MarineScott
Well-known member
Can a band saw be used as a scroll saw using a thinner blade? I know the blades are a lot thinner on the scroll saw for tighter work, but a band saw can rip and cross cut.
Band saw
- Thread starter MarineScott
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Marctrees
Well-known member
Sure it can, but it won't get as intricate as a high end scroll saw.
Unless you are doing small tight radius stuff like jewelry, small wooden clock gears, whatever it would be fine.
Check out Youtube videos to see capability comparisons.
Marc
Unless you are doing small tight radius stuff like jewelry, small wooden clock gears, whatever it would be fine.
Check out Youtube videos to see capability comparisons.
Marc
PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Scroll saws can do inside cuts using a drilled hole to start the cut.
Band saws can only do outside cuts...
That said... with a band saw... you can get good nibbling the cut to get detail.
Band saws can only do outside cuts...
That said... with a band saw... you can get good nibbling the cut to get detail.
OccupantRJ
Well-known member
Bandsaws can do interior cuts with the proper blade welder.
Marctrees
Well-known member
Are you deciding which one of the two to buy ?
A bandsaw you will go to much more often than you imagine.
Compared to scroll saw, they are two night and day different animals.. for most folks it will get 1% of the use of their bandsaw.
Only exception is the tiny intricate stuff that few do.
Marc
A bandsaw you will go to much more often than you imagine.
Compared to scroll saw, they are two night and day different animals.. for most folks it will get 1% of the use of their bandsaw.
Only exception is the tiny intricate stuff that few do.
Marc
PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Aaron_W
Well-known member
This is very true.
I have both and can't remember the last time I used the scroll saw.
It is handy when I need it, but really I think I got it because it was really cheap and I thought I'd use it more. A discounted display sample plus a weekend store wide sale that they applied to the already heavily discounted price. I think I was out the door for about $40.
Yea but......DIY people don't do that... do they?
I do have a band saw blade welder from HF Salvage co... still in the box
lol I should open it up one of these days.. the band saw coil NOS ones used to be cheap.. now....it's just crazy dreamers. If some one have one of those Do-All ones, I think they have the welder/cuter build in... I remember using them when I was a kid.as for the OP, yea you can ****.... but but... you can't do intricate details like scroll saw does as mentioned, and these days, there are other tools that can cut better than re-welding a band saw blade.... each time... a scroll saw is just not that expensive, I think I got my Delta one for about $100-ish... brand new old stock.
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The smallest I've used is 1/8" on an old Rockwell 14".
Works great. I forget the smallest radius, but its about an 1/8-1/4" I think.
I used to make a lot of 3d puzzles and that setup is basically the only way to do it.
Also did the old, stone the back of the blade trick, to help make smoother, tight radius.
Works great. I forget the smallest radius, but its about an 1/8-1/4" I think.
I used to make a lot of 3d puzzles and that setup is basically the only way to do it.
Also did the old, stone the back of the blade trick, to help make smoother, tight radius.
matt_i
Well-known member
Unless you weld a lot of blades they turn out of poorer quality than one made by a manufacturing process. It works but the tooth in that welded area is almost always bound to be a fraction of a tooth or a tooth +. Neither of those work well long term.
OP
MarineScott
Well-known member
Yes, my wife wants a saw for her crafts. A band saw I can also use, so I was thinking a saw with a dual purpose.
And a box wrench will remove a hose fitting if you cut the hose. lol
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
Skyking1992
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2006
- Messages
- 477
I have a Do-all band saw and I weld almost all my blades. Works well for me. And I can do an inside cut by drilling a hole and treading the blade through the hole, then welding the blade.
OccupantRJ
Well-known member
In metalworking, cutting the blade to do an interior cut is standard practice. Why do the blade welders sometimes come as part of the saw? It is so a blade can be run through a hole in a heavy steel section while it is laying on the saw table and the blade can get welded while the piece is supported for you. After the cut, the blade is cut and removed to be welded back together for further use.
PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
In metal working yes... I mistakenly assumed the OP was limiting the question to wood as the question included a scroll saw in the context. Been in many machine shops... have yet to see one with a production scroll saw. Seen a few jury rigged jigsaws tho...
Marctrees
Well-known member
Great that you guys brought up the blade welding option.
I'm thinking the OP's Wife will really benefit from having one to use with her new band saw to work on "crafts" with.
Marc
I'm thinking the OP's Wife will really benefit from having one to use with her new band saw to work on "crafts" with.
Marc
Marctrees
Well-known member
MarineScott - I think you and the Missus should look at Youtube videos to help decide.
Is there a certain material she will regularly be cutting?
Thin ply ? 3/4 Pine?
Straight cuts or curved ?
If straight, a scroll saw may be frustrating.
She may also benefit from a small benchtop disc/ belt sander to really nicely cleanup edges.
One thing to consider is that a scroll saw is a bit safer for folks not experienced working w machines.
If it's for light use, it might be most convenient to just buy small benchtop unit for sub $125.
Otherwise, if bandsaw, and you have the space, and she will feel comfortable with it, I always prefer Old Iron like a Delta 14", clean used one like $350 - $550.
The new one will be plug and play, the used one may need a little work.
I see some choices on your Pittsburgh CL, make SURE if you look at a used one to have the seller demo it for a few minutes making a few different cuts, check the tires and tracking, etc.
Let us know what you decide.
Marc
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Aaron_W
Well-known member
A scroll saw is much smaller, and generally less messy. At least in theory you could run a scroll saw on a kitchen table. While I could do the same with a bandsaw, the kitchen would be a mess when I was done. Scroll saws mostly make neat piles of saw dust, bandsaws tend to blow it around.
I have a 9" bandsaw which is about as small as they come, it is twice the size and probably almost twice the weight. I can carry my little Craftsman scroll saw with one hand.
Scroll saws are also cheap, you can find several around $100. 9" band saws are also cheap, often under $150.
If you are thinking anything bigger than a 9", they are not even comparable, Harbor Freight's 14" is $370 and that is about the cheapest out there.
While personally if I could only have one, based on what I do it would be a bandsaw, no question, but there are crafts where I could see the answer being reversed.
Hey, they are just trying to help. It justifies the OP buying a bandsaw and a welder.
I hope your wife knows how to weld band saw blades and don't mind doing it for every inside cuts she is going to do. Just get two machines, hers, yours and ours
.... then all yours....bpjr
Well-known member
I have both and even my smallest band saw with a 1/4" blade won't touch what I can do with my scroll saw...not even close. Buy your wife a scroll saw if that's what she needs. Keep her happy and remember the most successful 2 words in a marriage are "yes dear'.
Maui
Well-known member
MarineScott, too bad you aren't closer to me. I have a 1950s vintage Delta Milwaukee scroll saw that is in beautiful working condition. It has a 24" throat and barely any vibration can be felt when it is running because the saw is made from an iron casting. It easily passes the nickel test. I use mine all the time for my own hobbies, and since it has been so reliable I never ended up needing to use the second one. If you can find one of these scroll saws locally, buy it!
Maui
Maui