“DeWalt DW788PK 20-inch Scroll Saw
Source:Tools and Materials
Scroll Saws:
While not one of the tools of first priority, the scroll saw is fast becoming one of my favorite tools in the guitar shop. I looked at quite of few of them and have to admit that I haven’t owned one of these handy little power tools before. After a lot of soul searching I settled in on the DeWalt DW788PK 20-inch Scroll Saw, which also has a integral stand.
Not only is this a useful tool for detailed guitar work, there are many other hobby uses that it performs exceeding well with.
Guitar Making Tasks:
Cut out signature of Classical Guitar Pegheads
Cut wood inlays with precision
Cut those difficult detail cuts on bridges
Cut scallops from bridges with dead-on accuracy
Cut intricate patterns for jigs and molds
Cut string slots for Classical Guitar Pegheads
Cut decoration at bottom of fretboard at sound hole
Cut Pearl Inlays (I have yet to try this) I’ll let you know how it goes
Tool Cautions:
Nothing here really other than keep your fingers away from the blade. If you decide to cut pearl or abalone on the scroll saw make sure you protect your lungs with a quality dust mask. Also disable the little adjustable blower if needed to keep this dangerous dust from flying around. It is also possible to rig up a dust collection hose to this little guy.
How To Operate The Tool:
Make sure you buy quality blade and keep plenty of them in stock as they do break quite easily. Be sure to place adequate tension on the blades and secure the blade at the top and bottom jaws of the saw.
To do inside work, detach the blade, slide in your piece and re-attach the blade and start your cutting as usual.
Always start your feeding very slow to make sure the teeth do not catch on the work. This is a quick way to break a blade – especially in extremely hard wood like Ebony.
Accessories:
If you didn’t purchase one with the saw, make sure you purchase the Dewalt Scroll Saw Stand. This is a very compact and sturdy stand and does not take up a lot of shop floor space.
Another accessory you may want to give serious consideration to is the DW7881 Scroll Saw Light. This light will put the correct amount of light just where you need it – right at the work area.
One more accessory. If you do a LOT of scroll saw work, you will want to equip it with a automatic foot switch, which will allow you to control the saw functions with your foot, while keep your hands free for more important tasks.
Additional Shop Operations:
I definitely am going to try to put this saw through its paces cutting intricate MOP or Abalone work. Given it’s variable speed options and sturdy construction, I’m hoping to pull it off. One thing I think I will have to do is adhere the shell to model makers plywood, which is about 1/32″ to 1/16″ thick. This will keep the shell supported and minimize breakage, which is a real problem with power operated saws and shell cutting.
Alternative Scroll Saws That I Like:
The Excalibur 21″ variable speed scroll saws unique design provides a stable platform when cutting straight or on an angle. Unlike other scroll saws where the table is tilted for angled cuts, the entire head of the Excalibur tilts 45 degrees; to the left or the right.
This allows the user to better control the work piece on a flat table surface, for a more safe and accurate cut. Solidly built upper and lower parallel arms keep the blade straight with minimal blade deflection allowing for precise cuts, making this the most sought after scroll saw on the market. 120V 1.3 amp constant torque permanent magnet motor. Large 13-1/2″ x 23-1/2″ table surface. No tools required – finger operated blade clamps. Easy access speed and tension controls. Organized blade storage on base. On-board dust blower.
Technical Details
- Provides a stable platform when cutting straight or on an angle.
- 120V 1.3 amp constant torque permanent magnet motor.
- Large 13-1/2″ x 23-1/2″ table surface.
- Includes operation manual and 2 year warranty
Scroll Sawing on a Budget:
Shop Fox W1713 16-Inch Variable Speed Scroll Saw
If you are looking to get into a scroll saw for a budget, you should check out the Shop Fox W1713 16 inch saw. It doesn’t have quite the capacity of the 20″ or 21″ saws, or the stability in the arm, but it can certainly handle most any guitar job you will throw at it.
Technical Details of the Shop Fox W1713 16-Inch Variable Speed Scroll Saw
1/8HP, 1-Amplifier, 110-Volt, 60Hz motor
16-Inch maximum cutting width
Includes a gooseneck work light, dust blower and dust port
Plain or pin blades
No load speed: 550-1700 SPM
The Last Word:
As I said, in the first part of this article, there are a LOT of stationary tools I would make sure I had in my shop before the scroll saw, but if you have a full compliment of tools including a table saw, band saw, drum sander, drill press, dust collector, and planer, give the scroll saw some strong consideration. It is a tool for the complete woodworking shop and you can use it for many tasks around home and the shop.
Please Share Your Experiences:
Do you have a favorite Shop Tool you would like to share with us? Just write a comment and we would all love to hear about it. I’m sure there are other tools that I have not touched upon that are equal in quality to my own experiences.
Tags: guitar making tools, scroll saw reviews, stationary tools for guitar building, tools for guitar building
