What kind of saw blades exist and how to choose the best option for a particular case, every craftsman who has this tool in his household should know.

There are many factors influencing the choice of cutting blade: the material to be sawn, its thickness and density, the required cut quality, etc. In order not to make a mistake when buying, you should consider specifications files, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of a particular model.

Cutting blade material

The first thing you need to pay attention to when choosing a file is the material from which it is made.

Each cutting blade of well-known manufacturers has its own marking. 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 of manufacture of the canvas is as follows:

Table for the use of files.

1. HCS. Such files are related to wood 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 canvas, you should pay attention not to its hardness, but to its flexibility.
2. HSS. Hardened steel products that can be operated at high speeds. Used for processing durable materials, including metals of various densities. Despite all its rigidity, hardened steel is a rather brittle substance that must be handled with great care.
3. BIM. Bimetal 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 woodworking and metalworking.
4. HIM. Manufactured from high-strength alloys, due to which they are characterized high strength and rigidity. Mainly used for cutting ceramic tiles.

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

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

Jigsaw saw blade marking

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

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

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

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

The numbers are again followed by 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 instead of one letter at the end (for example, T101BR). The second letter means:

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

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

Types of saw blades.

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

Wood saws. Depending on the purpose, such products are divided into two groups:

• for fast cutting
• for a clean cut.

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

The larger the teeth, the faster the cut. However, as the speed of work increases, the cleanliness of the cut decreases, so here you need to choose between speed and quality.

If the speed of work is in the first place, then the best option would be a canvas marked T101D. With it, you can quickly cut wooden blank up to 7.5 cm thick, for thicker material, T244D or T344D is available.

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

Fabric on laminate. When laying laminate flooring, it is important that the cut is free of burrs. This can be achieved with 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 usual T101B blade. Only in this case, before starting work, it is recommended to paste over the place of the intended cut with ordinary adhesive tape, which will protect the processed material from chips, burrs and other defects.

Metal saws. They have small teeth and a blue tail. If you work with metal 3 mm thick, buy a T118A file. It is also suitable for cutting plastic. For thicker material, the T123X blade is recommended, and for aluminum, the T227D blade.

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

Blade shape

For various tasks a certain shape of the teeth is suitable, which differs not only in the type of sharpening, but also in the wiring method:

1. Milled set teeth. This blade is perfect for cutting wood. Divorce is carried out by analogy with a conventional hand saw. This allows you to slightly expand the cut, thereby preventing overheating and jamming of the tool in the thickness of the tree.
2. Milled teeth with wave setting. In this case, not a single, but a group wiring is performed (for example, 4-6 teeth each). These blades are used for cutting metal.
3. Ground teeth without setting. The best option for fine cutting. This blade allows you to achieve high quality cuts in wood, laminate and plastic.
4. Grinded set teeth. This product is used for fast cutting when there are no special requirements for the quality of the cut.

Jigsaw blade manufacturers

To choose the right saw for electric jigsaw, it is necessary to pay attention not only to the technical characteristics and marking of the product, but also to the manufacturer. In the construction equipment market, cutting blades are presented in a wide range of European, domestic and Chinese models.

Chinese files have no best quality They wear out quickly and overheat. Their only advantage is their low cost. However, it will be cheaper and easier to pick up one high-quality canvas for 300-400 rubles than to purchase a set of 20-30 Chinese products for 150-200 rubles. But, if you still need to cut, but there is no file at hand, you can sharpen the old one.

The most popular and reliable saw blades for electric jigsaws are products from Makita, Bosch and Praktika.

A few useful tricks for working with a jigsaw:

Lobzik what is it? - history reference

The popular makita jigsaw had a predecessor that was completely undeservedly forgotten. The manual jigsaw was replaced by laser cutting, electric jigsaw, milling.
A manual jigsaw can cut wood, plywood, plastic, ceramics, sheet metal. Previously, in schools at labor lessons, children practiced cutting homemade products with a jigsaw - frames, shelves, dolls and other homemade products. There was no time for gadgets ...

Jigsaw design

A jigsaw is an arc, U-shaped (1), at the ends of which are clamping screws (4). A handle (3) is attached to the lower end of the jigsaw. Between the ends of the arc of the jigsaw, with the help of clamping screws, a file (2) is fixed, which is installed with some tension (until it rings).
A jigsaw with a wooden arc has a third screw - a tension screw, which serves to tension the file between the ends of the arcs, since a jigsaw with a wooden arc does not have sufficient elasticity to pull the file to working condition.

Jigsaw blades (a, b, c) are made of high quality carbon steel. but despite this, sawing with a jigsaw is a rather painstaking work that requires patience and attention. Slightly hurried and trine! You need to put in a new saw blade.

What can be done with a jigsaw?

The modern electric jigsaw has supplanted manual jigsaw from many fields of activity, but if you need an accurate, curvilinear cut - a regular, manual jigsaw is not replaceable.
In jewelry production, craftsmen still use a jigsaw
for sawing complex figures out of gold and silver. Cutting various shapes for handicrafts with a jigsaw from plywood and wood is a great hobby, hands are busy and nerves are like ropes.

- a universal power tool, on the pages of WWW .. It is able to work on wood, on metal (and their composites), on plastic and even ceramic tiles. With such a variety of materials, the right one provides 50% of successful work.

MATERIAL OF THE SAW (SAW BLADE).

The most important parameter for is the steel grade from which it is made. Depending on the purpose, there are SAWS (SAW BLADES) in

HCS, HSS, BIMETALLIC (BIM) and HM versions.

HCS - high carbon steel for working in soft materials such as wood, wood boards covered with plastic and artificial materials. The HCS-SAW is quite flexible and does not break when working with wide workpieces.

HSS - High performance high speed steel for use in hard materials such as metal, aluminum and non-ferrous metals. Compared to HCS, the metal thickness of HSS is much thinner and the hardness is much higher.

BIM is a highly elastic, inseparable connection made of HSS and HCS, designed for high professional demands. SAWS of this type are used where there is a risk of breakage of the base or where particularly flexible, flexible SAWS are required. The service life of BIMETAL SAW is much higher than HSS or HCS versions.
In the case of a BIMETALLIC solution, an excellent price/performance ratio is obtained. Operating range BIM - - wood, metal, non-ferrous metal, aluminum. Depending on the width of the SAW BLADE, BIM can be suitable for hard-to-reach, narrow curved cuts, as well as for general-purpose tasks with medium load or for fast, absolutely clean cuts in straight lines.

HM - hard alloy. This type SAWS (SAW BLADES) are used for specific work - sawing fiberglass, aerated concrete and even ceramic tiles.

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SAW (SAW BLADE).

The high-quality steel of the SAW (SAW BLADE) does not yet guarantee that it will easily cope with the tasks. An important role is played not only by the material of manufacture, but also by the form.
SIZE OF BLANKS. First of all, you should decide what size details will be dissolved. It is indisputable that sawing a beam with a section of 50X50mm or furniture board better with different FILES. For wood, for example, the dimensions of the working part of the SAW vary from 51 to 126 mm. For sawing sheet metal short files (51mm) are intended, and long files (106mm) are more convenient for cutting pipes.
CUT TYPE. An important criterion of choice is also the cutting geometry. A SAW for a straight cut perfectly holds the direction, however, it is unlikely to be able to cut a small radius - such a SAW has a wide back, which is why it “holds the line” so well. For these purposes, a special thin FILE for a figured cut is suitable. In such a SAW BLADE, the back is even narrower than the shank. But in order to use it to perform a straight cut, you should be extremely careful.
CLEAN CUT. The criterion "STRAIGHT / CURVILINEAR CUT" when choosing a SAW is one of two fundamental questions. The second is the sawing speed, which is contrasted with the cleanliness of the edges of the part. When cutting boards, cutting speed is undoubtedly important. But when it comes to, for example, the manufacture of furniture, the quality of the cut plays a decisive role.
FORM OF THE TOOTH. The quality of the cut directly depends on the geometry of the tooth. The larger the TOOTH STEP (the distance between adjacent peaks), the faster and rougher the cut will be.
The shape of the teeth is also relevant: for example, in BOSCH SAW they are milled or ground. The former have a rectangular cross section and are intended for

mainly for working with metal, the latter are pointed and therefore more effective when it comes to working with wood.
TEETH SET. To give more "space", its teeth are bred. In this case, it cuts faster, but the cut is less accurate than that of the "straight-toothed" SAW.
Milled teeth can be not only set apart, but also lined up in a kind of wave. This got the name - "wavy". Such a SAW cuts more evenly than with wiring.
FILE PROGRESSOR. The variable size of the tooth with its increase from the shank to the end makes the SAW more versatile. The thicker the material being cut, the more large teeth are included in the work. It acquires even greater value if it is BIMETALLIC (BIM).

TYPES OF FASTENING THE FILE (SAW BLADE).

SHANK WITH ONE STOP.(for ELECTRIC JAWS AEG, BOSCH, ELU, FESTO, HITACHI, HOLZ-HER, MAKITA, METABO, for BOSCH multifunctional saw and other manufacturers).

DOUBLE JAW SHANK(for BOSCH jigsaws).

1/4" UNIVERSAL SHANK(for electric JAWS BLACK&DECKER, SKIL, DEWALT and other manufacturers).

MAKITA SHANK. (for MAKITA jigsaws).

CLAMPING HANDLE 1/2" FOR RECIPROCATING SAWS.(for BLACK&DECKER, BOSCH, FLEX, HITACHI, MAKITA, METABO, MILWAUKEE, PORTER CABLE, SKIL, ROCKWELL).

GEOMETRY OF THE TEETH OF THE SAW (SAW BLADE).

TEETH MILLED, SET.
Cutting sheets with a relatively clean edge, fast cutting in soft and hard wood, aluminium, plastic and non-ferrous metals.

MILLED TEETH, WAVE BLADE.
Cutting sheets with clean edges in a straight line in plywood, mild steel, aluminium, non-ferrous metal and plastic.

TEETH GROUND, SET.
Fast clean cuts in wood and plastic.

TEETH GROUND UNDER A FREE ANGLE.
Saw blade with conically ground back. Used for free cutting, for precise clean cuts in wood and plastic.

The electric jigsaw is a regular practical application each woodworker, and the development and improvement of technology has expanded the scope of his practical use. Now the device can be successfully used when working with other materials, the only thing to consider is right choice saw blade. Jigsaw files are classified according to several of the most significant features, which allows you to initially select desired nozzle depending on the features and type of cutting. Let's try to figure out how to choose the right file for your jigsaw, and what types of it are.

The requirements for the tool are currently very high. Both productivity, and speed of work, and accuracy of cut, and its evenness are important. AT general view all options for classifying blades suitable for a jigsaw can be combined into several groups according to the following criteria:

• shank type;
• material used in the processing;
• options for the shape of the teeth of the file;
• canvas width;
• tooth pitch;
• web thickness.

Types of files

Shank type

T-shaped variant. This shank is called "Boshevsky", since it was Bosch who came up with the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bcreating it. Focusing on the leader in this field, other manufacturers began to produce jigsaws with the same shanks, so they are now ubiquitous.

U-shaped shank. The next most used is the American version, which is suitable for older types of jigsaws. Also compatible with models with screw and shoe terminals.

ShanksMakitaandBosch. Rare representatives of their kind, suitable only for jigsaws of the same manufacturer, and the old model.

By material

Perhaps this is the main classification feature that most accurately separates all the options for electric jigsaw files and allows you to describe in detail their types and features of operation.

For metal. Such saw blades are most often made of special high-speed steel, the cutting segments themselves are small and depend on the degree of hardness of the metal - the harder it is, the finer the tooth. In general, to tell the truth, a jigsaw is not very suitable for metal - the cutting process usually becomes lengthy. The selected saw blade option can be suitable for either aluminum, or steel, or non-ferrous metals.

By wood. It was wood from the moment the jigsaw was created that was the only material option in the field of its application, and until now it is it that is its classic purpose. These blades are made from chrome vanadium or high carbon steel. At the same time, for rough sawing, where not so much accuracy and accuracy are important as speed, wide blades and large teeth are used.

For clean processing of panels made of chipboard and fiberboard, accuracy is needed rather than increased productivity, so the file for these purposes has teeth up to 3 mm and a small divorce.

There are also special options with double row of teeth, allowing you to make the cut of laminated panels as accurately as possible. For curly processing, narrow blade options with fine teeth and a slightly beveled back are used.

For laminate. The peculiarity of such a blade is the presence of the so-called reverse teeth, which prevent the occurrence of chips on the front part during sawing. This blade has a small tooth.

For ceramic tiles. Such models are equipped with a carbide coating on the edges. Such a nozzle is convenient to cut and even figuredly cut. However, it should be noted that with an electric jigsaw it will be possible to cut only wall tiles; for floor tiles, a grinder or a tile cutter is needed.

Universal. They cope equally well with wood and metal due to the fact that on one side of the saw the teeth are small, and on the other - large. Such a blade is not suitable for curly processing and absolutely flawless cutting.

Special. Subdivided into groups of products intended for different materials. For ceramic tiles, as previously described, options from the most durable alloys with a special coating are suitable. When choosing a jigsaw for such purposes, please note that the expediency of using it is present only in cases of necessary curly cutting; for straight edges, there are other, more adapted options.

If the material contains abrasive particles, as is the case with gypsum or cement, the files become dull very quickly. You should choose special blades, on the cutting part of which hard alloy soldering is located.

For soft "shapes" such as cardboard or rubber, choose "toothless" saws, which are more like knives. The edge cut is performed by a wave with grinding.

Tooth shape

With set milled. In such variants of saw blades, the teeth are bent in different sides in turn. In this case, the width of the wiring is considered normal equal to 1.5th of the thickness of the web itself. Thanks to the wiring, strong heating does not occur, and sawdust is removed simply and easily. Used for fast cutting of not too hard wood, as well as plastic structures and non-ferrous metals.

With wavy milled. The setting is carried out by groups of teeth that deviate alternately to the left and right. The magnitude of the deviation of each subsequent one differs from the angle of inclination of the previous one, thus a wave is formed. Such saws are used for clean cutting of plastic and aluminum products and non-ferrous metal materials.

with ground teeth, conical grinding. It is used exclusively for fine cuts in the processing of wood and plastic, as well as laminate and polymer materials.

With divorced polished. Used for fast, rough cuts on soft tree species, chipboard boards and DVP.

According to the width of the canvas

This sawing parameter is selected taking into account the specific requirements for specific work results. Wide blades are more stable, so nothing gets in the way of sawing at high speed without fear of deflection. If you need to cut a curve with high quality, then more narrow options, with their help you can easily overcome turns. At the same time, it is necessary that the teeth themselves be located directly on the axis of the drive - this gives the tool controllability.

By tooth pitch

The step is the length of the trajectory between the vertices. In most countries, such a pitch designation as TPI from the English “teeth per inch”, measured by the number of teeth per 1 inch, is adopted. That is, if, for example, the TPI value is 5, then this means that there are 5 teeth in one inch of the blade.

If the wood needs to be cut crosswise, then it is advisable to use saws with a TPI of 7-4, for normal work 9-7 is enough, if you need extremely accurate and accurate sawing - 13-10. It is also necessary to take into account starting material thickness, 6-8 teeth should be involved in the work, otherwise the blade will begin to vibrate, and the saw cut will turn out to be torn.

By web thickness

The thickness of the file determines how much it will deviate from vertical installation. From this point of view, thick saw blades are the best way to ensure a straight, perpendicular cut. However, they will almost certainly not fit jigsaws that have a quick-release version of the mechanism.

Marking jigsaw files is especially useful for those who are not yet experienced enough in carpentry and cannot indicate the purpose of the nozzle, focusing on its appearance.

Most manufacturers tend to label their products according to the system invented by Bosch.

So, the marking is affixed on the tail and contains a combination of letters and numbers.

The first letter in the combination indicates the type of shank:

• T-shaped,
• U-shaped,
• M - for Makita jigsaws,
• fine standard.

• 1 - the shortest length, does not exceed 75 mm,
• 2 - average 75-90,
• 3 - long 90-150,
• 7 - the longest files with a length of over 150 mm.

The next letter indicates the size of the teeth:

• A - fine teeth,
• B - average,
• C or D - large.

The last letter indicates some additional important information:

• F - working part made of a particularly strong bimetallic alloy,
• P - precise cut,
• O - narrow back,
• X - progressive tooth pitch,
• R - reverse (reverse) direction of the teeth.

The color of the shank can also say a lot. Gray indicates the purpose of the file for wood materials, blue for metal, and red for plastic structures.

The type of steel underlying the fabric during production is affixed with a special combination of letters on the neck:

• HM - hard alloys,
• CV - chrome vanadium steel,
• HSS - high speed steel,
• HCS (CV) - high carbon steel,
• BM (BiM) is a combination of CV and HSS, very strong and durable.

Often affixed to the file letter designations directly reflecting the essence of its purpose. For those who are at least a little familiar with English language, deciphering these letter combinations will not be difficult.

• "Wood" indicates work with soft wood and other soft materials.
• "Hardwood" - solid wood, PVC panels.
• "Inox" - works with stainless steel.
• "Metal" - metal.
• Alu is aluminium.
• Fiber, Plaster - fiberglass.
• Soft-material - rubber, carpet.
• Acrylic - polycarbonate.

Conclusion

Now you are familiar with the main types of canvases, and you can easily answer the question of how to choose the right file for your jigsaw. Given the specifics of the device of each product, you can choose a truly suitable option a file that will last a long time and will not spoil your original idea. For those who practice carpentry often, it makes sense to acquire a variety of file options and use them strictly for their intended purpose. If you take out a jigsaw a couple of times a year, then it is better to have universal models on hand for urgent and rough work, and neat and curly cutting entrust to professionals. Happy shopping to you!

What kind of saw blades exist and how to choose the best option for a particular case, every craftsman who has this tool in his household should know.

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

Cutting blade material

The first thing you need to pay attention to when choosing a file is the material from which it is made. Each cutting blade of well-known manufacturers has its own marking. 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 of manufacture of the canvas is as follows:

1. HCS. Such files are related to wood 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 canvas, you should pay attention not to its hardness, but to its flexibility.
2. HSS. Hardened steel products that can be operated at high speeds. Used for processing durable materials, including metals of various densities. Despite all its rigidity, hardened steel is a rather brittle substance that must be handled with great care.
3. BIM. Bimetal 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 woodworking and metalworking.
4. HIM. Manufactured from high-strength alloys, due to which they are characterized by high strength and rigidity. Mainly used for cutting ceramic tiles.

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

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

Jigsaw saw blade marking

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

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

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

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

The numbers are again followed by 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 instead of one letter at the end (for example, T101BR). The second letter means:

• O - for curly cutting;
• R - with a reverse tooth (improves the quality of the cut);
• F - bimetallic products (considered the most durable and reliable);
• X - universal blade (they 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 saw blade for its intended purpose

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

Wood saws. Depending on the purpose, such products are divided into two groups:

• for fast cutting
• for a clean cut.

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

The larger the teeth, the faster the cut. However, as the speed of work increases, the cleanliness of the cut decreases, so here you need to choose between speed and quality.

If the speed of work is in the first place, then the best option would be a canvas marked T101D. With it, you can quickly cut a piece of wood up to 7.5 cm thick, for thicker material, you can purchase the T244D or T344D model.

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

Fabric on laminate. When laying laminate flooring, it is important that the cut is free of burrs. This can be achieved with 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 usual T101B blade. Only in this case, before starting work, it is recommended to paste over the place of the intended cut with ordinary adhesive tape, which will protect the processed material from chips, burrs and other defects.

Metal saws. They have small teeth and a blue tail. If you work with metal 3 mm thick, buy a T118A file. It is also suitable for cutting plastic. For thicker material, a T123X blade is recommended, and for aluminum, a T227D blade.

Tile saws. They are marked T150RIFF or T130RIFF. Instead of teeth, their cutting part is carbide coating. You need to know that it is recommended to use a jigsaw for cutting tiles only in extreme cases, since the work will be slow and dusty. In the absence of a specialized tool for cutting tiles, it is better to use a conventional glass cutter.

Blade shape

For various tasks, a certain shape of the teeth is suitable, which differs not only in the type of sharpening, but also in the wiring method:

1. Milled set teeth. This blade is perfect for cutting wood. Divorce is carried out by analogy with a conventional hand saw. This allows you to slightly expand the cut, thereby preventing overheating and jamming of the tool in the thickness of the tree.
2. Milled teeth with wave setting. In this case, not a single, but a group wiring is performed (for example, 4-6 teeth each). These blades are used for cutting metal.
3. Ground teeth without setting. Ideal for fine cutting. This blade allows you to achieve high quality cuts in wood, laminate and plastic.
4. Grinded set teeth. Such a product is used for fast cutting, when there are no special requirements for the quality of the cut.

Let's try to understand the marking of such a common consumable as a jigsaw file.

Appointment is determined by the color of the shank from the side of Alphanumeric designations. If the shank

• gray - the file is designed for sawing wood:
• white - for wood and metal
• blue - only for metal work
• red - for sawing plastics
• black - other materials

Now let's go over the alphanumeric designations mentioned above. Let's go in order.

First comes the letter T or U. It indicates the type of attachment of the file. A more common T-shaped mount, but there is also a U-shaped mount - see diagram

The letters M (Makita) and F (Fein) may also appear

The following numbers indicate the working length. They can be 1,2,3,7

1. short (length up to 75 millimeters)
2. medium (length from 75 to 90 millimeters)
3. long (length from 90 to 150 millimeters)
4. very long (length exceeds 150 millimeters)

The second and third digits show the purpose of the file itself.

F - bimetallic files. They are of higher quality: they cut cleaner and faster, they last longer
O - narrow saw blades for curved cuts
P - thicker files, due to which they lead less from side to side and the cut is perpendicular to the surface.
R - regressive blades, that is, with a reverse tooth
X - universal blade (for any materials)

Then comes the steel grade

HCS(high carbon steel) - high-carbon steel, its hardness is 45-48 HRC. Such steel is optimal for working on soft materials (wood and its derivatives - MDF, chipboard, fiberboard, as well as plastics);

CV(chrom vanadium) - Chrome vanadium steel, its hardness should be 50-52 HRC. It is more durable than the previous one. Used for the same materials;

HSS(high speed steel) - high speed steel, it is also a quick cutter, hardness of at least 61-65 HRC, used for processing hard materials(aluminum and other non-ferrous metals and even mild steel). Compared to HCS, HSS files are thinner, but have significantly greater hardness;

BIM(bi-metal) is a combination of HSS and HCS steels in one sheet. Files of this kind are expensive and usually serve for professional use. Excellent take both wood and metals;

HM(hard material) - the hardest grade of steel is hard alloy tungsten carbide, hardness 79 HRC. Such canvases are used for a special kind of work - cutting fiberglass, tiles and aerated concrete.

This classification is rather conditional and is not observed by all manufacturers. Therefore, it is worth discussing each file separately.

Files used for woodworking

T101B- this is a fairly short fine-toothed file (length 74 mm). It is intended for work on soft wood, plywood up to 30 mm thick. The fine tooth allows for a clean cut.

The same but with reverse direction teeth. Excellent for cutting materials where chips on the front surface are undesirable (for example, tabletops). When working, an additional force is required that presses the jigsaw to the material, since the working stroke throws the tool up.

T101P- has a larger tooth compared to T101B (4.5 mm). Allows you to cut the same materials, but their thickness can reach 45 mm.

Even longer file (91 mm), maximum thickness reaches 65 mm.

A narrow thin file with a fine tooth (1.4 mm) is used for clean curved cutting of wood and its derivatives with a thickness of 1.5 - 15 mm.

Short fine-toothed bi-metal file. Designed for sawing laminated materials up to 15 mm thick. - the same, the nose with a larger tooth (2.7 mm), the thickness of the materials reaches 30 mm.

The same, but with a reverse tooth.

This is a file with a fairly thick blade and large teeth (4 mm). The teeth are separated. Due to the thickness, the file is more stable in one plane, it does not lead to the side. Cons - it's a rough cut with large quantity chips.

The same, but with a bi-metal blade, it is more expensive, cuts longer and has a better length of 74 mm.

This file is twice as long as the above - it is 126 mm.

T345XF is another long bimetallic file (106 mm). Its tooth is quite large. Designed for cutting wood with nails, plastic, metals (including aluminum).

Specialized saw blades for metal

T118A- a short fine-toothed file for metal sheets with a thickness of not more than 13 mm.

T318A- this is a longer file, great for cutting metal pipes with a diameter not exceeding 65 mm.

T118G- the file has the smallest tooth (0.7 mm) and is designed for cuts on the thinnest sheets of metal (0.5-1.5 mm)

Universal files

T234X, T123X are universal files for cuts in various types wood, plastic and metal.

Special files

File for thin cutting of stainless steel(up to 2 mm)

Longer file for steel 2-5 mm thick

Fiberglass saw. Thickness limit 65 mm

File for drywall and cement-bonded particle boards up to 50 mm thick

Longer saw blade (106 mm), which makes it possible to cut materials up to 85 mm thick

T101A- nail file for plexiglass up to 20 mm thick

T113A- sawing for leather, rubber, cardboard up to 50 mm thick. Has no teeth, has a cutting edge similar to a knife.

Longer saw blade for similar materials up to 100 mm thick. Has a curved blade

T130Riff,T150Riff - saw blades for cutting ceramic tiles. They are equipped with diamond coating. T130 is for rough cuts and T150 is for fine cuts.

T308B, T308BF - file, for cutting materials laminated on both sides. Thanks to two rows of teeth, the number of chips is minimized. This is a fairly thin file, so it shakes quite strongly from side to side.