metal cutting blades for jigsaw

[BrokenBiker]

need to get some decent blades for my jigsaw as i don't have plasma and have to cut out some letters from 2mm steel.

don't want to spend a lot and need the 't' or 'u' type blades.

any suggestions

 

[Spark plug]

I usually buy bosch jigsaw blades when I need to cut steel with a jigsaw but I try to avoid it if I can.

 

[BrokenBiker]

I usually buy bosch jigsaw blades when I need to cut steel with a jigsaw but I try to avoid it if I can.

cheers. I have used Makita in the past but they are a bit pricey. its only the one job and I don't mind buying more cheaper blades if it means a lower overall cost compared to one decent blade. I will be cutting the outer size with an angle grinder but the internal bits are a bit tricky on some of the letters

 

[Hitch]

The Bosch blades are worth the money, about £5 a pack, T118A, providing you don't buy them in Homebase or somewhere silly!
Slow speed and some cutting oil, and you should get a good life from them.
Not great for tight curves though, but none are really.

 

[sparkysy]

Hi Brokenbiker
I tend to go with bosch also as said a bit of cutting oil and they last for ages, I recently got caught without them on a job and ended up with some irwin ones that seem decent and not as pricey as the bosch ones I think they were about 15quid for 8 only used 1 so far n it's still sound!

 

[DrDeAtH]

Buy your blades off eBay in packs of 25... Works out approx 16 quid a pack

 

[BrokenBiker]

cheers guys

 

[brightspark]

i get all my blades and saws from here . good quality and cheap http://www.saxtonblades.co.uk/jigsaw-blades-c46/t118g-metal-blades-s50

 

[BrokenBiker]

cheers bs, will order some of them.

what is common thickness for weathervanes? Its kinda linked to the letters that need cutting. Making a sign fir my shoot

 

[sparkysy]

Ooh I like it brightspark
I will be using them from now on much cheaper than I can get any type locally, cheers!!

 

[Shedendman]

Er,what make and model jigsaw do you have btw?

 

[BrokenBiker]

its a 710w performance power from b and q

 

[norlander]

bb- I did a job once where I cut out some profiles with a JS in 1mm sheet then stuck them together to make the piece thicker-about 5mm if memory serves me right.
I found the JS to be quite effective-tight bits not so good, it went better when I backed the sheet with 5mm ply and cut through the ply as well and took my time with a few drops of oil.
Found it helps to push down on the JS and move it slowly- cant remember if I used the reciprocating thingy setting or not-but you could try that on a test piece.
I'd tig the bits together now-didn't have it back then.And I would clean up edges with my dremel and or mini die grinder from the compressor-did not have them at the time either.Hope thats of some use.
Btw the JS was a 650w ( I think) macallister from BnQ.
Would aluminium sheet be any easier and better for a weather vane (if its to be a working vane)? dunno-never made one-presume you would have to use paraffin or candle to lube the blade if you did use alu.Obviously you could not tig alu though.

 

[BrokenBiker]

.Obviously you could not tig alu though.

??? Tig is the main process used for alu?

 

[norlander]

??? Tig is the main process used for alu?

sorry- thought you had DC lift tig only like me.

 

[BrokenBiker]

ah right, i thought you meant rig in general lol

i too only have dc tig but it will weld alu providing it is as clean as possible, and even then its not the beat but it would be ok for a few tacks just to hold sheets in place

 

[norlander]

ah right, i thought you meant rig in general lol

i too only have dc tig but it will weld alu providing it is as clean as possible, and even then its not the beat but it would be ok for a few tacks just to hold sheets in place

Might give that a go sometime then-cheers for that.

 

[BrokenBiker]

Might give that a go sometime then-cheers for that.

has to be cleaner than clean, use a brand new stainless steel wire brush that is dedicated for alu, not used on anything else at all. Acetone wipe down and weld immediately. Need a few more amps than for steel buy not a lot. Puddle seems to be more watery i find but that might just be me