This Is Why Your Jigsaw Blades Keep Breaking (15 Reasons)

A broken jigsaw blade is insurmountable. Ultimately, they are thin blades that move at high speeds and sometimes have a hard time. So every now and then one will indeed break.

But what if, when working with a jigsaw, you have the problem that the jigsaw blades keep breaking? This may indicate that there is an issue other than normal wear and tear of the blade.

Thanks to my years of expertise in woodworking, I can list 15 different reasons why your jigsaw blades keep breaking in this article. This means you no longer have to guess for the right reason, but you can use selection to look for a solution to the issue.

PS. A broken jigsaw blade need to be replaced. Learn how to do this properly and in the most safe way in my article, How To change a Jigsaw Blade? a Clear 2 Minute Guide.

Reason #1: You force the jig saw into the wood

You should let the jig saw do the work and avoid pushing too hard. As an operator, all you have to do is guide the saw in the desired direction . Do not force it to cut faster than the blade can naturally move through the wood.

Allowing the saw to do the work reduces the likelihood of damaging expensive jigsaw blades . It will also be easier to make nice straight cuts.
Related article: How to Cut Straight with a Jigsaw (3 Easy Ways).

Not only will the increased pressure cause that your jigsaw blades keep breaking, but the heat will build up , causing the jigsaw blade to break due to metal weakening.
The solution is to slow down and let the blade do its job.

Reason #2: You are using the wrong jigsaw blade for the material

I cannot emphasize enough how important it is that you can select the right jigsaw blades for the project you are working on. The right jigsaw blade is not only essential to ensure maximum performance and life of a blade, but also for your safety as a user of the jigsaw.

Some blades have a universal design that can be used on wood, metal, and even plastic. Other blades are made specifically to cut wood , while others are made to cut metal. Using a blade not designed for the material being cut may cause the jigsaw blade to break.

Understanding the differences between jigsaw blades is critical for selecting the right blade for your jigsaw . That is why I recommend that you read my article on the various types of jigsaw blades. There you will find all the information you require to make an informed decision.

Reason #3: The blade is dull

A dull jigsaw blade will require much more force to cut through the wood than a sharp blade . Due to the increased pressure required to get the blade through the material, the blade heats up very quickly and is prone to breakage.

In addition to the risk of the jigsaw blade breaking faster, dull blades increase the risk that the saw could kick back and break you . In the case of kickback, not only can the blade break but there is also the possibility that you could injure your hands or face.

So replace the blade in time. This will reduce risks such as breakage, damage to the material, or injury. Learn how you can see when your blade is dull and need to be replaced in this article.

Reason #4: You are using low quality blades

People have a natural tendency to look for items that are slightly cheaper. I’ve moved away from that for a while because I keep experiencing that cheap materials often cause problems.

Always look for jigsaw blades from a reputable brand . These blades may be slightly more expensive, but they last longer than the cheap brands. If your jigsaw blades keep breaking, you are losing money instead of saving.

Carbon steel jigsaw blades are typically the most affordable of all the other blades on the market. However , they do not last as long as most others and will dull faster.

High Speed Steel blades are frequently used with harder materials such as metal. However, they are more brittle and less flexible than carbon steel blades.

Bi-Metal blades consist of a mixture of High Carbon Steel and High-Speed Steel . This design makes the blade last longer than just carbon steel or high-speed steel.

Reason #5: The blade is not firmly secured to the jigsaw

When you first start using your jigsaw, make sure the blade is secure. Jigsaws can vibrate and shake while cutting, and if the blade is not securely attached to the saw , it can come off as a result of the vibration. If this occurs, the blade may break as it flees the saw. Furthermore, when your jigsaw blade breaks, it has the potential to damage the workpiece or cause serious injury.

You can easily check to see if the saw blade is properly secured in the saw. If you can’t move the saw blade freely in the clamp, you’re OK.

A clamp not holding the blade properly may be due to wear. Check the clamp for scratches or chips on the base. Other signs that the clamp may not be working properly are scratches on the blade itself where it is held.

Reason #6: You’re making a turn that’s too sharp

A common cause of broken jigsaw blades is making a sharp turn with the blade. The blade will be twisted in the saw cut and break off if the load is too high.

Use a custom narrow jigsaw blade when cutting small, intricate shapes. These blades can cut tighter curves with a reduced risk of breakage. These knives are less suitable for spring straight cuts.

Reason #7: The wood you’re cutting is too thick

A jigsaw blade can break while cutting if it gets stuck while moving up and down . This risk increases as you cut thicker or harder wood.

A blade that gets stuck will bend and eventually break.
Therefore , always use blades that are specially made for the thickness of the material you want to cut.
Never use blades longer than the maximum length specified by the manufacturer.
I have written a very interesting article on the cutting depth of a jigsaw, which contains information that adds value to this tip. Then be sure to read this.

If you need to cut a thicker workpiece, make cuts on both sides of the workpiece instead of extending the blade.

Reason #8: You’re cutting through nails or other hard material

When using reclaimed wood, there is always a danger that you have not seen that nails , screws, or other hard materials are still present in the wood. This can cause you to damage the teeth of the saw blade, which will break the blade in both the short term and long term.
When cutting reclaimed wood, do not force the jigsaw in and if you experience any resistance from the blade against something hard, stop immediately.

If you are going to work with reclaimed wood, it is recommended to check the wood with a metal detector . That is , by the way, 1 of the 10 best gifts for woodworkers that I recommend in this article.

Reason #9: The workpiece is not clamped properly and suddenly shifts

It is always a good idea to clamp the object you are trying to cut so that it remains stationary and does not move.
A jigsaw causes a lot of vibrations, which can cause the workpiece to slide.

If this happens suddenly, the saw blade could jam and twist in the cut and break.

A good set of clamps in the workshop is recommended. If you’re not sure which clamps you need, read my article What Woodworking Clamps Do I Need? 3 essential clamps + useful tips, will bring you some inspiration.

Reason #10: The wood is binding the blade

When the wood is under tension , the saw kerf can collapse during cutting. If the blade is in the cut, it will be pinched . If this happens while the saw is running at full speed, this sudden stop can break the jigsaw blade.

If you know that the wood is under tension and there is a risk of binding , you can place a wedge in the saw cut after a few centimeters of sawing . This prevents the wood from slamming and the saw blade from getting stuck.

Reason #11: The blade is bended or damaged

Avoid using blades that are bent or cracked . Always check before using them and look for nicks or missing teeth.

If the teeth are damaged, the cut may be inaccurate and the blade will eventually break. If this is the case, discard the blade and use a new jigsaw blade.

If you’re having trouble determining why your jigsaw blade bends repeatedly , I recommend reading my article, 10 Jigsaw Blade Bending Reasons You Should Know (solved). It will teach you how to identify the root cause of this recurring issue.

Reason #12: You are using the wrong speed

Jigsaws often have a speed controller. With this , you can make the speed at which the knife moves up and down move faster or slower.

Always adjust this speed to the type of material and the thickness of the material you are cutting. The type of jigsaw blade you use will also affect the speed . Always check the packaging of the saw blades or the manufacturer mentions this.

Sometimes it can also be better to disable the orbital action. When cutting hard wood with this feature enabled, there is an increased risk of the jigsaw blade breaking. So if your jigsaw blades keep breaking, start adjusting the speed and orbital action.

Reason #13: You have started to cut before the blade reaches full speed

When using a jigsaw, it is best to use it at full speed. If you begin cutting with the blade already in contact with the wood , you risk damaging your saw blade, which could result in kickback or broken jigsaw blades.

Jigsaw blades are strong and durable, but they will break more easily if the saw isn’t running at full speed when they hit the material . The saw will then be unable to cut through the wood smoothly and will tend to jump up. This is one of the main reasons why people experience their jigsaw blades keep breaking.

To avoid this issue, run the saw for a few seconds before cutting. When the jigsaw is at full speed , insert the saw blade into the wood.

Reason #14: You are making an incorrect plunge cut

Jigsaws can be used to make plunge cuts . It is an easy jigsaw technique where you hold your saw at a slight angle with the front of the sole touching the wood. All you have to do to make the plunge cut is to tilt it down slightly and let the blade cut into the wood.

Because of the force on the blade, jigsaw blades keep breaking when doing this. When making these types of cuts , the most important thing to look for is a sharp point on your saw blade.

When performing this jigsaw technique , do not put too much pressure on the saw blade . The more pressure you put on it, the greater the chance that the blade will break.

Reason #15: You have a broken jigsaw blade because of kickback

A kickback occurs when the jigsaw becomes stuck in the wood and begins to jump. This can result in the jigsaw blade breaking . Kickback can frequently throw parts back at the user, injuring them.

To avoid kickback when using a jigsaw, feed the saw slowly through the material, use an appropriate blade, and clamp your work.

Conclusion Why Your Jigsaw Blades Keep Breaking

As you can conclude from this article, there is not one but several reasons why your jigsaw blades keeps breaking. So you will have to investigate. For this , you can be guided by the 15 reasons from this article and in this way make a selection to find the only reason why your jigsaw blades keep breaking and find a suitable solution.

It has often been mentioned in this article that breaking a jigsaw blade can cause parts to fly off toward the operator and cause injury. It is therefore always recommended to use the correct personal protective equipment (PPE). You can discover which PPE is best to wear in a woodworking workshop in my article, Woodworking Safety – What PPE Do You Need For Woodworking?