Jigsaw Blades

Jigsaw blades at MTN Shop UK

The jigsaw is one of the most versatile power tools on site, but only if the blade matches the work. A wood blade in metal will shatter within seconds. A metal blade in laminate will chip out the top face and leave an unusable edge. A standard up-cut blade on a kitchen worktop cut-out will tear the melamine and leave visible damage across the finished side. The Jigsaw Blades collection at MTN Shop UK is built to give you the correct specification for whatever you are cutting, with the tooth geometry, TPI and blade material that actually match trade practice.

T-shank blades: the modern standard

T-shank is the Bosch-originated blade fitting that has become the universal standard for modern UK jigsaws. If your jigsaw was made after roughly 2005, it takes T-shank blades: Bosch, DEWALT, Makita, Milwaukee, Metabo, Festool, Ryobi and effectively every trade brand use the same T-shank system. The tang has a shoulder that locks into the tool-free chuck of modern jigsaws, so blade changes take a few seconds without a hex key. All the major blade manufacturers make T-shank blades, so you are not tied to the tool brand for consumables. U-shank blades are still available for older tools (particularly older Black & Decker and some pre-2000 saws), and both fittings are covered in this collection.

HCS blades for wood

High Carbon Steel (HCS) blades are the standard specification for wood cutting: softwood, hardwood, sheet goods, plywood, MDF and most timber-based materials. HCS is cheap, cuts fast, holds an edge well in wood, but will not survive contact with metal fixings or nails. The Bosch T101B (fine cut) and T144D (fast cut) are the reference blades for general joinery work, with the T101BR reverse-tooth version for chip-free cuts on the top face.

Bi-metal (BiM) blades for metal and multi-material

Bi-metal construction bonds a hardened HSS cutting edge to a flexible spring steel body, giving a blade that cuts through metal without shattering and survives the lateral flex that kills single-material blades. Use for mild steel, aluminium, non-ferrous, cable tray, stud rail, thin-wall pipe and any application where the blade might encounter nails or embedded metal in timber. The Bosch T118A (standard) and T118AF (bi-metal flexible) are the trade references for metal cutting; the T118EOF is the fine-tooth version for very thin sheet.

Down-cut blades for laminate and melamine

Standard jigsaw blades cut on the up-stroke, which means the tooth exits through the top face of the workpiece and pulls material with it. On laminate flooring, kitchen worktops with melamine faces, veneered ply and any material where the top face is the visible finish, this causes chip-out along the cut line that is impossible to sand out. Down-cut blades reverse the tooth direction so the cutting action pulls down into the material, leaving the top face clean. The Bosch T101BR is the reference reverse-tooth blade and is worth carrying in the case for any second-fix or kitchen work.

Carbide-grit blades for tile and hard materials

Ceramic tile, porcelain, natural stone, fibre cement board and glass-reinforced plastic all need a carbide-grit blade rather than a toothed blade: the grit-coated edge grinds through the material rather than cutting, which prevents the cracking and chipping that toothed blades cause in brittle materials. Slow feed rate, patience and water cooling on the harder materials are essential. Used by bathroom installers, kitchen fitters and tilers for tap holes, worktop cut-outs in stone and shaped tile work.

Progressor variable-pitch blades

Progressor blades have varying tooth spacing along the blade length: coarser teeth at the base for fast material removal, finer teeth at the tip for cleaner finish. The result is a blade that handles a wider range of materials and thicknesses without swapping, useful for mixed material work like door frames, mixed sheet stock and general site cutting where you do not know the material composition in advance.

TPI: choosing the right tooth count

• 6 TPI: rough wood, fast cuts through thick timber, structural work.
• 10 TPI: general wood cutting, sheet goods, joinery.
• 14 TPI: fine wood, thick MDF, hardwood, cleaner cuts.
• 21 TPI: thin metal, aluminium, non-ferrous.
• 32 TPI: very thin metal sheet, stainless steel, thin-wall pipe.

Blade length

• 50mm to 75mm: standard length for most jigsaw work, tight curves, general use.
• 100mm: deeper cuts through thick timber, worktops, structural timber.
• 132mm and longer: extra deep cuts, laminated worktop stack cuts, thick sheet goods.

Choosing the right blade

• General joinery and sheet goods: HCS T101B or T144D T-shank, 10-14 TPI.
• Laminate flooring installation: T101BR reverse-tooth down-cut, essential for chip-free finish.
• Kitchen worktop cut-outs (melamine): T101BR down-cut for the visible face.
• Curves in timber: short 50mm blade, 10 TPI, narrow profile.
• Mild steel and aluminium: Bosch T118A bi-metal, 21 TPI.
• Thin sheet metal, stud rail, cable tray: T118EOF or equivalent 32 TPI bi-metal.
• Ceramic tile and porcelain: carbide-grit blade, slow feed, water cooling.
• Mixed material or unknown composition: Progressor variable-pitch blade.

Related categories

The Jigsaw Blades collection sits under our wider Bits, Blades & Accessories range, alongside bits, bits and holders, circular saw blades, cutter blades and staples and accessories. Pair the right blade with the right saw from our powered saws range, or browse the wider power tools category. To keep everything running, browse our batteries range.

For trade quantities, kitchen fitting contract kits, flooring installer supplies or specific Bosch, DEWALT or LENOX references, request a quote and our team will get back to you with availability.