Bosch Professional 5x Jigsaw Blade T 118 A Basic for Metal (for Steel sheets, Accessories Jigsaw)

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If you have ever attempted to cut thin sheet metal with a jigsaw, you might have noticed excessive vibration, and in some cases, the sheet may get bent and damaged. Move slowly, letting the machine dictate the pace. Forcing the saw to go faster will only degrade your blades and tool motor faster. Drill Start Hole: If you aren’t starting from the edge of the metal, use a drill with a metal-specific pilot bit to create a guide hole in the “waste” side of the piece close to your line.

Jigsaws are awesome, versatile tools. They can make tight, precise cuts, and long straight runs with no distinction from a circular saw’s cut. Wear appropriate PPE, this should include eye and ear protection and good quality gloves. The cut off metal will fall, it is prudent to wear sturdy, reinforced toe work shoes or boots. The hard carbide gits are bonded to a steel shaft by brazing, and usually, the blade has grit like sandpaper but has no cutting teeth that are found on HSS or Bimetal blades. This makes a nice smooth cut on the hardest of materials, but also makes these blades expensive. But before jumping in on this project, let’s talk about the safest ways to do it and how you can cut metal efficiently. Safety First You definitely need specific, potentially expensive blades for metal, all-purpose blades won’t work.

If starting the cut at the edge, press the saw shoe firmly on the surface of the workpiece without the blade touching the metal. Slowly depress the trigger and once the blade is moving, glide it into the workpiece. It is important not to force the speed of the cut and just let the blade do the work. If starting the cut away from the edge of the workpiece, simply drill a hole large enough to insert the blade in and continue as above.

When cutting a flat sheet of steel or other metal, it’s often recommended to sacrifice a few thin sheets of plywood to sandwich the metal. This creates a more controlled and thus smoother cut by minimizing vibration and keeping the material flat. Metal Cutting Tips Jigsaw blades have a single row of teeth along one edge of the blade, these are arranged in a small wave pattern from left to right- a blade with 21-24 tpi is recommended for cutting metal and one manufactured with a bi-metal construction will offer the best durability. This combination of a flexible body and hard cutting teeth makes them last almost ten times longer than blades made from high-carbon steel and 2 to 5 times higher blade life compared to regular HSS blades. Tungsten Carbide Blade Proper Support for the Workpiece: Keep your intended blade path as close to your work surface as possible while being aware of your depth and the width of the jigsaw shoe. This minimizes the vibration and sway of your piece and ensures a cleaner cut. Like most saws, jigsaws can also cut through other common building materials, including metal, with the right blade. Use a bi-metal blade with 21-24 TPI on mild steel and softer metals such as aluminum, and use a carbide grit blade on tough alloy steels for best results.

Securely clamp the workpiece to the work bench. If there will not be sufficient depth clearance for the blade, the metal can be placed on rails and then clamped to ensure blade clearance. Some metalworkers ‘sandwich’ the metal sheet between two thin sheets of wood to add support while cutting- this technique will take longer but will help minimise distortion on soft or thin metal.