If you are new to woodworking, you are most likely wondering: Is a scroll saw the same as a band saw? No, they are not. Other than the fact that they can both be used to saw wood, these two tools differ from each other in many aspects.
Which one do you need? Which one is worth investing in? Here's the short answer: you need a scroll saw for intricate work and a band saw for cutting straight and curved shapes.
Our comprehensive comparison of a scroll saw vs a band saw provides a more in-depth account of these woodworking tools, highlighting their unique features, applications, advantages and disadvantages. Armed with this knowledge, you will be in no doubt about which tool you should invest in: a scroll saw or a band saw.
Describing a Band Saw
A band saw features a continuous band of metal with teeth on one edge of the band forming the blade. The blade fits over two wheels, one of which it attached to an electric motor. When the motor is engaged, the saw blade moves fast across the material, cutting it.
The only part of the saw that's visible is the blade; the rest of the mechanism is hidden below and above the table. The blade can be fitted either horizontally or vertically. Vertical band saws provide the necessary control needed for intricate work, while horizontal band saws are ideal for straight or mitred cuts on large pieces of metal or wood.
Band saw models are differentiated by:
- Speed adjustments to suit the material – professional-grade band saws offer a selection of cutting speeds for different materials.
- Saw blade types – fine-toothed with hardened teeth for metal and standard shape, hooked rip, rounded back, and skip tooth for wood.
- Blade width – thinner blades for curved, intricate cuts and wider blades for long, straight cuts.
- Throat depth – the distance from the blade to the housing (horizontal, or vertical depending on the tool).
- Type - floor-standing, benchtop, or handheld.
So, what is a band saw used for? Band saws are versatile tools. The average throat width for consumer band saws is 9 to 14 inches (230–355 mm), making it an ideal tool for building cabinets and furniture. However, throat widths can go up to 24 inches, which enables workshops to resaw thick timber and process large volumes of boards.
Band saws can also be used to cut curves and circles in thick pieces of wood, and with the right blade, they can do heavy-duty rip-cutting.
Describing a Scroll Saw
The scroll saw is a specialty tool used to make intricate, precise cuts. It has a thin, short blade that moves up and down. Scroll saw models are differentiated by the following features and capabilities:
- Throat depth - the distance from the blade to the back of the frame – a larger throat allows for cutting thicker wood
- Variable speeds for different materials
- Variable table sizes
- Variable table tilt capacity to enable a range of bevel cuts
- Different blade widths and tooth orientations for cutting different materials
- Width capacity – the average width capacity accommodates materials up to 2 inches thick, but Hegner makes a model that can handle 2.625-inch widths
- Pinned or pinless blades. Pinned blades are secured with small pins at each end; pinless blades are clamped in place. Pinless blades are more flexible for creating intricate cuts and complex patterns.
- Arm style types, including the parallel arm (most common design), C-arm saw, and parallel-link arm.
DIY enthusiasts and professionals use scroll saws to cut out detailed and complex designs. It is the thinness of the blade and its fast up and down movement that enable precise cutting essential to tasks like creating puzzles, fretwork, wooden toys, custom signs, and inlay projects or intarsia projects.
The difference between a band saw and a scroll saw is accentuated by a unique feature of the scroll saw: pierced cuts. With a scroll saw, you can start working in the middle of a piece of wood, working outwards. Pierce cuts are not possible with any other saw. It's possible with a scroll saw because the blade can be removed, inserted in a pre-drilled hole in the wood, and then reattached to the rest of the tool.
What's the Difference between a Band Saw and a Scroll Saw
Key differences between a scroll saw vs band a saw include contrasting functionality, blade differences, and precision capabilities. Here is a detailed overview. The table below highlights the main differences between a scroll saw vs. band saw.
|
Feature |
Scroll Saw |
Band Saw |
|
Blade Type |
Short, thin, reciprocating blade |
Continuous loop blade |
|
Cutting Results |
Delicate, decorative cuts |
Straight cuts, gradual curves, and heavy-duty shaping |
|
Material Thickness |
1 – 2 inches thick |
Easily handles 6-inch thick materials; even thicker in industrial settings |
|
Precision Level |
Precision tool for intricate patterns and tight corners |
Good general accuracy, but not ideal for intricate fretwork |
|
Power & Speed |
Lower power, cuts slower |
More powerful, cuts fast |
|
Typical use cases |
Fretwork, puzzles, inlays, lettering, craft projects |
Furniture components, cabinets, resawing boards and timber |
|
Noise & Vibration |
Quiet, little or no vibration |
Loud, produces vibration depending on model |
|
Skill Level |
Beginner-friendly |
Requires more control and setup awareness |
|
Versatility |
Specialized tool for detailed design work |
Versatile tool for variety of tasks: straight, curved, and resaw cuts |
Band Saw vs Scroll Saw – Pros & Cons
Band Saw Pros
Can cut enormous logs: The strong motor and continuous loop blade make this the ideal tool for cutting hardwood timber and heavy-duty cutting.
Versatile: The different blade widths mean a band saw can be used to a range of tasks, from straight ripping and gradual curves, to resawing and rough milling. Band saws can also cut a variety of materials, in addition to wood, such as metal and plastic.
Resawing capabilities: Resawing is the term used for cutting thick pieces of wood along the grain to create thinner, more useful pieces of wood. Without a band saw it would be impossible to use all the wood from a large piece of lumber.
Long-lasting blades: Band saw blades are made to stay sharp, so you don't constantly need to replace them with new ones, even for high-volume cutting tasks.
Straight and smooth cuts: Cutting through thick layers of material, the band saw does a great job of delivering straight and smooth cuts needed for carpentry and other projects. Band saws can deliver clean, spark-free cuts through metals, plastics, and composite materials.
Band Saw Cons
Setting up requires more effort vs scroll saws: Band saws take time and effort to set up correctly. For instance, you need to set the blade tension and set up the blade guides. It's not a tool you can use out of the box.
Space Requirements: Band saws are relatively large tools and can take up a lot of workspace, limiting other work that you might want to do there.
Cost: Band saws are expensive. Especially the high-end models tend to be out of the financial reach of many woodworking enthusiasts.
Noise: Band saws can be fairly loud, which you and others in the area may find disturbing.
Limited to straight cuts and gradual curves: Band saws can't be used for intricate work that scrolls saws excel at.
Scroll Saw Pros
The best tool for fine, intricate work: The thin blade and its simple up-and-down movement allow scroll saws to cut exquisitely detailed patterns, fretwork, and filigree that would otherwise not be possible with materials like wood, plastic, or metal.
Beginner-friendly: It's relatively easy to learn to use a scroll saw due to the thinness of the blade and its straightforward up-and-down movement. It's a less intimidating tool to master than a band saw.
Pleasing, quiet operation: In this respect, scroll saws are the opposite of band saws. A scroll saw runs smoothly and quietly with minimal vibration. You won't disturb others while you're using it.
Only saw capable of pierced carving: With a scroll saw, you can drill a small hole in the workpiece, insert the blade in the hole, reattach it, and start sawing inside the wood, carving out a shape.
Affordability: Scroll saws are relatively affordable compared to band saws, putting them within financial reach of casual crafters.
Scroll Saw Cons
Limited to thin materials: Most scroll saws can only handle wood around 1–2 inches thick. They’re not designed for heavy lumber, bowl blanks, or large boards.
Lacks versatility: Scroll saws are purpose-designed tools for intricate work and excel mostly at that and not much else. For instance, it wouldn't be wise to try to cut hardwoods using a thin scroll saw blade.
Scroll Saw vs Band Saw -Long-Term Usage Cost Comparison
The long-term usage cost of scroll saws vs band saws is affected by factors like blade cost and usage, the power of the motor, and maintenance costs.
The initial cost of acquiring a scroll saw is generally less than buying a band saw. They also cost less to run compared to band saws since they are run by smaller motors and are basically used to do light, detailed cutting.
Scroll saw blades are inexpensive, and an actual scroll saw mechanism is simple, so they don't require much maintenance. However, scroll saw blades are thin and can dull quickly with frequent or heavy use, so they might need frequent replacement. Luckily, they are not expensive.
Band saws, on the other hand, tend to cost more upfront and also require more maintenance since they are designed for heavy-duty work. The motors use more power, the blades are more expensive, and band saws have more intense maintenance involving blade tension, tracking wheels, tires, bearings, and guides.
That said, band saw blades are purpose-made to last long. Band saws use the entire length of the saw blade, so the wear and tear is spread across the entire blade loop, whereas scroll saws are short, with the same part being exposed to the sawing action continuously. Band saw blades may cost more, but they last longer than scroll saw blades.
So in terms of total cost of ownership, a scroll saw costs less to buy, operate, and maintain, and a band saw costs more upfront and more to run but it also offers greater cutting capacity.
FAQs
Can you cut metal with a scroll saw?
Yes, using a metal-cutting blade, you can cut soft metals such as copper, silver, brass, and aluminium, provided the metal is not too thick.
How thick a piece of wood can a scroll saw cut?
A scroll saw can typically cut wood up to 2 inches thick.
Can a band saw do what a scroll saw does?
A band saw can cut curves, but not tight curves, so it cannot produce the same level of detail as a scroll saw.
Can a scroll saw cut hardwood?
Yes, it can provided, it's fitted with the right blade and the wood is not too thick.
Should I buy a scroll saw or a band saw first if I’m starting a workshop?
It depends on your focus. If you plan to shape timber, cut curves, or make general woodworking parts, buy a band saw. If your focus is to craft decorative work, puzzles, or personalized signs, get yourself a scroll saw.
Conclusion
When comparing a band saw vs a scroll saw, the best choice for your needs really comes down to the type of work you're planning. If your work will require cutting tight curves for intricate designs on wood, metal, or plastic, a scroll saw would be ideal for you. On the other hand, if your projects will call for cutting thick materials, bulk sawing, or resawing, you will need a band saw.
Ultimately, the choice between a scroll saw vs band saw isn’t about which tool is the best; it's about which tool would suit your particular needs best. In the end, a scroll saw is a specialty tool that does delicate work better than any other tool. So, if you are not planning to craft delicate items, you won't need a scroll saw.
Are you looking to buy tools in bulk? Hyperfit is one of the top 10 power tool manufacturers in China. Call our offices today to find out about our extensive range of professional-grade power tools and expand your product offering.
