If you have taken a woodshop class in high school, chances are you have come across the scroll saw, one of the more popular tools for getting young people into serious woodworking.
Modern scroll saws are easy to use, quiet and relatively safe even for kids to use. More importantly, scroll saws can get you unparalleled flexibility when you need to do complicated curving cuts on wood and a wide variety of other materials.
THE SCROLL SAW COMPARED TO THE BAND SAW
The scroll saw, at first glance, looks like a miniature version of the band saw – both machines feature thin blades passing through the work table. Unlike band saws, however, scroll saws take out material using a reciprocating motion. The machine is often said to be similar to a sewing machine in the way that an arm moves the saw blade up and down in most models.
The band saw, on the other hand, works by passing a long thin loop of blade into the work table in one direction. The reciprocating motion of the band saw and the smaller blades that it uses all contribute to a smooth finish on the shaped edges, that in many cases no additional sanding is required.
Band saws, with their adjustable height, especially suited for cutting through blocks and boards. They can also slice a board parallel to the plane of its surface, in a process called ‘resawing’.
Scroll saws are also capable of cutting through thicker blocks of wood, despite the fragile-looking thin blade. Unlike band saws, however, scroll saws generally work with a fixed height (the ‘thickness of cut’ of the scroll saw) that determines the maximum thickness of material that you can shape with your machine.
Why You Will Need A Scroll Saw In The First Place
A scroll saw is a power saw just like many of the similar tools you may already have in your workshop. When it comes to doing detailed cuts and inside cuts, though, few tools can do what the scroll saw can. Just like the name suggests, the scroll saw was originally designed to cut scrolls from solid wood. The versatility of the tool, however, has led woodworkers and DIY hobbyists to adapt it for other types of projects, as well.
Aside from decorative scroll motifs, scroll saws are also useful for making parquetry, which are wood crafts made of interlocking pieces of wood. Scroll saws are also incredibly handy to have when making fretwork patterns in wood, as well as most kinds of wood cut-outs.
For projects that are too intricate for the jigsaw, you are generally limited to using a scroll saw or doing it by hand with a coping saw. For the ability to take on large projects with intricate motifs, a scroll saw will save you a lot of time while also being fun to use. They are also relatively compact machines that will not take up much space in your workshop, either.
How to Choose The Right Type of Scroll Saw
When it comes to scroll saws, there are three general types to choose from, each with their own pros and cons. Regardless of the type of scroll saw that you choose, almost all models will be corded ones that run from a power outlet.
The Rigid Arm Scroll Saw
No discussion of the types of scroll saw will be complete without the mention of the rigid arm scroll saw, which has all but disappeared from the market nowadays. You might happen to come upon a rigid arm scroll saw still being used in an old workshop, but chances are you won’t find a current model being offered on the market.
This design started as an extension of the jigsaw design made popular in the 1930s to 1940s, and there are some advantages to its simplicity. The whole assembly is usually made from one whole cast iron piece, with a moving arm in the bottom pulling the blade away from a spring-loaded mounting point in the upper arm.
The weaker tension of the blade as it gets pulled by the spring with every upstroke proved to be problematic when it comes to keeping cuts clean and straight. Avoid this type as much as possible.
The Parallel Arm Scroll Saw
This design is currently the best represented in the market today, and it works by having a pair of arms working in sync to move the thin blade up and down. Most parallel arm scroll saws come with a variable speed motor, with a switch usually mounted at the top.
Parallel arm scroll saws move the blade in an almost perfectly straight vertical direction, which keeps vibrations to a minimum while making straight, clean cuts. Some models have a connecting arm to the front that lets you set the tension manually, while others have a link that automatically places the right tension by itself.
The Parallel Link Scroll Saw
These scroll saws are an improvement of the parallel arm system that adds a horizontal link that connects the arms to a pivoting beam behind the blade. This rather complicated system lets the variable speed motor move the parallel arms back and forth instead of up or down. This motion is then transmitted to the horizontal link which converts it to a vertical motion at the tip of the arms.
The extra moving parts can add more points of failure to the machine, but on the other hand, this lets manufacturers come up with scroll saws that have shorter arms. With shorter arms and links, parallel link scroll saws usually have less vibration and a straighter, more consistent movement as a result.
The C-Arm Link Scroll Saw
Unlike the parallel arm models that rely on two separate arms working together, the C-arm type makes use of just one piece in the shape of the letter ‘C’. The blade is mounted at the tips of the ‘C’ shape, and the whole assembly moves around one pivot point.
The result is a blade that oscillates from one point, making it move in a slight ark that lets it cut off more material. The downside of the C-arm link scroll saw, though, is the relative inaccuracy compared to models that move the blade up and down.
A Word About Scroll Saw Blade Types
In terms of mounting points, scroll saws generally have two main blade types – pin-end blades and plain end blades. Pin-end blades come with pins protruding at the end of each blade, and scroll saws that can take them are generally easier to do blade changes on – the pins latch on to place with no clamps required.
Pin-End Blades: Pin-end blade models do come with some significant disadvantages, though. For one, the selection for pin-end blades is typically more limited compared to plain blades. To accommodate the pin, the blade also needs to be thicker and wider, which can make them less reliable when it comes to making sharp angle turns or intricate cuts.
Plain End Blades: Plain-end blades, on the other hand, need to be attached to a clamping system in order to secure them. On the other hand, plain-end blades are finer and are easier to thread into drilled holes for inside cutting.
How To Compare Scroll Saws
Scroll saws have a wide range when it comes to price, build quality and features. Some models can go for as low as $50, while some of the more premium models can go for $400 or more.
Size
The dimensions of the scroll saw matters – shorter scroll saws with dual-link parallel arms, for example, are quieter and impart less vibration on the blade. That said, the main consideration you want to see is the Thickness of Cut and Throat Length.
- The Thickness of Cut: is generally measured in inches and is the vertical height between the upper arm (plus the shoe) and the table. It determines the maximum thickness of material that you can work with using that particular machine. Most models can accommodate pieces up to two inches thick, and scroll saws are generally designed to shape material up to 3 1/4 inch thick.
- Throat Length: gives the distance between the saw blade and the back of the saw, which also determines the size of the project that you can work with on the table of your machine.
Speed
The speeds of scroll saws are usually given in terms of strokes per minute. Most models also come with variable speed motors, and manufacturers often cite the maximum strokes per minute that their machine is capable of.
Slower speeds are usually selected for softer woods, paper, and plastics, with higher speeds generally used for hardwood, metal and other harder substances.
Power
Scroll saws are powered by electric motors, and like with most power tools, their power is usually rated in terms of volts or amps. In general, power is not as important a consideration for scroll saws as it is in other power tools, except perhaps if your projects will make use of scroll saws to cut metal and stone pieces.
Vibration and Noise
The better scroll saw models are machines that you can run inside the house, and generally, the noise that they put out is slightly louder than a normal conversation. Less vibration also means cleaner cuts and fewer mistakes, as well.
Features to Look For in Scroll Saws
Scroll saws are fairly simple machines, but that has not stopped manufacturers from making modern scroll saws that have some added features...
- Variable Speed Control is simply a must if you will be using your scroll saw on more than one type of wood. Plus points if it is on a part of the machine that’s readily accessible – most models will have it up front on the top, just over the blade itself.
- Stable Base with a Clamp System is another must-have. Scroll saws that are clamped securely to a heavy bench give you a stable base to work on, and it also helps a lot with dampening vibrations and noise.
- Unpinned or Pinless blade attachments are generally preferred. Pinless blades are generally thinner, making them less prone to snapping in tight turns. They are also easier to thread into drill holes for inside cutting.
- Table Tilt or Blade Tilt systems let you do angled cuts that are the bread and butter of parquet projects. Tilt systems that put the blade at an angle are generally preferred since the fixed horizontal table provides a better, safer platform than one that can be tilted.
- Tool-less Blade Tensioning systems is a matter of preference – make sure to pick one that you will be comfortable with, and if you have the chance, ask a shop assistant to show you how it’s done on a particular model.
Some models use knobs, while others use levers or cams – regardless of the type, just make sure to familiarize yourself with the tensioning system. Unlike other power saws, you can expect to use it every now and then to re-tension your blade, especially when dealing with detailed cuts. Pick a durable tension system – look for build quality and materials (plastic versus metal, ease of access, etc.) - Foot switches are a convenience that you simply can’t do without once you get used to them. They remove the need to take off your hand from the work piece as you pause or resume the sawing action with your foot.
- Dust Collection features are nice to keep your work area clear of dust and debris so you can see what you are doing. Most models come with flexible blow tubes that you can aim away from you.
- Integrated LED work lights are great for really lighting up the intricate work that you will be doing with this tool. While lighting is not a must-have, a good LED light that’s aimed squarely at your work piece goes a long way in ensuring that you stay right on the lines in even the most intricate of designs.
