Scroll Saw

A scroll saw is an electric or pedal-operated saw that is used for intricate curving of wood while cutting in an up and down motion. It is very similar to a band saw, but it does not move in loops. There are around 4 different types of scroll saws. The parallel arm is the most common one, where a motor is connected to the back of the arms that are parallel to each other. The C-arm is made of a blade that is attached to the ends of a 'C' shaped arm. The parallel link has rods in the upper arm as well as the lower arm, and they are pushed by a motor which holds the blade. The rigid arm which was around in the '70s, has a single-piece cast iron frame and the blade is attached to a pitman arm at the bottom, which pulls it down; a spring fitted on top pulls it back up. This type of scroll saw is no longer made. There are also different types of blades, namely Skip tooth, Double Skip tooth, Crown tooth, Spiral blades, Metal cutting blades and Diamond blades. These blades are usually around 5 inches long. There are also the Reverse tooth blades that are used for cutting softer woods like ply and birch. Popular scroll saw magazines include Scroll Saw Workshop, Creative Wood Works and Crafts. There are innumerable brands that manufacture scroll saws today. Reputed manufacturers included Hegner, a German brand, Canadian maker Excalibur; RBI and Eclipse saws are made in the US, while De Walt scroll saws are made in the far east.