What jigsaw blade should I use?

T-shank blades for standard jigsaws. 6 TPI (teeth per inch) for fast rough cuts in thick wood. 10-12 TPI for general wood cutting. 18-24 TPI for metal. 36 TPI for thin metal and plastic. Bi-metal blades handle mixed materials. Always use the right blade for the material — wrong blades break and produce terrible cuts.

How do I cut straight lines with a jigsaw?

Use a straight-edge guide clamped to the workpiece. Without a guide, jigsaw blades naturally wander. Mark your line, clamp a straight board parallel to it (offset by the distance from blade to base plate edge), and run the base plate against the guide. For truly straight cuts, a circular saw is more appropriate.

Best Jigsaws 2026