Move slowly, letting the machine dictate the pace. Forcing the saw to go faster will only degrade your blades and tool motor faster. 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. 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. 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. 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.

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.The body of a bi-metal blade is made with spring steel or flexible carbon steel. But the cutting teeth are made of hardened high-speed steel that is welded or diffusion bonded onto the softer body. So the blade can cut harder materials without wearing down as fast. Possible other options: cutting oil, thin plywood, drill with a metal pilot bit large enough to fit your jigsaw blade for internal profiles. 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. You can use a jigsaw to cut sheet metal and metal pipes made of cast iron, steel, copper, aluminum, brass, etc.

You definitely need specific, potentially expensive blades for metal, all-purpose blades won’t work. Jigsaws are highly versatile tools, with their own ranges of options and features. However, for this application there are some limitations to keep in mind for your project: 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.As with most cutting tools, the type of blade you use is possibly the most important factor in how efficient your cuts will be. Whether cutting curves or lines with a jigsaw, ensuring you have the right blade for the application is essential for making clean, safe, and effective cuts. Specific materials require different types of jigsaw blades, including those with varying tooth pitches, sizes, and orientations. For example, blades with fine teeth are ideal for cutting metal, while those with larger teeth are more suitable for wood. Having the right blade for the material you’re working on will always ensure for maximum cutting performance. Tungsten carbide, which is produced by sintering tungsten and carbon atoms, is a much harder material than steel. A tungsten carbide jigsaw blade is made of a steel blade with tungsten carbide grits on the cutting edge. Jigsaws are not suitable for plunge cutting metal, however, a hole can be drilled to feed the blade through and then the cut can be continued in the usual way. Jigsaws have good manoeuvrability which makes them ideal to cut quite intricate shapes;, on tight curves it is advisable to make relief cuts to reduce the risk of the blade binding, however, this will only be possible if the cut off side is scrap, otherwise, it may be possible to get as far into the curve as possible and then withdraw the blade and approach the curve from the uncut end.