Thread: Tool purchase; scroll vs. band saw

"I was leaning toward a band saw since it looks like you can use a guide to get even, square cuts and would be more precise when cutting the rough scales in half. . .The machine would also be used for other light fabricating (like making boxes and such) but the main idea is for scale work."

My 0.02 pesos worth:

If I were working on scales alone (i.e. no resawing planks into blanks for boxes) I would purchase the scroll saw first for a couple of reasons. First, they're very easy to control, great for curves and very compact. Typically a good scrollsaw will cost you much less than a decent bandsaw (half or less). You wouldn't need much sanding with the right blade, either.


If I were doing both boxes and scales and had to choose between the two I'd get a bandsaw with a variety of good blades (see Lee Valley or Highland Woodworking). A thin blade (1/8") will cut exactly the kind of curves you need for scales, a thicker blade (1/2" - 3/4") will resaw much of what you may work with. Again though, a good bandsaw can get expensive quickly and a bad bandsaw may cost you twice as much. I wouldn't get anything with less than a 93 1/2" wheel base/ 14" throat, and 3/4HP. I have a Delta 28-276 and feel it's way underpowered and very imprecise- even with a Kreg fence, Cool blocks and Carter guides. I can't imagine getting good results with anything smaller, but then again I'm pretty spoiled by my table saw.

If I had to choose behind door number three I would get a scroll saw and supplement it with a decent handsaw (a Japanese Ryoba would be my first choice) to cut rough blanks from. I think you'd get just as good performance, if not better, from the ryoba in terms of resawing and better curves with the scrollsaw. It's always tempting to overlook hand tools but sometimes they can really perform just as well, if not better, provided one's willing to put in the sweat equity. On top of that, they're typically much less expensive than machines and take up less room. Someone earlier mentioned that a scroll saw is pretty much an automated coping saw. Again, very true and another tool worth experimenting with. You may find between a Ryoba and coping saw everything you need to get you going for a long time while being able to move a few pennies toward the woods you like.

Best of luck!