Blade Fabrication for Jigsaw

Blade fabrication and manufacture of jigsaw blades compose of various compounds and metals. Fundamentally, harder blades cut the harder materials. But there are some blade fabrication that allows blade to work well for both soft and hard materials which is wood in particular.
To be sure which blade to use on your project, it is best to check the individual specs of the blade and use it according to manufacturer recommendations. The common blade types are high carbon steel, bi-metal, high speed steel, and tungsten carbide.

High Carbon Steel

High Carbon Steel or sometimes called HCS is a blade fabrication composing of iron containing 0.3 to 0.9 percent manganese and 0.55 to 0.95 percent carbons. The high carbon steel blades are flexible and cuts softer materials well. These blades are known to be the weakest and wear out the fastest. But due to their low cost and ability to cut wood, these are highly preferred in the workshop.

High Speed Steel

High speed steel or HSS does not designate high speed capability as its name suggested. High speed steel is blade fabrication that is harder than carbon steel and is not as flexible. It is designed to cut harder materials. This blade is more susceptible to damage from heat that could build up in the process of cutting.

Bi-Metal

The bi-metal blades are made of high speed steel and high speed carbon steel. The blades body is of carbon steel that provides flexibility. The blade’s teeth are of high speed steel that allows it to cut harder materials. This combination of two materials produces a blade that is ideal for heavy cutting. The bi-metal blades can outlast last high carbon steel and high speed steel blades up to ten times longer.

Tungsten Carbide

The tungsten carbide is a chemical compound made up of tungsten and carbon. This material is bonded to a steel shaft which often has a grit edge similar to sandpaper and not a saw edge. This blade allows smoother cuts. The tungsten carbide is effective in cutting the hardest of materials and some other specialty applications. Tungsten carbide blades are often the most expensive of blades.

Common Jig Saw Blade Applications

Here is a general guide for cutting applications. However, this chart is not comprehensive and the actual cutting applications can vary. Best if you also refer to the manufacturer specifications prior to using any type of the blades.

Material to be cut, Blade Material(s), Teeth Type

1. For softwood, use the high carbon steel or the bi-metal blades, with a teeth type that is side taper or reverse types.
2. For hardwood, use high speed steel or bi-metal blades with side, taper or reverse teeth types.
3. For plastics, all blade materials vary according to material composition as well as the teeth types.
4. For aluminum, use high speed steel or bi-metal blades with wavy, side taper teeth types.
5. For steel, use high speed steel or bi-metal blades with wavy, taper teeth types.
6. For ceramic, stone and other masonry materials, use tungsten carbide grit, with no teeth

To achieve high quality cuts, it is important that the proper selection of jigsaw blades is appropriate to its application. Always refer to your jigsaw model and remember shank types. There are jigsaw models that only accept U-shanks. The manufacturer specifications should always be consulted to ensure appropriate blade fabrication and application standards.