A Jeweller’s Guide to Saw Blades

Saw blades come in a wide range of sizes to accommodate different gauges of metal, the idea being that you change them regularly rather than sticking to just one. A saw cut is initiated from the edge of the metal or a carefully pre-drilled hole, although as you work your saw blade requirements will alter. For example, sawing in a straight line requires a thicker blade than a curve, which it is better to use a finer blade for – so in time quickly changing blades will become second nature.

How to Choose the Right Grade of Saw Blade

The grade of a saw blade is determined by the amount of teeth it has per cm. So, a blade with more teeth will be finer as they have to be smaller to fit into the space along the shaft and vice versa. Fine blades are more suited to thinner metal, and coarser ones are better for thicker metal as you can see from the chart below. As a general rule, you are aiming to encompass two teeth of the blade within the thickness of your metal.

Saw Blade Specification	Blade Thickness (mm)	Blade Width (mm)	Blade Length (mm)	Teeth per cm	Corresponding Drill Size (mm)	Suitable Metal Gauge (mm)
Grade 4	0.38	0.8	130	15	0.8	1.0 – 1.3
Grade 3	0.36	0.74	130	16	0.8	0.9 – 1.2
Grade 2	0.34	0.7	130	17.5	0.7	0.9 – 1.1
Grade 1	0.3	0.63	130	19	0.7	0.8 – 1.0
Grade 0 (1/0)	0.28	0.58	130	20.5	0.6	0.6 – 0.95
Grade 2/0	0.26	0.52	130	22	0.55	0.6 – 0.8
Grade 3/0	0.24	0.48	130	23.5	0.5	0.6 – 0.7
Grade 4/0	0.22	0.44	130	26.5	0.5	0.5 – 0.6
Grade 5/0	0.2	0.4	130	28	0.4	0.4 – 0.55
Grade 6/0	0.18	0.35	130	32	0.4	0.35 – 0.5
Grade 8/0	0.17	0.3	130	30	0.3	Up to 0.4

Saw blades are graded from 4 (coarsest) to 8/0 (finest). This gives you 11 different sizes to choose from, which might seem a little daunting at first. However, you can purchase mixed selection packs which is a good place to start, or alternatively, choosing a size which is somewhere in the middle such as a Grade 2/0 or Grade 0 (1/0) will stand you in good stead. Most are sold in bundles of 12 which may seem a lot but you will get through them in no time, particularly when you are learning to saw, so it is best to stock up.

Brands of Jeweller’s Saw Blades

As with most tools, there are many different brands of saw blades to choose from, each boasting different qualities. They are normally made from steel, so strength and flexibility are key factors to consider when choosing the right blades for you as they do have a tendency to break quite easily.

Vallorbe Saw Blades

Vallorbe Glardon is a Swiss brand with a long standing reputation for quality. They use fine grade steel, which produces a lovely uniform and flexible product. These blades are a go-to product within the industry, and Vallorbe Glardon is the brand I was advised to choose when starting out many moons ago.

Super Pike Saw Blades

Super Pike are another great Swiss brand whose saw blades have a rounded back to help with manoeuvrability, thus aiding accurate cutting. They have been enhanced with a heat treatment process, which helps to give increased durability and extra hardness which is a great feature. Resistance is also kept to a minimum thanks to an additional special coating, making these Super Pike blades a popular choice for many.

Cooksongold Saw Blades

Finally, our very own brand of Cooksongold saw blades represents fantastic value for money without compromising on quality. Sold as a gross (144 blades), these saw blades offer great convenience if you are looking to buy in bulk. Manufactured in Germany, these blades are made from hardened and tempered steel which makes them strong, sharp and flexible.

Despite the range of options, choosing a saw blade is a relatively simple process once the metal gauge is taken into account. Always use this as your initial reference point and then try a few different brands to establish what suits you best – the rest is really just personal preference and price, so not that complicated at all.

Make sure you have all the saw blades you need to bring your handmade jewellery designs to life by exploring our extensive selection of long lasting and durable jewellers’ saw blades today.

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