A scroll saw is one of the most basic power tools that every woodworker needs. And yet, many woodworkers are afraid to use it. They are intimidated by the sheer size and complexity of it. This could be because there are some people who still think that scroll saws are difficult to make or difficult to maintain. Well, let’s dispel those myths right away!
A scroll saw for wood works just like your regular table saw. In fact, a scroll saw for wood is also just like your regular table saw except that the blade comes in two pieces. One piece has a large throat and the other has a smaller throat. The bigger piece is called the blade and the smaller blade is called the arbor. The width of the throat is also variable.
When learning how to safely use a scroll saw for wood, it’s important to understand the difference between cutting depth and cutting width. You should know that the teeth on the saw blade all rotate in the same way: clockwise in a counterclockwise direction. If you want to cut something at a shallow angle, then you need to set your blade width to about one half of an inch. This is the best depth to cut with a scroll saw. Cutting deeper, at a deeper angle will cause more precision, but it’s harder to do and usually results in sloppy cuts. Remember that it’s OK to go a little bit wider than you’d like when cutting to make sure you get a clean, smooth finish.
Another important factor to understand is that different machines have different maximum speeds. The best scroll saw for wood will be determined by the speed you’re most comfortable with. This speed is usually referred to as the machine’s maximum stroke rate or PSI. The higher the PSI, the faster the machine can produce strokes per minute (which is useful only if you need very fast cutting).
One thing to watch out for is using a saw that has an amp. scroll saw for wood with an amp will operate much faster, but it’s possible to damage the motor if it gets too hot. The motor gets hot because of the friction from the scroll and also because the scroll is moving much faster than the motor is capable of producing. A better option for cutting wood with a scroll saw is a scroll motorized saw.
The best scroll saw for wood uses ceramic steel scroll saw blades. This is because the ceramic fibers of the blades are much smoother than traditional steel which means less wear and distortion. If you’re a beginning woodturner, then a scroll saw with a steel blade might be a good choice. However, a scroll saw with ceramic blades is ideal for turning both soft and hard materials and you’ll get more use out of your scroll saw if you perform a variety of cuts with it.
If you’re looking for a saw that can cut both wood and metal, a hybrid machine is the best choice. These machines use both a scroll and a motor to operate. Because the scroll is on the outside of the machine (and therefore closer to the blade), it gets closer to the surface of the material being cut, giving the user a more even cut. They’re also known as ‘true’ scroll saws, because the teeth of the saw are actually serrated along the width of the blade. The motor is mounted on the inside of the saw, inside the scroll chamber. This dual operating system gives the user more cutting capacity.
One drawback to a hybrid scroll saw for wood is that they tend to cost a little more than their true counterparts. If you’re looking to make tight intricate cuts using your scroll saw, however, you should consider this option. They’re definitely worth the investment if you have the money to go ahead. A true scroll saw for wood is going to be quite a bit more expensive than a hybrid, but they’ll make almost any cut you need them to for the price you pay.