The Best Scroll Saw You Can Find In 2021 (Buyer’s Guide & Reviews)

One of the trusted brands of power tools is Dewalt with a long-lasting effect.

The DeWalt DW788 is seen to be the most frequently purchased scroll saw on Amazon and one of the best-rated scroll saws that are available on the market today.

Then my thought was like, what do people see in this scroll saw? Or what has it got that you can’t find in others? Hence, I decided to take a closer look into it, and here’s what has to say of the DW788 scroll saw.

Firstly, this DeWalt scroll saw is equipped with an electronic variable speed control function that operates at a speed range of 400 – 1750 cutting strokes per minute with a motor rating of 1.3 Amp. This makes the scroll saw operates quietly and smoothly for accuracy.

This dependable 20-inch variable-speed scroll saw is designed to help you create those accurate and detailed workpieces with ease.

One other cool feature about this scroll saw is that it comes with a double parallel-link arm design. This helps it deliver on both fronts by reducing vibration and noise for perfect, accurate cuts.

The arm pivots are specially designed from the back of the saw to the front, thereby shortening the distance that the arm needs to move. This also allows for smoother and quieter saw operation.

The arm design helps to keep the saw blade perpendicular to the material you are working on and then dramatically reduce over or undercutting.

Also, the DeWalt scroll saw comes with an on-off switch, speed control, and blade-tensioning lever located within an easy-to-reach front upper arm side of the saw.

This, of course, is another attention catcher, the ShopSeries 16" scroll saw. I bet you would love this one too. ShopSeries brings you superior engineering designs to a line of power tools designed to last.

The common qualities with ShopSeries always come with ease of use, reliability, and precision and innovative features to aid your work speed and the quality as well.

An example of this is the ShopSeries RK7315 16” scroll saw. This scroll saw comes with a 1.2-amp motor, making providing you enough power through a variety of woodworking jobs such as those desired intricate cuts, curves, and joints.

It features variable speed control and a ¾ inches stroke, which ensures clean and accurate cuts. The die-cast aluminum table bevels from 0 to 45 degrees to also ensure precision and accuracy in cutting.

Another fascinating thing about this scroll saw is the built-in blower to keep dust from blocking the view of your work and a port for dust collection to keep the workspace clean.

That means you don’t have to worry about a miss-cut or something like a mistake all because you can’t see what you are doing clearly.

Also, as safety measures, the scroll saw is equipped with a blade guard to provide enhanced operator safety.

Besides, the scroll saw also features double durable 5-inch tungsten carbide blades. The blades come with a throat depth of 16-inch and deliver a cutting 2.5-inch at 90 degrees.

It also features onboard storage that ensures the blades don’t get damaged or lost.

The third on the list is the Hegner 18” Variable Speed Scroll Saw; a saw that has almost everything you want in a scroll saw except for the price.

The very first amazing thing I found in this scroll saw is its ability to make on-the-spot turns as you wish, set up inside cuts easily; this consequently helps to create smooth sawn edges without the need to use sandpaper to smoothen them out.

Secondly is the unique blade frame geometry, which does not only maximizes performance but also offers a unique sawing feel. The blade is quick and easy to install with a patented blade clamp. Low stress is exerted on the blades, and this makes them have a longer lifespan.

The HEGNER 18" Variable Speed scroll saw is compact, precise, versatile, and quiet. It allows you to cut almost any material and work on a wide variety of projects.

You get to work smooth and ensure a quiet operation plus precise blade guidance for maximum control and accuracy.

Looking for an efficient dust collection system? Then you have the ShopFox W1713, a 16-inch variable speed scroll saw.

Also, if you’re a beginner, then this scroll saw might work pretty well for you.

Just like any other high performing scroll saws, it is capable of speeds between 550 and 1,700 SPM.

The W1713 can work with standard plain or pin-end saw blades. With the addition of adapters changing the blades and installing, it is made easier.

Speaking of the table tilt and dust extraction, this scroll saw features the ability to cut at angles from 0 to 45 degrees with the table tilt mechanism. To achieve the horizontal angle cuts, the table lock knob and tilt scale are what you will use to tilt the table.

If you don’t want the wood debris from your work to accumulate underneath the table, connecting your shop’s vacuum to the 1 ¼-inch dust port included can be helpful.

It also features an adjustable hold-down shoe that prevents the workpiece from lifting with the force of the moving blade.

Meanwhile, the air nozzle keeps blowing air at the path of cutting to keep wood debris away from the line of the cut so you can see clearly.

With this scroll saw, cutting through large pieces of material is not actually a problem. The Delta Power Tool 20-inch scroll saw offers ample room and power to cater for big projects you might want to work on.

There are actually a couple of features to talk about here.

Firstly, to suit a wide variety of cutting applications, the electronic variable speed can be easily adjusted between 400 to 1,750 strokes per minute.

Not only that, the saw features dual parallel link arms, which helps to effectively reduce the amount of vibration that the saw produces while using it.

A tool-free, single lever blade tensioning is also included. The feature ensures quick blade adjustment to a proper tension while cutting. This eventually maximizes the blade lifespan and its accuracy.

Also, for changing the blade, the upper arm can be raised and locked in a fixed position to ensure there’s obstruction whatsoever.

This also can be done when you need to adjust the blade position for some fretwork.

This is yet another budget-conscious option we present to you, the Dremel MS20-01. Many folks indeed have different, or various requirements for a scroll saw, but this scroll saw is designed to deliver what you need and more. 

With just a press of a button, your Dremel MS20-01 can be converted into a handheld coping saw from a nifty stationary scroll saw. This gives you a wide range of projects you can undertake.

Also, this scroll saw delivers something many single-use scroll saws don’t have, and that’s easy maneuverability.

The variable speed controls enable you to have all the control you need to do whatever task you want to do. You can rest assured that you’ll get just the results you want regardless of the material.

While you’re at it, you can take things slow for more accuracy and ramp it up when more power is needed for the work at hand.

The fast base clamp helps you to get work done in no time. The base clamp allows you to attach your Dremel to a bench, table or other suitable surfaces to work with ease

In addition, you also get to have an assortment of 10 blades bundled come your scroll saw. This allows you to work on a wide array of materials. Dremel has got a blade for every precise purpose, whether you want to cut metal, wood, or plastic.

The Dremel MS20-01 is super easy to use even if you’re just starting as a woodworker, or you’re the experienced one.

PORTER-CABLE PCB375SS is another scroll saw worth talking about. It may not emerge as the best on the list, but it has been proven to be a good one.

This scroll saw offers variable speeds needed for cutting a wide array of materials such as aluminum, plastic, soft and hardwoods.

It is equipped with an aluminum frame, which may be one of the most stable platforms for cutting.

The PCB375SS comes with an innovative tabletop bevel scale that allows you to have accurate and convenient readings without having to take a look under the table.

For a more convenient platform for woodworking, the scroll saw comes equipped with a large stable worktable made of die-cast aluminum, which can tilt to have bevel cutting angles from 45° right and 15° left.

There is also an adjustable LED work light that offers an added illumination while working in the dark or a low-light space.

Also, for convenient use, the controls for on/off, the LED work light, speed adjustment, and the dust blower are located in front and top of the saw.

The adjustable built-in dust blower allows you to have a clear cutting path ahead of the blade to improve the accuracy and precision of the blade.

Scroll saws are the optimal solution for creating intricate and complex cuts, but you won’t get very far if your battery runs out after 15 minutes. Therefore, we give you the best corded scroll saw for the money, the Ryobi 16 in. Corded Scroll Saw.

Ryobi is a famous manufacturer of power tools, and they’ve supplied its customers since 1943, which is a huge accomplishment considering they’re still big and doing well.

Their products have found their way into gardening, construction, and woodworking, especially battery-powered tools. However, here we have a corded saw that’ll certainly dazzle you.

This scroll saw has a 16-inch blade that cuts at high velocity and offers the user maximum cutting capacity. It withstood all the tests and came out as one of the durable blades that you can find on the market for scroll saws.

Furthermore, there’s no need to hassle with tools to switch it out since you can do it absolutely tool-free.

Once you make the first cuts, it is only natural that there will be a lot of dust, especially if you’re cutting a small piece of material, such as wooden planks.

Therefore, this Ryobi scroll saw has an integrated dust blower that will help you maintain absolute visibility during the project and keep the surface of the material free of debris.

The table is made from cast aluminum, and it can be tilted up to 45 degrees, which should surely be more than enough for any complex beveled cuts.

It won’t exert much pressure on the materials since it weighs 26.5 lbs, which is considered below the average for scroll saws.

One of the minor flaws that we could see from testing it out is that the housing for the blade vibrates when you set it to a low speed, which could be an issue in the long term. Other than that, it performed quite well, and it worked without a hitch.

Finally, the last scroll saw on this list will keep you carefree since it’s so easy to use, and you’ll require no previous knowledge about saws of any kind.

So, here’s the final unit, the BILT HARD 16-inch Scroll Saw.

A common reason people choose to purchase scroll saws is their innate ability to create precise cuts on smaller materials without making much debris and mess.

In this case, the BILT HARD scroll saw can successfully make precise cuts in different fields of woodworking practices, such as intarsia or marquetry.

Thanks to its powerful motor and variable speed control, cutting through 2-inch wooden planks will be incredibly easy.

You can set it to run anywhere between 550 and 1600 strokes, depending on the type of work you’re doing and the control you need at a given moment. You don’t have to turn it off before switching the speeds - you can do it in the middle of a project!

Another important feature of a quality scroll saw is stability since you’ll be dealing with smaller wooden materials that require precision.

Consequently, this means that the base of the saw needs to be made from durable materials that won’t budge or wiggle around. The BILT saw has a cast iron base with reduced vibrations that’ll make your projects much easier to finish.

Another cool thing that you don’t see that often is the LED light that comes alongside some other accessories, such as the dust port and the blower. It’ll help you maintain hygiene in the workplace and shed some light if you love working in the evening hours.

Overall, it has everything you’ll need, including a 1-year warranty from BILT HARD.

Some could argue that it is a bit pricey for the quality you’ll get, but that’s relative, and it’ll be worth the money if you choose to purchase it.

1. Throat Length

First, you need to look out for the throat size as this determines the size of materials your scroll saw can handle.

The throat length is basically the measurement from the back of the blade to the back throat of the saw.

When they say a 20-inch or 22-inch scroll saw – it’s talking about the throat length.

12-inch throat length is about the smallest offer. 16 to 20-inch is the best use for domestic use or workshops, but anything 30inches is for industrial use.

2. Thickness of Cut

Another question to ask yourself is, how thick do I want the cuts to be? The thickness of the cut also determines the thickness of the material you can cut.

The depth capacity or thickness of cut ranges from 1¾ inches to over 2½ inches.

3. Speed of Scroll Saw

The cutting speed of a scroll saw is an indicator of performance.

You might not be able to cut through hard and rigid materials if the cutting speed is low.

The low end of speed for a scroll saw is about 400 strokes per minute and about 1800 strokes per minute at the top end.

4. Scroll Saw Blade

Here, you’ve got two categories of scroll saw blades, and the first includes pinned blades (not great for detailed cuts but best for thicker woods) and pinless blades (ideal for fine and precise cuts).

The second category includes; standard, two-way, spiral, skip-tooth, metal, and reverse tooth depending on what you need for the work at hand.

5. Dust Collection

With the reviews provided, a good number of the scroll saws have the best in-built dust collection system.

Keep your environment and work tidy with a good dust collection system.

6. Adjustability and User-friendly Controls

Tilting tables gives you the chance to make the most precise and accurate bevel cuts in either direction. There are varying degrees of tilting in different scroll saws, choose the one that best suits you.

And with an easy-to-reach location of controls, this saves you some stress of operation and delivers a user-friendly feel.