Guide
Choosing The Blade Material And The Shank
Two decisions cover most of the catalogue: what the blade is made of, which follows the material being cut, and how it clamps into the machine. This page sets out both, using the material and fitting data published on our product pages.
Blade Materials
HCS - High Carbon Steel
For plastic, soft wood, plywood, chipboard, wood core and fibre board working. HCS is the flexible, economical choice for timber where the cut does not meet metal.
HSS - High Speed Steel
For sheet metals, pipes, profiles and aluminium working. HSS holds an edge at higher cutting temperature than HCS, which is what thin metal needs.
Bimetal
An HSS tooth edge welded to a flexible carbon steel body, for wood and metal working. It resists tooth breakage where a solid HSS blade would snap.
HM - Tungsten Carbide
For glass fibre reinforced plastics, plaster board and fibre cement boards - abrasive material that dulls steel teeth quickly.
Jigsaw Shank Fittings
| T-Shank | Fits BOSCH, METABO, DEWALT, MAKITA, AEG, FESTO, ELU, SKIL and other jigsaws. |
|---|---|
| Half-Bore (U-Shank) | Fits BLACK&DECKER, SKIL, STANLEY, RYOBI, MAKITA, HITACHI and other jigsaws. |
| Two Bore | Fits MAKITA jigsaws. |
A mismatched shank leads to loose clamping, blade shaking and inaccurate curve cutting, so confirm the fitting before ordering.
Drill Bit Production And Finishing
| Production technicals | Roll forged; roll and polished; fully ground. |
|---|---|
| Surface finishing | Black finishing; bright; black and bright; tin coated; rainbow colour; zirconium coated; amber; black and gold. |
| Material - roll forged / roll and polished | HSS-M2, W9341, W4341, W4241. |
| Material - fully ground | HSS-M35, HSS-M2, W9341, W4341, W4241. |
Material And Shank - FAQ
How do I pick between HCS and bimetal for a jigsaw blade?
HCS if the cut only meets timber and board. Bimetal if the cut meets metal, or wood with nails, where a solid steel blade would lose teeth.
When is HM tungsten carbide worth the extra cost?
On abrasive material - glass fibre reinforced plastics, plaster board and fibre cement board - where steel teeth dull within a few cuts.
What is the difference between milled teeth and ground teeth on a hole saw?
Both are offered on our bimetal hole saws. The tooth forming method changes the cutting edge geometry, so tell us the material you cut and we will recommend one.
Which shank do BOSCH and MAKITA jigsaws take?
BOSCH takes T-shank. MAKITA appears in all three lists - T-shank, half-bore and two-bore - so confirm the machine model before ordering.
Not Sure Which Grade To Stock
Tell us the material your customers cut and we will put a range together.