Thread: Tool purchase; scroll vs. band saw

Looking at both, just wondering which would be more useful for fabricating scales and such. I don't really have the money for both so wondering which would be the 1st choice.

I am not much of a wood-worker but as I gather, both do the same thing with a little different approach. 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. Again I don't know that's why I'm asking here. I was just not sure how much free-hand work you can do with a band saw when cutting curves.

The machine would also be used for other light fabricating (like making boxes and such) but the main idea is for scale work.

Thanks!

v/r

Allen

I had the same dilema, so I settled for a Scrolls aw because if you can get the wood cut all you need to do is shape it, and you can be a little more precise with it, a Bandsaw or jigsaw would be harder to use, btw I have a ryobi scoll saw, Benchsander, and a drill, so far they are well worth the money

regards,simon

The band saw is better for roughing in shapes and cutting stock. It is fine enough for you to rough out scale blanks with. The scrol saw ia for cutting tight curves and very fine cuts. You will find a band saw to have much greater utility for all around woodworking than the scroll saw.

That said I love doing scroll saw work, its fun cutting out intricate shapes with micrometer accuracy and I wish I had the spare cash to own one myself.

i have a small bandsaw and it does great work. i just wish i had a 1 in belt sander. that would save me more time than either of the saws.

vgod

You could do what you do with the scroll saw with coping saw and some patience and experience, but when you need a bandsaw, you need a bandsaw.

Get the band saw man! I have both and don't even touch the scroll saw. Use the bandsaw for pretty much all wood cutting. For fine curves on scales it can usually work as long as your saw blade isn't a huge one. The scroll saw isn't that useful in my opinion. Any work it would actually be good for is usually done with my belt sander anyway.

I think this is one of those it depends:
A good band saw blade can extend your scale stock dramatically
But fine angles and curves are better suited by a scroll saw.

I have neither but both are on my list.

- Bob

Hehehe...reading these posts makes me feel glad about the little bandsaw and the belt sander that I picked up this last week for scale making purposes

I have both, and my scroll saw sits unused... Everything I need to do, I can do with the band saw.

+1 on the scroll saw sitting around...anytime I need to do any "fine" curves I just change the band saw blade and fire up the sander.