Jig Saw Blades for cutting through 1 5/8" thick Oak Counter top?

Question

I am trying to cut an opening for the sink in an 1 5/8" solid oak butcher block countertop. My Jig Saw is barely doing anything. What the best type of blade for thick oak? Any other ideas on how to do it?

Answer 1

do not use a jigsaw, thats too thick for the saw to operate efficiently and it was never designed to cut wood that thick


the way installers do it:

-mark out your lines with the template
-at the corners drill a 2 inch hole all the way through inside the lines.
-use a circular saw and do plunge cuts and cut to the holes following your layout lines( be careful if you move the saw backwards, it will try to jump up)
-after cutting, screw a 2x4 thats longer than the width of the sink opening to the piece that will drop out when you finish cutting - this will hold the piece your cutting out from droppping through and prevent it from splintering and tearing up the counter on the finished edge where it might be visible after the sink is installed.
-use a handsaw and finish the cuts that the circular saw wasnt able to finish.
-lift out the center piece and install the sink

voila, no splinters, breaks or tear out

Answer 2

That's tough work for a jig saw, especially if it is under-powered.

The best jig saw blades have cutting edges on both sides of the teeth...that is they cut on the up AND down stroke.

Bosch makes these and are sold at Lowe's, but they have the "T" top connection, which may not fit your saw. DeWalt sells them with the "U" top connection.

Answer 3

That's some hard core work for a jig saw. Use a high end blade with a low tooth per inch rating. It is still going to go very slow though.

Answer 4

Use a rough cut blade,turn the countertop upside down,let the blade work itself,oak is very hard wood, and you could brake
your blade,have patience,and your project should go smoothly
good luck!

Answer 5

Use a course blade probably about 14 teeth per inch. it is a hard wood and hard to cut.