A scroll saw is an excellent woodworking machine that can create detailed, intricate patterns. It may be used for woodturning and other woodworking projects where a sharp edge is essential. The scroll saw uses a fixed blade that is moved up and down by a series of teeth that form a spiraling pattern when they are pressed together. This spiral movement is the product of a grinding motion that has been controlled mechanically. The scroll saw blades can be made from a variety of different materials including brass, steel, aluminum, titanium, carbon fiber, magnesium, aluminum, wood, and more.
A scroll saw has a number of useful applications in woodworking. First, it is typically used in turning projects where detailed cuts are required. A band saw, for example, is also used in woodturning, but is primarily used for detailed cuts. A scroll saw can also be used as a power tool for making angled cuts, just as a band saw can.
Second, scroll saws are often used as hand tools. For example, a woodworker might use a scroll saw to remove a strip of wood from a board or other work surface, then make the cuts with a jig saw or a router. A scroll saw has a sturdier construction than do the more frequently used hand tools, and is therefore a better choice if you are going to perform difficult cuts on your own. Of course, the most skilled woodworkers will generally perform all of their own woodworking projects, so the scroll saw could end up becoming a necessary tool in some situations.
Third, scroll saw uses are valuable in the construction industry. For example, the use of scroll saw blades in the making of cabinet doors and other heavy duty woodworking projects means that high quality doors will likely cost a little more money. The quality of the materials used in cabinet door construction is obviously going to be a lot higher if they are made using a scroll saw blades. This is because of the precision that is required in creating custom cabinet doors.
Fourth, scroll saw uses can often be found in jewelry crafting. The band saw blade of the scroll saw can cut through many types of fine metals, allowing jewelers to create jewelry that has intricate details that would otherwise not be possible. Of course, there are several different styles of band saws that can be used to accomplish this, but a band saw blade that is designed to cut through various metals (including brass) is more useful than one that is only designed to cut through certain types of metals (such as steel). A good general rule of thumb is that the most expensive jewelry is usually made using a band saw blades that have been designed for cutting through various types of metals, although a good woodturner may be able to carve fine details out of sheets of wood with a flat blade band saw.
Fifth, scroll saw uses can also be found in the construction of furniture. Many cabinetry designs make use of scroll saws to help cut out small pieces of woods that need to fit together. Some homebuilders choose to make their entire home from the same lumber because it costs less than purchasing each piece separately. Other furniture makers may use two or three band saws on work tables instead of one large scroll saw, although the combination of band saws and work tables is usually found in industrial-type shops.
Sixth, scroll saws can be found in certain industries that make products with intricate curved lines. There are many scroll saw blade types that have very deep and wide teeth that can cut through light stock with ease, allowing manufacturers to produce high-quality products with minimum waste. Some examples of companies that commonly make equipment with intricate curved lines include furniture makers and metal workers.
Lastly, scroll saws are used in wood turning machines to cut long, thin pieces of wood for the faceplate of a lathe or to create ornate floral patterns for veneers. These machines are also sometimes fitted with crosscut blades for precise crosscutting and ripping action. Most woodturners will purchase scroll saws in one of two forms: either as either a stand-alone machine or as a combination unit that includes a blade and a tapered roller.