Comments on: Hands-On: Dremel’s Scroll Station http://toolmonger.com/2007/08/27/hands-on-dremels-scroll-station/ All tools. All the time. Your source for news, information, and reviews of hand tools, power tools, and tools of all kinds. Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:47:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Rob http://toolmonger.com/2007/08/27/hands-on-dremels-scroll-station/#comment-110525 Rob Tue, 28 Aug 2007 14:29:17 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/08/27/hands-on-dremels-scroll-station/#comment-110525 The main difference between a metal cutting saw and a wood cutting saw are the blades and the speed. The blade runs a lot slower to cut metal. One other thing is that many metal cutting bandsaws have clamps built in for bar stock and can tilt and cut like a chop saw for nice square cuts. As far as cutting metal on a scroll saw, I wouldn't think it would be that good unless the metal was pretty thin, I'd think you'd go through blades pretty fast otherwise. The main difference between a metal cutting saw and a wood cutting saw are the blades and the speed. The blade runs a lot slower to cut metal. One other thing is that many metal cutting bandsaws have clamps built in for bar stock and can tilt and cut like a chop saw for nice square cuts.

As far as cutting metal on a scroll saw, I wouldn’t think it would be that good unless the metal was pretty thin, I’d think you’d go through blades pretty fast otherwise.

]]> By: Roscoe http://toolmonger.com/2007/08/27/hands-on-dremels-scroll-station/#comment-110493 Roscoe Tue, 28 Aug 2007 13:01:10 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/08/27/hands-on-dremels-scroll-station/#comment-110493 I've never been around a scroll saw, but a "wood-cutting" band saw works well for small or decorative cuts in light metal and plastic. Just use the right blade and take your time. I’ve never been around a scroll saw, but a “wood-cutting” band saw works well for small or decorative cuts in light metal and plastic. Just use the right blade and take your time.

]]> By: Stuart Deutsch http://toolmonger.com/2007/08/27/hands-on-dremels-scroll-station/#comment-110467 Stuart Deutsch Tue, 28 Aug 2007 11:31:48 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/08/27/hands-on-dremels-scroll-station/#comment-110467 A scroll saw CAN be used to cut metal, but it won't exactly be a picnic if the desired cut is large or the metal is thick. I've used a bandsaw before with a metal cutting blade and it sliced through aluminum and steel like butter. A lot of solid lube was used to cool things down and smooth the cut. The same bandsaw model was used in the woodshops and metal-fab shop so I assume the only difference was the blade and speed settings. A scroll saw CAN be used to cut metal, but it won’t exactly be a picnic if the desired cut is large or the metal is thick. I’ve used a bandsaw before with a metal cutting blade and it sliced through aluminum and steel like butter. A lot of solid lube was used to cool things down and smooth the cut. The same bandsaw model was used in the woodshops and metal-fab shop so I assume the only difference was the blade and speed settings.

]]> By: Chris http://toolmonger.com/2007/08/27/hands-on-dremels-scroll-station/#comment-110338 Chris Tue, 28 Aug 2007 05:02:36 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/08/27/hands-on-dremels-scroll-station/#comment-110338 I've been wondering this for a while now, but I've not looked into the idea any further than simply wondering: would a scroll saw like this, with an appropriate blade, be usable in place of a band saw for cutting metal? If not, why not? For that matter, would a typical wood-cutting band saw like you'd see at Home Depot or Lowe's be usable for metal if you slowed down the blade a bit and put a metal-cutting blade on it? I’ve been wondering this for a while now, but I’ve not looked into the idea any further than simply wondering: would a scroll saw like this, with an appropriate blade, be usable in place of a band saw for cutting metal? If not, why not?

For that matter, would a typical wood-cutting band saw like you’d see at Home Depot or Lowe’s be usable for metal if you slowed down the blade a bit and put a metal-cutting blade on it?

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