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Should I buy a band saw or a scroll saw?
Subject: What to purchase: band saw or scroll saw? |
I plan on cutting parts from a plan and I need to buy a saw. Since I
can only afford one, I would like suggestions on what is more useful.
I will mainly cut balsa parts to build from plans. I will also cut
foam to block shapes for wings.
Should I go with a band saw or scroll saw?
For those who own both, the band saw will see much more use, and the scroll saw will collect dust. If you can stand to use a hand saw for ID's and very detailed work, then it's the tool of choice. If you can't stand manual cutting, then the scroll saw is the way to go. I've got the scroll saw (ok, I've been storing it for a friend for three years...), and another buddy has the band saw. For most things, I'd much rather use the band saw, and figure out other ways to cut ID's, like with hole saws and large drill bits. rcfaq.com
I have both a Delta 16" varible speed scroll saw and a Delta 8"
band
saw. If I could only have ONE, it would be the scroll saw. Having
both, I probably use the band saw more, but the scroll saw will simply
do things that the band saw can't do. You can do just about anything,
short of ripping, that you can do on the band saw on the scroll saw.
The band saw will not cut inside a part, as you can't open the blade.
The variable speed feature of the scroll saw also allows one to cut
materials that the band saw would destroy, such as plastics. There are
many special blades available for the scroll saw that will make for much
smoother edges in materials such as thin plywoods and balsa. Make
sure
that you bolt whatever you decide on to a bench. Both tools will move
around during use if they aren't properly secured.
Have fun,
Barry
My band saw gets much more use than scroll saw. Its a small 3 wheeler
bench top (Delta). Scroll saw seldom used anymore - about the only time is
to cut the inside from a plywood former. You can do this quite nicely with a band saw if you don't mind scabbing over the entry cut.
Red Scholefield -
From: goonair |
Look around for used stuff, and likely you could afford BOTH!
I use both a Delta 14" two wheel band saw and a scroll saw. I use the band saw about 80% of the time and the scroll saw for 20%. If I had to purchase only one it would be the big 14" band saw, but try to get both. There is times when you will need the scroll saw. You can pick up an import scroll saw for $100.00 to $140. that will work fine for our hobby. I still like the larger two wheen band saws over the three wheel units, but the two wheel band saws cost more.
ED
I agree with Red,
My 14" Band Saw has various blades changing from 3/4 to 1/8 bands and
Temper I can cut Light Metal to Minor scroll cuts for most any Model Cutting.
My Scroll gets used also but mainly for intricate or Inside Bulk head
cutting.
Hope this helps
Jack
Check out www.harborfreight.com. They sell power tools at amazing
prices. It's their own brand, but a contractor friend of mine, says the
tools look like they are made by DeWalt. I have a small bench drill
press that was $50. It runs like a top, and is a very good tool.
Unless
you are a pro craftsmen, and plan on using these all day, every day, I
suggest checking out the site.
Damian
Damian,
I've purchased a couple of their bench power tools, & you may think they're
made
by DeWalt, but in reality they're made in mainland China.
Herb
If you're doing a lot of parts with cutouts, then get the scroll saw. You
can
make a cutout without cutting through the part. However, the band saw
usually
makes a truer straight cut. But, it won't cut as tight a curve as the
scroll.
Dr.1 Driver
look what harbor freight has for sale
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/taf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=41433
|
Question...
I know what a band saw is but when people talk about a SCROLL saw, I get the
feeling that they are sometimes describing a hand held saw with a
handle -much like a hand mixer in size and layout, or they are describing a
table type saw with a reciprocating blade, powered from underneath and a
spring mechanism on top keeping the thin blade taunt.
Please help me here. Which is it in your opinion?
Allan
The "hand mixer" is a saber saw. The scroll saw is as you
described last.
Sam
The second item you described is what is generally known as a scroll
saw. The
first item is called a jig saw. Many inexpensive varieties are
available. One
of the best ones is the Bosch 1587AVS which sells for about $160.
RT
Allan Flowers wrote:
> Question...
> I know what a band saw is but when people talk about a SCROLL saw, I get
the
> feeling that they are sometimes describing a hand held saw with a
> handle -much like a hand mixer in size and layout, or they are describing a
> table type saw with a reciprocating blade, powered from underneath and a
> spring mechanism on top keeping the thin blade taunt.
> Please help me here. Which is it in your opinion?
>
> Allan
>
> Howard wrote in message
>
> > I plan on cutting parts from a plan and I need to buy a saw. Since I
> > can only afford one, I would like suggestions on what is more useful.
> >
> > I will mainly cut balsa parts to build from plans. I will also cut
> > foam to block shapes for wings.
> >
> > Should I go with a band saw or scroll saw?
Check out http://www.grizzly.com/
I have one of their band saws.
Sc
I made one of these too. It is the greatest saw for scratch building because
of its ability to make the inside cuts (given a drilled hole to start) and
has no "throw" limit like a band saw. If I have to cut tight radii, I
use a
finer blade. If I want it to track good on long straights and gentle curves,
a thicker blade works almost as well as a band saw. The only problem is the
noise because the u-shaped box acts like a sounding board. One HAS to use
ear protection.
To everybody else with their inputs on scroll/sabre/jig saw nomenclature...
thanks for clarifying things for me.
Allan
C.J.Y. wrote in message
On Mon, 11 Sep 2000 01:30:59 GMT, "Allan "
>
> >a hand held saw with a
> >handle -much like a hand mixer in size and layout,
>
> I made a box to hold my hand-held "mixer" jig-saw upside down
> with the blade sticking out the top . It is made out of old formica
> counter top. Just had to remove the "foot-plate" and buy a longer
> metric bolt to hold it. This has the advantage of being able to
> cut the inside of a circle without having to removing the blade to get
> started. It's good for anything up to 1/2" thick.
>
>
>
Sears has a band saw that has variable speed and the blade thickness is about the same as a scroll saw which I find perfect for what we do. I also have a scrol saw, but never use it anymore.
Roger
http://www.aerografixs.com
howard wrote:
> I plan on cutting parts from a plan and I need to buy a saw. Since I
> can only afford one, I would like suggestions on what is more useful.
>
> I will mainly cut balsa parts to build from plans. I will also cut
> foam to block shapes for wings.
>
> Should I go with a band saw or scroll saw?
>
|
A friend of mine uses a small jig saw blade in an old Singer sewing
machine, that someone was throwing away. It works as well as any
scroll saw that I have used. And it was FREE.
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