Cutting & Abrasives · My build kit

DEWALT DW3770-5 Metal Jigsaw Blades

The heater project involved both a metal seat platform and a composite cover. My cutting supplies include a dedicated metal jigsaw-blade pack alongside the mixed blade sets.

By · Camper Van Freedom

Read my build notes ↓

The Item in My Kit

I bought DEWALT DW3770-5 Metal Jigsaw Blades as part of my camper van equipment.

The heater project involved both a metal seat platform and a composite cover. My cutting supplies include a dedicated metal jigsaw-blade pack alongside the mixed blade sets.

Separating a Dedicated Blade Pack from a Mixed Assortment

  1. The heater work involved a metal seat platform and a separate composite cover.
  2. I made the cover’s front face and triangular side pieces.
  3. I joined and fitted the panels at the angled platform, where screw access needed extra attention.
The cover and vent arrangement behind the passenger seat.
The cover and vent arrangement behind the passenger seat.
My black composite cover panel during the heater-cover work.
My black composite cover panel during the heater-cover work.

Camper Van Project Applications

A blade selected for metal still needs access and support at the actual cut. A sideways van-wall cut can feel very different from a flat bench cut in similar sheet material. Steven's comparison with the reciprocating saw shows why tool position belongs beside blade choice.

For a wider view of the build kit, see my van conversion tool checklist and budget versus professional tool comparisons.

Manufacturer Specifications And Instructions

SpecificationManufacturer Detail
ModelDW3770-5
Blade Length3 inches
Tooth Pitch14 TPI
ShankT-shank
MaterialCobalt steel

DEWALT identifies these as T-shank jigsaw blades. The shank connection, blade length and tooth pitch are separate selection details; matching only the brand name does not establish a blade’s fit or the finished cut in a particular sheet material.

Manufacturer Product Reference

My Experience with This Tool

By

I bought these for cutting thicker metal, because my DW3742C blade set didn't include thick-metal blades. They handle thinner metal such as sheet metal, but a jigsaw is still limited in how thick a metal it can cut.

The sides of the van aren't very thick, yet my jigsaw struggled to get through them even with these blades. Part of the problem is that you're holding the jigsaw sideways for that cut instead of pushing it forward, which limits how well it works.

That's why my DEWALT reciprocating saw was the better tool for cutting the van walls. For general-purpose jigsaw blades, see my DW3742C blade set review.

Watch My DEWALT And WORKPRO Jigsaw Blade Review

My shared review covers these separate metal-cutting blades, the sideways van-wall cuts where I broke blades and switched to a reciprocating saw, and the other blade sets I used.

Review and van-build photographs: Steven Smith / Camper Van Freedom. Product reference images: DEWALT, WORKPRO and the featured supporting product brands. Illustrative workshop footage: Ono Kosuki / Pexels and Gustavo Fring / Pexels.
Read The Video Transcript

Hi, I'm Steve Smith with Camper Van Freedom. Today I'm comparing three jigsaw-blade purchases from my van build: the DEWALT D W thirty-seven forty-two C mixed set, the DEWALT D W thirty-seven seventy dash five metal blades, and the WORKPRO T-shank assortment. These are all tools I used, and the differences became clear when I moved between panel cuts, thick wood and the van walls.

The DEWALT mixed set gave me a good variety of blades for different materials. I used it for many jobs on the van, was happy with it, and recommend it. The matching product picture shows the fourteen-piece T-shank set. That assortment is the starting point for my comparison, rather than a claim that one blade handles every material equally well.

I bought the dedicated DEWALT metal blades because my mixed set did not include thick-metal blades. The D W thirty-seven seventy dash five is a three-inch, fourteen-teeth-per-inch T-shank blade format. It gave me a separate metal-cutting option, but changing the blade did not remove the limitations of the jigsaw or the awkward cutting position.

My jigsaw struggled on the van walls even with those metal blades. Holding it sideways was part of the problem. I broke many metal blades when trying the bed-capsule openings and switched to my DEWALT D C S three-eighty B reciprocating saw to finish that work. The DEWALT D C S three-thirty-four B jigsaw remained useful elsewhere. My experience was about the whole setup: blade, material and how I could hold the tool against the work.

The WORKPRO twenty-five-piece T-shank set was good value for me, with quality I found similar to my DEWALT jigsaw blades. I used its metal blades on Falken Design aluminum composite panel and also used the set on wood. Different blade lengths helped as the material thickness changed. These matching pictures show the actual blade assortment and the composite-panel product from my build records.

The thick-wood cuts were slower. I used WORKPRO blades and DEWALT wood jigsaw blades to cut down my one-and-a-half-inch butcher-block countertops, including my Bme hevea top and the birch top I bought. Both blade sets worked, but the thickness slowed the job. The diagram shows that material-thickness relationship, while the product picture identifies my Bme top.

My heater-cover photos add another part of the story. I made the front face and triangular sides from black composite sheet, then joined and fitted the pieces. Cutting the shapes and reaching the fasteners afterward were separate problems. The illustrative workshop footage shows layout and workpiece holding; my actual cover pictures show the shaped pieces and fitted result.

Each of these three product pages compares the other two blade options. They are alternatives to compare, and all three are also purchases I used. The two mixed assortments offer variety; the dedicated metal pack repeats one blade type. My experience with the wall openings is why I compare the tool position alongside the blade, rather than choosing from the label alone.

Thanks for watching. I'm Steve Smith with Camper Van Freedom. The three full reviews, matching product pictures, related tools and current Amazon buying options are linked below. My takeaway is that both mixed sets were useful, the separate metal blades filled a gap in my kit, and the reciprocating saw was the better choice for my awkward van-wall cuts. Until next time.

Watch This Review On YouTube · English Captions (VTT) · Download The Transcript

My Takeaway from This Job

This dedicated metal-blade purchase sits alongside the mixed sets in my cutting supplies. The useful comparison is repeated blades of one type versus a case with several tooth patterns and material focuses.

The finished panel shape and the access for fastening it had to work together.

Alternative products

Two Alternatives to Compare

The DEWALT DW3742C and WORKPRO sets provide mixed blade assortments. Their variety differs from a dedicated pack centered on one metal-cutting blade format.

ProductWhat distinguishes itPurchase link
DEWALT DW3770-5 Metal Jigsaw BladesRepeated T-shank blades focused on thick-metal cuttingView on Amazon
DEWALT DW3742C Jigsaw Blade Set (alternative)DEWALT mixed blade assortmentView on Amazon
WORKPRO T-Shank Jigsaw Blade Set (alternative)WORKPRO mixed-material blade assortmentView on Amazon
DEWALT DW3742C Jigsaw Blade Set

DEWALT DW3742C Jigsaw Blade Set

This DEWALT assortment stores T-shank jigsaw blades in a case. Its mixed blade shapes and tooth patterns cover different cutting tasks.

View on Amazon
WORKPRO T-Shank Jigsaw Blade Set

WORKPRO T-Shank Jigsaw Blade Set

This jigsaw-blade assortment contains several tooth patterns in a storage case. Its T-shank blades provide options for cutting different material types with a jigsaw.

View on Amazon

Questions From My Build

Why Did I Buy This Separate Metal-Blade Pack?

My DW3742C set did not include thick-metal blades, so I bought these for thicker metal cutting.

Why Did I Switch Tools For The Van-Wall Cuts?

The jigsaw struggled with the van wall, including the awkward sideways cutting position. My DEWALT reciprocating saw was the better tool for that job.

Related Reviews From My Build

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