Band Saw or Scroll Saw

Posted by Jason Nelms on May 23, 2010 at 9:47pm
I have been given some gift cards to home depot and was wondering this:
If you could only have one for building cbgs which would it be? a tabletop band saw or a scroll saw?

I have heard arguments for both and want to make my choice wisely.

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Replies

  • Tracy Kennedy June 3, 2010 at 7:29am
    Thats one item I still need to invest in, a rip fence. For the time being I just clamp a straight board down to do the job.
  • The Phrygian Kid June 2, 2010 at 9:42pm
    Scroll saws are also great for slotting fingerboards.. ;) oop thnx Alan !!
    yeah man u want both, but get the bandsaw first.
    Make sure u get a rip fence so u can rip fingerboards etc
  • Alan Roberts June 2, 2010 at 7:40pm
    Using a scroll saw to cut fret slots:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idnY9Y4Zvx0
  • Alan Roberts June 2, 2010 at 7:20pm
    >I hope one is near you, its well worth the trip!

    Nearest one is two time zones away. I doubt it would be worth it...
  • MichaelS Country Boy Guitars June 2, 2010 at 6:39pm
    Bandsaw.
  • Tracy Kennedy May 24, 2010 at 4:29pm
    If it helps any here is all the locations they have. I hope one is near you, its well worth the trip!

    DIRECT TOOLS FACTORY OUTLETS

    Prime Outlets at Birch Run
    12240 South Beyer Road
    Suite V009C
    Birch Run, MI 48415
    (989) 624-9318

    Prime Outlets – Calhoun
    455 Belwood Road
    Suite 33
    Calhoun, GA 30701
    (706) 624-3119

    Cincinnati Premium Outlets
    400 Premium Outlets Drive
    Suite 217
    Monroe, OH 45050
    (513) 539-7292

    Tanger Outlets – Commerce
    800 Steven B. Tanger Blvd.
    Suite 112
    Commerce, GA 30529
    (706) 335-7304

    Concord Mills
    8111 Concord Mills Boulevard
    Suite 418
    Concord, NC 28027
    (704) 979-9998

    Tanger Five Oaks
    1645 Parkway
    Suite 760
    Sevierville, TN 37862
    (865) 428-9242

    Tanger Outlets – Foley
    2601 S. McKenzie St.
    Suite 262
    Foley, AL 36535
    (251) 943-4843

    Prime Outlets at Gulfport
    10000 Factory Shop Blvd.
    Suite 345
    Gulfport, MS 39503
    (228) 822-0788

    Gurnee Mills
    6170 W. Grand Avenue
    Suite 623
    Gurnee, IL 60031
    (847) 856-8670

    Prime Outlets of Hagerstown
    495 Prime Outlets Blvd.
    Suite 855
    Hagerstown, MD 21740
    (301) 739-6034

    Outlets at Hillsboro
    104 I-35 NE
    Suite 149
    Hillsboro, TX 76645
    (254) 582-3117

    Houston Premium Outlets
    29300 Hempstead Road
    Suite 607
    Cypress, TX 77433
    (281) 256-1164

    Prime Outlets – Jeffersonville
    8000 Factory Shops Blvd.
    Suite 8315
    Jeffersonville, OH 43128
    (740) 948-2103

    Johnson Creek Premium Outlets
    575 W. Linmar Lane
    Suite B010
    Johnson Creek, WI 53038
    (920) 699-2141

    Tanger Outlet Center – Myrtle Beach (Hwy 501)
    4630 Factory Stores Blvd.
    Suite A102
    Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
    (843) 236-1212

    North Georgia Premium Outlets
    800 Highway 400 South
    Suite 630
    Dawsonville, GA 30534
    (706) 216-2340

    Philadelphia Premium Outlets
    18 West Lightcap Road
    Suite 1255
    Pottstown, PA 19464
    (610) 326-5840

    Pittsburgh Tanger Outlets
    2200 Tanger Boulevard
    Suite 507
    Washington, PA 15301
    (724) 229-6140

    Tanger Outlet Center – San Marcos
    4015 Interstate 35 South
    Suite 1045
    San Marcos, TX 78666
    (512) 392-5223

    Prime Outlets – St. Augustine
    500 Prime Outlets Blvd.
    Suite 145
    St. Augustine, FL 32084
    (904) 829-3600

    Waterloo Premium Outlets
    655 Route 318
    Suite 49
    Waterloo, NY 13165
    (315) 539-1201
  • Tracy Kennedy May 24, 2010 at 9:12am
    Sorry Alan I stumbled onto it,

    If you are building your tool collection a Franklin at a time. Id buy a work horse over a show horse.
  • Alan Roberts May 24, 2010 at 1:56am
    (Tracy, I was SO hoping you weren't following this thread... oh well)

    I stand corrected. If Mr. "I wish I could use a scroll saw like Kennedy does" says bandsaw first, who am I to argue?

    Seriously, friends, there are things a band saw can do that a scroll saw can't, and vice verasa. Drill press vs. router. Jointer vs planer. And when I reach a 100 years old, I'll explain it all to you. Until then.. Put a quarter on what you want to cut (if you live in the UK, a 10p coin). Do you need a turn closer that that? A band saw won't do that.*

    * I could still teach you ways to get around that with stop cuts, etc. But if you want sharp corners, scroll saws rock.
  • Tracy Kennedy May 24, 2010 at 12:02am
    Folks, let me introduce my PR Rep. Alan. Thanks Alan. In all honestly if a choice is to made Id personally go for the bandsaw above all else. It can be indispensible in the construction of a CBG. A bandsaw could easily take 50% or more of the labor away from the construction of a neck alone. I primarily use mine for resawing stock into neck blanks and tapering necks. My table can tilt up to 50*, set at 45* I can cut miters to make box sides. A bandsaw used within it limits can do the work of a tablesaw and a crosscut saw. The photo Alan posted above is the CBG I just finished, I cut the 45* box corners, the top and bottom, the scark joint on the neck, the curve on the heel and the saddle and nut on my bandsaw. Although more detailed work can be accomplished on a scroll saw, you can do the same thing with a hand held coping saw. When you get a moment check out barefoot cajun's handy work. All his work is done with hand tools with the exception of a cordless drill. On a side note, My bandsaw is a recondishioned RYOBI with full factory warranty that I paid $69 ($100 new at Home Depot) for at an outlet mall locally from a company called FACTORY DIRECT TOOLS. There are two of those stores near me. One in Morrow Ohio at he Cincinnati Outlet Mall off I-75 the other at PRIME OUTLETS in Jeffersonville Ohio off I-71. I also picked up a 12" RYOBI drill press that retails for $179 for a $129. a RYOBI belt / disc sander that is $100 new for $69....need I continue?
    Alan Roberts said:
    Here's a snapshot of one of Tracy Kennedy's soundholes:



    This is why I want a scroll saw. But I don't think I'd want to give up one for the other...
  • john terrell May 23, 2010 at 10:34pm
    it really depends on the stile you are going to build but both in my shop have great importance thats just my opinion thats all.but you cant build without a bandsaw.
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