Manual and electric jigsaws have long "taken root" among home craftsmen. These are very useful devices that will allow you to accurately and accurately cut almost any material of various thicknesses and configurations. But before proceeding with the work, it is necessary that the jigsaw file is correctly selected. However, it is quite difficult to make the right decision right away. This is due not only to a large selection, but also to a huge number of types of canvas.
A bit of general information
If you have a jigsaw and no files, then this is a useless tool. If you have a whole set of files, then you can cut almost any material. No need to think that the jigsaw is designed to work only with metal or plastic products. Although it may be said that it is quite advisable to have both manual and automatic tools, there is littlelater you will understand why. With proper skill, you can make straight and figured cuts on chipboard, ceramics, metal, and so on. But it is worthwhile to understand that for each type of material there is a jigsaw file. For example, the BOSCH range includes a variety of blades that can work with plywood, plastic, etc. Of course, each material has a different thickness, density, hardness, etc., which imposes certain requirements on the quality of the steel of the blade.
Jig saw files
It is quite logical that without a file you will not be able to complete the work you need. Today, all blades for hand tools are divided into two large groups:
- for woodwork;
- for metal work.
Each of these groups is divided into subgroups. For example, a canvas for wood can be for quick cutting. This is one of the most common and popular files. Its peculiarity is that such a canvas can process a large amount of material at high speed. For example, with such a file it is not a problem to cut a workpiece with a diameter of 20 cm. However, this tool leaves behind a significant amount of defects, so it is advisable to use it only for auxiliary work or building construction.
But files for a manual jigsaw of a clean cut allow you to get a high-quality surface. This is achieved due to the large number of small teeth, as a result of which the cut is smooth and practically free of defects. However, in thiscase, the maximum diameter of the workpiece should not exceed 7.5 cm. There are also files for laminate. They have a unique arrangement of prongs that leave no marks behind.
Metal sheet
It is one thing to process a material such as wood, quite another - metal. Please note that the wood blade is not suitable for cutting metal sheets. But learning to distinguish files from each other is extremely simple. The jigsaw file for metal has a blue shank, which is the main distinguishing feature. The teeth are very fine, allowing you to work with sheets with a thickness of 6 mm.
Today, combined canvases are being sold more and more often. According to the manufacturers, they are well suited for working with wood and metal. But we can say with confidence that this is not the best solution, since the work performed is somewhat difficult and stretched over time. In any case, a jigsaw blade for metal must be made of quality material.
Electric, desktop and manual jigsaws
It should be understood that, despite the same purpose, the files for this tool have fundamental differences. For example, the blade for a manual jigsaw is quite thin and long, and is also attached on both sides. In a jigsaw, it is shorter and thicker, and also has a completely different installation method. If the tool is manual, then you should always have several spare files. This is due to their fragility. They break really often and at the most inopportune time.moment.
There are also saw blades for desktop jigsaw. The tool itself is stationary and is great for cutting wood. The canvas in this case is more similar to that used in a hand tool. However, it is less brittle, so it breaks less often. Such files are designed for workpieces with a maximum diameter of 4 cm for wood and 0.2 cm for metal products.
Marking jigsaw blades
Special designations on the canvas can say a lot. Firstly, this way 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 body, this means that the blade is made of carbon steel and is intended for cutting soft materials, in particular wood, chipboard, plastic, etc. But, for example, the inscription HSS indicates that that the file is made of high-speed hardened steel. It is a hard, but at the same time quite brittle material that can be used to work with both aluminum and thin steel.
But the marking of BIM jigsaw files means that the blade is bimetallic. Basically, it is a combination of HCS and HSS. Such a file has improved properties, but also a high cost. The HM stamp means that such a blade can be used for particularly hard materials, for example, cutting ceramic tiles, etc. In principle, it is not so difficult to understand the marking, if you remember this, then choosing the appropriate blade will be extremelysimple.
Learn more about making the right choice
When buying, you should always pay attention to the blade shank. Naturally, a jigsaw file has only one mount, unlike a manual saw. Although today the world famous company Bosch produces electric jigsaws with two stops. In any case, it is advisable to first read the instructions, where it will be written what is suitable for your tool. For example, the Makita company produces jigsaws with a mount that is fundamentally different from other models. At both ends there are specially sawn circles of various diameters. Naturally, you can no longer put a file with a different type of fastening on a jigsaw.
You need to understand that the canvas can have a different length. 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 to be machined. The thicker it is, the longer the canvas should be. For example, to perform a figured cut on wood, thin jigsaw files are used. They are quite fragile, but give more options to the operator.
Laminate sheet
Today, many say that parquet boards or laminate flooring require an exceptionally clean cut. Someone may advise using almost a diamond-coated canvas. However, the price of such a tool is very high, for a set of 5 files you will have to pay several thousand rubles. In principle, sometimes the jigsaw itself can cost so much.
So, not necessarilybuy too expensive tool. A blade is usually sufficient for a clean cut. Of course, there will be a chip of about 1-2 mm. However, in most cases, the laminate is closed with skirting boards that are much larger than the chip. For this simple reason, do not overpay once again. When buying jigsaw blades for laminate, pay attention to the quality of the product. Many modern canvases burn very strongly when working with wood, chipboard and laminate. So buy with a small margin.
Something about tooth shape
The blade tooth configuration determines the capabilities of the tool. A large number of small teeth improves the quality of the cut, but significantly reduces the speed. If there are few teeth and they are large, then such a cut will be extremely sloppy, but very fast. Conventionally, according to the shape of the teeth, the saw blade can be divided into the following groups:
- Set (milled) - used for cutting soft materials such as wood and plastic, as well as non-ferrous metals. The wiring contributes to the fact that excessive heat does not accumulate, and sawdust is removed from the cut and blade.
- Wavy (milled) - used for clean cutting of aluminum, soft materials (wood, plastic) and non-ferrous metals. The wiring in this case is performed in groups, that is, several teeth in a row in one direction.
- Tapered (ground) is a good solution for clean cuts in wood and plastic. The non-working edge is polished. These are typical laminate jigsaw blades.
- Ground, set teeth are one of the best solutions for roughcutting wood, chipboard, blockboard, etc.
Width and thickness of canvas
When choosing, it is extremely important to pay attention to the width of the file. Not only the quality, but also the speed of the work performed depends on this parameter. If the canvas is wide, then it will not only be stable, but also more durable, and will practically not deviate from the intended plane. Of course, this is also high-speed cutting, do not forget about it. At the same time, narrow files provide good maneuverability compared to 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 that makes sense to pay attention to. Blades that are too thin cannot ensure the proper perpendicularity of the cut. In addition, the thicker the blade, the more stable it is.
Something else
You probably know that the teeth of the blade must be harder than the material being processed. So, to perform work on cutting glass, ceramics, metal and stone, you will need special files. The main requirement is increased strength. It is best to use bimetallic blades for such purposes, which are 1/3 hardened steel and 2/3 high carbon steel. The service life of such files is quite large, so they will pay off with interest. In addition, the risk of a sudden breakdown here is much lower than in the classic versions. But since it’s not difficult to choose a jigsaw file, and you already know how to do it, you don’t havethere will be problems when selecting the appropriate bimetallic blade.
Conclusion
If we talk about manufacturers who have proven themselves well, then these are Bosch, Makita and Praktika. Files 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 canvases of these brands, and you will not regret anything. Do not forget that all files have their own purpose, use for other purposes is unlikely to lead to the expected results. The jigsaw is a high-speed tool, so securely fasten the blade and try to work with goggles and gloves. In principle, we examined the main types of jigsaw files. Now you know that there are canvases for wood, metal, as well as combined ones for other materials. Paying attention to the labeling of the product and the way it is attached, you will definitely make the right choice.
