They are both saws so yes slightly similar but not all the same. They both cut things, but they are different when they cut, they are different on how much they cut, what the cut looks like and how much they are able to cut. Their capacity and cutting technique are different. We shall explore the difference between scroll saw and band saw in this article.
The Technical Use of Scroll Saw
The scroll saw is used to cut subtle and intricate edges. It can be cut at angles from 0 to 45 and so. For artistic cuts and curves, the scroll saw is used. For projects like making a chess piece, puzzles and many more curvy artistic works. The scroll saw is the best tool for marquetry.
This tool is amazing at cutting edges as thin as a head of the needle. It excels so much at a smooth cut of pieces of different curves that you could just join up the cut pieces together and it will be like they were not even cut in the first place at all.
The most notable use of this scroll saw is that it can be used to create inlays. You could use it to cut through the boards to create different geometric shapes like circle, rectangles etc. You could create a hollow circle on a cut board without cutting the whole board, amazing right?
The Application of Scroll Saw
With a scroll saw we design different things to give them meaning; you see that wooden furniture with different shapes and style? The scroll saw brings style to meaningless sheets of woods. The small designed pieces of puzzles, clocks, chess pieces are all made with the scroll saw. The crafts and arts and showpieces are all thanks to scroll saw.
With skip tooth blade you can cut metals to give intricate shapes and edges. You can cut rubber and leather too.
You may also like to read – best scroll saws.
The Mechanics of Band Saw
The band saw configuration goes like this two or three pairs of wheels in between which is the space for blade attached to a motor to rotate it and a heavy table to support all these. The table is of great importance since these saws are heavy duty and tends to vibrate.
The Technical Use of the Band Saw
Sure band saw is absolutely necessary, the scroll saw is vital for cutting intricate edges to make a curvy beautiful item. But what about lumberjacks? What about cutting the pile of woods at first. You have to first cut up the pieces of raw woods first to implement the artistic work, right? That is where the band saw comes to.
The band saw can cut through the various thickness, the scroll saw has the certain limitation in that thickness area. There are several types of band saw, we shall discuss them by illustrating their use and application.
The portable of all band saws is the bench top one. They are smaller motors hence easy to carry. They can easily cut through plywoods and hard boards as well as woods. So, they are great for worksite thing since they are portable. Do make sure you are using a high-quality blade and you are good to go with this bench top band saw anywhere.
The stationary band saws are heavy duty. They are for cutting lumbers, meats red oaks, pines, hickory, and pecan. This band saw has a bigger and bulkier motor. For rip cuts this stationery band saw is invincible. Since it accepts wider blades the cuts are smooth. For cutting thick raw thick heavy materials this band saw outsmarts every other one.
The band saw is perfect for cutting rip materials when it is bowed or curved in bundles, warped. The band saw is a way safer option for these than the table saw or jigsaw. The jigsaw would make a complete mess and the table saw might have the kickback problem. Also, it would create a dusty environment.
The resaw is the bigger and larger version band saw is for cutting timbers into slices of thin slabs or veneers. The wider the blade for this band saw the smoother the cut.
Different Applications of Band Saw
The band saw serves a smooth cut, no jagged edge or not that much Professional woodworker starts their project by first cutting the raw materials. It is also used in meat cutting factories. The most need for band saw is for cutting irregular shapes. With the right blade, you can cut metals and sheets.
Conclusion
Scroll saw or the band saw, what to choose. First of all, it is not a competition, they each rule their field. You cannot cut an intricate edge that you need for your craft by a band saw, on the other hand, cannot cut thick and heavy lumbers of oaks and pines of irregular shapes into veneers by a scroll saw. It all comes to your aim of the project and what you are doing and what you want.