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When it comes to intricate woodworking or other types of material working, there are a lot of different tools that you can use in order to create stunning pieces of art and anything else that you may need to create like home infrastructure. One of the most commonly used types of tools that many carpenters, construction workers, and woodworker alike use when they need precise and robust cuts are a scroll saw.
Scroll saws were designed to make small and intricate cuts which is why they are commonly used in woodworking workshops and other sorts of industries that require precision cuts when working with any of the materials they need to.
When it comes to finding the best scroll saw, there’s a lot of features and aspects that you need to consider before making your final purchase decision on which scroll saw is best for your intended needs.
If you’re an experienced material worker or woodworker, you probably already know what to look for when choosing the right scroll saw for you however if you’re new to wood or material working, you need to do your proper amount of research before purchasing any option.
Depending on the size of the material that you’ll be working with, your work area size, and more will affect your decision about which scroll saw will be the best option for you. It’s important for you to take these factors into consideration before buying any scroll saw to ensure that you’ll be able to create the pieces of material that you need or intend to.
There are also a lot of scrolls saw manufacturing companies who offer scroll saws in varying configurations and model types. Virtually every scroll saw will come with its own specific features and design elements; however, they can and will vary significantly depending on the model and make of your selected scroll saw.
You always want to make sure that you take into consideration your specific project needs before buying any scroll saw to ensure that you’re able to invest in a tool that will last for a very long time. If you’ve been looking for a reliable scroll saw to use on your next woodworking or material fabrication project but haven’t been able to find the answer, today is your lucky day.
In this guide, we’re going to go over all of the most important features, and aspects that you need to consider when buying a scroll saw to ensure that you make the right buying decision.
To begin, we’re going to look at exactly what scroll saws are and how they operate so that you can have a better understanding of how they can help you with any material project you may be working on.
The Best Scroll Saws Worth Checking Out
#1 Delta Power Tools 40-694 20 In. Variable Speed Scroll Saw
The Delta Power Tools 40-694 20 In. Variable Speed Saw is equipped with a 1.3-amp motor that produces 400- 1,750 RPM which is more than enough to handle thick material types and sizes. It comes with the ability to create bevel sizes between 0”-45,” which is more than enough to handle materials of all sorts.
Delta Power Tools 40-694 20 also has upper arm lifts and a locking feature that allows you to ascend the blade in a certain position in order to adjust your blade position to fit the type of materials or objects that you’ll be working on. It has dual parallel linked arms, which decrease the overall amount of vibration that you experience while the saw is in use.
In addition, it gives you accurate and accurate cuts that anyone hobbyist or professional material worker can appreciate. This scroll saw uses a tool-free blade clamp which allows for easy access to quickly change your blade quickly.
What Are Scroll Saws & How Do They Work?
Scroll saws are small saws that have an integrated finely reciprocating blade which allows you to make exact and precise cuts in various pieces of material. Different saws have varying designs and capabilities, which is something that you want to keep in mind before making your final decision about which one is best for you.
They are very similar to jigsaws and hard coping saws; however, what separates scroll saws is the fact that oftentimes they are made from much heavier materials which provider longer-lasting performance and run times.
Scroll saws also differ from the previously mentioned saws in terms of the type of materials that they can cut. Scroll saws give you the ability to cut a wide range of different materials including wood, metal, and much more.
They are widely used with material workers and craftsmen who need to make curved cuts with edges and scroll saws enable you to do this due to their overall design and mechanisms on which they are built.
Scroll saws come with reciprocating blades which means that the blade moves in a backward and forward motion instead of being powered by a continuous loop like most other comparable saw models.
They give you the ability to remove the blade and put it through a pre-drilled hole which will allow you to cut interior materials without having to make an initial entry slot.
Common Uses for Scroll Saws
Scroll saws are oftentimes used for crafting different shapes, and items; however, they are not readily used on an everyday basis. Scroll saws are oftentimes used for crafting as a hobby because they are generally quiet and relaxing while in use.
They give you the ability to explore your creativity and ideas because there are no limits to what you can create while using one. Scroll saws can be used to make in and out cuts in addition to making very precise cuts into whatever material you may be working with.
Scroll saws can also be used to make pierce cuts which are essentially inside out cuts; they are also capable of making marquetry, college-type art, and fractals just to name a few.
Now that we’ve gone over what scroll saws are and what they can be used for let’s look at some of the various blade configurations that you can choose from when buying a scroll saw.
Different Types of Blade Configurations for Scroll Saws
Every scroll saw comes with a different blade configuration, the specific blade configuration of your selected scroll saw will determine the type of cuts and shapes that you’re able to make with the tool.
Before you buy any scroll saw, you need to make sure that it’s blade configuration is something that will be compatible with your desired materials that you’ll be working with. The best scroll saw to use when it comes to virtually any type of material is going to be a scroll saw with a pin-less blade.
Pinless scroll saws are the best blade configuration to go with largely due to the various options that use pinless blades and their overall capabilities. Below, we’re going to go in-depth about all of the various pins fewer blade configurations that come with many scroll saws so that you can decide on which scroll saw is best for your intended usage purposes.
Two-Way Tooth Blades
Two-way tooth blades are designed to make incisions or cuts on both the upward motion and downward motion. This is great because once one side is no longer able to be used, you can simply turn the blade over in order to continue your work project or material crafting.
This type of blade is great for consistent material working projects and for those craftsmen who need a very reliable scroll saw with a long operating capacity.
Diamond & Steel Blades
Diamond and steel blades are really reliable and heavy-duty, which is why they’re commonly used for metal cutting and glasswork. If you know that you’re going to be working with rather large materials or other sorts of material that is very thick, you need to use a diamond or steel blade in order to make sure you have enough power to successfully cut through virtually any piece of material that you may be working with.
Metal Blades
Metal blades are designed to have cutting teeth that are equal in size and are commonly found at very accurate distances from one another. Metal blades typically use very small and narrow blades that tend to be quite loud while in use. Metal blades are great if you need to make accurate cuts in virtually any type of material.
Pin-less Or Pinned Blades
Pin-less and pinned blades come with their own set of benefits and disadvantages, so it’s important to know the difference between the two before deciding on which one is best for you particular needs.
Pinned blades are also known as pin-end blades, and they work by using integrated pins that are in the blade holding it in place. While pin-end blades can be very useful for a variety of different material working purposes, the availability of their blades is becoming very hard to find.
With pin-end blades, you can easily change the blades with ease in order to adjust your cutting power to your specific needs. Pinless blades, also known as plain-end blades are commonly used by in the manufacturing process of many scroll saw options due to their readable availability. Pinless blades use clamps to hold the lower and upper parts of the scroll saw blade, and they are very easy to replace when needed.
Skip Tooth Blades
Skip tooth blades use a design that skips a blade every other blade, so the space between each blade is very large. Skip tooth blades are very versatile and easy to use, which makes them one of the most widely used scrolls saw blade options out on the market.
Spiral Blades
Spiral blades use a design which twists both blades in order to allow them to move in all directions. Spiral blades are commonly used on special occasions that require very intricate cutting and material working capabilities.
Now that we’ve gone over all of the various types of blade options that you can choose from when selecting a scroll saw, it’s time to look at all of the other important variables that will go into your decision about which scroll saw is best for your intended use.
Key Features: Everything You Should Consider Before Buying A Scroll Saw
Aside from the various types of blade configurations that you can choose from when selecting the right scroll saw for you, there are several other factors that you’ll need to consider before making a decision about which scroll saw is right for you.
Make sure that you read this entire section in full to ensure that you know all of the variables you need to consider before making your final purchase decision. We’ll go over all of the important details that you need to know about every component that you’ll be interacting with on your scroll saw so that you know how to use your new tool properly.
Throat Length/Size
Scroll saws are measured by the size of their throat, which is the average distance between the rear frame and the blade on the scroll saw. The throat size of your selected scroll saw will ultimately determine the maximum size and length of the material that you’ll be able to work with on your selected scroll saw.
Work Table Size
The work table size of your selected scroll saw will also determine the maximum material size that you’ll be able to work with on your scroll saw. If you know that you’re going to be working large pieces of material rather, you need to make sure that you choose a scroll saw that has a reliable and durable work table that is large enough to fit the materials that you’ll be working with.
You also need to make sure that the work table on your selected scroll saw will be able to handle the vibrations created by your saw blade. A great tip to remember when using a scroll saw is that you can always optimize its performance by waxing it over time with consistent use.
Motor Power
The motor on your selected scroll saw will determine how much overall power you’ll be able to apply to the various types of materials that you’ll be working with. If you know that you’re going to be working with rather large and dense materials, you need to make sure that you purchase a scroll saw with a motor that will be able to handle your workload.
Vibrational Accuracy
When choosing a scroll saw, it’s really important to remember that you want to purchase a scroll saw that has a low vibrational pattern. Vibrations are created every time your scroll saw is in use; the ironic part is that the more powerful your scroll saw motor, the bigger the vibrations will be. When you encounter very large vibrations while using your scroll saw, it can significantly interfere with your overall cutting accuracy.
While some manufacturers are making scroll saws that come with reduced vibrations, you can cancel out a lot of sporadic vibrations in your scroll saw by making sure that you purchase a scroll saw that has a very heavy work table.
This is one of the most important factors to consider when using your scroll saw to ensure that you’re able to make accurate and precise cuts regardless of the type of materials that you’re working with.
Control Speed
Every scroll saw comes with variable speed ratings and power output capabilities; this is really important to take into consideration before making your final purchase decision. In order to make different cuts and designs in the various types of materials that you’re working with, you need to ensure that you select a scroll saw that has enough power and speed to deal with any type of material you decide to work with.
Some scroll saws come with pre-set speeds and power variables so if you need versatility with your scroll saw; you need to make sure that you select a scroll saw that gives you the option of changing the variable speed at any given moment.
Top Scroll Saw Recommendations
Now that we’ve gone over all of the important features that you need to consider before purchasing a scroll saw, it’s time to look at some of the tops recommended scroll saw options that are currently out on the market right now.
Keep in mind that every scroll saw model out on the market today comes with varying configurations and blade types so you’ll want to keep that in consideration before making your final purchase decision.
#1 DEWALT DW788 1.3 Amp 20-Inch Variable-Speed Scroll Saw
The DEWALT DW788 1.3 Amp 20-Inch Variable-Speed Scroll Saw comes with an easy to use on/off switch that allows you to change the variable speed of your scroll saw easily. It also comes with a dust blower, which makes it easy for you to maintain a clean workspace when crafting the various materials that you decide to use on any of your work projects.
The DEWALT DW788 also gives you the ability to shorten the arm movement of your blade for quiet and smooth operation while in use. It has integrated double parallel link arms which reduce the overall amount of vibration and noise that you experience during your projects.
The DEWALT DW788 has easy arm lifts which will allow you to thread your chosen material through the blade mechanism for interior cuts.
#2 WEN 3921 16-inch Two-Direction Variable Speed Scroll Saw
The WEN 3921 16-inch Two-Direction Variable Speed Scroll Saw comes with variable speeds of anywhere from 400-1,600 RPM which is more than enough power to handle even the toughest projects.
This scroll saw has a very large work table measuring about 16 by 11 inches and also has the ability to create levels that can measure up to a 45-degree angle. It is able to cut wood pieces up to 2in in addition to having a 16-in. Throat size which provides great depth for large pieces of material.
The WEN 3921 comes with a lot of cool features such as a flex light, foot lock with a clamp, onboard storage space, three blades, a cast iron base clamp, air pump, and a thumbscrew blade adapter which makes it very easy for you to change blades when needed. In addition, it also gives you the ability to created 90-degree rips, which is a lot.
#3 PORTER-CABLE 18″ Variable Speed Scroll Saw with Stand
The PORTER-CABLE 18″ Variable Speed Scroll Saw with Stand features a large aluminum dual tilting table that measures around 20” by 12 5/8” in size which enables you to make bevel cuts at a 45-degree angle.
It also comes with a built-in LED adjustable work lamp that enables you to maintain clear visibility under virtually all conditions and has a patented table that has an integrated bevel scale that allows you to achieve precise and accurate cuts virtually all the time.
The 18″ Variable Speed Scroll Saw has a maximum power output of about 500-1,500 SFM and also comes with an upfront control knob which allows you to easily make changes to the position and angle of your blade.
It also has a 5” pinned or plan-end bade depending on which model you choose which will allow you to easily change the blade type of your scroll saw depending on the specific project capabilities you need at the moment.
Conclusion
Use all of the information in this article to help you make the right decision about which scroll saw is the best option for you. As long as you go over all of these various factors and features that we covered in this guide, you should have no problem finding the right scroll saw to fit your particular needs regardless of the project that you’re working on.
We’ve covered all of the most important features that you need to consider in order to ensure that you make the right decision about which scroll saw will have the power and capability to assist you in completing your next work project.
As long as you follow all of these simple rules, you should have no problem finding the right scroll saw to fit you’re your specific needs.
Equipped with a 1.3-amp motor this speed saw is able to produce enough power and accuracy to handle difficult projects. The Delta Power Tools 40-694 is not only the best budget choice on this list, it's also one of the best scroll saws on the market today.
