Best Scroll Saws Reviewed & Rated for Quality
WilM
Sofija Pavlovska
Buying yourself a scroll saw is a good idea if you plan on getting into more intricate woodworking projects. It's like having a bandsaw on a smaller scale, which allows for a higher level of accuracy. When you want something that looks exquisite and professional, a scroll saw is a great bet. They focus on accuracy over power, and you should look for one where the motor doesn't cause movement of the table so that you can be as precise as possible. There are many options on the market. Down below, there is a list of some of the best.
In a Hurry? The test winner after 16 hrs of research
Easily adjustable
Buttons are closer to user
Low amount of shaking
Good price
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DeWalt DW788 -
Shop Fox W1713
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WEN 3920
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Delta Power Tools 40-694
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Dremel MS20-01
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HF Tools 16in
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Proxxon 37088
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ShopSeries RK7315
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Hegner
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Jet 727200K
- Criteria Used for Evaluation
- Other Factors to Consider
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Sources
10 Best Scroll Saws
1. DeWalt DW788
Easily adjustable
Buttons are closer to user
Low amount of shaking
Good price
Doesn't come with a blade
This one is the perfect choice for most users. It has any feature you can think of so that you can make any kind of cut with little interference and very quickly.
Read moreAccurate Cut
The DeWalt is equipped with a few features that make sure that it will give you the most accurate cut imaginable. The arms that steady your wood and linked together so that they have more stability and won't shake with the rumbling of the motor. It also has an adjustable arm so that you can choose where inside the materials you would like to cut.
Quick Operation
The DeWalt is also designed to be as easy to use as possible so that you can spend more time working, and less time configuring. The blade can be very quickly removed because the arms that hold it don''t need any tools to be opened. Another great feature of this scroll saw is that all of the buttons are located on the arm in front of you, which makes it easier to do any supplementary things that you would like as quickly as possible. Things like the off and on switch, and a dust blower are built to be within easy reach while you work.
Cost and Value
The DeWalt is a great scroll saw at its price. It is convenient, and quick to use. It is stable and accurate. It is a great choice for anyone looking into buying themselves a scroll saw. This is good value for this price range of scroll saw.
2. Shop Fox W1713
Table tilt
Multiple kinds of blades
Great price
Dust port for keeping a clean shop
When tilted, the blade vibrates a little
This is a bit of a cheaper scroll saw, that still has many of the great features you should be looking for. This one has lots of variability in how you cut, and will do wonders with your work.
Read moreCutting Features
The Shop Fox has many ways that it can cut a piece for you. The best is that the table can be tilted up to forty-five degrees so that you can make angled cuts for a higher variety of work. This can give a depth to any projects that you attempt. Another great feature is that this scroll saw can hold either plain or pin blades for even more variety of cuts.
Convenient Features
Besides a wide variety of cuts that you can achieve, the Shop Fox is also great for all the extra features it brings to the table. It has an adjustable light built into the arm that will make sure you have great visibility no matter where you set up shop. It also comes with a variable speed setting for maximum control over your blade. Finally, it comes with a dust blower that will make it easy for you to keep a clean station while you work.
Cost and Value
The Shop Fox is quite cheap for all of the features it has. This is a great choice if you are not quite ready to spend all of that money, but still want all of the great features of a high end scroll saw.
3. WEN 3920
Great price
Many convenient features
Very adjustable blade
Adjustable dust blower and lights
Blade vibrates at higher speeds
The WEN 3920 is a variable speed scroll saw with many of the features found in more expensive saws. It is a great price for someone buying their first scroll saw, or someone on a budget.
Read moreThe Cut
This scroll saw gives you many options for cutting. It can cut up to a depth of two inches for more thick projects. The blade can also be shifted on the arm from straight down to up to the side, for easier install. This saw also comes with the ability to have the table tilt up to forty-five degrees for more depth for your cuts.
Bonus Features
The WEN 3920 comes with many interesting bonus features that make it very convenient to use. It comes with an adjustable light that will give you some extra illumination if it is needed. The dust blower on this scroll saw is adjustable so you can get any stubborn pieces of grit off of your table. It also has a small pocket where you can store all of your extra blades for easy accessibility.
Cost and Value
The WEN is a very cheap scroll saw for anyone who might be on a budget. It kicks it with the big boys when it comes to quality of cut, and has all of those extra features you might not know you need now, but will definitely need later.
4. Delta Power Tools 40-694
Adjustable table to left and right
Fully reticulated dust blower
Can come with a table
Variable saw speed
Not packaged very well
The 40-694 Is another mid-range scroll saw with many features and a variable speed setting. It can include a table if you don't have anything reliable to affix your scroll saw to.
Read moreCutting Features
Delta Power Tools' does a good job of cutting precisely. It is a variable speed scroll saw that can go from four hundred to seventeen-hundred SPM. Delta Power is also innovative because it can be tilted both left and right up to forty five degrees, which will reduce the amount of fidgeting you will have to do.
Other Features
This scroll saw also has some great extra features that make your time in front of the table as painless as possible. The dust blower is fully adjustable so that you can clean up your workspace effectively. It also comes with storage on top of the saw arm so you have somewhere to place your spare blades. Another great feature is the adjustable light attached to the top of the table.
Cost and Value
You can buy the Delta Power Tools scroll saw as either just a saw, or with a table that fits it more naturally. It does a good job when bought in either price range.
5. Dremel MS20-01
Built to be lightweight
Very portable
Very affordable
Auto tensioning system
Can't be used for metal
The Dremel MS20-01 is a very simple, budget scroll saw that will get the job done for anyone just getting into the hobby, or anyone who is on a budget.
Read moreCutting Features
The Dremel is another great scroll saw that does a good job cutting. It has a variable speed on its saw so that you can customize the speed of your cut. It also has an auto tensioning system that will keep a good grip on the wood no matter what. This reduces the amount of time you will have to spend adjusting the blade and its grip on whatever material you are working on.
Portability
This saw has been designed to be easy to take anywhere, and then be set up very quickly again. It is very lightweight and simple to carry, without any jutting parts. It is designed with a quick-clamp mechanism that makes it easy to attach to any table or shelf that you can find for yourself. This makes it easy to carry from job site to job site and leaves you more time for working, and less time for lugging heavy equipment around.
Cost and Value
The Dremel is also very cheap, which makes it even better. It costs much less than many of the saws on this list, and is a great price for anyone. Whether you are a burgeoning tradesman who wants to own their own tools, or a hobbyist who wants something more particular for your cutting, the Dremel is a great choice.
6. HF Tools 16in
Good price
Works with many kinds of materials
Adjustable for cutting on a bevel
Fits many blades
Good price
Works with many kinds of materials
Adjustable for cutting on a bevel
Fits many blades
The HF Tools Scroll Saw is a no-frills scroll saw that can work with a variety of materials. It's a strong, dependable scroll saw that doesn't spend too much time worrying about extras.
Read moreCutting Ability
HF Tools Scroll Saw is built to be a variable speed scroll saw that can be used on many materials. It can be rotated forty-five degrees so that it can make different types of cuts. It can cut wood up to two inches thick. This scroll saw gives you the ability to do whatever you may need to when it comes to cutting materials.
Features
This scroll saw may be simple, but it has been built to remain convenient for you. It has a built in air pump that does a good job keeping your work space clear. It is also built with pre-made holes that make ti easy to be attached to your work bench.
Cost and Value
This scroll saw is very cheap, and will do anything that you need it for. It doesn't have too many extra features, but it is built to work with many kinds of blades, and can be used to cut through many kinds of materials. This is a great choice for someone who is just getting into the hobby and wants to test the waters first.
7. Proxxon 37088
Comes with a vacuum and a blower
Works really well for more delicate work
Great price for specific function
Accurate
Not intended for larger pieces
The Proxxon is designed for those extra small projects. It rocks an even smaller blade than usual and is best for tiny models or toys.
Read moreThinner Woods
The Proxxon has been designed for smaller woods. It can cut hard woods, but is designed for thinner woods, such as balsa. When you use a larger blade on woods like that, sometimes the blade is too wide or powerful and can destroy thinner woods. The Proxxon is unique in its ability to cut thinner woods with precision.
Features
The Proxxon comes with a blower that will keep you workspace and your pieces clean. This is useful for keeping your visibility high, and also to be able to keep your workspace clean. It also comes with a vacuum attachment that makes it easier to clean your shop floor. It uses the motor of the saw to help you clean up.
Cost and Value
For being such a unique saw on the market, the Proxxon is a very good deal. This is a saw for a very particular kind of work. If the work that you are getting skews towards the more delicate, it might be in your best interest to give the Proxxon a shot.
8. ShopSeries RK7315
Good value
Accurate cutting
Lightweight and portable
Comes with a warranty
Will vibrate unless bolted down
The ShopSeries is another reliable scroll saw that is designed for accurate cuts, and has an extra focus on being lightweight and easy to use right out of the package.
Read moreCutting Ability
The ShopSeries does a great job giving you the accurate cuts that are so important when you are buying yourself a scroll saw. It has a knob that allows you to rotate your table up to forty-five degrees to allow for a wider variety of cuts. This scroll saw is another variable speed saw so that you can through a wide variety of materials. It has a deep stroke that makes it will make sure that you are making an accurate cut.
Features
The ShopSeries has been designed with portability and simplicity in mind. IT is easy to bring along to the shop or to move around as needed. The ShopSeries comes with two tungsten blades that makes it extra easy to just take this saw out of the box and get to work. It has a built in storage system so you have somewhere to put your blades.
Cost and Value
This is a rather inexpensive scroll saw that is a good choice for any kind of hobbyist or professional. The cuts are accurate and this machine's blades have a good level of versatility. The ShopSeries also comes with a two year warranty that will bring an extra level of security to your mind.
9. Hegner
Highly accurate
Large workspace
Dust blower
Effective tensioning system
Very expensive
The Hegner is another variable speed scroll saw that has a more heavy-duty design that is more fit for the shop, and serious projects.
Read moreCutting Ability
The cutting ability of the Hegner is highly advanced, and it does a good job of giving an accurate cut without any vibration. Using the Hegner is simple due to its large work surface and the double tensioning system that make sit easy to switch between the levels of tension that are holding your project down.
Features
The Hegner has some unique features that make it more suitable to a larger workspace. It has a large table for you to get your work done on, which is useful because it means you don't have to worry about your project being too big for the table. It is also quite heavy so it doesn't need to be clamped down or anything for it to have a steady sawing motion.
Cost and Value
The Hegner is much more expensive than the other options on this list. This scroll saw takes itself very seriously, but will give you a highly accurate cut with minimal shaking. It also comes with a seven year warranty so that means you will definitely be getting your money's worth.
10. Jet 727200K
Accurate cut
Rotates left and right
Custom choice of height
No wobble
Very expensive
The Jet is another more expensive scroll saw that gives you an extra customizable experience. This is a good scroll saw for those who work on a variety of projects quite seriously.
Read moreCustom Work Surface
The Jet has a custom work surface that makes it easy to work in any situation you, which can make it more comfortable, or perhaps easier to make the cuts that you want. When buying the stand that comes with it, the Jet can have its height switched to four different settings very easily. The table can also be rotated forty-five degrees to the left or right.
Premium Saw
The Jet is more expensive than other saws on this list, but it is designed for the most precise of cuts. It has been made to give you the most accurate cut imaginable. There is no wobble due to the unique grip that the stand has on the saw itself. This saw will do you a great job.
Cost and Value
Like the Hegner, this scroll saw is quite expensive. It is not recommended as a first-timer's scroll saw, but using this one will give you a great experience. It gives you great control over your project, and the cut is very good..
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Accuracy
When using a scroll saw, the accuracy is the most important part. Scroll saws are made to be used with fine work. Due to this, the accuracy is the most important part of what you should be looking for when buying a scroll saw. There are a few things that help make for an accurate scroll saw. The biggest thing that will ruin the accuracy of your scroll saw blade is the amount of vibration caused by the movement of the blade and motor. An accurate scroll saw will have a quiet motor and a blade that doesn't wobble. There are a few things to look into when finding a blade that cuts accurately. The blade tensioning system is very important. You want to look for something that can hold your material tight. The most effective grip is one loops around from the left to the right. This makes the tensioning system firmer and wobble less. Another thing to look for when trying to find an accurate scroll saw is to look for one that holds very solid on whatever surface it is being left on. You want it to either have a clamp or some kind of system that makes it easy to screw it into your workbench. The more steady the base of the saw is, the more steady the blade will be.
Adjustability
The more adjustable your scroll saw is, the more versatility there is in all the cuts you can make. It can be really helpful to be able to quickly move your table so that you do certain cuts. The most popular cut that can benefit from having an adjustable blade is to be able to cut a bevel. If this is a cut that you are interested in, then it might be a good job to get one of the scroll saw tables that can rotated forty-five degrees. This can usually be done on the fly, and it means that you won't have to move your project around and stop your cutting as often. Even better, look for a scroll saw that can be adjusted both to the left and right. This means that you can be even more comfortable while you work. Being able to adjust your work forty-five degrees to the left and right gives you even more angles for your work.
Speed
Scroll saw blades are much thinner than many other automatic saws. Because of this, it is sometimes more difficult for the blades of a scroll saw to cut through some materials. The main thing that allows it to cut through a variety of materials is the speed at which the blade cuts. Adding to this, having a blade that can cut at a variety of speed reliably is what will allow your scroll saw to be entirely effective. When buying a scroll saw, make sure that it has the ability to be set to various speeds. This is called a variable speed scroll saw. Scroll saws will often state the range of speeds that they can be set to. Just because a scroll saw can go to a certain speed, does not mean that it is wise to. Often, the faster that a scroll saw is going, the more vibration the blade is being affected by as well. Try to check the reviews of the scroll saw that you would like to see if it still remains accurate at the higher speeds.
Ease of Use
Using a scroll saw can require many configurations. There is often a lot of starting and stopping. Due to this being the case, it is always nice to have a scroll saw that caters to these needs. Being able to quickly install new blades or switch the table is an important feature to look out for when buying yourself a scroll saw. Some blade holders for scroll saws can be opened and closed by hand. Not having to take out the tools every time you want to adjust your blade is a great thing to look out for. On the other hand, make sure that the scroll saw that you're getting does a good job of keeping a good grip if it can be adjusted by hand. The other important thing that will help with the ease of use of a scroll saw are things like the size of your table-top. The larger the table-top that the saw gives you, the larger the work space. Having a large table-top means that you don't have to worry about the project being too large to fit on the table or if things will become unbalanced.
Durability
There are many moving parts inside of a scroll saw. On top of that, all of those parts have to be working together for the saw to be working properly. It is often the case that what works when you first get it, won't work later on. With a scroll saw, there are many things to look out for when measuring a saw;s durability. The tensioning always needs to do a good job of keeping a grip on your project. The grip has to be delicate, as well as tight enough. This can often give out. More importantly, it is often the motors of scroll saws that have trouble keeping up. They usually have to run at variable speeds, and they move the blade up and down, unlike bandsaws' simpler continuous movement. Always be on the look out for differing noises like chugging or clunking. Both of these might mean something has gone wrong with your motor.
Expert Interviews & Opinions
Adjustability Ease of Use Durability Accuracy Speed 
There are many convenient features you can find among these scroll saws that could be useful for keeping your work flow steady and uninterrupted. One great feature that has become almost ubiquitous among scroll saws is that most of them have dust blowers of some kind. Allowing dust to get all over your table-top can get in the way of your precision work, and also throw off the levels of your desk if too much dust accumulates. The solution to this is to get an air pump that blows all the dust away from your work automatically by funneling all that moving air in the motor out onto the table-top. There are even dust blowers that are full adjustable, which is great for getting any dust that remains stubbornly on your table. Another good feature to look out for is a reticulated light that illuminates your workspace. This can be useful just for that extra light that it can bring to your project. Often having an overhead light won;t be enough just because of how much your body can get in the way while you try to get a view of your work. Having an adjustable light that can be used to light up your work is great so that you can put it where you want.
Scroll saws and bandsaws do look quite similar, and are often referred to together. A scroll saw is in many ways, just a smaller band saw. The biggest difference beyond the size is that the saw of a scroll saw is not continuous, which is why a bandsaw is called a bandsaw. A scroll saw is better for smaller projects that need more detailed work. A bandsaw will cut through anything, whereas a scroll saw will not. Don't get a scroll saw for general cutting. A scroll saw is a different tool altogether in some of the work that it can do. Make exquisite looking emblems for your wood. You can also make artsy engravings with a scroll saw.
Other Factors to Consider
Materials
When using a scroll saw, it is important to make sure you have it set up properly for whatever material it is you are trying to cut. Scroll saws can cut almost any kind of material. They are obviously, specifically for detailed work, but they can cut wood, or even metal. Always try to make sure that the blade is set for the right speed for the material you are trying to cut. The thinner the material, the slower the blade should be set for. There are also different kinds of blades to be aware of when cutting. Some are thicker, or have different edges that make them better for cutting different materials. If you do have the speed of your scroll saw set too high, then the material that it supposed to be cutting may get splintered or frayed. This can ruin the detailed work that you are going for.
Weight
The weight of your scroll saw is a bit of a two-edged sword. It is up to you to decide if you want a heavier scroll saw or not. If you purchase a heavier scroll saw, it can become it's own steadying force. A heavy scroll saw will often have a blade that vibrates less than an unclamped scroll saw. This means that you can usually plop the scroll saw on a table and then you can get to work. It means that you don't have to clamp the saw down, or screw it into place. The trade off is that a heavy scroll saw is harder to transport anywhere. Some of the heavier scroll saws can weigh over one hundred pounds. If you own a scroll saw that weighs that much then you probably won't want to move it around too much. Maybe you want to take your scroll saw out to the shop or to someone else's house to help them out with something. In this case, you might want to think about getting yourself one of the smaller, more portable scroll saws. If you clamp a smaller saw down, then the blade won't vibrate nearly as much. This does mean that you will have to install this scroll saw everywhere you go, which can be a bit of work in itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
q: What are some safety tips?
There are a few things that you can do when using your scroll saw that will ensure you keep yourself safe. Working with a scroll saw is precise work, so you will often be quite close to the blade. The first and most obvious thing to do is wear safety glasses and a dusk mask. This will make it so no splinters get into your eyes or other sensitive areas. The dust mask is also good for stopping you from breathing in some of the finer particles that you may kick up. Another good tip is to buy a scroll saw that comes with an adjustable light. Having properly lit work will make sure that you can see what you are doing and where the project is going. Another thing you can do is get yourself a foot pedal. Foot pedals are great because they allow you to control the blade without having to turn it on and off. If you think you are putting yourself in an unsafe position, just step off the pedal and it will turn off before it can damage you.
q: What kind of wood should I use?
The type of wood you use will be dependant on what kind of project you plan on tackling. Hardwood is usually the best looking. Woods like walnut or mahogany are expensive but they are quite exquisite looking. Use these for the most special projects. On the budget-friendly end of things, we wouldn't recommend plywood like fir for most projects. Baltic birch might be a great option as it's relatively inexpensive and more durable than other cheaper options. Plywood edges aren't very nice to look at but if your project doesn't require the edges to be seen, this won't be an issue.
