Scroll Saws

Let’s start with the most important thing, the scroll saw. I started with the Craftsman 16 in. Variable Speed Scroll Saw. This is a very good entry-level scroll saw. At the time I paid $99.00 on sale at Sears back in 2012.

Scroll saws range in price from very inexpensive to very expensive We put them three categories:

• Entry Level – A scroll saw in the range of up to $300.00
  • Great for beginners and occasional use. These saws are usually lower quality although there are some that are exceptional for an entry level saw. The Craftsman 16 Inch, in my opinion, is a very good quality scroll saw.
• Mid-level – A scroll saw in the range of $300.00 to $700.00
  • Because of the price, these are usually for more experienced scroll sawers. Normally these saws are very high quality.
• Professional level – A scroll saw in the range of $700.00 and higher
  • These are usually for very serious scroll sawers and can be quite expensive.

Below are just some examples of the many scroll saws available in the different classes.

For more information on various scroll saws available, check out our list of popular Scroll Saws and their specifications and features.

Popular brands of high-quality scroll saw blades are Flying Dutchman, Niqua, Pegas, and Olson. Sharktooth and PS Wood along with several other manufacturers also produce quality scroll saw blades.

Scroll saw blades prices run between $2.00 to $10.00 dozen. I buy them at around $4.00 per dozen which is about $0.33 per blade. Some retailers will lower the price per dozen if you order a certain amount.

Scroll Saw Blade Size and Type

When you first start the scroll sawing hobby, you probably won’t know what type and size of blade that will be right for you. This takes some time to figure out.

You can start out with variety or starter packs from Amazon and other retailers that include one dozen each of assorted blade sizes such as 2/0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12.

The starter packs are great because you can try each of the blade sizes until you find the right blade for yourself.

I recommend you get a few dozen spiral blades as well. It won’t be long until you decide which one of these you prefer.

Personally I have a tough time using spiral blades but I know people that only use them. Charles Dearing is a good example of a spiral blade only scroll saw artist.

Advertisement:

For more information check out our page with a list of Scroll Saw Blade Manufacturers and Retailers.

Scroll Saw Blade Storage Tubes

To keep your scroll saw blades protected and to prevent corrosion, I recommend that you get some scroll saw blade storage tubes to store your blades. These are similar to test tubes. usually plastic with either a screw cap or a slide in cap. They vary in quality and range in price from $10.00 for 20 to $30.00 for 24.

I get enough of them to hold each size and brand of blade that I have. I also make sure that I mark the tube with the blade brand, size, and any other specs that pertains to that particular blade that it holds.

Sanding Blades

These scroll saw sander blades are available in grits from 120 to 220 and usually come in packs of 4 and range from $8.00 to $15.00 per package. I have seen them as low as 6.96 per package.

Mini Drill Bits

Mini Drill Bits are necessary if you plan to do fret work. The size will depend on how small your cuts will be and what size of blade you plan to use.

The most popular mini drill bits sizes for use in scroll sawing are:

• #72 (.0250 inch)
• #70 (.0280 inch)
• #67 (.0320 inch)
• #64 (.0360 inch)
• #61 (.0390 inch)
• #58 (.0410 inch)
• #56 (.0465 inch)
• #54 (.0550 inch)

As you can see the higher the number, the smaller the diameter. A #70 is smaller than a #54.

These little drill bits are not normally found at your local big box stores and would most likely need to be ordered online or mail order.

The next size larger from #54 would be and these larger drill bits are usually available at most big box store:

• 1/16th inch
• 3/32nd inch
• 1/8th inch

Rich Hutcheson has a great blade / drill bit size chart on his website for the most common blades.

Once you determine the scroll saw blade size you are going to use, I would get several dozen drill bits that correspond with that size. These bits are very small and fragile and do break very easily. It’s no fun when you need to drill a hole but you don’t have any bits left and have to wait for a week until your order comes.

The cost for a set of the mini blades is usually around $5.00 to $10.00 per dozen. My favorite sizes are #67, #64, and #61.

Mini Drill Bit Chuck

Along with the mini drill bits, you will need a chuck and appropriate collets to use the mini drill bits in your drill press. Normally a chuck will come with 2 or 3 collets. This may be something you want to verify when ordering.

I recommend that you get 2 or even 3 of these chucks and have a different drill bit size on each one. This makes it so that you don’t have to change the bit every time you need a different size.

These mini drill bit chucks and collets usually cost between $10.00 to $20.00.

Needle File Set

A file set will be very handy when sanding fretwork. A set of these can range in price from $5.00 to over $150.00 depending on the quality.
I bought a decent set for around $25.00 and use it on every project.

Foot Pedal

I recommend that you get a “momentary power footswitch.” This is a foot pedal that you put on the floor and use like a gas pedal for hands-free operation of the scroll saw so you don’t have to use the switch.

These are available at Amazon, Walmart, and other retailers.
These average cost for a foot pedal is around $25.00 – $50.00

Magnifying lamp

Magnifying lamp – These are available at many retailers such as Harbor Freight, Lowes, Home Depot, and Amazon, etc..
The average cost for a magnifying lamp will be between $40.00 – $100.00

Spray Adhesive

You will need spray adhesive to apply your patterns to the stock. I like to use 3M Super 77 Multipurpose Spray Adhesive and it is usually available at most big box stores such as Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes and Amazon.

Depending on the size of the can, the cost will range from around $7.00 for a 7.3 ounce can to around $17.00 for a 16.7 ounce can.

Packing Tape

Packing tape is used to lubricate the blade, keeping it cooler and prolonging the life of the blade. It also keeps the wood from burning. This is especially true for woods like Cherry and Maple. I glue the pattern to the stock, cover the pattern with a layer of packing tape, and then drill any holes needed for the internal cuts of my project.

Packing tape usually costs around $10.00 to $15.00 for several rolls and one roll will last for quite a while.

Misc Items

There are some other items that you may need to purchase but are outside the scope of this article. While these things are necessary, they are items that are not a one time purchase. You may already have some of these items on hand as well.

Vacuum / Dust Extraction

A good shop vac will be necessary as scroll sawing creates a considerable amount of dust. The cost of a vacuum can vary from around $40.00 to several hundred dollars. I use a five-gallon wet/dry shop vac brand that I got a few years ago for around $50.00.

Material / Stock

You may be able to obtain stock from any big box store however you may be limited in the available species.

A local sawmill is another option is some areas of the country. I get most of my material at both a local sawmill and big box stores. When I first started scroll sawing, I got lumber at a local sawmill and planed it down myself. I was getting cherry, walnut, oak, and sassafras for $1.50 bf.

My sawmill supplier recently retired and I had to find another sawmill. The new sawmill I have access to in my area is much higher in price.

Now at my new sawmill, cherry is $3.00 bf and walnut is $4.00 bf.

I have also recently picked up some nice scrap wood at a local cabinet shop. The man at the shop said he was just going to burn the wood anyway and I was doing him a favor by getting it out of his way so I picked up a bunch of cut-offs for just $5.00.

Lastly, there are online options for sources of lumber such as companies like Ocooch Hardwoods and Cherry Tree Toys. You can even get wood from Amazon like butternut , cherry, maple, oak, walnut, and other species like Brazilian cherry.

For more options check out our page for Scroll Saw Websites.

Patterns

Patterns can range from free to $30.00 or more per pattern depending on the complexity and the designer. Most seem to be somewhere in the neighborhood of $10.00 to $15.00.

When first starting out, however, there is really no need to purchase scroll saw patterns because there are so many quality scroll saw patterns available for free.

To see just a few of the many patterns available for free, check out the following pages.

https://scrollsawnewb.com/top-50-free-scroll-saw-patterns/
https://scrollsawnewb.com/more-free-scroll-saw-patterns/

For more information about scroll saw patterns, check out our page Scroll Saw Patterns and Where to Find Them.

Printer

A printer is important if you plan to print your patterns. I find that a laser printer is more efficient than an inkjet printer. Most people have a computer and printer already.

Finish

If you plan to finish your projects, you may need to look into some different options available. There are many options to choose from such as danish oil to lacquer to polyurethane just to name a few.

Prices vary depending on the type of finish that you choose. I only mention it in this article because it will be a cost that you may need to consider after you start creating projects.

Conclusion

So what does it cost to start scroll sawing in 2021? The list below is calculated for each of the choices, entry level, mid level, or professional level scroll saws. This is just an estimate based on the research done at the time of writing this article.

• Scroll Saw –
  • Entry level – $250.00
  • Mid level – $600.00
  • Professional level – $900.00

Using the recommendations above, the total estimated cost that you can expect to spend to initially get into the scroll saw hobby is:

• Entry level scroll saw – $450.00 – $550.00
• Mid level scroll saw – $800.00 – $900.00
• Professional level scroll saw – $1100.00 – $1500.00

The total estimated cost to start scroll sawing is calculated based on my research for items that I would have purchased knowing what I currently know about the hobby.

It includes just the items necessary to get into the hobby and does not include extras like printers, patterns, stock, or finish.

I offer this information to help those who are getting into the scroll saw hobby consider items you may need besides the scroll saw itself. I do recommend however that you do your own research to find out what is best for you.

We hope this has answered some questions that you may have had regarding how much it costs to start scroll sawing.

While you are here, check out some of our other pages for:

• Scroll Saw Blades
• Tips and Tricks
• Scroll Saw Websites
• Scroll Saw Patterns

I hope this has been helpful and you have enjoyed your visit. Let us know if you have any questions in the comments section below. Subscribe to our blog so you will be notified by email when a new article is posted.

Thank You and Happy Scrolling