Thread: Scroll saw or band saw?

Originally Posted by Maximilian

I have both and use my scrollsaw the most. My bandsaw gets rarely used.
Mainly because I also get my materials in 1/8' thickness so no need re-saw my own blanks as much. If I had to do it all over again, It will be a scrollsaw for sure.

If anyone but you said this, Max, I'd think they were crazy... now I just want to watch you work for a day and see how you do it! What functions do you use your scroll saw for over against the bandsaw? I know a bandsaw falls short in the shaping department...

Originally Posted by BKratchmer

If anyone but you said this, Max, I'd think they were crazy... now I just want to watch you work for a day and see how you do it! What functions do you use your scroll saw for over against the bandsaw? I know a bandsaw falls short in the shaping department...

Ha i know! i was just about to settle down with the idea of getting a bandsaw and then Max says he likes scroll saws better. Although i think hes right because i plan on getting 1/8th inch blanks anyway, and i think that would work best for me, thanks guys for all your opinions, im very grateful!!

Originally Posted by thewatermark

Ha i know! i was just about to settle down with the idea of getting a bandsaw and then Max says he likes scroll saws better. Although i think hes right because i plan on getting 1/8th inch blanks anyway, and i think that would work best for me, thanks guys for all your opinions, im very grateful!!

Well, it's not that difficult. Except the G10 I cut all my scales with my scrollsaw.. woods, horn, micarta (paper, linen and canvas,...), acrylics, paua/abalone, faux tortoise... It does it magically well, fast and acurate plus I can contour beautifully my drawn designs.

I thought I was going to use my bandsaw and start ripping blanks like a mad man but I've done so only twice cause I needed some wood that was not available in 1/8".

So for me personally my scrollsaw and both my belt sander are my most used tools (except the buffers off course) lol

Originally Posted by Maximilian

Well, it's not that difficult. Except the G10 I cut all my scales with my scrollsaw.. woods, horn, micarta (paper, linen and canvas,...), acrylics, paua/abalone, faux tortoise... It does it magically well, fast and acurate plus I can contour beautifully my drawn designs.

I thought I was going to use my bandsaw and start ripping blanks like a mad man but I've done so only twice cause I needed some wood that was not available in 1/8".

So for me personally my scrollsaw and both my belt sander are my most used tools (except the buffers off course) lol

Dang it, Max! Now I have to go buy a scroll saw! :-P

To satisfy my own tastes, wood or some other natural materials, need to be matched. I could not go without resawing. I just dont see enough tight radii curves in razor scales to choose scroll over band.

First choice for me: handtool. Hard to beat imho. by the time you change blades on the bandsaw you could be done handsawing. then again hobby level/bench top machines are cheaper than good hand tools in many instances. Nor do I have a schedule to meet or prices to beat.

Undream2, a fellow member has a great thread going through the process of making scales. here's the link http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...rt-finish.html

aside from being a good tutorial, names the brands and tools which work best for him. Harbor freight is the company, and after some investigation, I found they have a great line up of tools at a very reasonable price ($80) for a band saw.

Ok, YMMV but if MY budget were 200, I wouldn't go with either (but I may not be up to date on my scroll saw prices). For sure I wouldn't get a bandsaw in that range... too many problems with those cheap saws IME.

If that were my budget, I'd be using a coping saw (but I don't think you'd want to do G10 with it )

Again, I have had WAY to many problems with the cheap bandsaws (and I have never been a scroll guy) so in that range it wouldn't be worth it to me.

Best of luck.
Dave