Blade Station - Jigsaw Blade Swapping Workbench Add-on

The Blade Station is an add-on for your workbench to quickly change the blade of your jigsaw. It allows you to install the blade without getting your fingers near the sharp teeth. There's space for your 3 most used blades (of 100mm total length or shorter). For example: a blade for wood, metal and plastic. 

Works great with the Festool Carvex quick-release function. But any jigsaw with a T-shank interface will work.

2 versions of the station are available: 

• A universial version which screws directly into your workbench
• A version designed to mount on the Festool Multifunction Table MFT rail

How to use the Blade Station

For jigsaw without quick release:

1. Take a blade holder and place it over the bottom of the blade
2. Release the blade
3. Place the blade holder with blade in the station.
4. Take out the blade holder with the blade you want to install.
5. While holding the blade holder, install the T-shank in the Jigsaw.

For jigsaw with a quick release (Festool Carvex) (see video below):

1. Place your jigsaw (with blade installed) over an empty slot.
2. Release the blade - it will fall down into the blade holder.
3. Take out the blade holder with the blade you want to install.
4. While holding the blade holder, install the T-shank in the Jigsaw.

I recommend to use different colors per type of blade.

Installation

Universal workbench mounting:

1. Make sure to print the “universal” version of the station.
2. Two wood screws are required - 4x80mm or 4x70mm woods screws will work best.
3. Align the top of the station with your work bench.
4. Drive in the screws through the holes.

Mounting on Festool Multifunction Table MFT:

1. Make sure to print the “MFT” version of the station.
2. Place 2x M5 nuts in the T-nut.
3. Put in 2x 30mm M5 socket head screws in the holder on the station.
4. Attach the T-nut with a few turns.
5. Slide it onto the rail
6. Tighten the bolts.

Printing

• No support needed.
• Two versions of the blade holder are available. For thicker blades use the “wide” version.
• Most materials should work. I used PLA for the blade holders and PETG for the station.
• Not much infill is needed for the station: 15% is enough.
• I recommend 30% infill for the blade holders and T-nut.
• Print the T-nut with the nut holes facing down.
• I printed the station with the top facing down. This way I got a nice texture on top from the textured build plate.
• And most important: use some fun colors for the blade holders :). They are a perfect print for those spools that only got a few turns left.

Please keep in mind that this a proof of concept. If you have any suggestions, please let me know in the comments.

Have fun printing and using it!