What saw is best for cutting curves?

When it comes to choosing the right saw for cutting curved shapes and lines, having the proper tool for the job is essential. The main options for cutting curves are jigsaws, scroll saws, band saws, coping saws, and bow saws. Each saw has its strengths and weaknesses depending on the type of curve, the thickness and hardness of the material being cut, how intricate the design is, and your desired finished look. Knowing when to use which saw for cutting curves allows you to achieve the best results efficiently and safely.

What are the different types of saws for cutting curves?

There are five main types of saws designed for cutting curved shapes:

• Jigsaw – A jigsaw has a thin, relatively short blade that moves up and down vertically. Jigsaws are excellent for cutting tight curves, circles, intricate designs, and interior cutouts in wood, metal, laminates, and even some plastics. The thin blade can fit into tight spaces.
• Scroll saw – A scroll saw blade also moves vertically like a jigsaw but is even thinner and smaller. Scroll saws are designed for making extremely intricate, delicate curved cuts in wood up to about 2 inches thick. The small blade allows for detailed fretwork and inside cuts.
• Band saw – On a band saw, a thin long metal band with teeth runs on two wheels rotating continuously. The blade cuts as it moves downward through the material. Band saws can cut gentle curves and arcs in thick wood and metal. They offer more power and thickness capacity than jigsaws.
• Coping saw – A coping saw has a thin blade held in a deep U-shaped metal frame. The blade can be rotated to cut various curves in the middle of a wood board, like circles or S-curves. Coping saws allow you to cut precise shapes with control.
• Bow saw – The thin narrow blade on a bow saw is tensioned in an open C-shaped metal frame. Bow saws are designed for cutting curves and irregular shapes in larger pieces of wood. The open frame lets you rotate the blade angle easily.

What materials can each saw cut?

The type of material being cut is an important factor when choosing which saw to use for curves and curved cuts. Here is an overview of the materials each saw is best for:

Saw Type	Best Materials
Jigsaw	Wood, plywood, OSB, laminates, thin sheet metal, plastic
Scroll saw	Thin wood and plywood
Band saw	Thick wood, metal pipe and tubing
Coping saw	Wood boards and dimensional lumber
Bow saw	Large wood boards and logs

Jigsaws and scroll saws are limited to thinner materials since their blades are quite thin and lack power. Band saws and bow saws can cut thicker wood stock thanks to more powerful motors and wider blade widths. Coping saws are ideal for cutting shapes inside solid wood boards.

What types of curves can each saw make?

The five main saws for curves also differ in the types of curved cuts they are designed for:

• Jigsaws – Tight curves, circles, complex curves, intricate interior cutouts
• Scroll saws – Delicate, very intricate curves and fretwork
• Band saws – Large gentle curves and arcs
• Coping saws – Cutouts in the middle of boards, S-curves, circles
• Bow saws – Wavy lines, any type of free-form shape

Jigsaws and scroll saws allow you to cut intricate curves since their thin blades can turn fast and sharp. Band saws are ideal for wider arcs and flowing curves. Coping saws excel at cutting shapes inside materials. Bow saws are extremely versatile for curved cuts but lack precision.

How fast can you cut with each saw?

The cutting speed of each saw also varies based on its design and power source:

• Jigsaws – Medium cutting speed, faster speed settings available
• Scroll saws – Slower precise cutting
• Band saws – Fast cutting speed
• Coping saws – Slow manual cutting
• Bow saws – Moderate speed based on arm movement

Jigsaws and band saws operate on electric power so they can cut quickly, while coping saws rely on the user’s arm movement for pace. Scroll saws are designed for slower detail work. Bow saws offer moderate hand-powered speed.

How precise can you cut with each saw?

The precision of the cut also depends on the capabilities of each saw:

• Jigsaws – Medium precision for curves
• Scroll saws – Very high precision
• Band saws – Lower precision for curves
• Coping saws – High precision
• Bow saws – Lower precision

Scroll saws allow extremely intricate curved cuts with their thin blades. Coping saws also offer very precise control. Jigsaws have good precision thanks to their narrower blade and electric control. The wider blades on band saws and bow saws reduce precision for curves.

How easy is each saw to control?

Ease of control is also an important factor:

• Jigsaws – Easy to control curves with adjustable base
• Scroll saws – Learning curve to control intricate cuts
• Band saws – Gentle curves are easy, tight curves harder
• Coping saws – Easy control via hand movement
• Bow saws – Also easy control with the arm

Jigsaws provide good curve control with the ability to tilt and swivel the base. Coping saws and bow saws offer direct control via hand/arm motion. Band saws can be trickier to control around tight curves. Scroll saws require practice to master intricate cutting.

What thickness of material can each saw cut?

The cutting depth capacity varies greatly with these saws:

• Jigsaws – Up to 3 inches depending on material
• Scroll saws – Up to 2 inches for wood
• Band saws – Up to 12 inches
• Coping saws – Up to 4 inches for wood
• Bow saws – Up to 6 inches for wood

Band saws can cut thick wood and metal stock. Bow saws also have a deep cutting capacity. Jigsaws and coping saws can cut several inches deep depending on the material. Scroll saws are limited to thinner stock.

Can the blades cut inside a material?

Making interior cutouts is another consideration:

• Jigsaws – Excellent for interior cutouts
• Scroll saws – Can do interior cuts but limited by thickness
• Band saws – Not designed for interior cuts
• Coping saws – Specifically for interior cuts in boards
• Bow saws – Typically not used for interior holes

The thin narrow blades of jigsaws and coping saws allow cutting inside a material easily. Scroll saws can do some interior cuts in thin material. Band saws and bow saws generally make edge cuts only.

How expensive is each saw?

Cost and budget also come into play. Here is an overview of the relative prices of the major saws for cutting curves:

• Jigsaws – $50 to $200 for basic to high-end models
• Scroll saws – $150 to over $500 for machines with special features
• Band saws – $250 for benchtop models, over $1000 for heavy-duty floor models
• Coping saws – $15 to $30 for manual hand saws
• Bow saws – $10 to $25 for basic manual saws

Scroll saws, band saws, and high-end jigsaws carry the highest costs due to more power and precision. Coping saws and bow saws are the most budget-friendly options.

What safety precautions should be used with each saw?

Proper safety measures are critical when using any saw, especially for intricate curved cuts:

• Jigsaws – Unplug when changing blades, avoid awkward hand positions, brace workpiece
• Scroll saws – Blade guards, dust collection, avoid awkward body position
• Band saws – Guards, push sticks, avoid awkward hand position, tie back long hair
• Coping saws – Secure workpiece, cut away from your body
• Bow saws – Secure workpiece, brace hands/arms, cut out from body

All saws require securing the workpiece properly and finding a safe hand/body position to avoid injury from binding or slipping. Band saw and scroll saw blade guards and dust collection keep fingers safe. Jigsaws and coping saws need special care to avoid twisting or unstable hand positions.

Conclusion

When choosing a saw for cutting curves, consider the type of material, thickness, intricacy of cut, precision needed, desired speed, blade maneuverability, cost, and safety precautions. Jigsaws provide the best all-around option for making tigher curved cuts in thinner materials with good precision. Scroll saws allow extremely intricate delicate cuts. Band saws are ideal for larger gentle curves in thick stock. Coping saws excel at interior cutouts and S-curves in wood boards. Bow saws provide basic curved cutting versatility at low cost. Evaluating all these factors helps determine the best saw for your curved cutting application.