Hand and jigsaw have long “taken root” at 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 starting work, it is necessary that the file for the jigsaw 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 a jigsaw is designed to work only with metal or plastic products. Although we can say that it is quite advisable to have both manual and automatic tools, a little later you will understand why. With proper dexterity, you can make straight and curly cuts on chipboard, ceramics, metal and so on. But it is worthwhile to understand that for each type of material there is a file for a jigsaw. For example, the BOSCH company assortment provides for a wide variety of sheets 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 sheets.
Files for a manual jigsaw
It is logical that without a file you will not be able to perform the work you need. Today, all canvases 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 woodwork can be for quick cutting. This is one of the most common and popular nail files. Its peculiarity is that such a cloth can process a large amount of material with high speed. For example, such a file is not a problem to saw a workpiece of 20 cm diameter. However, this tool leaves behind a significant number of defects, so it is advisable to use it only for auxiliary work or the construction of buildings.
But the files for a manual jigsaw clean cut allow you to get a high-quality surface. This is achieved due to the large number of small cloves, as a result of which the cut is smooth and practically free of defects. However, in this case, the maximum diameter of the workpiece should not exceed 7.5 cm. There are also files for the laminate. They have a unique arrangement of teeth that do not leave any traces.
Canvas for working with metal
It is one thing to process a material such as wood, another thing is metal. Please note that the woodwork is not suitable for cutting metal sheets. But to learn to distinguish between files is extremely simple. The file for a jigsaw for metal has a blue shank, which is the main distinguishing feature. The teeth are very small, allow you to work with sheets with a thickness of 6 mm.
Today, combined canvases are increasingly being sold. 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 time-consuming. In any case, the jigsaw file for metal should be made of quality material.
Electric, table and hand 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 also fastens on both sides. In a jigsaw, it is shorter and thicker, and also has a completely different installation method. If the tool is manual, you should always have a few spare files. This is due to their fragility. They break really often and at the most inopportune moment.
There are also files for a desktop jigsaw. The tool itself is stationary and great for cutting wood. The canvas in this case is more similar to that used in a hand tool. However, it is less fragile, so it breaks less frequently. Such files are intended for workpieces with a maximum diameter of 4 cm for wood and 0.2 cm for metal products.
Marking jigsaw files
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 critical work. For example, if HCS is written on the case, 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. This is a solid, but at the same time quite brittle material that can be used to work with both aluminum and steel of small thickness.
But marking files for the BIM jigsaw means that the blade is bimetal. This is essentially a combination of HCS and HSS. Such a file has improved properties, but also a high cost. The brand HM means that such a blade can be used for particularly hard materials, for example, cutting ceramic tiles, etc. In principle, marking is not so difficult to understand, if you remember this, then choosing the appropriate blade will be extremely simple.
Learn more about the right choice.
When buying, you should always pay attention to the shank of the canvas. 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 that suits your instrument. For example, the Makita company produces jigsaws with mounts, which are fundamentally different from other models. At both ends there are specially sawn circles of various diameters. Naturally, you can’t put a file with a different type of mount on a jigsaw.
You need to understand that the canvas can have a different length. For wood, this is usually 51-126 mm, for metal - up to 106 mm. The selection should be based on the thickness of the workpiece. The thicker it is, the longer the canvas should be. For example, to make a figured cut on wood, thin saws for a jigsaw are used. They are quite fragile, but provide more opportunities for the operator.
Laminate canvas
Today, many say that for processing parquet boards or laminate flooring, an exceptionally clean cut is needed. Someone might recommend 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 a jigsaw itself can cost so much.
So, it is not at all necessary to acquire too expensive an instrument. Usually a canvas is enough for a clean cut. Of course, there will be a chip of about 1-2 mm. However, in most cases, the laminate is covered with skirting boards, which are much larger than chips. For this simple reason, do not overpay again. Buying files for a jigsaw on the laminate, pay attention to the quality of the product. Many modern paintings burn very strongly when working with wood, chipboard and laminate. Therefore, 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 improves the quality of the cut, but significantly reduces the speed. If the teeth are few and large, then such a cut will be extremely sloppy, but very fast. Conditionally according to the shape of the teeth of the file, it 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 helps to ensure that excessive heat does not accumulate, and sawdust is removed from the cut and the blade.
- Wavy (milled) - used for clean cutting of aluminum, soft materials (wood, plastic) and non-ferrous metals. The layout in this case is carried out in groups, that is, several teeth in a row in one direction.
- With conical grinding (polished) - a good solution for a clean cut in wood and plastic. The non-working edge is ground. These are typical laminate files for a jigsaw.
- Grinded, bred teeth are one of the best solutions for rough cutting of wood, chipboard, joiner plate, etc.
Web Width and Thickness
When choosing, it is extremely important to pay attention to the width of the file. Not only quality depends on this parameter, but also the speed of work performed. If the canvas is wide, then it will be not only stable, but also more durable, and also practically will 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 to which it makes sense to pay attention. Too thin blades cannot ensure proper cut perpendicularity. In addition, the thicker the file, the higher its stability.
Something else
You probably know that the teeth of the blade should be harder than the material being processed. So, to perform work on cutting glass, ceramics, metal and stone, special files are needed. The main requirement is increased strength. It is best to use bimetallic sheets for such purposes, which are 1/3 of hardened steel and 2/3 of high carbon. The service life of such files is long enough, so they will pay off with interest. In addition, the risk of sudden failure here is much lower than in classic versions. But since it is not difficult to choose a file for a jigsaw, and you already know how to do it, you will not have any problems when choosing the appropriate bimetal blade.
Conclusion
If we talk about manufacturers that have proven themselves well, these are Bosch, Makita and Practice. Files of these companies are famous worldwide for their high quality and excellent performance. If you are not afraid to spend the extra 200 rubles, then buy the canvases of these brands, and you will not regret anything. Do not forget that all the files have their own purpose, use for other purposes is unlikely to lead to the expected results. A jigsaw is a high-speed tool, so securely fasten the blade and try to wear protective glasses and gloves. In principle, we examined the main types of jigsaw files. Now you know that there are paintings for wood, metal, as well as combined for other materials. Paying attention to the labeling of the product and the method of attachment, you will definitely make the right choice.