Two scroll saws by their makers' figures
| Specification | WEN 3921 | DEWALT DW788 |
|---|---|---|
| Sold as | 16 in | 20 in |
| Throat | 16 in | Not stated |
| Stroke | 9/16 in | Not stated |
| Speed | 550 to 1600 SPM | 400 to 1,750 SPM |
| Thickness | 2 in at 90° | 2 in |
| Table tilt | 0° to 45° left | 45° left and right |
| Blade ends | Pinned and pinless | Plain-end only |
| Dust | Blower and a 1.21 in port | Air hose |
| Weight | 27.5 lb | Not stated |
Each figure is the maker's own; 'not stated' means the manual reviewed does not give it. Both saws must be bolted or clamped to a bench or stand, so plan for one.
Equipment notePaid link
Scroll saw
DEWALT DW788
One of the two saws in the table above: 400 to 1,750 strokes per minute, a table that bevels both ways, and plain-end blades only.
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Match the saw to the work
| If you plan to… | Compare | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Cut fretwork with many openings | Which blade ends it takes, and how the blade's top is freed | Each opening means freeing and re-clamping the blade; on Olson's chart a pin-end blade needs a 3/16 in starter hole, a fine plain-end blade 1/32 to 5/64 in |
| Cut large panels | Throat | The throat limits how far into a panel the blade reaches; WEN gives 16 in |
| Cut thicker stock or intarsia pieces | Thickness capacity and the blades it takes | Both saws give 2 in; WEN says the best results come in wood 1 in thick or less |
| Cut bevels | Table tilt and its direction | The WEN tilts left only; the DW788 both ways |
| Cut hard woods, plastics or very thin stock | The low end of the speed range | DEWALT recommends slower speeds for these; the DW788 starts at 400 strokes per minute, the WEN at 550 SPM |
| Keep dust down | A dust port, not just a blower | A blower clears the line; collection needs a port and a hose or vacuum |
What a beginner should check
- Blades you can buy for it. A plain-end-only saw such as the DW788 cannot use pinned blades. A saw that takes pinned blades, as the WEN does, makes fitting quicker — WEN says pinned blades are thicker for stability and faster to fit — but they need larger starter holes for inside cuts.
- How the blade is tensioned. The DW788 uses a lever; the WEN a lever and a knob. Either way you will learn to set it by feel, so check that the control is easy to reach.
- The hold-down or guard foot. DEWALT says its hold-down is also a barrier between fingers and blade and is never removed; check that the saw has one and that it can be set to the work and to a tilted table.
- Mounting. Both manuals require the saw to be fastened down. A bench or stand at a comfortable height is part of the purchase.
- A switch you can lock. The DW788's switch takes a padlock to lock the saw off.
What a scroll saw cannot do
It is not a ripping or resawing machine. WEN calls its saw basically a curve-cutting machine; both manuals cap thickness at 2 in, and WEN advises feeding anything over 1 in slowly. For thick curves and resawing, compare a band saw. For a curve or two without a machine, a coping saw may be enough.
Safety— Before the first cut
Read the saw's manual, secure it to a bench or stand, and fit and tension a blade with the saw unplugged. The setup is walked through in how to use a scroll saw; general rules in woodworking safety rules.
Comparing scroll saws
- Throat against the largest panel you plan
- Blade ends it takes, and where you can buy them
- Thickness capacity and table tilt direction
- Speed range, especially its low end
- Hold-down or guard foot; tension control
- Dust port, not only a blower
- A bench or stand to fasten it to
The saw's parts and figures are explained in the scroll saw guide; first builds are in scroll saw projects for beginners.
Sources
Specification-based: every figure is the maker's own for its own saw, and the DW788 manual states neither its throat nor its stroke nor its weight, so none is given. Pilot holes are Olson's for its own blades. No saw was tested, none is ranked and no price is given.
- 1.
DW788 20" (508 mm) Heavy Duty Variable Speed Scroll Saw instruction manual. DEWALT.
Used for: The DW788, sold as a 20 in saw: 400 to 1,750 strokes per minute; 2 in maximum thickness; a table that bevels 45° left and right; 5 in plain-end blades only, held by thumbscrew clamps; a lever for tension; a material hold-down; an air hose; a padlock hole in the switch; three mounting holes, the saw secured to a bench or stand.
- 2.
3921 16" Variable Speed Scroll Saw operator's manual. WEN Products.
Used for: The 3921: a 16 in throat, a 9/16 in stroke, 550 to 1600 SPM, 2 in at 90°, a table that tilts 0° to 45° left, 5 in pinned and pinless blades with two holder styles — one for quick changes on outside and larger inside cuts, one gripping tightly for intricate inside cuts — a blade guard foot, a dust blower and a 1.21 in dust port for a hose or vacuum not provided, 27.5 lb; best results in wood 1 in thick or less.
- 3.
Scroll Saw Blade Selection Chart. Olson Saw Company, 2020.
Used for: A 3/16 in pilot hole for every pin-end blade against 1/32 to 5/64 in for its plain-end skip-tooth blades; pin-end blades for machines that require them.
About this buying guide
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