Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: Jigsaw blade suggestion

  1. #1

    Jigsaw blade suggestion

    Just looking for suggestions on jigsaw blades to use on MDF. I've read that some people have had difficulty in cutting MDF w/ jigsaws. I don't know if that was from too heavy a cut due to material thickness (3/4" +) or perhaps using the orbital setting.

    I will be cutting templates from 1/2" MDF and plan to do final smoothing up to the line on OSS. You can't suggest Festool blades as my two jigsaws aren't t-shank type. I have an old barrel-grip Milwaukee and a Makita top handle model. Anyone have a .pdf of a chart with blade suggestions based on material? Or a website to reference?

    Thanks -

    Cary

  2. #2
    Bosch T234X or Bosch T308B

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Doylestown, PA
    Posts
    7,551

    Will your saws accept universal-type blades?

    Dave's suggestions are good ones. I don't know if the Bosch T308B's are available in universal end, or just the T shank. Lowes should have some Bosch blades with universal shanks.

    HTH

    Curt

    Edit: I was in Lowes today and thought to check (uncharacteristic) Our Lowes had a very good selection of Bosch blades with universal ends, including U234X.
    Last edited by Curt Harms; 08-01-2009 at 7:29 PM.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Belden, Mississippi
    Posts
    2,742
    Bosch. Experiment on a scrap for just the right flavor of blade and orbit.
    Bill
    On the other hand, I still have five fingers.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Bloomington, IL
    Posts
    6,009
    Cary, its 1/2" MDF (sawdust and resin) - do not make it a bigger deal than it is. Get some decent sharp blades and start cutting. Many people like bosch. Dave's suggestions are T-shank and the T308B does not come in U shank. You will not have trouble with any decent blade. Turn orbital off. Get off the MDF jigsaw spreadsheets and get in the shop Have fun.
    Glad its my shop I am responsible for - I only have to make me happy.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    SoCal
    Posts
    22,492
    Blog Entries
    1
    Never gave it much thought. I cut templates from MDF using a 1591 and T101B. No problems. Same blade for many, many templates. I would just look for an equivalent in your shank type.
    "A hen is only an egg's way of making another egg".


    – Samuel Butler

  7. #7
    I have a different suggestion. I've been cutting MDF on a metal-cutting bandsaw and the metal cutting blade seems to crunch nicely through the MDF. Try a medium tooth metal cutting blade. After all, the MDF isn't really wood but a composite with the toughest component being the glue.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •