Cobalt jig saw blades

Otto · Post by **Otto** » Sat Jul 21, 2001 3:43 pm

I was getting some cobalt drill bits for stainless work today at the local Lowe's and noticed cobalt jig saw blades. Of course I had to have them!!

Has anyone used them on stainless?? and if so, what results did you get??? [img]http://www.armourarchive.org/ubb/confused.gif[/img]

(To be honest, if the cobalt blades hold up to the stainless OK, I'm thinking of selling my B-2 and just sticking with my jigsaw)

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Otto's Armoury
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Ideval · Post by **Ideval** » Sat Jul 21, 2001 3:56 pm

Otto,
I do not cut nearly as much metal as you do, but I do prefer a solid jigsaw. I just have to make sure that the metal is supported, and I can cut curves and straight lines incredibly easily.

Let me know how the blades work, as I am contantly wearing the usuals out.
Thanks

Llywelyn · Post by **Llywelyn** » Sat Jul 21, 2001 8:37 pm

Greetings,

I am looking for an easy way to cut stainless for myself. and I have a few questions. What guage SS are you cutting? What do you have for a jigsaw? How fast is it?

Llywelyn

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Stay open minded, but not so open minded that your brains fall out.

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I am neater with a 5lbs. cross pein than with a ball point pen!

Alcyoneus · Post by **Alcyoneus** » Sun Jul 22, 2001 12:03 am

So, how many jigsaw blades will you take for that B-2 paperweight?

Otto · Post by **Otto** » Sun Jul 22, 2001 9:19 am

Well, the jig saw I use is a craftsman "industrial" model that I got at Sears years ago for about $100. When cutting stainless (any thickness) go slowly, with cool down breaks every few inches, and make sure to lubricate the blade as normal. A shear is very likely a better way to cut stainless... but I wanna try out the cobalt saw blades.

And if I part with my "paperweight", it's gonna be for $$$ not a "stack of saw blades"

I'll post later on how the blades work out, as I am currently on a stainless project.

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Otto's Armoury
(home of one HIGHLY overworked armourer!)

http://www.members.tripod.com/SBvast

Otto · Post by **Otto** » Sun Jul 22, 2001 9:49 pm

Well, the cobalt jig saw blades turned out to be a bust :sad:

But to me (cuz I've used one for sooooo many years) a jig saw is still the way to go. So I'm gonna sell my b2 beverly shear for $350 (what I paid for it a few weeks ago) and if I get no takers, then it goes on Ebay.

If anyone reading this is interested in the shear, see the post on the classifieds or drop me an e-mail.

As to cutting stainless with a jig saw, the 2 biggest concerns are going slow, and maintaining a fairly constant slow speed (which requires a decent amount of control on the trigger). If you run at top speed, you'll burn the blade up within 2 inches of cutting. Used properly, an entire stainless helm could be cut with 1 or 2 blades.

Also, make sure that every inch or so, you give the blade a rest to cool down and get more oil on it... a pain and a little slow, but still a functional way to cut stainless. (I just use cheapy 17 teeth per inch blades... I stay away from the expensive bi-metal ones, tried them before and found no real benefit)

ps. All the above rules about going really slow and all only really apply to stainless, NOT mild steel... mild is MUCH easier to work with.

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Otto's Armoury
(home of one HIGHLY overworked armourer!)

http://www.members.tripod.com/SBvast