Bandsaw or Scroll ?

Tonyhaz · 2 Mar 2017

Hi All,
Newbie to the forum,

I'm looking at getting a bandsaw or scroll saw, I've read I'm better off getting a band, I'm looking at making things as a hobby, I've seen a dewalt 3501, been sitting about and needs blade putting back on and a bit of TLC, it's £50,
Is this worth getting ? I've never used one before, but I want a good cheap one.
Is there anything bad about this model ?

Kind Regards

nev · 2 Mar 2017

Two different animals for two different jobs with only a little crossover, so depends on what things you want to make. I'd say a bandsaw is more useful but it can't do what a scrollsaw does so get one of each

Have a quick read of this for example...
http://www.thesawguy.com/scroll-saw-vs-band-saw/

Tonyhaz · 2 Mar 2017

Wow the scroll saw is amazing, think I'll need both now, I'll be looking at used machines, what's a good one for home use, seen so many on eBay etc,

Tonyhaz · 3 Mar 2017

Are craft 400N and good ?

novocaine · 3 Mar 2017

I have both but had the scroll saw first, it did everything I needed of it but once I got the bandsaw certain tasks became easier and I could accommodate larger stock (although it doesn't have the swing of the scroll saw), I use both together regularly, the bandsaw for dimensioning and the scrollsaw for detail. before I got the bandsaw I'd regularly use the scroll saw for dimensioning too, so I'd suggest starting with the scrollsaw then getting the bandsaw but that's just me.

nev · 3 Mar 2017

Tonyhaz":nibs1zbn said:
Are craft 400N and good ?

Going by a google search of images, a Craft 400N, a Powercraft 400N and a Draper FS16A all look identical to my Ferm FFZ-400N.
If they are all the same machine just rebadged then I would say its good enough to start with.**

**I have only just begun using a scrollsaw , see here... my-first-scroll-saw-now-what-to-do-with-it-t102841.html