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The Best Scroll Saws 2022 – By Experts

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A good scroll saw is essential for making intricate cuts and decorative cuts in wood. It gives your work a great finish look. However, not all scroll saws will provide you with the same result that you aspire for, which is why we will help you find your one. 

Since we know that you probably do not have enough time to do thorough research, we managed to compile the best ones on the market so that you can quickly find the best scroll saw that best accommodates your needs

The 8 Best Scroll Saws in 2022

If you think working quietly is a myth, you are wrong! This baby here has a double parallel link arm design that makes it quieter. Moreover, it reduces vibration, allowing you to experience a more comfortable work time. 

In addition, its ease of use and versatility make it a suitable scroll saw for professionals and beginners alike. Also, the ease of changing its blades is unspeakable thanks to the tool-free blade clamp.

Our product has a throat depth of 20 inches that allows cuts up to 2 inches deep or as shallow as ¾ of an inch. This saw can reach speeds ranging from 400-1,750 SPM with a 1.3-amp motor.

If you need to make a bevel cut, this baby has a table that can tilt to 45 degrees in both directions. This way, you are provided with excellent material support and the ability to easily bevel to the right or left. 

Besides, its front upper arm contains almost everything you may need like an on-off switch, electronic variable speed, flexible dust blower, and blade-tensioning lever. 

Had a bad experience with making inside cuts? It is all in the past now because DEWALT DW788 has an arm that lifts so that the blade can be easily threaded through the material for inside cuts. Moreover, the arm’s design makes the blade stay in a perpendicular position to the work, which reduces over or undercutting. 

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Our Rating

5/5

Bottom Line:

If you are looking for a scroll saw that is durable, efficient, versatile, and easy to use, get this one. Note, though, that you may not be able to get perfect 90-degree cuts. 

If you are not ready to spend a fortune on buying this expensive tool, then do not even waste your time reading about it. Jet 727200K Scroll Saw is made for professionals (why would a beginner spend this sum of money on a tool anyway, right?). Moreover, it is also better suited for professionals who have a workshop dedicated to their power tools because it is really bulky and asks for a lot of storage space. 

However, if you are still interested, you should know that you will get what you pay for. This baby comes with a stable but lightweight unit with an included stand, and a convenient raised workspace. Moreover, it is quiet and makes no vibration whatsoever while in use, which is great for your ear and body, respectively. 

It is also effortless to maintain. It features a tilting arm instead of a tilting table, which makes replacing an old blade with a new one much easier. Moreover, blade changing is easy because it has improved upper and lower blade holders, where the upper mechanism will clamp and tension the blade simultaneously, and the lower mechanism allows for tool-free blade changes.

Besides, it features a throat of 22 inches, so that it can very much handle hardwoods like mahogany, and has a variable speed range of 400 – 1550 SPM.

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Our Rating

5/5

Bottom Line:

If you have enough money, invest in this babe and I assure you that every penny will count. 

At an affordable price, the 120-volt WEN 3920 is loaded with rich features. For example, its design allows it to accept blades from multiple directions, which gives it unlimited ripping capacity so that you would have more options for your work. 

Moreover, it has an adjustable speed component (from 400 to 1600 SPM with a single turn of a knob) so that you would be able to adjust the speed to every individual project. Regarding its table, it is considered spacious at 16 by 11 inches. It also bevels at up to 45 degrees. Moreover, the cast iron base ensures that you will have a stable workspace and minimal vibrations. 

Some of its additional features are the small LED light and the dust port. While the LED light might not seem necessary, it is actually essential because it gives you a better view of the workpiece and the place you are cutting. Moreover, if you are working in a relatively dim area, this baby will be your savior. Also, the dust port will keep your lungs in a healthy state and your workplace clean. 

This 9/16-inch stroke saws through hardwoods up to two inches thick, yet, it is designed to handle small workpieces. Besides, the blade holder accepts both pinned and pinless blades. You can also change the direction of the cut to accommodate that particular workpiece you are working on. 

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Our Rating

5/5

Bottom Line:

While not very ideal for handling tough jobs, WEN 3920 has all the features that anyone could ever ask for. 

If you want a cheap scroll saw, our 120-volt motor that has a variable speed of 1500 – 2500 SPM will please you. It is a scroll saw for beginners and professionals alike since it is affordable and high enough in quality to handle the needs of experienced workers. 

However, it cannot handle any material that is more than 3/4-inch thick. It works best with material that is 1/2-inch thick or less. Moreover, its throat depth is 10-1/2 inches, so we can say that it is more suited for tackling small projects. 

Dremel MS20-01 features an adaptable dust port that will enable you to use a dust collection system. This feature is of utmost importance since it keeps your workpiece and workspace clean, besides ensuring that you breathe in clean air (what is more important than your health, right?)

It also has an auto-tension component, so changing blades and accessories will be a breeze. You will also be able to manipulate the blade tension easily. Furthermore, it makes a relatively quiet noise, so it is suitable for use in quiet areas. 

If you are worried about limited mobility, worry no more! With this baby, you can bring the saw to the workpiece, which will give you a lot of mobility. Moreover, for stationary use, you can fasten the tool to tables, benches, and other surfaces. If you do not need it to be stationary, it can also be used as a portable electric coping saw. 

For comfort, this baby features a slim ergonomic handle with a comfortable grip, so that you can easily control it. This wonderful tool also has variable speed control, so it is able to cut different materials excellently. 

However, its power is not its best feature. We can say that it won’t be able to cut harder or thicker woods. 

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Our Rating

5/5

Bottom Line:

This is the best scroll saw for the money. If you need an affordable scroll saw that features almost all the properties that an expensive scroll saw has, this is the one. Yet, note that it won’t be able to handle thick wood. 

This nice porter cable scroll saw features an 18-inch throat and a variable speed that ranges from 500 to 1500 SPM, so it can pretty much handle a variety of projects. Moreover, its cast-iron dual tilt table can tilt to 45 degrees to the right and 15 degrees to the left. It also has a unique feature among scroll saws on the market, an easy-to-read bevel scale. 

Besides, it accepts pinned and pinless blades, which is a great plus. Speaking of blade-changing, it is a piece of cake because it requires no tools at all. 

At an affordable price, our product here comes with a sturdy steel stand, saving you space on your workbench. It is also great at making clean cuts because it makes no vibration whatsoever. 

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Our Rating

5/5

Bottom Line:

This is going to be a great choice if you want to keep your workbench free for projects, and your scroll saw elevated on a sturdy stand.

This 20-inch scroll saw has enough power and features to handle projects of all types. Its 20-inch throat allows it to cut thick pieces of wood. Moreover, its table that tilts from 0 to 45 degrees in each direction allows for beveling. 

The upper arm can be lifted and locked into position when you are changing the blade or adjusting its position. Moreover, it enjoys variable speed from 400 to 1,750 SPM that enables it to cut through the toughest of wood like walnut. 

Moreover, to ensure that you are going to work in a clean area and that your health is not compromised in any way, this baby features a dust hose and is quiet. However, to keep it quiet and with fewer vibrations, you need to lubricate it constantly. 

Sadly, Delta 40-694 only accepts pinless blades, so if you need to use pinned ones, you need to get an adaptor. 

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Our Rating

5/5

Bottom Line:

If you need a powerful scroll saw and ready to invest some money, our Delta 40-694 will be of great help to you. 

At 1.2 amperes and a variable speed ranging from 550 to 1,700 SPM, Shop Fox W1713 will provide you with great power and a variety to handle a wide array of jobs. 

It has a standard 2-inch depth of cut, so it is more suited for handling light work. 

Are you going to work in relatively light places? No problem! This boy has a light that can illuminate the workspace and the workpieces, giving you a clear vision where you are cutting. Moreover, its dust port and dust blower will help you maintain a clean workplace and prevent you from inhaling dust. 

Even though this saw is said to have the ability to accept both pinned and pinless blades – which would be great, it actually is terrible at handling pinless blades because they do not work properly with it. 

Moreover, this baby is prone to bounce and vibrate at higher speeds, so it is not a pro at making clean cuts. The most devastating piece of information is that this saw cannot make bevel cuts because it doesn’t tilt. 

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Our Rating

5/5

Bottom Line:

This would be an excellent bargain for those who are going to use it with light jobs, and those who do not need to make bevel cuts. 

This 1.2-ampere motor pushes variable speed from 500-1 to 700-SPM, which will enable you to work on almost any project. Also, it has a 2.5-inch depth of cut and 16 inches length of throat. The length of the throat is a bit shallow, but it is not that bad, anyway.

If you are a hobbyist, you will love the affordable price by which you can buy ShopSeries RK7315. It accepts pinned blades; however, you can use pinless blades if you buy a separate adaptor (which adds to the tool’s cost). 

There is also an in-built dust blower which prevents dust from blocking the view of the work and a dust collection port to keep the work area clean. 

Sadly, the platform that tilts to 4 degrees can only tilt to the left. Moreover, you will need to rest the blade very often because it continually goes out of place. Plus, you must know that there is a small difference because the insert that surrounds the blade is set too low for the table. This small difference is enough to snag your piece as you try to feed it through. How to avoid this? By lifting your piece over the lip to allow it to continue to move. This makes it vibrate a lot, which makes it challenging to achieve a clean looking cut. 

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Our Rating

5/5

Bottom Line:

If the above defects are not dealbreakers to you, then this baby may be the one for you at its great price. 

Features You Should Consider Before Buying a Scroll saw:

Blade Type

There are two categories of blade types: plain-end (also called pinless) and pin-end. The difference between them lies in that plain-end ones get clamped between two small clamps on the saw. They are also very thin and excellent at making intricate cuts. 

Contrarily, pin-end blades have a tiny pin on the top and bottom that rest in a holder that’s similar to a hook. They are faster and easier to change. However, they’re not as good as plain-end ones because they are wider and thicker. 

Generally speaking, pinless blades are better.

Depth of Cut

The depth of cut is the thickness of the piece of wood that your saw can cut. Traditionally, the standard saw cut is about two inches. Given that most woodwork on a scroll saw is finish work, it is unlikely that you will need more than 2 inches. Still, some saws come with a higher depth of cut. 

Throat Length

The throat length is the distance from your blade to where the wood will hit the back of the saw. If the throat length is 16 inches, that would be great, but if it is 20 inches, all the better. 

Speed

The speed of a scroll saw is measured in strokes per minute (SPM). A good scroll saw has a variable speed that you can adjust to different levels, giving you better control over your cuts in different mediums. This is great because fast speed is more suitable for the hardwood; whereas, slower speed works better with softwood. 

The best thing you can search for is a scroll saw that has large variability from its slowest speed to its fastest because it will give you cleanest cuts in the greatest variety of mediums. 

Tilt

If you want to make beveled edge cuts, get a scroll saw that features a tilting tabletop. This is something you got to consider before buying a scroll saw because it is not common for them to come with tilting table tops. The standard slope to tilt to is 45 degrees, though some models have shallower 15 degrees. 

What is better than having a tilting a tabletop is having one that can tilt both sides. Some of the models on the market can only tilt in one direction, yet making beveled edge cuts using them is not an impossible job, just a tough one. You will have to flip the board and cut the backside. So, you will need to make extensive marking and planning. 

LED Light

Getting a model that features an LED light is such a great thing because it will make the workpiece more visible to you. Moreover, if you are working in a dim place, you will not need to worry about making mistakes or injuring yourself. 

However, the quality of an LED light differs from one model to the other. For example, some poor models have an LED light that loses its position due to the scroll saw’s vibration. So, choose a model that features an LED light of high quality. 

Dust Blower

Blower hoses are thin and maneuverable, which is great because they can make the place under the blade clean. Moreover, you can adjust them to whatever direction you need so that the cut is not blown in your direction. 

How To Safely Use a Scroll Saw

Even though a scroll saw is not considered as dangerous as other saws, if your hands or fingers touch the point of operation, they will be severely injured. Therefore, there are a few things you should know before using a scroll saw to stay safe and not injure yourself or others. Such stuff include the following: 

  • Wearing safety glasses.
  • Wearing sturdy footwear.
  • Taking off any kind of jewelry.
  • Tying up your hair.
  • Wear protective clothing- tight clothes.
  • Wear hearing protection.
  • Do not hold tiny pieces that your finger does not go under the blade guard.
  • Wait for the blade to reach its full speed before starting to cut.
  • Make sure that the workspace to be cut is clean.
  • Turn off the machine and wait for it to completely stop before removing scraps or making adjustments.

Final Thoughts

By now, the whole process of finding the best scroll saw is easier, I believe. I assume you have already made up your mind, yet, I am going to make some recommendations for those of you who are still hesitant. 

For starters, I would say getting our top product, DEWALT DW788, is a great choice. My recommendation is not only based on the fact that it is quiet and with low vibration, but also because you can easily change its blade and make bevel cuts. 

If you have enough money and are a professional, go for Jet 727200K Scroll Saw. its tilting arm and adjustable speed along its other compelling features are impressive. Note, though, that it will take up a lot of your storage space. 

If you liked this guide, you can also check our recommendation for the best Pole saw and the best Band saw.

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