Move slowly, letting the machine dictate the pace. Forcing the saw to go faster will only degrade your blades and tool motor faster. But before jumping in on this project, let’s talk about the safest ways to do it and how you can cut metal efficiently. Safety First 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.

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. Possible other options: cutting oil, thin plywood, drill with a metal pilot bit large enough to fit your jigsaw blade for internal profiles. Jigsaw blades have a single row of teeth along one edge of the blade, these are arranged in a small wave pattern from left to right- a blade with 21-24 tpi is recommended for cutting metal and one manufactured with a bi-metal construction will offer the best durability. Jigsaws are awesome, versatile tools. They can make tight, precise cuts, and long straight runs with no distinction from a circular saw’s cut. 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.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. You definitely need specific, potentially expensive blades for metal, all-purpose blades won’t work. Once the cut is underway, pause the saw and add a few drops of tapping and cutting fluid to the cut to reduce heat at the blade then continue. Apply cutting fluidas required. 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: For cutting metal with a jigsaw, a blade with 21-24 TPI (teeth per inch) is strongly recommended. This will help avoid shredding the material and keep your cut edges smoother.

ALWAYS make sure your power source is removed when switching blades. Either unplug your corded saw or remove the battery from your cordless saw. Never replace a blade while power is connected, no matter how confident you are.You can use a jigsaw to cut sheet metal and metal pipes made of cast iron, steel, copper, aluminum, brass, etc.