Fine cut jigsaw blade

[sunnybob]

I have been asked to make a dolls house. a BIG dolls house for Barbie dolls :shock: But the plans call for a jigsaw blade to fine cut 12 mm plywood.
my makita jigsaw butchers plywood regardless of thickness.
The plans state a 1/16" cut. Does anyone know of any such blades?

 

[AndyT]

Could the instructions mean a "jigsaw puzzle cutting blade" ie a fretsaw/scrollsaw blade? It would be a good way to get a very fine kerf and 12mm ply should present no problems. Much more control than with a jigsaw.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I can't speak for Makita because I've never had one, but for Bosch at least it's probably as important to have a new anti splinter insert as to have the correct blade if you're attempting perfectly clean cuts in ply.

 

[sunnybob]

Nope, the plans specifically state a jigsaw. It cant mean a hand saw because of the amount of long straight cuts.
I've never seen a jigsaw blade that good.
It might be an insurmountable problem as I dont have a table saw, and the pieces are too wide to fit in the bandsaw.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

That's cut with a Saxton 101b, which are fine but aren't the best. Beech faced 12mm, the top edge is as cut (across the surface grain), the bottom after a wipe with 120 grit. That's without an anti splinter insert (I've not got around to getting one, they're not that common for DeWalts.

 

[sunnybob]

Yeah, I think I'm trying to swim uphill with this project.
I just might pass.

 

[gmgmgm]

There's a reason my jigsaw gathers dust somewhere... only called out for last-ditch-attempt butchery!

Mine has a "pendulum" thing on it - which makes the quality of the cut much worse. If yours has it, turn it off. I've also found putting a sacrificial piece underneath to help a bit. And fresh blades- I seem to bend them so easily.

How about sawing by hand?

 

[Bod]

B&D used to do a clean cut blade that had teeth with 2 cutting edges, up cut/down cut.
They were a bit more expensive, but did make a clean cut in chip board, and plywood.

Bod

 

[sunnybob]

my jigsaw pendulum is off (it does not swing) :shock: But even then it is a tool of last resort.
This guy has the most detailed plans I have ever seen, but his cutting list for a sheet of ply uses 1/16" wide cuts with good edges. He even says that you should use a 1/16 pencil and cut only on the line!
There are many, many pieces to cut from 1 8 x 4 sheet.
I cant believe that is possible

 

[AES]

Buy a scroll saw sunnybob!

 

[sunnybob]

I had a hegner, couldnt get on with it at all.

Show me a scroll saw that has a 32" throat and I might consider it though.

 

[Trevanion]

Bosch Extra-Clean blades are great. Leave an almost planed feeling surface on the cut with very few splinters, none if you use a splinter guard or screw a sacrificial piece of plywood to your saw. If you take your time you'll get a very straight cut with one and they last a long time unabused.

 

[bourbon]

you probably already know this, but put tape on the board before you mark the line. on both sides. then cut and remove the tape.

 

[AES]

I had a hegner, couldnt get on with it at all.

Show me a scroll saw that has a 32" throat and I might consider it though.

The big Excalibur (and Axi's own version) has a 30 inch throat, and that can be "fiddled" to get a bit bigger "throat depth".

 

[sunnybob]

First positive response. I will see if I can find them here. Thanks

 

[xy mosian]

Makita do a down cutting, small splinters on the back, fine tooth blade with no set. The best cuts I have ever had from a jigsaw, often leaving the need for a quick swipe with abrasive paper only. i'll try to get images etc..
xy

Here you go:-
https://uk-jigsawblades.co.uk/makita-bl ... gsaw-blade

xy

 

[Robbo3]

I cut nearly all of my flat work with a jigsaw. For fine cuts the Bosch T101AO blades produce very little chipping. Tape along the cut line for extra protection.

 

[sunnybob]

Maybe my jigsaw has a future after all. I shall have to go on a shopping trip. Nothing small is available on line here.

 

[AJB Temple]

Bob, you need 308B. I run them in my heavy duty Milwaukee jig saw or my old Swiss made Bosch. The reciprocating action on both goes 0 I II III and I usually run on I. I buy splinter guards. Get a very clean cut with tape. If I am doing long straight cuts in sheet material I usually use my track saw, but if I do use the jig saws I clamp a straight edge guide in place. Use tape as suggested above (masking tape is fine) and go slow. I think jigsaws are great - very useful tool.

 

[siggy_7]

Another vote for Bosch T308B extra clean cut blades. I had to make a long cross-cut in 12mm birch ply over the weekend, as it wasn't straight (scribing a fitted cabinet panel) I had to use my Makita jigsaw rather than my track saw and was dreading what mess it was going to make. I was pleasantly surprised to find it made a beautifully clean, tearout free cut. One thing to bear in mind; any pendulum action is there purely for speed and will worsen the cut quality so move the pendulum switch to off and take your time for a really nice cut.