Fitting T shank jigsaw blades in Leatherman tools

Maxintheuk · **on:** April 05, 2019, 04:19:24 PM

While working on fitting reciprocating saw blades in the belt clip mount the good old subject of using T shank (Bosch standard) jigsaw blades in a Wave and others still bugs me.

There are a few options - Tofty's attachment - neat but pricey and seems a shame to have to add another holder when one exists. Then drilling the large bit holder to insert a pin/bolt. Again, not too happy about having to drill a hole in my LM. Or building up the blade with epoxy or similar and jamming it in....hmmmmmmm.

So, looking at the holder there is the gap at the back ready to be utilised so this is what I knocked up this morning. And pretty damn great it works too!

Firstly grind height of two tabs to 7.0 mm. I ground these with flat edges but making them slightly pointed/chamfered each side (lengthways ie 'V' shaped top and bottom) would mimic the LM bits better and be even more secure.

***EDIT*** For best result DON'T do it like this! See ***update*** in post #10 a few posts below.

Check and go slowly, a gnat's whisker here and there.

Next grind the end down to just before the chamfers (but more on this at the end).

A little bit of very careful smoothing of the edges of the tabs to help it slide past the bit holder spring lock.

TBC:

Maxintheuk · **Reply #1 on:** April 05, 2019, 04:22:37 PM

Bingo. Fits very snug right to the end.

Mark the very outer edge of the holder.

As this was a quick test today I did not have a handy carbide bit so to enable the hard steel jigsaw blade to be drilled I had to cheat.

TBC

Maxintheuk · **Reply #2 on:** April 05, 2019, 04:26:31 PM

I only had a 2.5mm but a 1.5mm might have been better. When I do this properly then I'll get the correct carbide bits.

The hole ready.

And lines up nicely.

Again, this was the only spring pin I had handy but I'll refine this.

But it's super solid - blade cannot go back as held against the LM or forward due to the pin.

TBC

Maxintheuk · **Reply #3 on:** April 05, 2019, 04:32:03 PM

Works a treat.

But with no mods also fits the Skeletool.

Maxintheuk · **Reply #4 on:** April 05, 2019, 04:35:04 PM

However, because the Skeletool has the *proper* spring operated and much more solid lock than the Wave.....if you grind a little less off the end and leave the shank of the blade a few mm longer then the tab of the blade will lock into the holder and you don't (in a short test so far) even need the hole and pin in the blade. I just wish they used this thumb lock holder on the Wave too.

Drawing below shows how the notch on the LM bit lines up with a slightly less ground blade.

pfrsantos · **Reply #5 on:** April 05, 2019, 04:56:17 PM

Wow! This is great! I bought a few of those saws, to try and use them with my Wave, but never managed to do it. This is a great tutorial on how to solve that problem!

Thanks for sharing!

pfrsantos · **Reply #6 on:** April 05, 2019, 04:56:47 PM

Bookmarked it!

pfrsantos · **Reply #7 on:** April 05, 2019, 04:59:10 PM

You could use a file to make a little notch in the Wave bit holder, so as to have the pin sitting tighter.

pfrsantos · **Reply #8 on:** April 05, 2019, 05:00:14 PM

Of course, that should be done before drilling the hole in the saws... Now it wouldn't sit so thight.

Poncho65 · **Reply #9 on:** April 05, 2019, 05:13:51 PM

Great work around for using those blades

I may have to try and make a couple of those

Maxintheuk · **Reply #10 on:** April 05, 2019, 05:23:23 PM

***UPDATE***.

I just did a bit more experimenting: it is *much* better when grinding the tabs to 7.0mm to take it all off the bottom tab so it is flush - see blade in bottom of pic below. First one I did is on top.

This way the flat bottom of the blade sits much better in the holder and when it is naturally pushed up when sawing it will not be inclined to rock and it also leaves more 'meat' on the top tab for lock up. You may still need to slightly smooth the top tab front/rear edges a tadge.

And sketch shows best way to shape the tabs (end on view) if your eyesight is good enough!

ducttapetech · **Reply #11 on:** April 05, 2019, 06:44:29 PM

Nice work!

Wspeed · **Reply #12 on:** April 05, 2019, 07:04:37 PM

Great idea

Maxintheuk · **Reply #13 on:** April 05, 2019, 07:44:52 PM

Thanks guys, one little further refinement [puts on hypocrite hat].

Of course these blades are a little thin, the pin get rid of much of the wobble but adding a dab of epoxy

on the sides does help stop this.

Also these speSmurfpillst Carbide and lethally sharp flooring blade I bought yonks ago for this very idea are finally going to get used - just in case I need to fit some carpet or cut a house brick in half during an EDC emergency...

Syncop8r · **Reply #14 on:** April 06, 2019, 01:28:32 AM

I think this has been kinda done before but the securing hole is a great new idea.

Maxintheuk · **Reply #15 on:** April 11, 2019, 07:24:13 PM

Quote from: Syncop8r on April 06, 2019, 01:28:32 AM

I think this has been kinda done before but the securing hole is a great new idea.

Thanks. Yes, certainly not my original idea but pleased with how this works as well as it can and leaves the tool unchanged.

Maxintheuk · **Reply #16 on:** April 16, 2019, 02:06:14 PM

Final set now made - I ended up with a 1.5mm hole and the same clip as this worked very well and securely.

Also experimented with building up the sides with JB Weld but it did not really make it any better in practise and keeping them flat means the set takes up virtually no space in the MUT sheath I use with my Wave.

RF52 · **Reply #17 on:** April 16, 2019, 02:29:28 PM

Good job Max! It does look like a capable set

Sent fra min FRD-L09 via Tapatalk

Wspeed · **Reply #18 on:** April 16, 2019, 02:54:01 PM

Good job Max

Maxintheuk · **Reply #19 on:** April 17, 2019, 11:38:26 AM

Thanks guys.

Poncho65 · **Reply #20 on:** April 17, 2019, 12:31:10 PM

Quote from: RF52 on April 16, 2019, 02:29:28 PM

Good job Max! It does look like a capable set

Sent fra min FRD-L09 via Tapatalk

they look awesome

Maxintheuk · **Reply #21 on:** April 17, 2019, 11:52:40 PM

Thanks.

been playing with them a bit and the type of spring clip here is absolutely key. It’s quite strong and really holds the blade down as well as in and makes it much more solid and nearly wobble free. If anyone needs the dimensions let me know.

Maxintheuk · **Reply #22 on:** April 18, 2019, 03:55:36 PM

I had some spare time this morning and a spare cut off of a reciprocating saw blade. Thought I'd try grinding it to suit as you don't need to stick to T shank jigsaw blades - lots of things can be ground to fit. Certainly easier than trying to replicate the belt clip mount and it sure makes one aggressive wood saw.

Wspeed · **Reply #23 on:** April 18, 2019, 03:58:14 PM

That looks a handy saw blade

Happy Gilmore · **Reply #24 on:** April 19, 2019, 01:58:51 AM

This thread got my head going...

I think there is a way to easily modify the Bit exchanger so that you can all you have to do is modify the Saw blades using the built in Wave file and it would work perfectly. More than that it would allow you to modify the Surge file as well.