How to choose a saw for a jigsaw? Jig saw blade: types and markings

Hand and electric jigsaws have long been adopted by domestic craftsmen. These are very useful devices that will accurately and accurately cut almost any material of different thickness and configuration. But before proceeding with the work, it is necessary that the jigsaw blade is selected correctly. However, immediately it is rather difficult to make the right decision. This is due not only to the large selection, but also to the huge number of kinds of canvases.

Some general information

If you have a jigsaw and no saw blades, then this is a useless tool. If you have a whole set of saw blades, then you can cut almost any material. Do not think that the jigsaw is designed to work only with metal or plastic products. Although we can say that it is quite appropriate to have both a manual and an automatic tool, a little later you will understand why. With due skill you can make a straight and curved cut on chipboard, ceramics, metal and so on. But it is worthwhile to understand that for each type of material there is a saw for a jig saw. For example, the assortment of the company BOSCH provides a variety of fabrics that can work with plywood, plastic, etc. Of course, each material has a different thickness, density, hardness and other parameters, this imposes certain requirements on the quality of steel canvas.

Saws for hand-held jigsaw

It is quite logical that without a file you will not be able to perform the work you need. Today, all the canvases for the hand tool are divided into two large groups:

• For woodwork;
• For work on metal.

Each of these groups is divided into subgroups. For example, a canvas on wood can be for a quick cut. This is one of the most common and popular saws. Its feature is that such a cloth can handle a large amount of material at high speed. For example, such a saw does not have a problem cutting a workpiece in 20 cm diameter. However, this tool leaves a significant number of defects, so it is advisable to use it only for auxiliary work or building construction.

But saws for a hand-held jigsaw of a clean saw cut make it possible to obtain a high-quality surface. This is achieved through a large number of small denticles, as a result of which the sawing is smooth and almost without defects. However, in this case, the maximum diameter of the workpiece should not exceed 7.5 cm. There are also saw blades for the laminate. They have a unique arrangement of prongs that leave no traces behind them.

Cloth for working with metal

It is one thing to process such material as wood, quite another - metal. Please note that the canvas on wood is not suitable for cutting metal sheets. But it is extremely easy to learn how to distinguish between saws. The jigsaw blade for metal has a blue shank, which is the main distinguishing feature. The teeth are very small, they allow working with sheets 6 mm thick.

Today, combined canvases are increasingly sold. According to the manufacturers, they are well suited both for working with wood and for metal. But we can say with confidence that this is not the best solution, since the works performed are somewhat difficult and stretchable over time. In any case, the jig saw for metal should be made of quality material.

Electric, table and hand jigsaws

It is worthwhile to understand that, despite the same purpose, the files for this instrument have fundamental differences. For example, the canvas for hand-held jigsaws is rather thin and long, and also fastened from two sides. In the jigsaw it is shorter and thicker, and also has a completely different installation method. If the tool is hand-held, it is always necessary to have several spare saws. This is due to their fragility. They break down really often and at the most inopportune moment.

There are also saws for table jigsaw. The tool itself is stationary and excellent for cutting wood. The cloth in this case is more similar to that used in the hand tool. However, it is less fragile, so it breaks less often. Such files are intended for blanks with a maximum diameter of 4 cm - for wood and 0.2 cm - for metal products.

Marking saw blades

Special designations on the canvas can say a lot. First, so you can find out what material the product is made of. By the way, this is very important, especially when performing responsible work. For example, if HCS is written on the case, it means that the canvas is made of carbon steel and is intended for sawing soft materials, in particular wood, chipboard, plastic, etc. But, for example, the HSS inscription indicates that, That the saw is made of high-speed hardened steel. It is a hard, but at the same time, brittle enough material that can be used for work with both aluminum and steel of small thickness.

But marking saws for jigsaw BIM means that the cloth is bimetallic. In fact, this is a combination of HCS and HSS. Such a saw has improved properties, but also a high cost. Stamp HM means that such a web can be used for especially hard materials, for example, cutting ceramic tiles, etc. In principle, it is not so difficult to understand the labeling, if you remember this, then it will be extremely easy to choose the appropriate canvas.

More details about the right choice

When buying, you always need to pay attention to the liner linen. Naturally, the saw for the jigsaw has only one attachment, in contrast to the saw for manual. Although today the world-famous company "Bosch" produces electric jig saws with two stops. In any case, it is advisable to first read the instruction, where it will be written that it is suitable for your instrument. For example, the company "Makita" produces jigsaws with a fastener, which is fundamentally different from other models. At both ends there are specially cut circles of various diameters. Naturally, you can not put a file with a different type of attachment on a jig saw.

It should be understood that the web can have different lengths. For wood cutting, this is usually 51-126 mm, for metal - up to 106 mm. The choice should be based on the thickness of the workpiece being processed. The thicker it is, the longer the fabric should be. For example, to perform a figured cut on a tree, thin jigsaw files are used. They are fragile enough, but they give more opportunities to the operator.

Cloth for working with laminate

Today, many say that for the processing of a parquet board or a laminate, an exceptionally clean cut is needed. Someone may advise you to use almost a canvas with diamond dusting. However, the price for such a tool is very high, for a set of 5 saws will have to give a few thousand rubles. In principle, sometimes the jigsaw itself can cost so much.

So, it is not necessary to purchase an expensive tool. Usually enough linens for a clean cut. Of course, it will be chipped about 1-2 mm. However, in most cases, the laminate is closed with skirting boards, which are much more chipped. For this simple reason, do not overpay again. When buying saw blades for a laminate, pay attention to the quality of the product. Many modern canvases burn very strongly when working with wood, chipboard and laminate. So make a purchase with a small margin.

Something about the shape of the teeth

The configuration of the teeth of the blade determines the capabilities of the tool. A large number of small teeth helps improve the quality of the cut, but significantly reduces the speed. If the teeth are small and they are large, then such a sawing will be extremely sloppy, but very fast. Conditionally in the shape of the teeth, the saws can be divided into the following groups:

• Divorced (milled) - used for cutting soft materials, such as wood and plastic, as well as non-ferrous metals. The wiring promotes the fact that excessive heat does not accumulate, and sawdust is diverted from the cut and linen.
• Wave-shaped (milled) - used for pure cutting of aluminum, soft materials (wood, plastic) and non-ferrous metals. The wiring is in this case carried out by groups, that is, several teeth in a row in one direction.
• With conical grinding (ground) - a good solution for obtaining a clean cut for wood and plastic. The non-working edge is ground. These are typical saw blades for a laminate.
• Grinded, diluted teeth are one of the best solutions for rough cutting of wood, chipboard, carpentry, etc.

Width and thickness of the canvas

When choosing it is extremely important to pay attention to the width of the saw. From this parameter depends not only the quality, but also the speed of the work performed. If the cloth is wide, it will be not only stable, but also more durable, and also will not practically deviate from the intended plane. Of course, this is also speed cutting, do not forget about it. At the same time, narrow saws provide good maneuverability in comparison with wide ones. The location of the teeth on the axis of the jigsaw drive allows you to better follow the intended plane with minimal deviations.

Thickness is also not the last parameter, on which it makes sense to pay attention. Too thin canvases can not ensure proper cutting perpendicularity. In addition, the thicker the file, the higher its stability.

Something else

You probably know that the teeth of the canvas must be firmer than the material being processed. So, to perform the work on sawing glass, ceramics, metal and stone, special saws will be needed. The main requirement is increased strength. It is best for such purposes to use bimetal canvases, which are 1/3 composed of hardened steel and 2/3 of high-carbon steel. The lifetime of such files is large enough, so they will pay off with interest. In addition, the risk of a sudden breakdown here is much lower than in the classical versions. But since it is not difficult to choose a saw for a jig saw, and you already know how to do it, then you will not have any problems when selecting the appropriate bimetallic canvas.

Conclusion

If we talk about manufacturers who have proven themselves well, it is the company "Bosch", "Makita" and "Practice." The saws of these companies are famous all over the world for their high quality and excellent performance properties. If you are not afraid to spend an extra 200 rubles, then buy the paintings of these brands, and you will not regret anything. Do not forget that all the files have their purpose, the use for other purposes is unlikely to lead to the expected results. The electric jigsaw are a high-speed tool, so securely fasten the blade and try to work in goggles and gloves. In principle, we reviewed the main types of jigsaw blades. Now you know that there are linens for wood, metal, and also combined for other materials. Paying attention to the product labeling and the way it is fixed, you will definitely make the right choice.