Thread: Scroll saw or band saw?

Not to blaspheme in the presence of the power-tool addicts, but you can probably get away with a coping saw for making scales. Even G10, which is a tougher material, will be cut pretty easily with a coping saw. You can get one for $10, the blades come in 5 packs for about $3-$5 and you can work on this stuff at a slower pace while you learn. (By slower pace, I mean you can adjust your cuts every inch, if you want. It takes 10 minutes to cut scales from 1/8" stock slabs with a coping saw. You won't be able to rip stock, though.) Getting any tool will take a little time to become proficient, but with a powered bench tool those mistakes might be a big larger. Then there's the complete obvious: it's much harder to saw off your finger with a coping saw.