Jewler saw blades

[oldtravler61]

 Question for making patch boxes. What size blades do most of you use? Have .035 to .040 thick brass to work with. Seeing the work some of you do makes me want to try. Yes I can buy the kits but am not interested. Want to create my own. Any tips would be much appreciated!! Thank you Oldtravler

[P.W.Berkuta]

I don't know what size mine are as I have my 4 different size blades in seperate plastic containers (not marked - D'oh). As a guide the thinner the material you are cutting the finer the TPI. I buy mine from Brownells - 2 dozen (or more) at a time. Hope this helps.

[Nordnecker]

I recently bought some #3 and #6 Lazer Gold blades from Rio Grand. They were on sale at the time. I was very pleased with them. I used them for a .060 brass patch box with multiple piercings.

[bama]

I like the 3/0 Laser Gold from Rio Grande.

[T*O*F]

Here's a chart for saw blades and recommendations.  Instead of thickness, you have to figure out what gauge metal you're using.
I think sizes are predicated on having at least 3 teeth in your work while sawing.

http://www.anvilfire.com/FAQs/jewelers_saw_blades.htm

[Mark Elliott]

I use number 1 and number 3 Antelope brand blades.   The wear very well as they are intended to cut hard metal.

[jerrywh]

 You must figure the blade by the thickness of the metal being cut. The rule of thumb is this. You must have three teeth in the metal when sawing. There for if you were cutting metal 1/16" thick it would require 3x16 teeth or 48 teeth pr in.  If you use less it will be difficult and you will break a lot of blades. Do not buy cheap blades.
 There is a trick for cutting thin metal. Glue the metal on a wooden stick first like a tongue suppressor. Then you can use a blade with fewer teeth.

[oldtravler61]

   Thanks everyone for the replys. Very much appreciated.   Mike

[flehto]

The only time I use a jeweler's saw when making a Pbox is for the piercings. Otherwise I use a hacksaw for getting rid of most of the brass and then use  coarse files. I leave .01 mat'l outside the line and then touch up w/ finer files.  If the shape of the sideplates is the same for some length, I super glue them together  and use the hacksaw and files to do the common  lengths. It seems roughing w/ a hacksaw and then the files is faster than w/ using a jeweler's saw.....anyways for me.....Fred

[Bill Raby]

It all depends on thickness of the metal and how detailed you are getting. 2/0 is likely best unless you are doing something with lots of small detail.

[jerrywh]

http://www.firemountaingems.com/resources/encyclobeadia/charts/771x

[Waksupi]

I find a tool like this can also come in handy for making patchboxes.

https://www.amazon.com/Nickel-Plated-Nibbling-Tool-1/dp/B0002KRACO/ref=sr_1_1?s=fiona-hardware&ie=UTF8&qid=1486914896&sr=8-1&keywords=metal+nibbler

[oldtravler61]

 Thanks everyone for the added info. Jerry thanks for the chart an company web daddy. Bill that seems like a neat tool! Price is worth a try. Seems like it would work well for making inlays too. Once again thanks for all the replys.   Mike