Sawing out. How to use a jigsaw: setting, sawing, maintenance and safety Methods for attaching a saw in a hand jigsaw

The efficiency of the sawing tool largely depends on the quality of its cutting part. In the case of a jigsaw, the operation is also affected by the correct installation of the saw blade, which, in this device, is a consumable item that requires periodic replacement. The most common problems with the installation of a cutting element arise from inexperience of new tool owners. To clarify this issue once and for all, this short but informative guide with visual videos was created.

Varieties of jigsaws

Before proceeding to the direct specifics describing the process of installing the file, it is worth clarifying the types of tools affected. Since the jigsaw device has quite a few incarnations, we inform you in advance that in this manual we will touch on 3 of its varieties: manual, electric and stationary. A band saw, which is also sometimes called a jigsaw, will not appear in this article. Now a few words about each type of device under consideration.

Hand jigsaw

The cheapest version of the tool for making figured sawing of wood and its derivatives. When using special blades, it can be used for cutting thin metal. The speed of work and the quality of the cut depends entirely on the experience and physical data of the employee. It is quite easy to use and does not require many hours of study.

Electric jigsaw

A more advanced and expensive type of tool for making straight, cross, oblique and curved cuts. Depending on the saw blades installed, it can work with wood, plastic, metal and even ceramics. Has a high frequency of the saw, due to which the quality and accuracy of the cut is usually reduced. Sometimes an electric jigsaw is justly called manual, since it must be held during use. This tool is considered one of the most popular in everyday life, second only in popularity to a screwdriver and a drill.

Stationary jigsaw

A very convenient and functional machine for amateur and professional work. It is widely used in industry and in everyday life. Works with thin files, like a hand jigsaw, but in cutting speed it is not inferior to an electric one. The main advantage of using a stationary jigsaw is complete freedom of both hands, which allows you to more accurately control the position of the workpiece during processing. The device copes well with straight cuts, but primarily intended for curly cuts.

Having finished with a brief description of the devices, you can proceed to the main question of the article. Let's look at how to insert a blade into a jigsaw and what nuances should be taken into account when doing this. Let's start with electrical models.

How to insert a file into a jigsaw

In more than 30 years of active existence in the tool market, the electric jigsaw has undergone many changes that have not spared the clamping design. Modern and outdated device models have an identical structure and colossal differences in details. Today, the file attachment in the jigsaw can be presented in 3 variations: shoe, screw and quick-clamping. The first 2 types can be attributed to one group, and the last one can be divided into 3 common mechanisms. Let's figure out what each type of attachment is, how to use it.

Shoe mount

One of the most common types of saw blade clamps. Consists of a block and two screws that tighten it to the movable stem. Of the advantages of this element, one can single out its versatility. The screws for attaching the electric jigsaw file have a decent tightening margin, which allows you to install blades with different types of shanks in the device. A negative point when using such a clamp may be the skew of the file during installation, which can complicate the work and cause the tool to break.

Replacing a file in a block mount is quite simple. The screw heads are usually sharpened for a small hexagon that comes with the device and is located on the case or cable. First of all, it is necessary to loosen the screws one by one (without completely unscrewing) and remove the old file. When the fastener is free, insert a new saw blade into it (teeth first) and alternately tighten the bolts evenly. It is better to twist smoothly, one half turn, and also the second. When doing this, make sure that the file is at an angle of exactly 90 ° to the sole of the jigsaw. After tightening the blade with sufficient force, you can start working.

Screw fixing

A more convenient and reliable type of fastening, like the previous one, can fix files with different types of shanks. Has only one clamping screw located on the side. The undoubted advantage is the relatively simple and quick replacement of the saw, in comparison with the block mount. The fixation of the canvas is quite even, but it will not be superfluous to check the angle during installation.

Installing the blade in such a clamp is extremely simple. First of all, we loosen the fixing screw and take out the unnecessary canvas. Next, we insert a new file into an empty groove and gradually tighten, periodically assessing the evenness of its location. It is not worth making too much tension, since a file tightened to the limit will vibrate quite strongly during operation, lowering the quality of the cut.

Quick-release fastening
As the name implies, this type of mount is the most convenient. It does not require a special key and allows you to change the file in a few seconds. Unfortunately, the small advantages of saving time are covered by rather significant disadvantages. First, it is not universal. Only blades with a certain type of shank can be installed in it. Secondly, the reliability of fixation in most models leaves much to be desired. Of course, the original jigsaws of proven brands have a high-quality quick-clamping system, but even that sooner or later becomes unusable. The unique components of the mechanism cause serious difficulties during repair, making it almost impossible.

Nevertheless, despite the negative aspects of the quick-release fastening, it significantly speeds up the process of working with different types of materials and has a weighty right to exist. In total, there are 3 subspecies of this device, distinguished by the arrangement of the levers: frontal, lateral and radial.

To understand how to change a jigsaw file with a quick-release fastener, it is enough to repeat a couple of elementary actions. We bend the movable lever, and holding it with your finger, insert the blade shank into the groove. When the shank is submerged, release the lever and slightly adjust the file. The mechanism should snap into place, making a characteristic click, which will indicate that the tool is ready for work. To get a clearer idea, we recommend watching the video below on how to insert a file into a jigsaw.

File clip repair

Unfortunately, many manufacturers of power tools often save on materials, which reduces the life of their devices. The jigsaw clip is also susceptible to periodic breakdowns, which is subject to serious pressure during operation. Below, we will tell you what can happen with the shoe mount and how you can fix the damage.

With prolonged use of the jigsaw, due to the loads on the blade attachment point, the shoe clamp can seriously deform. Damage can be minor, with slight deformation of the pad, and very severe, turning the part into a useless piece of metal.

The easiest option to restore your jigsaw to work is to buy and install a new, identical shoe. A similar element can be found in construction markets, in tool stores. Fortunately, such details are encountered quite often. At the same time, it is not a fact that the quality of the new mount will be better or at least not worse than the old one. The main thing is that the tool can be used. For a video on installing a new shoe, see below.

The longer and more reliable option is suitable for advanced craftsmen with experience and a set of necessary equipment. The next way is to make a do-it-yourself jigsaw file holder. To make your own pads, you will need:

Piece of steel: 18x15x15 (length, width, height)
Hacksaw for metal
Grinder with a disc for metal (preferably diamond)
Drill with a drill for metal 4 mm
Vise
Ruler or vernier caliper

The manufacturing process is extremely clear for the experienced tinsmith, but for greater clarity, it is demonstrated in the following photos.

If you do not have enough skills in working with metal, we recommend that you give the next drawing to the nearest turning workshop, where the part will be made to order.

How to insert a file into a hand jigsaw

As a rule, using a regular hand jigsaw is much less problematic than its more advanced electric counterparts. Be that as it may, there are several useful recommendations for this tool, some of which relate to the installation of the saw blade. Let's clarify how to correctly insert a file into a hand jigsaw without complicating the further cutting process.

The first thing you should pay attention to is the very location of the file in the attachment points. For best grip, the tails of the file should not be clamped at the edge or behind the screw, but 1-2mm in front of it, as shown in the image above. Before installing, remember that the blade teeth always point towards the handle, as the sawing occurs when the tool moves down.

First, the edge of the file should be locked against the handle. Next, you need to slightly squeeze the edges of the arc and tighten the other end of the blade in the opposite mount. To do this, you can rest the tool against the edge of the workbench and press on it with your chest. In this case, insert the file into the grooves with one hand, and tighten the wing mount with the other. If the size of the fasteners does not allow them to be securely fixed by hand, you can slightly tighten with pliers. The main thing is not to overdo it, so as not to disrupt the thread.

For jigsaws with a tubular arc, there is a special device, which, in most cases, is part of the sawing table. This product consists of 2 round grooves located on the edge of the board. The tool is inserted into the recesses, after which the file is calmly tightened in the clamps. You can find out how to insert a file into a manual jigsaw in more detail in the video below.

How to install a file in a jigsaw

Considering how to install a saw blade into a jigsaw, we could not ignore the most advanced type of this device. When working on a stationary jigsaw machine, thin blades with pins at the ends are used, similar to those used in hand tools. Some models provide adapters for working with files without pins, but this function is considered quite rare. If you have recently become the owner of such a machine and still do not know how to insert a blade into a jigsaw of this type, just read the following text.

The indisputable advantage of pin files is their ease of installation, which does not require unscrewing and tightening the clamps. In any jigsaw machine, special grooves are provided, where the ends of the blade are placed and fixed. First of all, the file is installed in the lower fastening element, and then in the upper one. The teeth of the installed blade should point down and point towards the operator. After making sure that the cutting side is located correctly, it remains to tighten using a special lever located in the opposite part of the device, from above. To check the tension, lightly click on the file with your fingernail, like on a guitar string. A high pitched sound will mean the blade is ready to go.

Installation of files without pins, in each device is implemented differently, but absolutely everywhere it happens through adapters. The first step is to tighten the tail of the blade into the adapter, and then fix the assembled structure in the fasteners of the machine. To more clearly see how to correctly insert the file into the jigsaw, we recommend that you read the following video.

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A jigsaw in the household is an irreplaceable thing. Modern models of jigsaws can cut not only wood. They can also handle plastic and aluminum and even ceramics. But for each material, you should purchase your own files. How to choose the right file for the material, and how to insert the file into the jigsaw, will be discussed in this material.

General in files

Regardless of the clamping system of the jigsaw itself, all files have the same standard slots for the holder. Therefore, there is no need to look for files for a specific jigsaw model. They all fit perfectly with any model. But how to insert a file into a jigsaw, this will already depend on how the mount itself on the power tool is designed.

The difference in files

Looking at the window, you can see that some files have large teeth, while others have smaller ones. This is what suggests that each file has its own material. You can understand that a file with large teeth is more suitable for soft wood, while cutting metal blanks can only be done with a file with small teeth.

Saws differ in the materials from which they are made and in length. A more detailed classification of them will be given below.

Classification of files for jigsaws

Sometimes, with some saws, specialists make cuts in different materials. We will be guided by the advice of experienced experts and explain why it is best to use this or that file, based on their recommendations.

T101D - large teeth, so the cut will be rough, but the fastest. Perfect for regular wood (beams, boards). Cope with both chipboard and plywood.
Т101В - the teeth are smaller, and therefore the edges of the puncture will be kept clean. Suitable for plywood and plexiglass.
Т101BR - the letter "R" at the end means reverse. So the teeth are located in the opposite direction, although the file itself is the same. It is best to cut glued wood, laminate with such files.
T119VO - due to the thin cross-section of the file, it can be used to perform a very accurate figured cutting on materials such as fiberboard or chipboard, keeping their edges as clean as possible.
T118A - small teeth and high-strength steel of such saws allows them to make cuts in metal blanks and plastic.
Т224D - excellent for cutting / sawing aluminum blanks.

Features of fasteners in jigsaws

Now that we have figured out a little with the choice and purpose of the files, we will figure out how to correctly insert the file into the jigsaw. To begin with, each company is constantly striving to improve fastenings on the tool, making them more comfortable and simpler, and not at the expense of reliability. Manufacturers correctly believe that the less hassle the tool will deliver during the maintenance process, the more opportunities that they will purchase exactly it. But, meanwhile, there are still early models, whose file attachments are far from perfect. We will analyze the types of travel mounts and how to insert the file into the jigsaw, based on each mount, in more detail.

Bolt-on clamp (shoe)

This is less and less common today. The saw shank is inserted into the slot of the clamp and the bolts are tightened. In the process, the saw is adjusted, otherwise some misalignment may occur, and the cut will be far from ideal. The advantage of such clamps is that any kind of files with any shank configuration are suitable for such jigsaws.

Sometimes there are fasteners with only one bolt. For example, some models of the German company Protool are equipped with such mounts. How to insert a file into a German jigsaw, and then how to adjust it? Everything is done simply. The saw shank is inserted into the slot in the clamp and the bolt is screwed in. No special settings are needed here.

This is how most current models of jigsaws are equipped for home use. If the clamp is frontal, the key is in front, if it is lateral, respectively, on the side. To equip the tool with a file, you just need to release the key, insert the file into the slot of the clamp and release the key.

In the new models of jigsaws, changing the saw blade is even easier. For example, for those who are interested in the question of how to insert a file into a Makita jigsaw, let's say that often in the latest models of the household class, pressing the quick-release button is carried out by pressing the protrusion (key) located on the front small casing of the upper protection that fits the front part ... In this case, the rim of the casing moves forward from the edge from which the pressing is carried out, the shank of the saw is inserted into the slot of the holder, the key is released, the casing is in place, and at the same time the shank of the saw is fixed in the mount.

You can verify the strength and function of the fastener by pulling the file. If it didn't jump out, then everything is in order. It is useful to remind that it is strictly forbidden to grasp the saw blade when the tool is connected to the mains (with the battery - not set to the fuse).

This is one of the types of quick release fasteners. This is often equipped with jigsaws of the German company Stayer. How to insert a file into a jigsaw with a clamping mechanism of this configuration? It's simple. Scroll to the side of the clamp head, insert the file with the shank into the slot of the clamp until it stops, release the head. To whom nothing is clear or too lazy to read, you can watch the following video.

So, as you can see from the above, there is nothing difficult either in choosing consumables or in replacing files. By and large - we press the key, the old file pops out, in its place we insert a new one into the slot, release the key. All is ready. You can work.

How to work with a hand jigsaw

In this lesson, we'll show you the basics of working with a conventional hand-held jigsaw. Of course, a jigsaw can also be electric, but it costs a lot of money, and working on it is already a pursuit of speed, and not a calm, moderate creation of beauty.

For work, we need: a hand jigsaw, a file, a table stand, a clamp for attaching the table stand, an awl, a pencil, two paper clips, a sheet of tracing paper, a sheet of carbon paper, sandpaper and of course a piece of plywood of the required size. We will cut out a Christmas tree, in this work, in addition to the cutting technique, we will also master the technique of assembling plywood parts into a volumetric shape of a Christmas tree and the easiest way to finish the finished product using ordinary watercolor paint.

The size of the plywood should correspond to the pattern you have chosen, try to arrange the cut parts more compactly, tighter to each other, since everything that remains after cutting out, as a rule, can no longer be used in further work due to its fragility. And so we clean the selected piece of plywood with sandpaper, trying to drive it along the fibers, since transverse scratches will be strongly visible on the finished product and it is very difficult to remove them later, and the processed plywood looks velvety and soft.

The sandpaper should be medium grit so that it will scratch the plywood less.

Fasten the tracing paper sheet and drawing with clamps, then copy the drawing onto the tracing paper with a pencil. This operation is necessary in order not to damage the original drawing when transferring it to plywood.

It should be noted right away that with the current level of distribution and availability of a copying machine, with large-scale and complex drawings, it is good to use a copier for cutting out and the necessary drawing just needs to be copied onto a blank sheet of paper and from it the drawing is then transferred to plywood. The advantage of this method is also that it is quite easy to enlarge or reduce the drawing selected for work. We put tracing paper with a drawing on plywood and with a pencil, through a carbon copy we transfer it to the front side of it.

Having transferred the entire drawing to plywood, we carefully check whether all the lines of the drawing are clearly visible on the plywood.

At the next stage, it is very important to check the future nodes of the interconnection of the herringbone parts. To do this, a piece of plywood of the same thickness that we are using must be attached to the drawn groove of the Christmas tree part and make sure that it fits exactly in the drawn borders. If the dimensions of the groove and the thickness of the plywood do not match, the width of the groove is adjusted - it is drawn equal to the thickness of the plywood used. Otherwise, when assembling finished parts, they will dangle or simply will not fit into each other. This checks all grooves in all drawings of parts.

We take the stand and insert its clamp into the central hole.

We attach the support with a clamp to the edge of the table, windowsill or workbench.

If your file is not inserted into the jigsaw, then we do it in the following sequence. We loosen the lamb of the lower clamp of the jigsaw (after turning the handle down to the working position). Insert the file into the lower clamp.

The direction of the saw teeth should be as in figure "b" - this is very important.

Then, having loosened the lamb of the upper clamp, insert the upper end of the saw into it and put the jigsaw on the stand, press it with effort and screw the lamb tightly. The file should be taut. But excessively strong tension can lead to breakage of the file during curly cutting, and a weak tension of the file will also lead to this. So everything should be in moderation.

The position of the body when cutting should be as shown.

When cutting with a jigsaw, you need to smoothly move your hand up and down, up and down, observing the position of the saw so that it does not tilt from the vertical position. When cutting in a curved line, turn the plywood rather than the jigsaw while sawing to reduce the chance of breaking the file.

When cutting sharp corners, move the file in place, gradually turning the plywood.

You should have a free space - a hole in which the file will turn, now continue to cut in the desired direction.

Make free space for turning the file on the part of the plywood that will be thrown away and you will easily get sharp corners.

After the entire contour of the drawing has been cut out, the sawn piece can be freely removed from the plywood.

Now, in order not to break the file, insert it into the cut from which the part began to be cut and smoothly moving the jigsaw up and down, but only pull it out of the plywood with the back of the file.

Saw out the second piece of the Christmas tree in the same way.

Sand the resulting parts with sandpaper.

Now we have two parts of the herringbone ready for assembly.

We collect them into one structure.

Now let's paint the Christmas tree with watercolors or gouache.

All our Christmas tree is ready.

And at the end of the lesson, we will show you the sequence of cutting the inner holes in detail. Let's say we need to cut out a part of the circle.

In the middle of the part to be removed, pierce a hole with an awl. Do not try to make a hole close to the drawn line, this can cause the plywood to chip off, which will be rather ugly.

Having loosened the upper clamp of the jigsaw, and having released the file, we introduce its upper end from below into the punctured hole.

Clamp the file into the upper clamp of the jigsaw and cut out the part of the picture to be removed.

Then again release the file from the upper clamp. And we repeat this operation with each inner hole in the pattern.

The herringbone turned out to be stable and quite strong, for greater stability, the abutting parts of the parts can be coated with some kind of glue that does not leave marks on the tree - this is PVA glue, carpentry or casein.

A fret saw is a tool familiar to many men from childhood, from school labor lessons. Its electric version is currently one of the most popular hand tools that greatly facilitated the work of home craftsmen. Unlike a hand saw, this electric appliance needs more attention, especially its most important element - the movable unit with a removable file.

What can be a file holder?

The saw is connected to the movable rod of the jigsaw by means of a saw holder - one of the most vulnerable parts of the unit. It is the blade holder that experiences the greatest loads during the operation of the device, this device especially suffers when using a blade with blunt teeth, which is sometimes allowed by inexperienced craftsmen.

The material for this part is supposed to be of the highest quality, but not all manufacturers think the same way. It is often the saw holder that needs to be repaired or replaced first. Modern power tool manufacturers are constantly working to improve this unit.

This led to a wide variety of saw holders used for jigsaws.

The earliest design is a bolt-on clamp. Although many companies have long since abandoned this option, models where this archaic mount is used are still found. There are two bolts on such a block. One clamps the canvas, and the second allows you to adjust its position.

When installing or removing the saw blade, both screws must be loosened or tightened. Their heads are made for a flat screwdriver or a hex wrench. For such pads, the shape and thickness of the saw shank often does not matter. There are models with one bolt. It is not necessary to adjust such a lock, the file is simply clamped by tightening the bolt.

The quick-release fastener is installed on most modern models of jigsaws. Pressing a special key releases the clamp, and the blade easily comes out of the mount. The same manipulation will make it easy to insert the file into the slot. Such a device does not need to be adjusted and has no bolts. This type of fastening is divided into two subtypes, according to the position of the movable key mechanism: side and front.

Radial clamp is a type of quick-release fastening.It is even easier to insert a file into units equipped with such a unit. The device must be turned 90 degrees, insert the file into the slot and release, under the action of the spring the clamp will return to its initial position and automatically fix the blade shank. All quick-release fasteners have a strict limitation on the thickness of the blade and the shape of its shank.

Some craftsmen prefer to make this knot with their own hands, thus trying to increase its working time. Indeed, it is not always possible to buy a part of the same quality. You can make a file holder-block from a steel bar with an edge length of no more than 2 cm. The following tools are needed for work: a drill, a hacksaw for metal, a grinder, a vice, an accurate tape measure, a vernier caliper.

Using an old part, you need to try to copy it by making a homemade one from a bar. If there is no skill in such work, it is better not to waste time, and show the old file holder and the workpiece to an experienced craftsman. If you still decide to do it yourself, be patient and, just in case, prepare a couple more blanks.

When replacing a saw in a jigsaw, you should pay attention to the condition of the attachment point - the most vulnerable part of the entire tool. Over time, there may be backlash, blade runout, displacement of the cut from the marking.

All these signs indicate an impending problem with fastening and it is better to find out their cause at an early stage.

How to insert a file into a jigsaw?

An electric jigsaw is not that old, it is about 30 years old. Having changed little constructively, it has gone quite far from the prototype in terms of usability and power. The fastening that holds the canvas has undergone the greatest upgrades. Shoe markings - the knot is quite simple and it is usually not difficult to insert a file into it, especially since the shape of its shank and the thickness for such an attachment are absolutely irrelevant.

To put the file in the block, you need to slightly loosen both mounting bolts counterclockwise. The blade is inserted with the teeth forward, then the bolts are tightened alternately, evenly. It is necessary to ensure that there is no skew of the canvas. You need to tighten enough.
If there is one screw on the file holder, then changing the files will also be easy, you only need to tighten one bolt. To properly install the canvas, you need to check its position from time to time, slightly adjusting it with your hand. Tightening to failure is not recommended, this creates unnecessary vibration and can affect the quality of the cut.

In quick-clamping devices, it is even easier to replace the file: by pressing and holding the key, insert the shank of the corresponding file, release the key. If a click is heard, the shank is secured with a saw holder.
The radial mount is just as easy to handle. If the jigsaw has this fixing option, then when installing the saw blade it is very important not to confuse the shape of the shank. Currently, the industry produces saws with two types of shanks: T-shaped and U-shaped. The first file type is currently the most common. The U-shaped shank has an additional hole for securing the blade.

Jigsaw blades are divided into several basic types, which can be identified by the shape and size of the teeth, as well as by marking. Various files allow you to successfully cope with cutting wood (boards), plywood, chipboard, plastic, metal, tile, drywall, glass.

Wooden workpieces are sawn using a long saw with a tooth size of 3 to 5 mm, with a noticeable gap. These files are marked HCS, as well as an additional - T101D, indicating the large size of the teeth.
Metal can be cut with a shorter file with 1-1.5 mm teeth and wavy set, the HSS marking and the T118A index will also help in choosing a file.
For the laminate, webs with a reverse slope have been developed.

In the marking of such a file there will be an index T101BR, the last letter indicates the reverse position of the teeth.

The plastic is sawn with blades with an average size of teeth (up to 3 mm), with a small set.
Special blades for ceramics have no teeth at all, they are coated with carbide spraying.
There are universal files that cut basic materials, but, of course, such products are not suitable for every job.
Models for curved cut have a small width and the T119BO index.

When operating the saw blade, one must not forget that this is a consumable material and it makes no sense to waste time sharpening dull teeth. A file that has become unusable must be replaced.

How to insert into a hand jigsaw?

A manual jigsaw is a tool that has long been mastered by carpenters, its design has been honed over years of operation and has become as simple as possible. There are much fewer problems with its use and, accordingly, with replacing files than with an electric namesake. The saw blade for this tool, as well as for the jigsaw, is a consumable item. It is not repaired or sharpened.

The most problematic place is, of course, the file attachment. It must be installed without skewing. When fixing the blade, a tight adhesion to the clamping bar must be ensured. The teeth of the saw blade should point towards the tool handle during installation. Replacing or installing the blade in a hand jigsaw is required quite often.

In order to install the file into the jigsaw holders, it is necessary to fasten the edge of the file to one of the ends of the handle. Then, slightly squeezing the edges of the handle (sometimes you have to lean on them with your body weight), insert the second edge of the file.
The file is inserted with one hand, with the other at the same time you need to screw the lamb. For a stronger connection, if there is not enough muscle strength, pliers have to be used, in this case the main thing is not to rip the thread.
You need to change the file in the reverse order. If the blade is broken, of course, you do not need to clamp the edges of the handle. Having loosened the wing fasteners, it is necessary to pull out the fragments of the canvas one by one.

Sometimes, after a long period of use, you have to replace the mount. It is not difficult to remove this knot from a jigsaw - the same lamb turns away.

There are hand jigsaws not with a flat, but with a tubular handle. Getting a file out of such a tool is not much more difficult. For such jigsaws, a simple device has been invented. Two holes are drilled in the surface of the workbench or sawing table.

The edges of the handle are inserted into them, and the file is tightened with clamping bars.

Installation in a jigsaw

Stationary jigsaws (jigsaws) are the result of the natural evolution of electric hand tools. When working with such a unit, both hands of the master can manipulate the material, which significantly increases productivity and makes it easier to work with oversized workpieces.

For such electrical appliances, special blades are used, although craftsmen sometimes adapt the blades of a hand jigsaw. Pin files have a special pin at the end, which makes them more secure. Pinless, respectively, do not have a special device and remain flat. Blades can be with or without tooth set.

Installing the file into the machine is actually quite simple.

The saw blade is fixed in special grooves, first in the lower one, and then in the upper one. The blade teeth are directed down and towards the sawer. You need to tighten the canvas with a lever, the stretched file should ring from the impact.
Pinless files need to be tightened especially carefully, they have a tendency to jump out of the clamping device, however, they remain popular, due to the wide range of applications for cutting complex-shaped products.

Possible problems

An electric jigsaw is a fairly reliable electrical device, all of its components during normal operation can work for quite a long time without any interruptions or interference. But the file holder, even with the most careful handling, is doomed to breakage and eventually replacement, not to mention the files, replacement of which is a natural and necessary measure.

The jigsaw is not a guest, but a necessary tool in the house. Working with wooden blanks and parts, metal, plastic is not the whole list of operations performed by the tool. The jigsaw itself is long-lived, which cannot be said about the cutting equipment. The saw blade wears down over time and needs to be replaced. Another option is to renew the cutting tool when processing different materials.

The tool is a miniature copy of a power saw. The principle of operation, like that of a hand-held jigsaw, familiar from childhood, is to move the saw in a vertical plane. Difference from analog, different cutting tool.

One of the critical units is the saw blade fastening mechanism. There are a number of instruments on the market equipped with different fixings:

Side threaded clamp. Fastening is carried out by means of a screw clamping the saw shank in the slot of the mechanism. Differs in ease of installation of the saw blade and reliable fixation.
Shoe mount. It is used in inexpensive household tools. The threaded tool is positioned in the slot. Fixation is carried out with two screws with an internal hole in the head for a hex wrench. The main advantage is the ability to work with all types of shanks, different sizes and regardless of the purpose of the saw.
Quick-release mechanism. The most convenient of the presented methods. No additional key or fixture required.

The saw blade belongs to consumables - in the process of work it becomes dull, grinded. Deformations are possible due to off-design loads. The main division of the cutting tool, according to the type of material being processed:

Wood and products based on it. The cutter is thicker. Tooth size up to 6mm. Wiring within 1mm. Blade length 60 ~ 150mm. Marking with the abbreviation HCS. On the side surface there is an inscription "for Wood" or "for Wood".

The increased accuracy is facilitated by a reduction in the size of the tooth to 3 mm, a small spread to the sides. "Clean for Wood" lettering.

Metal. They differ from "wooden" files with a length (~ 50mm), a fine tooth (up to 1 ~ 1.5mm), a wave-like setting. The inscription "metal" or "metal". HSS marking.
Plastic. Medium tooth (~ 3mm), small set. “Special for Acrilic” lettering.

Files for ceramics, glass, plasterboard and other materials are produced. They differ in geometrical parameters and cutting part - instead of teeth, an abrasive coating is applied. Versatile models that work with wood, metal and plastic are presented. The figured cut is carried out with narrow saw blades.

The only structural part that unites the files is the shank, designed to be fixed in the power tool.

Shank types

Initially, there were 5 ~ 6 kinds of saw blade tip on the market. Over time, the most popular ones remained:

U-shaped shank. Or, in other words, the American type of fastening. Used for jigsaws developed by North American manufacturers. Geometrically, it owes its name to the arcuate notch at the end of the file. An additional fixing element is a hole in the shank.
T-shaped (cruciform). European type of fixation. The pioneers are the designers of the German company Bosch. In shape, the end of the file resembles a cross.

Saw blades with similar shanks are widely available on the market, so there should be no problems with choosing a cutting tool.

The fixation of the saw blade, as mentioned above, is carried out by three types of fixing mechanisms:

Keyless. The name shows the main advantage - quick change of cutting tools. But disadvantages are noted:

The mechanism works only with "native", specially developed, types of shank. Other types will not work.
There are restrictions on the geometric parameters of the files, - in width and thickness.

Mounting procedure:

mechanism, - a plastic handle-block (lever), is pulled inside the jigsaw, the stem is released;
the file is inserted all the way, with a shank into the slot;
the block is released - the saw blade is locked.

ADVICE. From practical experience: saw clamps occur due to abnormal cutting conditions (application of excessive forces, curved cuts with a wide blade). Pounding, using pliers and other "brutal" tricks is extra work and the risk of damaging the tool. Easier, neatly disassemble the jigsaw itself and unlock the exposed locking mechanism.

2. Shoe screw fastening. By the way, it should be noted that all types of shanks are suitable for this system. File installation procedure:

the fixing screws must be loosened, - the protective casing moves and the threaded elements are unscrewed with a key (two or three turns);
a file is installed in the groove (slot), with the cutting part from the jigsaw, in the direction of the cut;
screws (located frontally, from the bottom of the tool) are tightened with a hex wrench (must be included in the kit);
the cover is returned to its place.

The main disadvantage, which manifests itself immediately or over time, is inaccurate fixation in the direction of cutting. The canvas leads to the side. Another disadvantage is thread stripping due to excessive tightening efforts. The third negative factor is the failure of the support block. Finding it to replace it is almost always impossible, you have to grind it yourself.

3. Side screw fixing (with locks). It occupies an intermediate position in terms of the convenience of changing the file between the block fixation and the quick-clamping mechanism. Stages of work:

the side screw is unscrewed;
the shank is installed in the opened groove;
the canvas is exposed visually and to the touch;
the screw is tightened back.

Installation accuracy depends on the initial factory assembly. Over time, individual elements wear out, play appears, the file begins to walk.

In addition to the main tactical and technical characteristics, the attachment point in the jigsaw is a mechanism that affects the accuracy of cutting the workpiece. Hence, when visually examining the selected tool, you need to take a closer look at the work of the fastening elements:

Check for backlash, - insert the file and move, there should be no free yaw motion.
Switch on the tool and try to determine if the blade is running out. Minimal displacements are difficult to notice, but visible to the eye, indicate poor assembly.
Carry out a control cut (if allowed by the seller). The cut must match the markings - the file follows exactly the cutting path.
Proof of secure fastening - during the test, the cutting tool remained in place and did not fall out of the locking mechanism.

It will not be difficult to master the method of installing a saw blade into a power tool; it is enough to carefully study the instructions attached to the product. With further use of the jigsaw, carefully monitor the condition of the saw attachment point.