Shopsmith Forums

I found it interesting that if you click on some of those "scroll saw" pictures and look at their properties you will see that the picture name is actually "jig saw.jpg" on several of them...
I noticed that when I was getting some pictures earlier.

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farley
I like the SS jigsaw for it's ability to take files and stiff jig saw (saber saw) blades in the lower chuck with the upper arm removed, giving unlimited work piece size. I believe the SS scroll saw is better at cutting with a very fine blade.

"Many woodworkers are confused about the difference between a jigsaw and a scroll saw because the terms are often used almost interchangeably. In fact, the scroll saw can do just about anything a jigsaw can do, but it does it better! That's because of differences in the way the two machines operate.

A conventional jigsaw powers the blade down through the cut and uses a spring to pull it back up. Since the spring is seldom fast enough to keep pace with the lower power cylinder, the blade tends to bend in the middle which produces a rough cut and leads to premature blade breakage.

With the scroll saw, however, the blade is suspended between two parallel arms. These arms move up and down with the blade, so the blade is under constant tension during both the up and down stroke. This reduces blade bending and breakage-and the slight forward and backward motion of the blade allows the teeth to cut smoothly, so sanding is often completely unnecessary."

Sourced from some folk pretty familiar with the SS difference between the two.

SS

Back from the dead...

I'd like to revive this thread to hopefully learn a bit more about the two. I came across this thread after a quick google search. It doesn't look like a conclusion was ever established, plus I have a few more questions regarding the two.

Why did Shopsmith switch from Jigsaw to Scroll Saw?
Did they ever make the two products at the same time? Why or why not?
Which is is better overall? OR Which one is better for which applications?
What are the actual differences/advantages/disadvantages?

I realize some of the differences were touched on in the previous posts, but the more thoughts the merrier.

Thanks...

lilgodwin, some great ?, I think I started it all with the addition of one when I bought my last Er, I learned a bit, but I am just going to sit back and watch this one keep going!!! Personally after reading this thread, there is a difference, but to the uneducated the terminology is inter mixed.

Oh it was settled, but there was some stirring up afterwards.

First ignore all references to a hand held sabre saw.(some herein called them a jig saw). It is a sabre saw since only one end of the blade is 'attached'.

The older SS jig saw(blade driven on the cutting stroke and spring returned on the back stroke) can also function as a sabre saw(again only one end of the blade is attached).

The newer SS scroll saw differs in that the blade is attached to both a lower and an upper arm which move in unison and the blade is under constant tension.

For those reasons the scroll saw is better than the jig saw.

References to color are potentially misleading since both the jig and the scroll saws came in more than one color each.

They perform similar tasks, but do so differently.

FWIW the jig saw came first. The sabre saws have been referred to as jig saws but to do so is a loose use of the term. Scroll saws are the later development. There has never been a hand held scroll saw(except the open frame hand tool version).

Oh how muddled things get when old tool names are applied to newer tools.

lilgodwin wrote:Why did Shopsmith switch from Jigsaw to Scroll Saw?

The scroll saw can perform all the functions of the jigsaw, but while doing so more effectively. I assume with more "scroll saws" coming out, they needed to compete and didn't see a point in producing a lesser quality product at the same time. Shopsmith rarely produces 2 of the same tool (only things I can think of is table system 510 520 mark 7, and the planer/pro planer).

lilgodwin wrote:Which is is better overall? OR Which one is better for which applications?

Scroll saw hands down, larger table, better cuts, deeper throat. However, for the price of an older jigsaw, that can't be beat, they almost give em away with used shopsmiths.

lilgodwin wrote:What are the actual differences/advantages/disadvantages?

peterm wrote:farley
I like the SS jigsaw for it's ability to take files and stiff jig saw (saber saw) blades in the lower chuck with the upper arm removed, giving unlimited work piece size. I believe the SS scroll saw is better at cutting with a very fine blade.

For this reason, I must say is the only thoughts I could find for an advantage to the jigsaw. However, as I just spent somewhere around 18 hours on my scroll saw this week, I will say for accuracy I wouldn't even try what I did on a jigsaw, I needed the bigger table and throat. The accuracy and fine cuts were necessary. With the quick release on the scroll saw, fretwork is easier.
Overall, the two terms are virtually interchangeable for most people (scroll saw/jig saw). So its all personal preference, but I would pay $200+ for a scroll saw vs a $50 jigsaw anyday. However if money was a big issue, a jigsaw will get it done as well.

JPG wrote:There has never been a hand held scroll saw(except the open frame hand tool version).

I believe you are refering to a coping saw. And its about as close to a scroll saw as you can get for a hand tool. Held in by both sides, but I have yet to see a reversed tooth coping blade.

For the record, I like my coping saw and serves its purpose even though I have a scroll saw, a sabre saw, saws-all, etc.. etc...

Beave2012 wrote: . . .
Overall, the two terms are virtually interchangeable for most people (scroll saw/jig saw). So its all personal preference, but I would pay $200+ for a scroll saw vs a $50 jigsaw anyday. However if money was a big issue, a jigsaw will get it done as well.

Therein lies the source of the confusion. It is not preference, but misuse.

JPG wrote:

Beave2012 wrote: . . .
Overall, the two terms are virtually interchangeable for most people (scroll saw/jig saw). So its all personal preference, but I would pay $200+ for a scroll saw vs a $50 jigsaw anyday. However if money was a big issue, a jigsaw will get it done as well.

Therein lies the source of the confusion. It is not preference, but misuse.

True, a true scroll saw has 2 parallel arms supporting a constant tensioned blade used for cutting intricate shapes in the wood (scrolls).

A jigsaw has one supported end, and the other can or cannot be supported. This is why you have hand held jigsaw and a table supported jigsaw. The table option you can have a second support to keep the blade from bending side to side. The jigsaw can also provide an orbital action to assist in faster cuts, while the scroll saw cannot due to the parallel arms. However, I do not believe the orbital action is necessary for the saw to be a jigsaw.

Now a jigsaw vs reciprocating saw (sawzall) is an entirely different can of worms, because I would say they are the same, but the sawzall is for blunt work (demolishion), while the jigsaw I would say is for finer work (but lesser quality than a scrollsaw).

Although since its near impossible to find an official sanctioned definition, lets just say both are good. I prefer a scroll saw for detailed woodworking, I have a jigsaw for working larger sheet good patterns, and a sawzall for cutting bolts/pipes/etc...