Need the right tool

[aggie1207]

Howdy,
Don't know what to buy. I am making some Christmas decorations for this Holiday season. Mostly yard reindeer. Some intricate work in the antlers but not too much. Have to cut out legs, body etc. Do I buy a band saw or scroll saw...any advice greatly appreciated.

[SharonW0111]

Depending on the type of decorations you make would be the main factor in your choise of daws. I use to use a jigsaw with a scroll blade ( the type made for jig saws) when I did the yard decorations.For small indoor type I would get a scroll saw.
Sharon

[Minnesota scroller]

I agree with Sharon. Yard decorations are usually pretty good size so a band saw with the proper blade should be just fine. Also, Most scrolls saws are more limited as far as the throat size is concerned. If cutting something over 16" or 18" wide, you would probably have to resort to a spiral blade if using a scroll saw. And that's a whole nother chapter.

[Rolf]

For the larger projects I would use a saber saw with a good saber saw scrolling blade.
I also like using my Rotozip with the wood cutting bit. It takes a little practice to follow a line but it has pretty much replaced my saber saw.

[Bill Wilson]

Sounds like a jig/saber saw is the tool for this job. Handling large sheets of plywood on a bandsaw or scrollsaw is difficult at best and the throat capacity of either tool will limit you. With a jig saw, you lay the sheet on sawhorses at a comfortable height and just move the saw. Good luck and have fun making sawdust!

[ChuckD]

A little tip for the saber saw. Get yourself some thick foam insulation and lay it on 2X4s on your saw horse and then the plywood on that. If the foam is thick enough you won't have a problem with pieces you have cut falling off and perhaps splitting

[owler]

Chuck,

That is a great tip! My saw horses all have blade nicks in them.
Dan

[ChuckD]

The foam can be used over and over and mine has lasted me probable a couple of years. Problem is finding a place to store it.