Best Scroll Saws for Your Project

There are four important things to keep in mind first when shopping for a scroll saw:

• Price: This varies widely. High-end models are recommended for professional fabricators.
• Material: Look at what materials you'll cut often. The right saw for you depends on if you're cutting wood or metal. It also depends on the material's size.
• Safety: Prioritize safety features over bells and whistles.
• Specialty saws: Some saws are suited for specific projects. Specialty hobbyists, like toy makers, have saws suited for their work.

Throat depth is the distance between the scroll saw blade and the rear frame. That’s how scroll saws are sized. Throat depth can range from 12 to 30 inches. Most scroll saws fall into the 16 to 20-inch range. Speeds range from slower than 400 strokes per minute (SPM) to faster than 1,800 SPM.

Capacity:

• Scroll saws with a 16- or 18-inch capacity are ideal for most home users.
• Depth of cut determines the thickness of material you can cut.
• Most scroll saws offer a depth of cut between 1 ¾ and 2 ¼ inches.

Speed:

• Older scroll saws may only offer one or two speeds. Newer models have variable speeds. They allow you to select any setting within a specific range.
• Different materials require different speeds. Variable-speed control with a wide range makes the saw more versatile.
• Metal and plastic require slower cutting speeds than wood. This is to prevent the blade from heating up.

Drive:

• The two most common drive systems are parallel arm and parallel-link arm. The majority of scroll saws are parallel arm.
• Both parallel and parallel-link systems have an upper and lower arm. The arms run parallel to each other. Each has its own pivot point towards the front. The difference with parallel-link is there are multiple other pivot points.
• The main advantage of the parallel-link system is reduced vibration. This reduces hand fatigue and improves accuracy.
• Parallel-link arms have more moving parts than other drive systems. This can increase the wear on your saw and decrease its life.
• Vibration from standard parallel arms can be dampened with other features. Look for ones with a cast-iron table and base.
• A third type of scroll saw is C-type. It has one continuous c-shaped arm that moves up and down as one unit. There’s one pivot point toward the rear of the C. They’re low-maintenance, aggressive and fast but not as accurate.

Tip: During scrolling, you'll have to rotate your work piece frequently to cut in different directions. Take that into review when you're determining what size scroll saw you need.

Look for a blade-tensioning system that offers simple controls for quick blade changes. Also look for tilting tables for better cutting angles.

Blade-related features:

• Up-front, quick-release tension levers and tool-free blade changes help with easy blade changing and threading.
• Look for a saw that accepts plain-end blades for the most selection.
• Almost all scroll saws accept plain-end blades, but some also accept pin-end blades. Saws that accept both offer added flexibility and fast blade changes.
• Plain-end blades are available in a much wider variety. Pin-end blades tend to be cheaper and offer tool-free blade changes regardless of the type of plain-end system.

Cast-iron table:

• Cast-iron tables are extremely durable.
• They allow your work piece to slide smoothly over the table.
• Unlike aluminum and other lightweight materials, cast-iron tables help dampen vibrations.

Tilting table:

• The table on most scroll saws tilts up to 45 degrees to the left. This is to allow bevel cuts.
• Some tables tilt in both directions. This means you don't have to flip your work to bevel cut in the other direction.

Tilting arm:

• If you plan to do a lot of beveling, you may want to consider a scroll saw with a tilting arm. A tilting arm accomplishes bevel cuts like a tilting table. But, it's easier to make cuts with your work piece flat.

Lifting arm:

• The upper arm on some scroll saws can be lifted. This makes it easier to thread your needle through a pilot hole or fretwork.
• If you make a lot of interior cuts, a lifting arm is likely to be more convenient. It's more efficient than a tilting arm.
• It has added convenience if it locks up to stay out of the way.

Up-front controls:

• All of your controls should be easily accessible. This is so you can make adjustments on the fly.
• For safety reasons, you must have easy access to the on/off switch.

Easy adjustments:

• Anything from the blade tension to the hold-down foot may need to be adjusted.
• Look for adjustments that don't require special tools. Even better, look for saws that don’t require tools at all.

Dust port:

• Sawdust not only makes for lots of cleanup, it can be a health hazard. A dust port allows you to connect a dust collection system directly to your saw. You can remove sawdust before it has a chance to enter the air.

Flexible dust blower:

• A dust blower clears dust off of your work piece so you can see the cut lines.
• Flexible dust blowers can be bent to change the position and direction of airflow.

Work light:

• Many scroll saws offer flexible tube task lighting. It illuminates the spot you’re cutting.
• It's extra helpful for making accurate cuts.

Hold-Down Foot:

• This is mandatory safety feature for all scroll saws in the US.
• It keeps the material firmly pressed to the table.
• A bulky hold-down foot can block a user’s vision while cutting. Make sure you look for a model that features a hold-down foot made from strong, thin material. This is much safer than removing the hold-down foot entirely, which some people do. It is not recommended.