In fact, it's really a motorized coping saw. We tested four 16-in.

But I thought scroll saw with spiral blades would work fine, especially because its so easy to adjust the angle with the Excalibur. I have a Knew Concepts aluminum 5″ fretsaw (and I’m testing a new design of a Knew Concepts 5″ titanium fretsaw for the magazine; it’s pictured here, and you’ll read about it in our December issue). After snapping the only regular fretsaw blade I had, I was reduced to a handful of fine spiral blades – which I’m not practiced with. The standard slope to tilt to is 45 degrees, though some models opt for a shallower 15 degrees. Scroll saws may be electric or powered by a pedal. It offers a compact and easy solution for making detailed cuts in a variety of materials, including wood, plastic, laminates and metal.

Not all scroll saws have tabletops that are capable of tilting for beveled cuts.

While many scroll saws with a stand cost $500 or more, this model from Porter Cable comes in at under $200. It may not be as powerful or precise as the higher-end models of scroll saws, but it performs to most user’s expectations. The scroll saw sits on a sturdy steel stand, saving you space on your workbench. The scroll saw is a portable and efficient electric saw used to cut intricate curves on a variety of materials like wood, metal and more. It can be used on a variety of applications that no other power cutting tools can. With a scroll saw that features a tilting tabletop, it should be a very simple process. This is a powerful saw but is also gentle enough to cut delicate patterns. Band saws also can’t work on the interior of a piece. Scroll saws are available in a range of prices and capacities.

Band saws can handle bigger lumber than scroll saws, but it comes at the expense of detail. I have a crown molding project to do, new trim around a fireplace.

The best scroll saws will tilt to 45 degrees on both sides, while some saws will only tilt to one side. In the past Ive coped the stock by hand, with a coping saw.

Portable, precision saw is easy to store, set-up, and operate and features a tool-free mechanism for quick blade changes. The deeper blades can’t turn as sharply when cutting, but they resist breaking better in thick stock. Use a scroll saw if you are planning to create small, detailed crafts with interior cuts and many minute details. Band saw blades are deeper than scroll saw blades. Coping saws work the same way as scroll saws but are hand-powered. Well, I don’t own a coping saw. Reciprocating Saw The reciprocating saw is characterized by blades that use a push-pull (or reciprocating) mechanism to make cuts in wood. The Dremel Moto-Saw is a multi-functional scroll saw and coping saw in one. Similar to a jigsaw, the reciprocating saw is longer and can handle several types of cutting jobs, including cutting into drywall, chopping off stray tree branches and more. While it would be preferable to have both a band saw and a scroll saw in your workshop, if you had to choose one, it would be completely dependent on the projects that you plan to use your saw for. Scroll Saw vs Band Saw – Conclusion.