If you are interested in creating beautiful pieces of woodwork with finely tuned edges in an efficient and fun way, you definitely need to look into getting yourself a scroll saw.
Check out our list below to find the best scroll saw for your cutting needs.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Scroll Saws
- OUR TOP PICK: DEWALT DW788 1.3 Amp 20-Inch Scroll Saw
- RUNNER-UP: Delta Power Tools 40-694 20 In. Scroll Saw
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: SKIL 3335-07 16" 1.2 Amp Scroll Saw with Light
Comparison of the Best Scroll Saws
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How to Choose the Best Scroll Saws
Noise
Making woodworking cuts, especially intricate ones, can take a good chunk of time. You do not want to be exposing your ears to a roar of noise for multiple hours on end, so find yourself a saw that cuts efficiently and quietly.
Ease of Blade Changing
Blades, especially the lower quality ones that tend to come included with a scroll saw when you first purchase it, can wear down and break easily. Plus you are going to want to use different kinds of blades for different kinds of cuts. With all of this in mind, you want a scroll saw that you can swap blades into and out of quickly and easily.
Extra Bells and Whistles
While not necessary for scroll saw operations, extra bells and whistles can certainly make using a scroll saw more fun. Some of the most common extra features found on scroll saws include built in lights and blower units for clearing dust off of your workspace so you can continue to see the cutting lines easily midway through your project.
Review of the Best Scroll Saws
Now that you have a bit more of an idea of what makes a good scroll saw, let’s go check out some actual products:
Best Overall:
DEWALT SW788 1.3 Amp 20-Inch Scroll Saw
PROS
CONS
The DEWALT SW788 1.3 Amp 20-Inch Scroll Saw is an excellent scroll saw that really sets the standard when it comes to scroll saws available for purchase on the market today. Its premier feature is its vibration and noise levels. Wait…what vibration? users may be asking. What noise levels? That is right – this DEWALT Scroll Saw does not have any!
Even when placed on the highest speed settings, this saw boasts almost zero vibration, which translates into almost zero noise. That means that this saw is a cut above (get it?) when it comes to safety and sustainability.
Adding to its safety features, it also comes with a dust blower feature that sucks up the dust just as soon as you create it, so you are not breathing in all of that particulate matter while you are cutting. It cuts quickly and efficiently and will get whatever job done you may need.
Bottom Line
The DEWALT SW788 1.3 Amp 20-Inch Scroll Saw is a fantastic scroll saw that it certainly an industry standard. You will not be disappointed with your purchase if you go with the DEWALT.
The only thing to take into consideration is the saw’s weight – if you do not have room to permanently mount this saw on your worktable and you need to consistently move it back and forth to a storage shelf, make sure you do so slowly and carefully.
Runner-up:
Delta Power Tools 40-694 20 In. Scroll Saw
PROS
CONS
The Delta Power Tools 40-694 20 In. Scroll Saw is an excellent scroll saw, comparable in efficacy to the DEWALT but available at a much more accessible cost. It is just as quiet as the DEWALT, and also boasts very low vibration levels, so you do not need to be concerned with safety issues or the need to wear earplugs when working with this Delta scroll saw.
It also has a unique feature that you certainly will not be able to find on every scroll saw out there: the saw’s upper arm has a locking pin which you can use to lock the arm into place up high when you are moving or changing out the blades. This feature makes the process of changing out the blades much, much simpler than it is on other scroll saws.
Bottom Line
The Delta Power Tools 40-694 20 In. Scroll Saw is a great scroll saw that will be able to quickly and effectively enable you to finish your woodworking projects. The only issues users report with it are that the power switch does not have the best design, and there are a decent amount of plastic parts which could be swapped out for higher quality metal parts to make the saw seem more professional.
Best Scroll Saw for Beginners:
SKIL 3335-07 16” 1.2 Amp Scroll Saw with Light
PROS
CONS
The SKIL 3335-07 16” 1.2 Amp Scroll Saw with Light is an excellent scroll saw for crafting and doing some light woodworking. It is especially accessible to beginner scroll saw users, much more so than any other saw on this list.
It comes with a number of extra features, such as a dust blower that effectively clears the saw of dust so that you can see your cutting lines better, an LED light that illuminates your work area nicely, and an additional blade storage compartment built right into the saw itself.
This saw will get the job done in a straightforward, uncomplicated way that will quickly have beginner and novice scroll saw users feeling very comfortable with using these handy tools.
Bottom Line
The SKIL 3335-07 16” 1.2 Amp Scroll Saw with Light is a great scroll saw for beginner use. The only negative feedback regarding this saw was regarding the types of blades used. Pinless blades are difficult to get to stay in place and also to change out as compared to pin blades.
Best Scroll Saw Under $200:
Shop Fox W1713 16-Inch Variable Speed Scroll Saw
PROS
CONS
The Shop Fox W1713 16-Inch Variable Speed Scroll Saw is probably the single best scroll saw on the market today that you can buy in terms of value. This scroll saw is efficient and effective, and all for a bargain price! You may be looking at the lower price and initially be worrying about the likely compromise on safety or quality that a lower priced scroll saw would provide, but fear no longer.
This saw cuts just as well as the best of them. Users have commented that it is actually better than some other, more highly priced saws when it comes to precision cuts such as tightly rounded corners. And it is not any louder or more movement prone than other, more expensive scroll saws.
It is easy to operate and change out the blades. You are definitely not compromising anything when you buy this scroll saw, and you are saving your wallet from taking a hit in the process!
Bottom Line
The Shop Fox W1713 16-Inch Variable Speed Scroll Saw is an excellent scroll saw at a price that is pretty much unable to be beat. The only quality assurance issue you will encounter with this saw is that the included light is not particularly bright, which can be solved by swapping out the included bulb for a stronger one.
5. WEN 3920 16-Inch Two-Direction Scroll Saw with Flexible LED Light
PROS
CONS
The WEN 3920 16-Inch Two-Direction Scroll Saw with a Flexible LED Light is an excellent scroll saw for a pretty much unbeatable price. Users report being able to use this saw to cut super fine edges, such as on tiny toys for a child’s Noah’s Ark Christmas present, all the way up to cutting much larger chunks of wood, such as components to put together a rocking horse for a niece’s birthday.
This scroll saw can really do it all! Multiple users report not having an y scroll saw experience and yet being able to quickly and easily learn how to perform even the most intricate cuts use this WEN Scroll Saw model.
Bottom Line
The WEN 3920 16-Inch Two-Direction Scroll Saw with a Flexible LED Light is a great saw for beginners and those who want to learn all of the wonderful items you can craft using a scroll saw. The only consideration to make is that the dust blower does not work particularly well – multiple users report needing to use their own breath to clear their work space of dust so that they can see the cutting lines they are supposed to be following.
Conclusion
If you need lines cut and materials shaped in specific ways, you can’t find a more valuable tool than a scroll saw. Check out our frequently asked questions below to help you figure out which scroll saw is best for you, and then find your perfect scroll saw listed above!
People Also Ask
What is a Scroll Saw?
A scroll saw is a smaller saw attached to a sawing table with a fine tip blade used for making small, detailed cuts.
What is a Scroll Saw Used for?
Scroll saws can be used for a variety of things. Their most common use is in making jigsaw puzzles, which best exemplify their ability to make tiny, curved cuts in an intricacy of patterns. They are also great for making toys and cutting up parts to build wooden structures and figurines.
How Does a Scroll Saw Work?
A scroll saw works by using an internal motor to power the saw’s “arm.” There are two types of scroll saw motors: the parallel arm, which connects its motor to the back of the saw’s arms, positioned parallel to each other; and the parallel link, which uses rods connected to the saw’s upper and lower arms to then link to the motor and power the arms that way.
How Thick of Wood Can a Scroll Saw Cut Through?
It really depends on the saw. The best way to know how thick of wood your scroll saw – or a scroll saw you are considering buying – can cut through is to look at the saw’s “throat,” or the area between its blade and rear frame. That distance is equivalent to your scroll saw’s cutting ability.
What Materials Can you Cut with Scroll Saws?
You can cut pretty much anything with a scroll saw, although you may need specific blades for specific materials. One such material requiring a specialized blade is metal. But you can typically use regular scroll saw blades for wood (as extensively described above, wood is the most common material used in scroll saw cutting) and other materials such as cork, mother of pearl, different types of plastics, and even bone.
Scroll Saw vs Jig Saw
Scroll saws and jig saws accomplish essentially the same job (cutting fine lines that twist and turn) but in very different capacities. The most obvious difference between a scroll saw and a jig saw is the fact that a scroll saw is stationary and you must bring the material to the saw. Jig saws, on the other hand, and handheld and slightly more versatile (and by extension, more dangerous) than scroll saws.