I am trying to cut 40mm thick Maple worktop with an oldish Bosch 450w jigsaw and new Bosch bimetal 'clean for hardwood' T101BRF blade, but the saw keeps kicking/jumping off the work, despite my holding it down firmly. I have a feeling that the speed of the blade affects things, but can't find any information about it. Can anyone offer advice? Someone has suggested to me that Festool FSG blades would be better.
Is it a straight or curved cut? Straight cut switch to a circular saw (or router) as the previous poster advises. Curved cut, either make a template for the router to follow (good method), or borrow/hire/buy a very good quality jigsaw (not so good method).
You'll never manage it properly with a jigsaw. Use a circular saw. Screw a batten to the reverse side (use short screws!) to give you a super straight edge. Once the batten's there you can use a router instead if you have one meaty enough - but not a jigsaw.
By the look of it the T101BRF is too fine for this job. Your worktop is probably sticky because of the resin, so you need a blade with a "wider set". Get one that says coarse/fast on the packet, and use the saw's medium speed. Go to a pukka toolshop if you can.
I imagine this is a cut-out, so it's a lot of faffing about to use anything other than a jigsaw. I've always cut hardwood w/tops that way without a problem.
Cutting thick worktops is not always easy, but should be possible - I have done it with a jigsaw many times. You won't get a "perfect" cut, but it should be acceptable for cutting out holes for sinkes and hobs etc.
However you will need a supply of sharp blades with relatively coarse teeth - fine ones may clog and give the kickback you are seeing. You will need to change the blade *often* - don't be surprised if in the space of one sink cutout you need to use four or five blades. Chipboard is a very abrasive material to cut and quickly dulls the blade. The moment that happens it gets much harder to maintain any quality or progress of cut. If the worktop is melamine faced then cut it from the underside if possible[1]. This will also reduce chipping of the surface. If your jigsaw has the option of a pendulum action then turn this on to its lowest setting. That will help clear the sawdust and prevent the blade cloging.
[1] if not possible, then cut through masking tape placed along the cut line to reduce chiping on the surface.
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