files, to learn the reasoning and details from its weighty assessments.

Experience dictates that when sawing with an electric jigsaw, it will be very important to select the file exactly for its intended purpose. When choosing a jigsaw model, it is best to use those varieties that use files with a u-shaped or t-shaped shank, since such types of shanks are more securely attached to this tool.

Tooth profiles are selected based on the density of the material being cut and the specific requirements for the quality of the cut (will a wide and rough line of a rough quick cut be tolerated, or will it have to be thin and clean, straight or figured...). For example, if a jigsaw blade has set teeth, but it is not further sharpened after the milling stage, then such a blade will cut quickly, but with a rough cutting quality. On the contrary, teeth on a saw that have been sharpened but not set apart will cut very cleanly. When sawing, parameters such as the tooth pitch and the material of the jigsaw file itself will also be decisive. After all, let’s say, in the process of sawing any metal, three or four teeth of the file will have to participate simultaneously in interaction with the workpiece (one or two teeth will be few in this sawing, but five to eight is already a lot). Therefore, for sawing thick workpieces, saw blades with a fairly large pitch are used, for thin ones, on the contrary, with a fine one.

Thus, Bosch specialists believe that their jigsaw blades, which have set-apart milled teeth, are most convenient for cutting sheets with a relatively clean edge and making quick cuts on soft and hard wood, aluminum, plastic and non-ferrous metals. These are, for example, Bosch jigsaw files of article numbers E 127 D and T 345 XF.

Bosch files, which have a wavy line of saw blade with milled teeth, are designed for cutting workpieces in a straight line, where it is necessary to leave neat edges along the cut line: the material of workpieces cut by such files can be plywood, aluminum, non-ferrous metal, and plastic ( Examples of such files are jigsaw files from Bosch articles T 119 V, T 118 A).

Varieties of "Bosch" saws, whose teeth are set apart and ground, are recommended for quick and clean cutting of wood and plastic (for example, saws with the article number "Bosch" T 144 D, T 244 D).

Bosch also produces jigsaw blades in which the teeth are ground at a free angle. For example, jigsaw blades with a tapered back side are effective for making free cuts, for precise, clean cuts on wood and plastic (samples of such blades have BOSCH article numbers T 101B, T 101DP, T 234 X).

BOSCH also has a wide range of materials that are used to make the saw blades themselves. A short list of them is as follows:

H.S.S.- this brand designates blades made of high-speed, perfectly hardened, hard and durable steel. Downside These characteristics of such steel are that it is brittle and difficult to process. HSS steel files are effectively used for working on metal, aluminum and non-ferrous metals.

HCS- brand of files made of high-carbon tool mild steel. These qualities dictate its most successful use for cutting soft workpieces - wood, artificial materials.

HAS- a brand of files made of high-carbon steel, much more durable than HCS. Therefore, saws made from this grade of steel can be successfully used for sawing wood with nails inside its fibers, for sawing aerated concrete and soft non-ferrous metals.

Now BOSCH offers a range of more complex, combined materials for jigsaw blades:

    Bimetal (F)- are a highly elastic, inextricable connection between the blade of the file itself, made of HCS steel, and on it - strips of HSS steel, on which the tooth is cut. As a result of this connection, a universal, very flexible, unbreakable file with a hard tooth is obtained, which significantly increases its service life and suitability both for curved narrow lines of any figured cut, and for a clean straight cut. For curved cuts, it is better to use a narrow and short Bi-metal combination file.

    HM (Piff)- in this combination of material for files, the carrier made of HCS steel is coated by spraying with a layer of special grains of hard metal (there are simply no individual teeth on such files). These files are convenient to use for sawing glass, tiles, bricks and abrasive materials. If the HCS steel carrier is nevertheless made with teeth that are coated with a layer of hard metal by spraying, then such a file can be successfully sawed hard rocks wood, reinforced fiberglass, asbestos cement and even abrasive material.

    Progressive files are called saw blades that have different tooth pitches made of HSS steel at the end and beginning of the file. Thus, jigsaw files “nporpeccop” with article number BOSCH T123 are universal in purpose for making cuts on wood and ferrous metals. The “progressor” file, article number T234, made of HCS steel, is produced by the concern “” for clean and fast sawing of wood.

This is the minimum knowledge about saw blades for electric and cordless hand jigsaws. However, to consider in detail the true variety of these blades depending on the different combinations of materials from which they are made and the tooth shapes that are cut into them, a convenient summary table can be provided that will help you make an accurate and successful choice for the job.

So, the areas of application of various jigsaw blades from the BOSCH concern are as follows:

For straight cuts For curved and curved cuts In thick material In thin material For high precision cuts In rough cuts File flat, semicircular, three-sided Creation of highly accurate parallel cuts
Options
wood
solid, soft wood, plywood, fiber wood T 132 T 101 DP
Fibrous wood T 132 T 101 DP
Wood fiber polymer coating T 101 JSC T 101 JSC T 101 D T 101 DP
glued wood T 101 DP
Varieties
metal
Metal, mild steel
Stainless steel T 11I8 BOF T 318 EHM T 118 AHM T 118 ENM
Non-ferrous metals T 318 A
Laminated materials

T 318 A/BF T 318 B/BF

T 318 A
Polymers
PVC, polymers T 101 V T 101 BR
Plexiglass TI01 A T 119 VO T 101 A T 118 BF T 101 A T 119 V
Asbestos cement, glass fiber polymers T 341 NM T 101 BF
Miscellaneous
Brick, glass, ceramics T 130 RIFF T 130 RIFF T 15O RIFF T 15O RIFF T 130 RIFF
Leather, cardboard, rubber, insulating materials, carpet T 101 JSC T 113 A T 119 B

Let's also touch on the area of ​​application of hacksaw saw blades from the BOSCH concern.

Materials
material - metal material - wood
S 234 XF S 617 K S 1111 K S 1617 K S 644 D S 744 D S 1344 D S 1531 L S 1542 K S 123 XF S 418 BF S 427 D S 518 A S 522 AF S 518 V S 522 BF
Wood materials 1 Solid wood + + + +
2 Freshly cut wood + + + - + +
3 Chipboard - - - -
4 + - - -
5 Wood with nails -
Plastics 6 PVC, polymers in general - + + + - +
7 8 Glass fiber reinforced plastics INOX/ stainless steel - - -
9 Metals + - + + + +
Metals 10 Metal sheets - - + -
11 Non-ferrous metals + + -
12 Aluminum - + + - -
13 Metal pipes - - +
14
Various materials 15 Sandwich/Cement-bonded particleboard -
16 Aerated concrete Gypsum boards
17 Brick
18
Materials Main application categories
metal universal purpose
S 518G S 522 EF S 918 A S 922 AF S 918B S 922 BF S 918 E S 922 EF S 1122 AF S 1122 BF S 1122 EF S 3456 XF S 611 VF S 811 N S 1211 N S 1211 E
Wood materials 1 Solid wood - - - -
2 Freshly cut wood
3 Chipboard - - - -
4 Plywood, composite wood materials -
5 Wood with nails + - + + -
Plastics 6 PVC, polymers in general - + -
7 - - - -
8 INOX/ stainless steel
9 Metals + + + + + + + + + + + +
Metals 10 Metal sheets + - - - - - - - + - +
11 Non-ferrous metals - - - + - +
12 Aluminum - - - - + - -
13 Metal pipes - - + - - - + - + -
14 Steel pipes, cast iron pipes - -
Various materials 15 -
1 Aerated concrete Drywall + +
17 Brick
18 Leather Insulation materials Carpet/styrofoam 2
Materials Main application categories
special appointment universal purpose
S 918 H S 1018 N S 920 CF S 1020 CF S 922 HF S 1122 HF S 922 VF S 1122 VF S 1222 VF S 1411 D S 1411 DF S 828 D S 518 EHM S 641 NM S 1141 NM S 1241 NM
Wood materials 1 Solid wood - + -
2 Freshly cut wood
3 Chipboard - - -
4 Plywood, composite wood materials - -
5 Wood with nails - - - - + + - - - -
Plastics 6 PV C, polymers in general - - - + +
7 Glass fiber reinforced plastics - - - + + + +
8 INOX/ stainless steel +
9 Metals + + - - - + + + + -
Metals 10 Metal sheets - - - +
11 Non-ferrous metals - - + - + -
12 Aluminum - - - + + -
13 Metal pipes - - + + - - - -
14 Steel pipes, cast iron pipes + + - - -
Various materials 15 Multilayer material Cement-bonded particle boards + + + +
16 Aerated concrete Drywall + + + +
17 Brick
18 Leather Insulating materials Carpet/styrofoam 2 +
Materials Main application categories
special appointment
S 2041 NM S 1130 Riff S 1121 SB S 1122 UB S 1123 GB S 1505 S 1508 S 713 A S 713 AW
Wood materials 1 Solid wood + + F -F
2 Freshly cut wood
3 Chipboard -F -F
4 Plywood, composite wood materials + -
5 Wood with nails
Plastics 6 PVC, polymers in general -F -F
7 Glass fiber reinforced plastics + +
8 INOX/ stainless steel
9 Metals + + + +F
Metals 10 Metal sheets - -
II Non-ferrous metals - - +F
12 Aluminum -F
13 Metal pipes
14 Steel pipes, cast iron pipes +
Various materials 15 Myolayer material/Cement-bonded particle boards
16 Aerated concrete Drywall
17 Brick
18 Leather Insulation materials Carpet/styronor