Bosch 5-Piece 4 in 8 TPI Accurate for Wood with Nails T-Shank Jig Saw Blades

Why these blades earned a spot in my jigsaw kit

I reached for these Bosch jigsaw blades because I needed one solution that could handle two problem materials: sheet plastics without melting or chipping, and construction lumber/OSB where the occasional hidden nail is a fact of life. After several projects—from trimming acrylic and polycarbonate to cutting openings in OSB and laminate—I’m confident calling these a reliable, versatile option when you need clean, straight cuts and you can’t baby the material.

Build and fit

These are T-shank blades, and the fit in my Bosch and DeWalt jigsaws was solid—no slop, no extra rattle beyond what the saw produces on its own. The bi-metal construction with high-speed steel teeth and a more ductile backer gives a nice blend of bite and resilience. You feel it the first time you nick a nail: there’s a momentary change in tone, but the cut keeps going and the teeth aren’t missing when you’re done.

They’re 4 inches overall with a 3-inch working length, 0.04 inches thick, and about 0.3 inches tall. That thickness and height contribute to tracking straight; they don’t corkscrew through the cut the way narrower, scroll-style blades can. The 8 TPI, side-set, milled teeth throw chips efficiently and resist packing up in both plastics and wood fibers.

Plastics: clean edges without drama

Cutting clear plastics is where jigsaws often fall down—melted kerfs, smeared edges, and cracked corners aren’t rare. With these blades, I was able to cut 1/4-inch acrylic and 1/4-inch polycarbonate and get a surprisingly clean, glossy edge right off the saw.

What worked best for me:
- Zero orbital action
- Moderate to higher stroke rate (not max on every saw, but not slow)
- A steady, modest feed—let the teeth do the work
- Masking tape along the cut line to reduce surface scuffing
- Firm support underneath (a sacrificial backer helps with vibration)

Even when I increased the speed, the side-set teeth cleared the chips well enough that the plastic didn’t heat up and fuse. I still avoid lingering in one spot; move through the cut with intent and you’ll be rewarded with an edge that often doesn’t need sanding. For small radiuses on polycarbonate, the blade tracked predictably, though it’s not a scroll blade; expect comfortable arcs, not tight spirals.

Wood with nails and OSB: built for jobsite surprises

On OSB and construction lumber (3/4-inch and 1-1/8-inch), these blades are in their element. The 8 TPI profile is aggressive enough to keep pace while still leaving a cut that’s accurate and reasonably clean for a jigsaw. I purposely ran through a few embedded fasteners—galvanized brads and the odd framing nail—and the teeth held up far better than typical carbon-steel wood blades. That’s the benefit of bi-metal with HSS teeth: they won’t look brand new after metal contact, but they’ll keep cutting straight instead of failing immediately.

For rough-in work, sink cutouts in laminate over particleboard, or trimming flooring around obstacles, these blades strike a nice balance between speed and finish. They’re not finish blades; on veneer-faced plywood, you’ll want to score the surface or use a down-cut blade if chip-out is a concern on the show face. But for structural and hidden cuts, they deliver.

Accuracy and control

Bosch calls these “accurate straight cuts,” and within the limits of a jigsaw, that’s fair. The blade’s stiffness and side-set profile help it track without wandering, especially in materials up to about an inch thick. On deeper plunges, like 1-1/4-inch stock, I slowed my feed slightly to avoid deflection on long, straight runs. With a guide fence, I could keep deviations to a couple of tenths over a 24-inch cut—perfectly acceptable for a jigsaw.

Curves are fine as long as you respect the blade’s width and thickness. Tight inside corners will force you to overcut or square up with a different tool; that’s a geometry issue, not a flaw.

Durability and value

I got multiple projects out of a single blade: two acrylic panels, one polycarbonate shield, and several feet of OSB cuts that included a nail encounter. The teeth were still cutting effectively afterward. A pack of five makes sense if you’re mixing tasks—one dedicated to plastics, one for nail-prone lumber, and you’re still stocked for a while. If you only ever cut clean hardwoods, you can choose a finer-tooth blade optimized for finish, but as an all-rounder with metal tolerance, these last.

Limitations to keep in mind

• Not a finish blade for veneers: 8 TPI with side-set teeth can chip delicate surfaces. Manage your cut direction, use tape, or switch blades for show faces.
• Curve work is limited: the thickness and set that keep the blade straight also make tight curves harder. It’s a straight-cut specialist.
• Working length is 3 inches: realistic max material thickness is around 1-1/4 inches. If you routinely cut thicker stock, you’ll want a longer blade.
• Orbital on plastics is a no-go: these blades can handle plastics well, but only with reduced or zero orbital action and a controlled feed.

Setup tips for best results

• Plastics (acrylic, polycarbonate):

  • Turn orbital action off.
  • Use medium to high stroke rate with a steady feed.
  • Tape both sides of the cut, support the workpiece, and avoid pausing mid-cut.
  • For starting holes, drill clean pilot holes to reduce stress at corners.

• Wood/OSB with potential nails:

  • Use low to medium orbital for faster chip evacuation.
  • Let the blade establish a path before leaning into the cut.
  • Expect a change in feel when you hit metal; keep the saw moving and don’t force it.

• Accuracy:

  • Pair with a straightedge or jigsaw guide shoe when you need ruler-straight cuts.
  • Keep a dedicated blade for plastics to preserve the sharpness of the tooth tips.

Who it’s for

• Remodelers and DIYers who want one blade that can move between sheet plastics and jobsite lumber without a blade swap every time a fastener appears.
• Makers working with acrylic or polycarbonate panels who prefer a jigsaw to a table saw or scoring tools for one-off cuts and gentle curves.
• Anyone frustrated by blade wander in thicker stock and willing to trade ultra-tight curve capability for straighter tracking.

The bottom line

These Bosch T-shank jigsaw blades hit a sweet spot I don’t often see: they cut plastics cleanly without melting and they shrug off the occasional nail in wood and OSB. The bi-metal build and 8 TPI, side-set teeth offer a mix of speed, control, and longevity that suits real-world projects where materials and conditions vary. They aren’t the right choice for fine, chip-free veneer work or tight scroll cuts, but used as intended—straight cuts in plastics and construction materials—they perform consistently and predictably.

Recommendation: I recommend these blades. They’re a dependable, versatile choice if you need straight, accurate cuts in plastics and construction lumber, with the durability to survive unexpected nails. Keep a finer-tooth set on hand for finish surfaces and a narrow blade for tight curves, but for everyday accuracy and resilience, this pack belongs in the jigsaw case.