Scrollsaw for guitar building?

[Matt Lau]

I have the oportunity to buy a DeWalt scrollsaw from a fellow creeker (who does good wor btw).

Should I buy it?


Ultimately, I'd like something that I can use for guitar building. I hope to cut out the back and top profiles, make jigs, and generally cut things in a curvy manner. The big draw to me for a scrollsaw over a bandsaw is safety--as a dentist, I rather need my fingers.


I already plan to buy a nice 14" bandsaw (with riser) and a routertable.
I'm also considering getting a festool system, since I'll eventually build furniture...
If it's nice enough, I might even have my mom's blessing to continue butchering wood.


Ultimately, I'd like to slowly assemble a minimalist group of tools for the long haul.
Spend a little more (even if I'm broke atm), but buy it once.


Would this be worth buying for guitar building?

[Erik Jarvi]

To be honest I went that route once, never again. The scroll saw is much to frustrating to use on anything thicker than 1/4".

[Matt Lau]

Thanks for the tip.

I think that I'll hold off on the bandsaw.

[scott spencer]

I think it'd be hard to do guitar work with scroll saw, but perhaps I could be proven wrong. I'm more likely to use a BS, TS, and router.

[John Coloccia]

Scroll saw is definiately not ideal. I would take a good jigsaw over a scroll saw for guitar building. I sold my Dewalt to a fellow creeker. It's a very nice saw...it's just not a great guitar building tool.

[Mike OMelia]

+1 on what everybody said. Get a good 14" bandsaw (minimum). Scroll saws are good for inlay and detail work (for guitars)

Mike

[Chris Fournier]

I build guitars, or rather did, and the scroll saw was very useful to me. It's not a primary tool but it can earn its keep.

I likely work a bit differently than other builders so my opinion is only applicable to my style of building.

I have build quite a few electric guitars and I use a pin router and lots of tempaltes to route the body and its various features. I found that the scroll saw was great for cutting odd shaped cavities in my templates.

I wouldn't give up my scroll saw but it is a specialised tool in my shop - a pinch hitter.

As far as fingers go I think that your concern is a non-issue. You can make one careless move with a chisel and disable yourself. Your hands are always in peril, diligence is the only way to keep them safe and in other people's mouths! ...Which doesn't seem that safe come to think of it.

[Dewayne Baker]

Hey Matt, Looks like the creekers got you turned in the right direction. Good luck in guitar building and thanks for the complement.