Comparison chart, reviews and buying guides on top 10 best scroll saw
If you’re into woodworking, then you know that you are only as good as the tools you use. One of the most important pieces of equipment you can have is a power saw, as it will make cutting and shaping wood so much easier overall. This is especially true if you want to make anything complex or ornate, as trying to do so by hand will be next to impossible.
In fact, if you want to make small and precise cuts then the best way to do that is with a scroll saw. This machine is similar to a jigsaw, but it’s much more versatile and can handle a wider variety of materials to help you get the job done faster. Today we’ll be going over the best features and benefits of best scroll saws as well as show you some of the best models you can find on the market.
Comparison of Top Scroll Saw 2019
Image | Product Name | Weight | SPM | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | WEN 16-Inch Two-Direction Variable Speed Scroll Saw (Editor's Choice) | 26.9 lbs | 400-1600 | |
 | Dremel Moto-Saw Variable Speed Compact Scroll Saw | 9.48 lbs | 1500-2250 | |
 | DEWALT 1.3 Amp 20-Inch Variable-Speed Scroll Saw (Editor's Choice) | 65.6 lbs | 400-1750 | |
 | Shop Fox 16-Inch Variable Speed Scroll Saw | 34.5 lbs | 550-1700 | |
 | Delta Power Tools 20 In. Variable Speed Scroll Saw | 60 lbs | 400-1750 |
Recommended 9 Best Scroll Saw Reviews
1. WEN Two-Direction Variable Speed Scroll Saw
For the most part, scroll saws only cut in one direction. The reason for that is because it’s much easier to maintain and it can be a lot safer. However, if you want more versatility in your device, then you will want something that can cut in multiple directions so that you don’t have to keep moving your piece around to get the right results. If that sounds appealing to you, then this Scroll Saw from WEN is going to be your best bet.
In addition to the multidirectional saw, this machine also comes with variable speed adjustment. You can go from 550 to 1,600 strokes per minute with a click of a button, and a foot clamp below means that you can have precise control over when you stop and start. While other people are keeping their finger on a button, you can keep your foot poised over the clamp for faster reaction times.
The other things that we like about this model are the flexible LED light, the 1.5-inch dust port to collect dirt and debris, and the fact that it works with both pinned and pinless blades. Overall, this unit is the ultimate in scroll saw versatility.
Pros
- Durable cast iron construction
- Variable speed adjustment
- Goes from 550-1600 SPM
- Works in two directions for more versatility
- LED worm light for easier seeing
- 1.5-inch dust port for better cleaning
- On-board blade storage
- Foot clamp for easier operation
- Works with both pinned and pinless blades
- Tables tilts up to 45 degrees
- Adjustable air pump for removing sawdust
- Reduced vibration for smoother cuts
- Two-year limited warranty
Cons
- Changing blades can take longer than with other models
- In rare cases, the neck may crack after repeated use
- Not ideal for use with pinless blades
2. Dremel Moto-Saw Compact Scroll Saw
If you want a saw that is both powerful and highly portable, then this Moto-Saw from Dremel is a great buy. While you can clamp it down to the table for stability, it also comes with a functional handle so that you can turn it into a coping saw quickly and easily.
The whole thing only weighs about five pounds, meaning that you can maintain precise control while you work. The only major downside to this model is that the size does mean that the motor is not as powerful as other units.
That means that you can only work with soft woods mostly, so don’t attempt to cut metal or thick plastic unless you want to go through multiple blades in the process. Overall, if portability is your primary concern, then this is the saw to get. Best of all, it comes with ten precision blades to help you get started.
Pros
- Handheld design for easier operation
- Clamp included for stationary use as well
- Dust port to keep the table clear
- Variable speed control
- Quick-change blades
- Ten blades included
- Cut wood, plastic, or metal
- Vacuum adapter for better cleaning
- Carrying case included
- Lightweight at less than five pounds
Cons
- Handheld operation can be tricky and lead to broken blades
- Only works with pinned blades, not pinless
- Not powerful enough for some materials
3. DEWALT 20-Inch Variable Speed Scroll Saw
Our first stop is a saw made by DeWalt. As far as consumer products go, DeWalt is one of the top brands in the world, making some of the best machines that you can buy.
In fact, whether you are a professional woodworker or a hobbyist, this best scroll saw will provide you with the best results, hands down As far as performance goes,this unit comes robust 1.3-amp motor that can operate at up to
1,750 strokes per minute. This means that you can work with all kinds of materials, including wood, metal, and plastic. To keep things running smoothly, this saw uses a parallel-link arm to reduce vibration and pivots from back to front to ensure proper cutting each time.
To keep your area clean this model has a flexible dust blower and a table that can tilt up to 45 degrees on either side. Best of all, changing the blades has never been easier as you can do it without any tools and without needing any specialized training. Simply pop the old one out, put the new one in, and you’re ready to go. Finally, this saw comes with a three-year limited warranty.
Pros
- Powerful 1.3-amp motor
- Double parallel link arm
- Reduced vibration for cleaner cuts
- Tool-free blade clamp for fast changes
- Variable speed adjustment
- Operates between 400-1,750 SPM
- Flexible dust blower for easier cleaning
- Convenient placement of blade tensioner
- Arm pivots from back to front for smoother results
- Quiet operation
- Arm lifts up so blade can be threaded through
- 20-inch blade
- Lightweight design weighs fifty-six pounds
- 45-degree tilt on the table
- Durable cast iron construction
- Three-year limited warranty
Cons
- At high speeds, the table may vibrate more noticeably
- Placement of the blade may result in rubbing against the metal stand
- May be noisy at high speeds
4. Shop Fox Variable Speed Scroll Saw
Next, we have a relatively lightweight saw that can work for most small or medium projects. If you have limited room in your work area and don’t need something as large as a 20-inch saw, then this could be a great alternative.
What we like about this model is the powerful ⅛ horsepower motor and the variable speed adjustment that goes from 550-1,650 SPM. That means that you can power through most materials with ease and don’t have to worry about broken blades or an overheating motor.
Best of all, this particular model works with pinned and pinless blades, making it even more versatile. The other thing we like about this saw is that it comes with a plastic cover so that when you’re not working, you don’t have to worry about accidentally cutting yourself on the blade.
through most materials with ease and don’t have to worry about broken blades or an overheating motor. Best of all, this particular model works with pinned and pinless blades, making it even more versatile. The other thing we like about this saw is that it comes with a plastic cover so that when you’re not working, you don’t have to worry about accidentally cutting yourself on the blade.
through most materials with ease and don’t have to worry about broken blades or an overheating motor. Best of all, this particular model works with pinned and pinless blades, making it even more versatile. The other thing we like about this saw is that it comes with a plastic cover so that when you’re not working, you don’t have to worry about accidentally cutting yourself on the blade.
Pros
- Durable cast iron construction
- Robust ⅛ horsepower motor
- Variable speed adjustment
- Operates between 550-1,650 SPM
- Adjustable gooseneck light and dust port
- Table tilts up to 45 degrees
- Works with pin and pinless blades
- Plastic cover for safety while working
- Blade change adapters included for fast swapping
- Lightweight design weighs only 31 pounds
- Cuts up to two inches thick or sixteen inches wide
- Two-year limited warranty
Cons
- In some cases, changing the blades may be complicated
- Not powerful enough for thicker pieces of wood
- In some instances, the unit may vibrate at higher speeds
5. Delta Power Tools Variable Speed Scroll Saw
Next, we have a more heavy duty saw from Delta Power Tools. If you want robust reliability and a machine that can tackle most large jobs, this is the one to get.
What sets this apart from the crowd is the powerful motor, the large surface area, and the extended warranty which protects you in case something happens. As with most scroll saws, this particular model comes with a variable speed adjustment. You can go from 400-1,750 SPM, making it ideal for all kinds of materials.
Unlike the Dremel unit above, however, it can handle metal and plastic with ease. To help make things even smoother, this unit comes with a parallel-link arm to reduce vibration. Other features include a dust hose, a 45-degree tilting table, and a tool-free blade clamp for easy changes.
Also, it has on-board blade storage so that you can keep everything together all the time. Overall, this is a fantastic scroll saw that delivers exceptional results.
Pros
- Robust 1.3-amp motor
- Durable cast iron construction
- Variable speed adjustment
- Operates between 400-1,750 SPM
- Dual parallel link arm reduces vibration
- Arm lifts and locks for quick blade changes
- Tool-free blade clamp
- Adjustable dust hose to keep your work clear
- Surface tilts up to 45 degrees
- On-board blade storage on top
- Heavy-duty machine weighs sixty pounds
- Five-year limited warranty
Cons
- May arrive with damaged parts
- In rare cases, the unit may make loud noises at high speeds
- In rare instances, the speed adjustment may not work properly
6. Hegner 18" Variable Speed Scroll Saw Review
One way to determine how well a saw is built is to see how long the warranty on it lasts. While most of the units we’ve seen thus far have two to five years before the warranty runs out, this model from Hegner gives you seven years before you have to worry about it breaking. If that’s not enough to convince you of the quality of the machinery, perhaps the features will.
This scroll saw comes with a variable speed adjustment, a mount to place it on a stand or a table, a quick-change blade system, and lifting arm for easier internal threading. On top of that, the arm is parallel-link to reduce vibration, and it has a QuickLock tensioning system to make sure that your blades stay in place while making internal cuts. Overall, this is a fantastic machine.
Pros
- Durable cast iron construction
- Variable speed adjustment
- Operates between 400-1400 SPM
- Mount it to a stand or a work table
- Extra large 18” throat for easier operation
- Quick and easy blade changes on the bottom
- QuickLock tensioning system for inside cuts
- Heavy duty design weighs fifty pounds
- Arm lifts for easier changes and control
- Reduced vibration for smoother cuts
- Seven-year limited warranty
Cons
- Costs more than other similar models
- Does not come with a dust port
- Changing blades can be tricky for some users
7. Jet 727200K Scroll Saw With Stand
For the most part, scroll saws are built to clamp onto a table or a stand. However, you would be hard pressed to find a unit that comes with a stand. Fortunately, this model from Jet has its own, meaning that you can adjust the height of your saw to meet your needs.
While other saws can require you to bend over to work, this will come to you to make your job so much easier overall.
In addition to the stand, this saw comes with a variable speed adjustment, a slotted table for easier blade changes, and an adjustable dust blower for easier cleaning. You also get reduced vibration for smoother cuts and a lifting arm to make it easier to thread blades into your next project. Finally, this unit comes with a five-year limited warranty.
Pros
- Durable cast iron construction
- Variable speed adjustment
- Operates between 400-1,550 SPM
- Stand included for convenience
- Slotted table for easier blade changes
- Extra large 22” throat capacity
- Adjustable dust port for cleanliness
- Table tilts up to 45 degrees
- Arm lifts for easier changes and control
- Reduced vibration for smoother cuts
- Use with or without the stand
- Clamp included for use on a table
- Five-year limited warranty
Cons
- Heavier than other similar models
- Changing blades may be tricky for some users
- Stand may not be as stable as clamp
How to Choose a Right Scroll Saw for the Money
Capacity
When looking at the capacity of your scroll saw, this will usually be determined by the size of the arm and the maximum depth you can cut. Usually, what you’ll see is a measurement such as sixteen or twenty inches, which refers to the length of the arm. The higher the number, the larger surface area you can cut, meaning that you have more options from which to choose. The depth will also refer to how thick your pieces can be without damaging the blades. Most scroll saws will allow you to cut between 1 ¾ to 2 ¼ inches comfortably.
Speed
In the old days, scroll saws only had one or two speeds, which meant that they were only capable of cutting through one particular type of material. Today, however, most units give you the option to adjust the speed, meaning that you can work with wood, metal, or plastic with ease. If you want something more versatile and that can give you better control, then it’s imperative that you find a unit with adjustable speed settings.
When cutting metal and plastic, it’s crucial that you work at slower speeds so that you don’t overheat the material or the blade itself. When looking at the various settings, you’ll notice that they are listed as SPM. This means Strokes Per Minute, and they will usually range from about 400 to 1,800 SPM. High speeds are ideal for thick woods while low settings are made for metal.
Drive
This feature refers to what kind of arm your saw has. As you’ll notice, scroll saws have an arm that hovers over the table to provide room in which to work. The longer the arm, the more space you have. However, when picking out a model, you can find either a parallel or a parallel-link arm, which will tell you the quality of your machine and how well it can operate. Older models will have a standard parallel arm, which means that it can be prone to vibration at higher speeds.
You can offset this by having a heavier base or clamping the unit down to keep it more stable. Parallel-link arms, however, are built much more solidly which means that they are better at reducing vibration without any additional help. The reason that you want to keep the vibrations to a minimum is that it can affect your cuts. When you’re working on something tiny and have to be as precise as possible, a little wobble can have a disastrous impact on your project.
Blade Features
Although there are plenty of important features of a scroll saw, none are as crucial as the blade. Here are some common things to look for to make sure that you’re getting a model that can provide the best results.
- Quick Blade Changes: ideally, you can swap them out without needing any tools, and tightening them will be a breeze
- Pinless vs. Pinned: most scroll saw blades are pinless (or standard), but some are pinned, which means that they need a tool to insert and hold into place. Pinned blades are more stable overall, but they can be more expensive. Make sure your machine can take both for maximum versatility
- Internal Threading: sometimes you will want to make cuts on the inside of a piece. To do that you will have to insert the blade through the hole. Not all scroll saws allow for that so make sure it has that capability
- Auto Shutoff: regardless of how careful you are, sometimes blades break. To help ensure that you avoid injury, some saws will shut off automatically when a blade snaps
Table
Although the saw is the most crucial component of any one of these machines, the table is the next most important piece as it is what allows you to work comfortably and efficiently. Here are some features to look at to make sure you’re getting the best table setup.
- Tilt Angle: most scroll saw tables will tilt up to 45 degrees, but not all of them will do that in either direction. If you want more versatility then make sure it can go both ways
- Cast Iron: to provide better stability and reduce vibration, many tables are made of cast iron. Aluminum is another great choice, but it’s not as heavy and can have more wobble to it
- Slotted Entry: to help make sure that you can insert blades easier, some tables will have a slit so that you can pull it in and out much faster and more efficiently
Other Considerations
While the arm, table, and saw blade are the core components you need to look at, some models will have extra features that can make your life so much easier while you cut. While these are not necessarily deal breakers, they can make your decision process much simpler as they will enhance your sawing experience.
- Laser Guiding: if you want to be as precise as possible then using a laser is the best way to do it. However, it only works for straight lines.
- LED Light: it can sometimes be hard to see what you’re doing with a scroll saw, so get a unit that comes with an adjustable light so that you can make sure you’re doing the right cuts each time.
- Dust Blower: another big issue with doing intricate work is that sawdust collects and gets in your way. Having an adjustable dust port means that you blow it all off while you work and keep your cuts neat and tidy.
- Dust Port: unlike a blower, this piece collects the dust and debris so that you don’t have it spreading around and getting into your eyes or the air
- Handheld Option: this feature is rare, but it allows you to use the scroll saw as a coping saw so that you can cut a stationary object instead of trying to maneuver it on the table instead
- Foot pedal: if you want added functionality then you can find a saw with a foot pedal so that you can control the on/off setting without having to fumble for a button each time
- Lifting Arm: this makes it much easier to thread your blade through a piece so that you can make internal cuts
What can a scroll saw be used for?
A scroll saw is used for many different purposes other than just to cut wood. While many saws serve the purpose of cutting wood and lumber down to the proper length, scroll saws serve more creative and artistic purposes. A scroll saw can be used to create furniture, arts, and crafts with ease, albeit a lot of skill is required by the artist as well.
More likely than not, the most of your wooden furniture has been carved with a scroll saw, from chairs, to tables, to railings, and everything in between. You can even make an outdoor object with scroll saws, like birdhouses, fences, and lawn props. Without a scroll saw, round or beveled edges along wooden furniture are next to impossible.
Scroll saws are also used in creating wood decorations for the home. Wall art, figurines, and other smaller decor items are made easily with scroll saws. Wood etching, engraving, and whittling tools that have come before scroll saws used to be the primary way to carve wood for centuries.
Etching tools are still used today by woodworkers and wood artists, but the bulk of work to make furniture or art is done with the best scroll saw on the market.
Scroll saws are capable of creative curved cuts, angled cuts, dovetail joints, and other interesting designs and patterns in wood. With a scroll saw, you can carve wood into different shapes, patterns, and textures that can be used as components in a given room to make it more appealing.
Additionally, scroll saws are capable of cutting metal. However, you will need the right blade that is capable of cutting harder materials. Using any old blade can ruin its teeth and therefore put the blade out of commission.
Scroll saw blades for metal contains harder teeth, making it easier to cut through tough material. Scroll sawing for metal is used for jewelry making and more industrial style arts and crafts.
Scroll saws are also capable of cutting plexiglass, however, there are many conditions that have to be met to ensure a successful cutting. Firstly, the blade you use must be a fine one. Thin blades will be sure that you cut glass successfully into the parts that you want.
Using a thicker blade can chip, crack, or even shatter the plexiglass. Using a lubricant also helps. You can use dishwashing liquid, cooking oil, or dry lubricant to reduce friction so that the blade has less chance of nicking the plexiglass in places where there should not be marks.
The second condition is that the blade must be cooled before use, or else you have a chance to melt the plexiglass. With an air compressor, you can spray the blade with cool air so that the heat that it creates can offset the coolness that you applied.
Other materials that can be cut with a scroll saw include cork, plastic, mother of pearl, and ivory. For many scroll saws, speed can be adjusted for the blade used to cut. For cutting softer materials, you will want to use a slower cutting speed.
What is a decent price for a scroll saw?
Scrolls saws can range in price from eighty dollars to two thousand dollars. There are many features to look for in a saw that can make working easier for carpenters and artists. They include a large table size, blade changing, blade tensioning, and throat size.
For a scroll saw that works well, is easy to use, and comes with enough features that most woodworkers need, they can spend five hundred dollars or more for a saw that is more than capable.
Saws that are less than that may do its primary job effectively, but it could be made of materials of lesser quality, or just simply not last as long as more expensive scroll saws.
Scroll saws that cost much more than five hundred dollars are expected to be of industrial quality. These saws may also come with additional features, but what you get is not always what you need. For most people paying a high price for a scroll saw may not be worth the investment if all they need is a basic saw that does its job well enough.
How thick can scroll saws cut?
While many, scroll saws have room to cut materials up to two inches thick. This rather depends on the saw that you buy as well as what you are cutting. Cutting two inches of wood, however, will not be like cutting two inches of metal. With more capable blades and higher cutting speeds, cutting harder materials that are also thick will not be simple.
These are usually a number on your saw blade. The higher this number, the more capable it is of cutting harder materials. A blade marked #7 will tend to be great for cutting hardwood like a walnut that is up to one inch thick.
Because a blade marked #9 or above is capable of cutting hard materials, it does not mean that it is okay to use for materials at any density or thickness. Using a #12 blade to cut cardboard will more than likely ruin the cardboard rather than just separate it into two pieces.
Thin and softwoods are for blades marked #3 and below. These blades will cut slowly and gingerly. Blades like these can even create perforations on wood and other materials for decorative purposes.
Final Verdict
After looking through each of these saws, the only one that stands out the most is the DeWalt 20-inch Variable Speed Saw. This particular model has the best features of any that we’ve seen, and the performance is second to none. If you want to make precise cuts with a machine that won’t break down or cause problems, then this is the one for you.
Also, having a large work area means that you can cut a variety of materials at different sizes without having to try and maneuver them into place. Overall, WEN 16-Inch Two-Direction is a best scroll saw for the money, and it’s one of the best in the industry.
