Jigsaw Buying Guide — a practical guide for Australian trades from the team at Power Tools Direct Australia.
Blade codes decoded, orbital action explained, and the fixes for wandering cuts and chipped melamine.
Jigsaw Buying Guide: In this guide
- The tool people blame unfairly
- T-shank is the standard
- Reading blade codes
- Orbital action
- Features worth paying for
The tool people blame unfairly
Most complaints about jigsaws — the cut wanders, the underside splinters, the blade bends — are blade problems, not tool problems.
Fix the blade and a mid-range jigsaw will produce excellent results. Browse jigsaws and jigsaw blades.
T-shank is the standard
T-shank (tang) blades are the universal fitting on modern jigsaws and support tool-free changes. U-shank is legacy and increasingly rare. If you are buying now, buy T-shank.
Reading blade codes
Bosch’s numbering has become the de facto standard across brands. The code tells you what the blade is for:
| Code | Means |
|---|---|
| T101B | Clean cuts in timber and plywood |
| T101BR | Reverse tooth — clean cut on the top face, for laminate and melamine |
| T144D | Fast, coarse cutting in timber |
| T118A / T118B | Metal — A for thin sheet, B for thicker section |
| T301CD | Extra clean, long blade for thicker timber |
| T118AHM / carbide | Fibre cement, abrasive board |
For melamine and laminate, a reverse-tooth blade cutting on the down-stroke eliminates top-face chipping instantly. It is the single best jigsaw tip there is.
Orbital action
Orbital action swings the blade forward on the cutting stroke and back on the return. It cuts substantially faster in timber and leaves a rougher edge.
Turn orbital off for metal, for curves, and for any cut where finish matters. Turn it up for fast rough cuts in thick timber.
Features worth paying for
- Tool-free blade change — standard now, but check it actually releases cleanly
- Blade guide roller — supports the back of the blade and is the main defence against bevelled cuts
- Variable speed with a good trigger — slow for metal and plastics, fast for timber
- Splinter guard insert — a small plastic insert in the shoe that supports fibres right at the blade
- Dust blower and extraction port — you cannot follow a line you cannot see
- Bevel adjustment that locks properly rather than creeping
Why your cut is not square
Jigsaw blades flex. In thick material, particularly hardwood, the blade bows away from the direction of the curve and the underside cut ends up out of square.
- Use the thickest, shortest blade that suits the material
- Reduce or turn off orbital action
- Slow the feed rate — let the blade cut rather than pushing
- Check the blade guide roller is intact and adjusted
- For a critical square cut in thick stock, use a different tool
Cutting curves cleanly
Use a narrow scroll-cut blade, low speed, no orbital action, and a slow feed. Relief cuts into the waste from the edge let the offcut fall away so the blade is never pinched — this is the technique that makes tight curves possible.
Cutting curves and cut-outs?
Jigsaws and blade assortments from Bosch, Makita, Milwaukee and DeWalt.
The bottom line
Blade codes decoded, orbital action explained, and the fixes for wandering cuts and chipped melamine. Everything we sell is genuine Australian stock with full manufacturer warranty, dispatched same day on orders placed before 1pm AEST from our Sydney warehouse. Standard delivery is $15.99, express is $32.55, and delivery is free on orders over $1,000.
Not sure which option suits your work? Talk to our team — we are tradies too. You can also browse the full power tool range, read the FAQs, or set up a trade account for ongoing pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my jigsaw cut on an angle?
Blade deflection. Use a thicker blade, reduce orbital action, slow down, and check the guide roller.
How do I stop melamine chipping?
Use a reverse-tooth blade like a T101BR, fit the splinter guard, and score the line first with a knife.
Can a jigsaw cut metal?
Yes, with a fine-tooth metal blade, orbital off, low speed and cutting fluid on thicker section.
Keep reading
Need this gear on site?
Over 4,000 genuine tools in stock. Free delivery on orders over $1,000.