Bandsaw, jigsaw or scroll saw?

All three saws cut curves, and all three have a narrow blade, so people often wonder which one they need. They do different jobs well. The quick answer: a bandsaw for thick wood and fast curves, a jigsaw for curves in boards and sheets too big to move, and a scroll saw for fine, tight detail in thin wood.

Bandsaw.

A continuous loop of blade runs one way, pushing the work down onto the table. It cuts thick stock, resaws boards into thinner ones, cuts curves quickly and makes straight rips with a fence. Its limits are the throat, which caps how wide a piece can pass, and inside cutouts: the blade is a closed loop, so to cut a hole in the middle of a board you have to cut in from the edge.

Blades: one loop length fixed by the saw, in a range of widths and teeth; see what a bandsaw’s specifications mean.

Jigsaw.

A short, stiff blade moves up and down, and you move the saw over the work. That makes it the tool for curves in large sheets and boards, cutouts for sinks and sockets (drill a hole, start the blade in it), and work that is already fitted, such as worktops. The cut is rougher than a bandsaw’s, and in thick wood the blade can bend, leaving an edge that isn’t square.

Blades: short straight blades, mostly with a T-shank fitting, sold by material and tooth count. They are not documented here because they don’t depend on the machine’s size.

Scroll saw.

A very fine blade moves up and down while the work rests on a table. It cuts the tightest curves and inside cutouts in thin wood: fretwork, puzzles, inlay, small signs. You can unclip the blade, thread it through a drilled hole and clip it back, so inside cutouts are easy. It is slow in thick stock and can’t resaw.

Blades: short pinned or plain-end blades, chosen by thickness and tooth count.

Which one first?

• Furniture parts, thick stock, resawing, many curves: a bandsaw.
• DIY around the house, sheet materials, cutouts: a jigsaw.
• Fine decorative work in thin wood: a scroll saw.

Many workshops end up with a jigsaw and a bandsaw: the jigsaw for big sheets and cutouts, the bandsaw for everything that can be lifted onto its table.