How Does a Scroll Saw Work? (with Pictures)

A scroll observed is an very helpful device for woodworkers and artisans. If you are contemplating getting a scroll noticed but not positive if you will gain from all that it has to offer, we will aid attempt and obvious up this dilemma for you. A scroll observed has a very distinct purpose and, if utilized properly, can produce incredible performs of art.

How Does a Scroll Saw Work? (with Pictures)

What Is a Scroll Saw?

A scroll noticed is quite comparable to a band observed in that you press the wooden up from the blade to get the desired minimize that you need to have. The difference you will find between the band noticed and the scroll saw is the blade type. The band noticed has a blade on a continuous loop, and the scroll saw has a reciprocating blade. The reciprocating blade makes it possible for for a much far more exact reduce.

Blade Types

There are several types of blades available to use on a scroll saw.

Standard Tooth

On a normal tooth blade, the teeth are evenly spaced and are all the very same dimension.

Wood blades have greater teeth with greater area between them to very clear the sawdust as you cut.

How Does a Scroll Saw Work? (with Pictures)

On a metal blade, the enamel are smaller sized and nearer collectively. These blades are also much noisier.

How Does a Scroll Saw Work? (with Pictures)

Skip Tooth

The following key variety of blade is the skip-tooth blade. As the title would advise, there is a skip or area among the tooth. It has fifty percent as many teeth as the standard blade. The wider area amongst the teeth keeps the blade cooler and helps make it an specially excellent blade for newbies to use.

How Does a Scroll Saw Work? (with Pictures)

Specialty Blades

There are other specialty blades obtainable like the spiral blade (pictured below) but most individuals will be fine using these two varieties.

How Does a Scroll Saw Work? (with Pictures)

What Is It Used For?

Scroll saws are employed for intricate cuts. This sort of work would be one thing like an elaborate indication, a wood toy, or jigsaw puzzle, or probably a spindle you would see on a staircase. Feel intricate patterns, slower operate, serious angles, and circular patterns the scroll noticed will direct the way when it will come to these apps. Most scroll saws are heading to work with a foot pedal so that the consumer can employ the two fingers to information the wooden that they are functioning on.

How Does a Scroll Saw Work? (with Pictures)
Image Credit: Tony Wear, Shutterstock

With this observed, you can switch the wooden to develop wavy traces, right-angle turns, zigzag patterns, and a lot more. You can also make interior cuts.

Interior Cuts

To make an interior reduce you are going to want to drill a small hole in the wooden, massive adequate for the observed blade to in shape via. Drill the gap as near to perfectly vertical as feasible. Unhook the base finish of the blade from the motor, put it by way of the hole in the wood, back again by means of the desk of the saw, and reattach it to the motor. Make confident you still have good rigidity, then continue to reduce whatever sample you are adhering to – a circle, a spiral design, a maze sample, and many others.

Scroll Saw Pros
  • Can be used for internal cuts
  • Very smooth cuts
  • Useful for detailed patterns and designs
  • Does not take up a lot of space
  • Ability to control the saw with the use of a foot pedal
  • Can cut metal, wood, or plastic with the change of a blade
Scroll Saw Cons
  • Not a very versatile saw
  • More for woodworking and craftsman and not construction or demolition
  • Not a portable saw

Things to Consider When Purchasing A Scroll Saw

If you decide that a scroll observed is exactly what you want to include to your workshop, right here are a handful of things you will want to think about ahead of making your last obtain.

  • Speed: Most scrolls saws will have a variable speed option. It is nice to be able to tailor your work and your skill to the speed of the saw. If you are a beginner, you can set the scroll saw on low and learn to control things before turning it up.
  • Size: If you are going to be cutting very thin wood or metal or plastic, the size of the saw will not matter much. However, if you plan on cutting something 10 or 20 inches thick, make sure the scroll saw you purchase could accommodate this. You may see the size of the scroll saw referred to as throat size.
  • Dust Collection: Especially when cutting a very detailed or intricate pattern, visibility is critical. If you can’t see what you are doing, there is no way that you can cut things well. Some dust collection systems will just blow dust away, and others will collect the dust as you cut. Either option is fine as long as it works well.
  • Blade Change and Tensioning: There will be some adjustments to blades while cutting. You may have to make the blade tighter, or you may need to change it out altogether. The better scrolls saws will allow you to do this without having to use a tool. Sometimes in the middle of a project, you will need a new blade, and it is a hassle to get the took box out just to switch a blade. If you can find a scroll saw with tool-less blade change and tensioning options, we highly recommend doing so.
  • Price: Like any other saw on the market, a scroll saw is going to vary widely in price. Some lower-end saws will be priced around $100, and others will make it into the thousands. Be realistic about what you need the saw for and how often you will use it.

Conclusion

When it will come down to no matter whether you need a scroll observed, you need to take into account the detail of the ultimate solution. If you are producing a 48-piece wood jigsaw puzzle, chopping with a band noticed or jigsaw would be a bit of a nightmare. If, even so, you are just attempting to minimize a couple of lacking parts of molding for your house, you may possibly not need to have a scroll observed. Think of a scroll saw as a combine in between a energy saw and an Exacto knife. You will have the convenience of a electricity device on your facet with the precision of a human hand.

Contents