The

GUIDE
to Selecting
and Using a

SCROLL
SAW
Table of Contents

What is a Scroll Saw?

​Operation
Set Up

​Scroll Saw Sizes

Scroll Saw Types

Parallel Arm
C Arm
Parallel Link
Ridged

​What Can You Use a Scroll Saw For?

Wood Projects
Other Material

Types of Scroll Saw Blades

​How to Use a Scroll Saw

Getting Started
Steps for Using the Saw

​Tips and Tricks

Selecting Wood for Scroll Work

When to Use Soft Woods for Scroll Work
​When to Use Hard Woods for Scroll Work
​The Best Wood for Scroll Saw Projects
1. Cherry
2. Walnut
3. Maple
4. Birch
5. Ash
6. Hickory
​Bonus - What About Oak?
​Other Scroll Saw Wood Considerations
​Wood Thickness
​Dull Blades

Practice Makes Perfect

Conclusion

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A scroll saw is a stationary machine equipped with a fine blade which moves up and down. The
rapid movement of the saw blade on this type of machine lets the user cut wood quickly and
intricately.

The precision that comes with using a scroll saw is a result of the blade’s small size. Although
similar in set up to a band saw, a scroll saw is used for more intricate woodwork and cutting.

What is a Scroll Saw?

A scroll saw is an electrically powered saw that typically uses a foot pedal for operation. It has a
reciprocating blade that moves up and down to cut.

Unlike its distant cousin, the band saw, the scroll saw does not use a continuous blade loop for
cutting, allowing it to be a lot more flexible and nimble as it cuts.

​Operation

One of the main advantages of using a scroll saw is the ability to cut from the center of your
material. You use the scroll saw to cut outward to create a design in the middle of your wood
piece.

Because you are able to remove the blade of a scroll saw, you can easily insert it into a
pre-drilled hole on your wood piece. This allows you to cut a masterful design using interior cuts,
without having to cut from the edge.

You’ll appreciate the delicate hand that a scroll saw takes when cutting your wood project. Its
cuts are fine and precise, relying on your handiwork to tell the blade exactly where to saw. You
can easily create curves in your wood piece by moving it through the blade in a circular motion.

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Set Up

Scroll saws are typically set up with a tilting table that allows you to pivot your material as
necessary to make these detailed cuts. You also have a dust blower nozzle to keep your work
area clean and to provide you a good line of sight as you cut.

Scroll saws are also variable speed cutting devices, allowing you to control the speed of the
blade as you cut. This ensures that you are able to manage the precision of the cut and work as
slow or as fast as is necessary to achieve a fine, intricate cuts or single straight edge pieces.

​Scroll Saw Sizes

​When you are in the market to buy a scroll saw, you need to understand how these types of
saws are defined and categorized.

Scrolls saws are sized by their throat. The throat size of a scroll saw is the length of the blade,
measured from the table to the frame of the saw. It is important to know the throat size of your
scroll saw when purchasing one for your workshop as this determines the total width of a piece
of wood that you are able to cut with the saw.

Scroll saws are sold with a throat sizes from 12 inches on upward to 30 inches. Scroll saws with
a small throat are typically used by hobby woodworkers while you’ll see larger 30” throat
machines in commercial applications.

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Scroll Saw Types

​When selecting a scroll saw to purchase, you do have some decisions to make as there are a
variety of styles available.

Parallel Arm

The most common scroll saw is a parallel arm saw. This saw uses a motor that is mounted to
the back of the arms of the saw. These arms always remain parallel to each other when cutting.

C Arm

Another type of scroll saw is the C-arm scroll saw. This rarer scroll saw has a C-shaped
opening between the arms that mounts the blade between the two ends of the arms.

Parallel Link

A third option is a parallel link scroll saw. This saw type features rods in both the upper and
lower arms, which are moved by a motor to control and hold the blade.

Ridged

An older model scroll saw that used to be popular is the ridged scroll saw. These saws place the
blade on the pitman’s arm. The arm pulled the blade downward while the upper arm was used
to pull the blade back upward. This did create some tension on the blade, which has been
rectified with newer scroll saw model types.

​What Can You Use a Scroll Saw For?

​While a common application for a scroll saw is to use it to create hobby projects out of wood,
they also have a number of other uses.

Thanks to the scroll saw’s ability to cut intricate curves, it can create fine joints with plenty of
accuracy. They are also a good saw for cutting dovetail joints and detailed wood inlays such as
intarsia.

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You can also use your scroll saw, with the right blade, to cut metal for jewelry or metal art pieces
and also in glass work designs. This can open the door for the range of projects you are able to
complete with your scroll saw.

​Using a scroll saw is actually relatively simple, and that is one of the things that make them a
great saw for beginners. Before getting started in using your saw, though, you need to
understand what you projects you can use this saw for.

Wood Projects

​You can use a scroll saw for a number of woodworking projects, including:

● Angle cutting
● Dovetail joints
● Curve cutting
● Creative wood crafts
● Intricate designs

​When you're considering the wood project, think in terms of tight, intricate turns. A lot of people
enjoy making detailed coasters and Christmas ornaments, while others add gorgeous finishing
pieces to their furniture.
how to use scroll saw

Other Material

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While scroll saws are mostly used on wood, you can also use a scroll saw to cut through all
sorts of materials, including:

● Plastic
● Bone
● Ivory
● Some types of metals
● Mother-of-pearl

Scroll saws can also be used to craft letters for certain areas of your home (garage, porch, etc.),
to build portraits, cabinets, desks, and more. A scroll saw is a versatile tool which is a must-have
for any creative DIYer.

Types of Scroll Saw Blades

There are a lot of great scroll saws available for your type of project. But any guide that walks
you through how to use scroll saw would not be complete without an overview of the various
types of scroll saw blades you can use.

The type of blade you will use depends on the project you are doing, the thickness of the
material you are using, and the intricacy of the design or pattern you are creating. If your design
is intricate and complicated, you will need to use a blade that is small and can fit into tight, small
spaces.

The different types of blades you can use on a scroll saw include:

Regular tooth blade: ​Basic scroll saw blades with high teeth-per-inch (TPI).

Hook tooth blade: ​Blade with a positive rake and aggressive cut. Hook tooth blades are
generally used on thicker material.

Skip tooth blade: ​Similar to regular tooth blades, but with half the TPI (teeth-per-inch). Skip
tooth blades also cut slower.

Double tooth blade: ​A mixture of regular and skip tooth blades. The teeth on this type of blade
come in groups of two with gaps in between them.

Reverse tooth blade: ​Similar to a regular tooth blade, however the last inch of this blade’s
teeth point in the opposite direction, making for clear cuts. This type of blade also reduces
sanding time after a cut.

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Full reverse tooth blade: ​Similar to reverse tooth blades, except every third tooth is pointed in
the opposite direction.

Crown tooth blade: ​Every second tooth is pointed in the opposite direction.

Spiral blade: ​Blades which have been twisted into a spiral, creating teeth on each side.

Reverse spiral blade: ​Spiral blade with every third tooth in the opposite direction. Makes for
clear cuts and less burns.

Metal cutting blade: ​Have higher TPI specifically for cutting through metal.

A general rule of thumb is that the thicker or harder the wood you are using, the bigger the
blade you should use.

Another general rule of thumb is that you should use a blade that you are comfortable with. This
means you may have to play around with a few different types of blades to get a feel for what is
the most comfortable for you.

Comfort and ease of use will come with time and practice. Once you become more comfortable
using a scroll saw, you will be able to determine the type of blade that works best for you.

​How to Use a Scroll Saw

To use your scroll saw, you will first have to determine the type of blade you will be using. Once
your blade and material are decided on, the cutting can begin.

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Getting Started

A few things you should keep in mind before getting started include:

● Do not place your material or wood against the scroll saw before turning it on.
● When cutting through the wood, hold the wood firmly but not too firmly.
● Push the wood as the blade cuts through it, but do not move the wood into the
blade.
● Always have safety gear in place.

Steps for Using the Saw

Here are steps on how to use a scroll saw:

First, place your wood. Place the wood down just a few inches away from the actual blade and
always be sure you have both hands on the wood at all times. Most scroll saws come with foot
pedals which allow you to turn it off and on.

1. Turn the scroll saw on and adjust the blade speed if the model you are using has
variable speeds. Keep in mind that generally the harder the wood, the slower the speed
should be. If you are cutting through softer woods, you should use a faster speed.
2. Depending on the type of cutting you are doing, you may or may not be able to finish all
the exterior cutting in a single pass. If your workpiece has straight lines and corners, you
will likely be able to cut through it all in one go. If your piece has curves, it will take more
time.
3. Aim the blade of your scroll saw so it is in line with the first line you are cutting and guide
the wood slowly into the blade. Use your forefingers and one thumb to move the material
through the blade. Go back once more through the line that has been cut and remove
the wood once you turn.
4. Turn the wood so that the saw blade is positioned above your next line. Guide the blade
onto the line to meet with the first cut. Back out the blade from the line you have cut and
turn the material to prepare for the next line.
5. Work your way slowly along the edges of the piece until you have cut through all the
outer lines.
6. If you are making internal cuts, you will first need to drill a hole in the wood to make room
for the saw blade to go through. After creating the hole, you can pull the blade out and
place the piece of wood over the clip. Then, put the blade back in through the hole.
7. Lock the blade back into place and make the cuts. Just be sure the blade is not being
held against the wood before or while you turn it on.

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 8. If you are doing internal cuts and need to remove the middle sections, be sure to turn off
the blade after you have finished. Once you have finished doing the inside cuts, turn off
the scroll saw and pull out the blade.
9. Once you have finished everything, you will notice that it will likely have some rough
edges which need to be sanded. Smooth out the edges using sandpaper to make it look
crisp and clear.

​Tips and Tricks

It’s not difficult figuring out how to use your scroll saw. However, mastering the process can take
awhile.

There’s more to using a scroll saw than just cutting intricate designs. There are certain tips and
tricks you should know to get the most out of your scroll saw while maintaining safety
precautions.

Here are some tips and tricks to follow as you learn how to use a scroll saw:

● Avoid putting too much pressure on the wood or the blade.

● Never have your fingers in line with the blade. They should always be on the
side.
● Blades have a tendency to curve to the right, so keep an eye out and prepare
yourself for this.
● Be sure to keep dirt and dust out of the cuts.
● Always wear your safety goggles.

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 ● Keep loose clothing and jewelry away from the blade.
● In the event your blade breaks (this is common, so don’t panic when it does
happen), be sure to clean up the mess before changing it.
● Ensure that the teeth on the blade are facing down and toward you when you are
inserting them.
● Always work in a comfortable setting and position.

Selecting Wood for Scroll Work

From the simplistic elegance of dovetail joints to the most intricate of intarsia, the scroll saw
enables you to create the cleanest, most precise cuts on your wood. Choosing the best wood
for your scroll saw projects can save you undue frustration and the needless loss of both time
and materials.

​We walk through the most common woods to use for your scroll project, including cherry,
walnut, maple, birch, ash, hickory, and oak. We'll highlight why to chose each, and what you
should avoid, depending on the specifics of your project.

When to Use Soft Woods for Scroll Work

In most cases, soft woods are not the best wood for scroll saw projects. ​

​The wood's inherent softness makes them too brittle for use in most fragile fretwork. Softwoods
such as pine and basswood suffer from being too brittle for use in finer work, as well as being
rather difficult to stain or finish.

Where soft woods can be good to use is if you are practicing with the scroll saw. Because they
yield to the blade with very little resistance, softwoods such as poplar and alder can be great
practice for those new to using a scroll saw.

​Remember, the whole point of using a great scroll saw is to make tight, intricate cuts. Your
choice of wood is really important, because some woods just don't allow for tight turns and cuts.

Generally speaking, a softer wood might break when you are cutting tighter turns.

​When you are learning how to cut shapes in wood, scrap soft wood is perfect. It is much easier
to cut, generally very cheap, and you won't dull your blade in the process. Beyond that, though,
look to use a harder wood.

​When to Use Hard Woods for Scroll Work

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A scroll saw is the perfect tool to use to make sharp, precise cuts. And, your wood needs to be
strong enough to hold up to these cuts.

Harder woods typically make a better type of wood to use for scroll work. The reason is because
scroll work typically involves tight, curved designs.

As mentioned above, when cutting these tight designs, softer wood tends to break off much
easier, ruining your scroll project.

Harder wood, on the other hand, stands up much better to intricate design cuts.

Below, in review of the the best wood for scroll saw projects, most of the woods we list are
harder. We just think you'll get much better (and longer lasting) results from it.

​If you're looking for some ideas on what to do for your next project, we've assembled a list of
dozens of beginner and advanced scroll saw patterns to use.

​The Best Wood for Scroll Saw Projects

​In the category of hard woods, we've ranked our selections in order from softest to hardest.
While this might sound like an oxymoron, you should know and understand the characteristics
of each of the woods that are available to you.

1. Cherry

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Cherry trees consist mostly of heartwood, which is a light reddish-brown. Its minimal amount of
sapwood is a light reddish-yellow hue. Cherry wood possesses an even grain that is easy to cut,
and holds up well even to intricate fretwork.

One of the softer hardwoods, cherry can be much more forgiving on your scroll saw blades than
others but provides less strength for weight-bearing items. Cherry is loved by a lot of
woodworkers for its beautiful and rich coloring.

Cherry wood darkens a bit over time, especially as it is exposed to sunlight. Cherry also can
warp as it dries, moreso than other hard woods.

2. Walnut

Black walnut heartwood varies from a rich brown color to a purplish hue. Its sapwood is to be
virtually white, and has a straight, even grain. Walnut trees commonly produce burls with exotic,
swirling grain patterns.

Walnut trees are North American, and basically the only dark hardwood tree on the continent.
When you think of walnut, you should think of the high contrast that the heartwood vs sapwood
creates.

Walnut is only slightly harder than cherry wood. It’s not quite as strong as maple or birch, and is
better used for pieces that don’t require ​ much weight, just like cherry.

For your consideration, we recommend evaluating cherry vs walnut as almost identical in

hardness, and you should select which wood based on your preferred coloring. Cherry is
preferred for a warm, rich, wood color, whereas walnut is preferred for a higher contrast look.
hardwood for scrollsaw projects

3. Maple

Maple is one of the most common hardwoods in North America, and is typically much lighter in
color than cherry or walnut. Maple is readily available, easy to find, and relatively cheap in
comparison to many other hardwoods, making it a very common wood of choice for scroll work. ​

​Maple sapwood typically has a clean, white appearance with an even grain. Maple wood is
commonly found with a curly or fiddle back patterned grain, which some consider difficult to
finish. ​

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In general, there are two very distinct and different types of maple wood: soft maple and hard
maple. The differences are pretty self-explanatory... soft maple is a softer wood, and is much
cheaper than hard maple.

Soft maple is easier to cut, and won't dull your scroll saw blade nearly as quickly as hard maple.
However, some projects require a really dense wood, and hard maple would be much better for
that than soft maple.

4. Birch

Likely the most common variety of birch available is the North American yellow birch. The birch
tree contains very little sapwood. Its heartwood possesses a creamy-white color with a curly
grain.

Birch is very similar to maple in terms of its hardness, workability, and even color sometimes.
Also like maple, the curly end grain has a tendency to absorb stain irregularly. Many maple
trees have similar, lighter coloring, and is often confused for birch wood.

​Birch is very common in the Scandanavian region of the world. One common area you might
recognize birch wood from is that it is a common wood of choice for cabinets.
different wood options for scroll saw work

5. Ash

Ash is an extremely strong, lightweight hardwood. With a hardness comparable to birch and
oak, ash is known to be a bit unforgiving on scroll saw blades.

Ashwood possesses a very unique grain pattern which can appear too busy for pieces with a lot
of intricate details. Make sure you want a lot of grain patterns that stand out if you select ash.

Its heartwood tends to have darker brown sections, and lighter outlying sapwood. This creates a
higher contrast look, similar to that of maple.

6. Hickory

Hickory is both plentiful and cheap, and has one of the best strength-to-weight ratios of any
available wood. Hickory is the strongest of all the hardwoods on our list. This makes it a difficult
wood to cut, and it is known to wear out saw blades.

Hickory has a sapwood that tends to be rather pale, while its heartwood tends to be a much
darker brown or reddish-brown. Hickory looks beautiful under almost any lighting situation, and
stains very well.

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One of our favorite aspects of hickory is how inexpensive it is, when compared to other woods
on our list. It is rather shocking to find it so economical to work with, given how hard the wood is.

Both the sapwood and heartwood tend to be straight-grained with unique patterns that can add
to the aesthetic of your finished piece. ​This straight, consistent grain make it a great option
when you are creating large scroll projects, as you really see the grain patterns emerge.

​Bonus - What About Oak?

​Oak is a very common wood in America, and is commonly used for scroll projects. However,
even though it is considered a hard wood, we don't recommend it for use with your scroll saw.

You would think that oak would work well for scroll work, as it is a harder wood. However, oak
has a very porous grain, which makes it fragile and brittle when making tight cuts. Even when
cutting relatively straight, oak is prone to breaking once in awhile, ruining a project.

Oak is much less likely to warp than other woods in its class. So, it might be worth trying out.
Aside from its occasional brittleness, oak is a beautiful wood that takes stain and finish nicely.
Just be warned!

​Other Scroll Saw Wood Considerations

​Wood Thickness

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​While scroll saws can cut wood up to 2" thick, the ideal thickness is between 1/4" - 3/4". You'll
be making tight turns and intricate curves, and the thicker the wood, the more challenging the
cut will be.

If you're looking to cut wood thicker than 1", you might be best served to consider a band saw.
While a band saw can't perform nearly the level of intricacy that a scroll saw can, it is designed
to cut really thick wood with ease.

This is another reason for selecting a hard wood - you're patterns and designs require the wood
to be thinner for the scroll saw to cut them. Thinner wood cuts last much longer when it is a
hardwood rather than a softwood.

​Dull Blades

​One of the quickest ways to get frustrated using a scroll saw is to operate one with a dull blade.
Whether using hard wood or soft wood, cutting with a dull blade will make your scroll saw efforts
significantly harder.

Make sure to select the best scroll saw blade for your project and wood, and don't try to "leg it
out" with an old scroll saw blade. You'll end up paying for it by having a frustrating experience
and a less-than-perfect result.
The history of a scroll saw dates back four to five centuries

Practice Makes Perfect

Before applying new techniques to your more expensive hardwoods, test out new designs or
experimental cuts on the softer, less expensive pieces of wood such as poplar or alder.

Perhaps an even better alternative, for both practice and final pieces, may be the use of generic
plywood, such as the kind you typically find at a big-box home improvement store (think Home
Depot). ​Plywood is brittle, but it has some the same cutting characteristics of the harder wood
that we've recommended.

There are some other downsides to using plywood, even for practice. The glue in plywood dulls
your blade much faster, and the edges of the plywood look terrible after intricate scroll saw cuts.

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Conclusion

​Figuring out how to use scroll saw is not difficult. You just need to know what type of project you
have in mind as well as the type of blade you will be using. One of the best ways to become
better at using a scroll saw is through practice.

Use scrap wood and your own time to practice working on your scroll saw skills, and soon
enough you will be making intricate pieces that are unique and creative. Of course, it is also
extremely important that you always follow the proper safety precautions and that you are using
safety goggles and safety gloves when necessary to ensure that you do not get injured.

Practice your skill and hone in on the type of woodwork you want to do. This will help you
decide the type of blade or blades you should use and will make you more comfortable with the
entire process.

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