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Buying a scroll saw: At a big box store, they have two. One is a
Dremmel, 18 inch throat, variable speed of 650 - 4500, price $199. The
other is a Ryobi, 16 inch throat, variable speed of 500 - 4000, price $99.
They both seem to have the same features. Is either one of these,
preferably the cheapest, okay? If not, what features should I be looking
for in a saw, for example, foot switch?
What kinds of wood would I have to buy. Can standard lumber such as 1 X
6, 2 X 12, etc be used or should on consider buying the exotic woods,
which seem to come at a pretty big premium?
Don't buy anything right now.
(I am surprised. At your age to try any new hobby is impressive.)
This and the rec.woodworking NG are mostly mainstream woodworking.
You need advise from scroll sawyers, not furniture makers.
Start he web site hosted by Scrollsaw WW&C magazine:
http://www.scrollsawer.com/forum/index.php?
Newbie scroll sawyers from around the world seeking advise.
(there are other sites, but this forum has evolved into a great place for
newbie scroll sawyers.)
Wood magazine's forum has a section for scroll sawing, but it is mostly a
place for mainstream woodworkers who have added scroll sawing to their
hobby.
Then on a cold winter day, try basic info from Rick's place:
http://www.scrollsaws.com/
lot a reading and videos on machines, technique, and blades.
Quick bottom line: Big Box Home Improvement stores sell inexpensive scroll
saws. HUGE number of people buy these and discover that they have bought
limited useable products. Vibration too high, and other problems. For
many, to get to where they think they want to be, they have to upgrade from
an inexpensive to Mid-Range priced saws (DeWalt 788 or Delta P-20) in the
$500.00 range. Don't think about the high end saws for now. If you don't
like the hobby, the resale value of a DeWalt or P-20 holds up a lot better
than the inexpensive; your loss will be about the same $$.
Scroll saw is an eye-hand thing. Very limited jigs or fixtures to buy. Its
all about moving the wood past the blade, which takes skill, and that means
practice. Don't take long to learn, and it isn't hard to learn, but you
must learn it. And you learn it by just cutting wood, lots of cutting.
Wood:
for learning keep with Baltic (or Russian) Plywood. This is not Birch
Plywood you see in BORGs. Baltic Birch Plywood comes from the Baltic Sea
and has 'no void' inside veneers and is very stable and won't warp. Comes
in 60" X 60" sheets, with Blue Stamp BB on it. Usually lumber yards can
special order for you, but you can find it. After learning curve, you can
move on to 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch solid wood. Learn on cheapest wood you can
find, plywood is cheap, stable, and easy to work with and finish. Learn on
1/4 inch to 3/8 inch plywood.
BTW: blade stroke of most scroll saws is 1-1/2 inch, while they can cut up
to 2.0 inches, it is not recommended because of sawdust being trapped in
blade gullets. You want all teeth to exit the wood at some point.
Blades:
Several very good blades, none of which you will find in a retail store.
All Web sold. See links above for brand name and where to buy.
Phil