[Woodcarver] Scroll saw vs. jigsaw

[Ramsey]

Hi Andy,

The answer to that question depends on the type of cutting you want 
to do.  Scroll saws are limited to thin material unless you want to 
spend a HUGE amount of time waiting for the saw to cut veerryy 
sloooowly.  A hand held jig saw cuts much faster and you don't have 
to stop and unhook the blade each time you go to a new cut out area. 
I recently had a commission for a pierced carving where I had to cut 
out numerous holes.  I bought a Dewalt scroll saw which is one of the 
more powerful ones available.  After a few cuts I gave up and re-sold 
the saw.  It was way too slow and cumbersome to use.  I ended up 
using a router instead.  It cut fast, smooth with very little 
sanding, and I didn't even have to drill a pilot hole for the blade. 
A router also takes up very little room and can be used for all sorts 
of other applications.

Here's a link to the carvings I cut out with the router in probably 
20% of the time it would have taken me with a scroll saw.
http://www.carvedbyramsey.com/relief.htm
It's the three pierced carvings with the birds and the leaves I 
carved for the Baldwin piano.

Happy carving,
Ron Ramsey
http://www.carvedbyramsey.com

Be sure to look at the incredible nature inspired art jewelry hand 
fabricated by my wife, Karen Olsen Ramsey.  It's worth the time to 
take a look!
http://www.artjeweler.com



"I could use some advice -which would be the better investment  scroll
saw or jig saw ?
    I have a very limited work space I am trying to decide which to go
with"
                  thanks
              Andy
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