Whether you are a toymaker, a wood-crafting artist, a home DIY’er, or a professional carpenter, a scroll saw is an indispensable woodworking tool.
Crafting a variety of wood types into intricate designs can be a challenge but not when you own a scroll saw. Easy to set up and use, a scroll saw can be used anywhere and it will bring your woodworking creations to life.
7 Best Scroll Saws
- General International Excalibur 16-inch Scroll Saw
- Shop Fox W1713 16-Inch Scroll Saw
- WEN 3921 16-inch Two-Direction Scroll Saw
- Dremel MS20-01 Moto-Saw Scroll Saw
- Delta Power Tools 40-694 20-inch Scroll Saw
- DEWALT DW788 20-Inch Scroll Saw (Our Top Pick)
- Jet 727200K 22-inch Scroll Saw with Stand
Our Top Pick for the Best Scroll Saw
Our top pick for the best scroll saw is the Dewalt DW788 Scroll Saw.
We totally recommend the Dewalt Scroll Saw for all your woodworking projects.
Made by the power tool experts, the Dewalt scroll saw is a highly prized saw with home woodworkers and professional tradespeople all over the world. Its smart design and unparalleled performance will empower you to produce accurate, detailed workpieces with ease.
Check the price on AmazonOptimize Your Woodworking Projects with a Scroll Saw
A scroll saw is specifically designed to optimize your woodworking projects.
This functional machine offers you the cutting control of a jigsaw and the solid workspace support of a table saw.
But a scroll saw’s fantastic design features do not stop there. Its pivoting table provides you with unlimited flexibility for your chosen workpiece and an ultra-fine reciprocating blade performs delicate cuts that no other saw can deliver.
How to Choose the Best Scroll Saw
Size
The size of a scroll saw relates to its throat depth which is the distance between the rear frame and the blade.
A 16-inch scroll saw such as the Excalibur Scroll Saw provides you with a generous cutting capacity for most everyday woodworking tasks.
If you have larger projects like finishing work to do, you will appreciate the larger throat size of the 20-inch Dewalt DW788 or the 22-inch Jet Scroll Saw.
Variable Speed
As a scroll saw can be used with softwood and hardwood, you have to make sure that you select the right speed for the type of wood you will be cutting. Faster speeds are more suitable for hardwoods, while slower speeds are best used with softwood.
Scroll saws should give you a wide variable speed range called speed per minute (SPM). The wider the speed range, the more control you will have over your workpiece.
Work Table
Power saws are notorious for causing annoying vibrations and noise, especially at high speeds. The work-table should have a heavy-duty, sturdy design that minimizes vibrations and noise.
You also need to be aware that if you are cutting through thicker wood, there will still be some vibrations. If you cut slowly, this will help to minimize the vibrations as well.
Blade Type (pinned or pinless)
There are two main types of blades that are synonymous with scroll saws: pinned and pinless/plain-edge blades. Additional blades may include skip tooth blades, spiral blades, and two-way tooth blades, which can be used for creating special decorative patterns and different materials like laminates or metal.
Pinned blades are faster and easier to change but as they are wider and thicker, they may not be well suited for making ultra-fine decorative patterns.
Pinless blades are the most popular type of scroll blades. They are thinner than pinned blades and perform better at making detailed cuts, but can take more time to remove.
Some scroll saws like the Shop Fox accept both pinned and pinless blades.
Tilting Head
Most scroll saws have a tilting table that can tilt 30, 40 or 45° left or right, which gives you the unlimited flexibility to create perfectly precise beveled cuts.
Depth of Cut
The depth of cut is extremely important for cutting thick wood or hardwood. Fortunately, most scroll saws have a maximum cut depth of 2-inches which is suitable for a range of materials like oak, pine, or maple.
Best Scroll Saw Reviews
1. General International Excalibur 16-inch Scroll Saw
The General International Excalibur scroll saw offers home woodworkers and professionals lots of wood-crafting functionality and reliable accuracy.
Built with a strong variable speed 1.3 amp motor, the Excalibur has ample power and a wide 400 to 1400 SPM variable speed range. The sturdy and spacious 12 x 18-1/2-inch square table gives you plenty of room for a 2-inch thick workpiece and its tilts 30° left and 45° right.
Smart design features include upper and lower parallel arms which give you better control and increased accuracy. This design keeps the blade straight with minimal blade deflection and prevents any accidental hand contact with the blade during use.
For even more safety, a brand new switch protection device prevents unintentional start-ups.
Changing the blade is super quick with just a touch of your finger and there are no tools required.
A cleaner work environment can be achieved with the dust collector table kit that can be attached to a shop vac.
General International offers a 2-year limited warranty on the scroll saw.
Pros
- High quality
- Excellent value for money
- Ideal for home use and professional tasks
- Powerful motor
- Smart design features
- Upper and lower parallel arms give better control and increased accuracy
- The blade stays straight with minimal blade deflection and prevents accidental hand contact with the blade
- New switch protection device prevents unintentional start-up
- Unique head tilts 30° left and 45° right
- Generous table surface
- Quick tool-less blade changes
- New dust collector table kit can be attached to a shop vac
- 2-year limited warranty
Cons
- Expensive
- The arm is a bit stiff to raise and lower
2. Shop Fox W1713 16-Inch Scroll Saw
A must-have tool for any woodworker, the Shop Fox W1713 16-inch Scroll Saw offers you total speed control and precise cutting action.
Powered by a strong 1/8 HP, 1.3 amp motor with a no-load speed of 550-1700 SPM and a throat depth of 16-inches, the Shop Fox can cut easily through 2-inch thick pine, maple or oak.
The spacious cast iron table provides a solid foundation with minimal vibration. With just a turn of the easy-to-access knob, the table tilts 45° table to the left, so you can create perfect bevels. You can even bolt the base to a workbench for extra stability.
One of the brilliant features of this scroll saw is that it can be used with pinned or pinless blades.
The Shop Fox also comes with an adjustable gooseneck work light that illuminates your workpiece. A clear-view finger guard with a hold-down shoe helps you to maintain spot-on accuracy.
Keeping your workspace completely clean is very easy too as the scroll saw has a two-way dust control dust blower and the 1-1/4-inch dust port can be connected to a shop vac.
Pros
- High quality
- Great value for money
- Affordable price
- Ideal for any woodworker
- Precise cutting action
- Sturdy cast iron table produces minimal vibration
- Strong motor
- Extra-wide 550-1700 SPM variable speeds
- 45° tilting table has an easy-to-access knob
- Perfect for cutting 2-inch hard or soft materials
- Adjustable gooseneck work light
- Clear-view finger guard with a hold-down shoe
- Can be used with pinned or pinless blades
- Dust blower
- Dust port can be attached to shop vac
Cons
- Can still vibrate on the higher speed
- May take longer to cut high-density materials
3. WEN 3921 16-inch Two-Direction Scroll Saw
The WEN 3921 16-inch Scroll Saw is ideal for any wood-crafting hobbyist or DIY home renovation guru.
Creating accurate bevels and beautiful patterns is so easy with the Wen scroll saw. The strong 400 to 1600 SPM motor allows for greater workpiece versatility.
A cast iron base prevents vibration during operation and the spacious steel 16 x 11-inch table tilts 45° to the left.
Whether your preference is pinned or pinless blades, the WEN scroll saw has a unique blade holder that can be used with both blades.
The flexible worm work light helps you see the line of cut and illuminates workpieces of any shape and size.
Blade changes are made easy with the tool-free thumb screw blade adapter.
Additional user-friendly features include a dust port, an air pump, a foot lock clamp, onboard blade storage, and three bonus blades.
WEN offers a 2-year warranty on the scroll saw.
Pros
- High quality
- Very good value for money
- Affordable price
- Creates accurate bevels and beautiful patterns
- Unique design allows for pinned and pinless blades
- Wide variable speed goes from 400 to 1600 SPM
- Cast iron base
- Spacious table bevels up to 45° to the left
- Cuts wood up to 2 inches thick with a 16-inch throat depth in the standard position
- Tool-free thumbscrew blade adapter
- Flexible worm light
- Dust port
- Air pump
- Foot lock clamp
- Onboard storage
- Three bonus blades
Cons
- The work light and dust blower is not very powerful
- The knob makes it hard to tighten pinless blades
- Can vibrate a lot on higher speeds
4. Dremel MS20-01 Moto-Saw Scroll Saw
The Dremel MS20-01 Moto-Scroll Saw is an excellent power tool for woodworkers who make ornaments and other small crafts.
This scroll saw has a throat depth of 8-inches which is ideal for small workpieces but it still works well with materials that are up to 3/4-inch thick.
The 0.1 HP motor delivers good power and its variable speed control allows for optimal cutting in a variety of materials including wood, plastic, laminate, and even metal.
This portable saw is easy to store, set-up, and operate. An auto-blade tensioning feature keeps the blade taut and ready to cut so you do not have to make any blade adjustments.
A slim, ergonomic handle is comfortable to use and the hold-down clear shoe allows for convenient workpiece monitoring.
As well as functioning as a stationary scroll saw, the Moto-Saw can be removed from its base to become a portable coping saw. You can also use the fast clamp base to attach the saw to various tables, benches, and other surfaces.
You will be able to work in a cleaner workspace as the dust port adapter attaches to a shop vac.
The Moto-Saw comes with 4 accessory blades which include a side cutting blade, a wood-and-plastic blade, a fine wood blade, a metal blade. You can transport your saw in the bonus hard carrying case.
Dremel offers a 2-year warranty on the scroll saw.
Pros
- High quality
- Great value for money
- Affordable price
- Perfect for home use
- Portable, precise, easy to set up and operate
- Ideal for small workpieces
- Variable speed control allows for optimal cutting with wood, plastic, laminate, and even metal
- Tool-free mechanism for quick blade changes
- Auto-blade tensioning feature
- Ergonomic slim handle has a comfortable grip
- Hold-down clear shoe
- Can be used as a portable coping saw
- Dust port adapter for attaching to a shop vac
- Fast-clamp base attaches to various tables, benches, and surfaces
- 2-year warranty
Cons
- Not suitable for heavy-duty use
- Only uses pinned blades
5. Delta Power Tools 40-694 20-inch Scroll Saw
The Delta Power Tools 40-694 20-inch Scroll Saw will help you to create precisely cut masterpieces every time.
Designed for professional and advanced DIY’ers, the Delta scroll saw has a workhorse mentality. Its strong motor offers a wide 400-1750 SPM variable speed range for a wide array of cutting applications. The large cast iron table provides excellent material support and bevels 0- 45° left and right.
A stand-out feature is the unique dual parallel-link arm design which reduces vibration and noise, over-cutting or under-cutting, and improves cutting accuracy and quality.
A single lever, tool-free blade tensioning system allows you to quickly adjust the blade to the proper tension which maximizes blade life and accuracy.
Convenient design features help you to work smarter. The On/Off switch, electronic variable speed dial, flexible dust blower, and blade-tensioning lever are all conveniently located up front on the arm for easy accessibility.
You can use the on-tool blade storage area to organize your blades, and the saw also comes two bonus straight blades.
Delta Power Tools offers a 5-year limited warranty on the scroll saw.
Pros
- High quality
- Great value for money
- Good price
- Ideal for a DIY’ers and professionals
- Electronic variable speed range of 400-1,750 SPM
- Large cast-iron table provides excellent material support and bevels 45° left and right
- Unique dual parallel-link arm design
- Minimal vibration and noise
- Dramatically reduces over or undercutting, improves accuracy and quality
- Easy-to-access On/Off switch, electronic variable speed dial, flexible dust blower, and blade-tensioning lever
- Tool-free single lever blade clamp
- On-tool blade storage
- Comes with two bonus straight blades
- 5-year limited warranty
Cons
- Can still vibrate at higher speeds
6. DEWALT DW788 20-Inch Scroll Saw
Crafting intricate jigsaw puzzles or cutting accurate bevels are made possible with the Dewalt DW788 20-inch Scroll Saw.
Whether you need to cut through 2-inch thick softwood or hardwood, the Dewal scroll saw is up to the challenge. Its powerful 1.3 amp motor produces intuitive variable speeds from 400 to 1750 SPM, so you can easily find the perfect speed to suit your workpiece.
The large 16 x 23-3/4-inch cast-iron table provides substantial support and it tilts 45° to the left and right for added versatility.
Featuring an innovative dual parallel-link arm design, the Dewalt scroll saw dramatically reduces vibration and noise, minimize over cutting or undercutting, and provides a superb cut.
Working with this scroll saw is effortless. Its ON/OFF switch, variable speed control dial, and blade-tensioning lever, are conveniently located within easy reach on the front, upper arm. The exclusive tool-free blade clamp system allows you to change the blade in seconds.
A flexible dust blower can be directed wherever you need it, which means your work surface will always be clear of unwanted debris and harmful dust.
The scroll saw also comes with a hex wrench and bonus blades.
Dewalt offers a 3-year limited warranty, a 1-year free service contract, and a 90-day money-back guarantee.
Pros
- Great quality
- Excellent value for money
- Dependable and powerful
- Heavy-duty design
- Large cast iron table bevels 45° left and right
- Unique dual parallel link arm design
- Dramatically reduces vibration and noise, minimize over cutting or undercutting, and provides a superb cut
- Easy-to-access ON/OFF switch, variable speed control dial, and blade-tensioning lever
- Exclusive tool-free blade clamps
- Good maneuverability
- Comes with a hex wrench and blades
- 90-day money-back guarantee
- 3-year limited warranty
- 1-year free service contract
Cons
- Expensive
- The table can wobble at high speeds
- May not be suited for heavy-duty tasks
7. Jet 727200K 22-inch Scroll Saw with Stand
Featuring an innovative tilting blade and user-friendly design, the JET 22-inch Scroll Saw is an excellent machine for any woodworking enthusiast.
The Jet scroll saw provides ample power and a wide range of variable speeds between 400-1550 SPM, so you can cut through thick softwood or hardwood.
You will have all the support you need for a larger workpiece as the saw has a 22-inch throat and a bigger 12-7/8 x 23-inch cast iron table that not only provides a stable working surface but also limits vibration during the cut.
Jet’s exclusive upper mechanism clamps and tensions the blade in one step. In addition to the upper mechanism, the toolless lower blade holder is removable and the table features a slot for the blade storage. The blade storage facility can be positioned on the right or left of the machine, and there is a built-in wrench for changing blades.
One of the main reasons why the Jet 727200K is so popular is its tilting arm that pivots 45° right and 40° right. This ground-breaking feature keeps the table flat for more accurate cutting and optimizes your overall scrolling experience.
Unlike other scroll saws, the Jet comes with a stand that has 4 adjustable heights.
Thoughtful design features also include a footswitch, conveniently located speed controls, and an on-board dust blower that collects dust at the source.
Jet offers a 5-year warranty on the scroll saw.
Pros
- High quality
- Great value for money
- Strong motor
- Innovative and thoughtful design
- Wide variable speed range of 400 –1550 SPM
- 22-inch throat capacity
- Large cast iron table provides a stable working surface while also limiting vibration
- Upper blade holder clamps and tensions blade in one step
- Removable lower blade holder snaps quickly and securely into place
- Arm tilts 45° right and 40° left
- Table stays flat for more accurate cutting
- Slotted table for easier and quicker blade changes
- Blade storage can be positioned on the right or left of the machine
- Built-in wrench for changing blades
- Stand can be adjusted to 4 different heights
- Footswitch
- Conveniently located speed and tension controls
- Onboard dust blower
- 5-year warranty
Cons
- Expensive
- Can be hard to keep the blade in the top holder
Our Top Pick for the Best Scroll Saw
Our top pick for the best scroll saw is the Dewalt DW788 Scroll Saw.
We totally recommend the Dewalt Scroll Saw for all your woodworking projects.
Made by the power tool experts, the Dewalt scroll saw is a highly prized saw with home woodworkers and professional tradespeople all over the world. Its smart design and unparalleled performance will empower you to produce accurate, detailed workpieces with ease.
Check the price on Amazon
