When most people think of a scroll saw they automatically think of a machine that is used to cut long, thin pieces of wood. While this is true, scroll saws also make use of different head sizes and are designed for very specific applications. Let’s take a look at what’s so special about these machines, as well as scroll saw patterns.
The scroll saw, more than any other cutting machine, is primarily designed for ripping and trimming wood. While it can be used to do other kinds of cuts, like crosscutting, the bulk of its uses involve cutting short strips of wood in quick, accurate steps. These steps are necessary because the wood being cut has different properties than the wood that it is kept next to. For example, while oak may be relatively hard and strong, it’s much less flexible than mahogany, which makes it more difficult to slice into thin sections.
When using a scroll saw, you’ll need a thick material that is fairly dense and which has plenty of grain. That grain will serve to make the cutting pieces go even more easily and smoothly. In many cases, the material can even be slightly angled, which allows the saw to cut in a more even fashion. One common material to use for scroll saw cutting, along with several other forms of sawing, is plastic or cardboard. It all depends on the requirements of the project, but either way, both materials are very useful for creating detailed, intricate pieces of furniture.
When it comes to pattern cutting, the jigsaw is the machine of choice. With a jigsaw, you have the ability to quickly and accurately cut small pieces of material in half or quarter pieces. If your project requires intricate or detailed cuts, this is a much better option than a scroll saw. Of course, both machines can be used for woodworking projects. In fact, some people prefer to use the scroll saw for fine detailed woodworking projects and then use the jigsaw for cutting larger pieces of wood.
Although the two machines do share a number of similarities, there are also some key differences. One of these is the amount of space that is available to work with. With a scroll saw, you’ll need to have a larger area to hold the machine because it has a drawer-like cutting bed. However, the size of the bed isn’t as much of an issue if your goal is to create a detailed woodworking picture. The jigsaw, on the other hand, can be used in any area because its base is generally smaller than the scroll saw’s.
Obviously, the question of what is the difference between a scroll saw and a jigsaw is not an easy one to answer simply due to the fact that both machines can create a similar level of detail. However, comparing them strictly in terms of function will help paint the picture a little better for the consumer. As was mentioned earlier, the scroll saw is best suited for detailed woodworking projects. This is because the jigsaw is best used for cutting small, thin pieces of wood. For anything other than a small to medium sized wood project, it would be better to choose one of the machines.