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A scroll saw is a unique saw in what it can do but there are other saws that are similar in purpose. One of those is the coping saw and at first glance, the coping saw looks very similar to a scroll saw. However, there are some obvious differences and perhaps some non-obvious differences between the two.
A scroll saw and coping saw are both designed for different purposes. There are some similarities in their ability to cut intricate details but also many differences. They both have small, thin blades and a large clearance area but the similarities don’t go much further than that.
I have owned and used both of them over the years and have found that there is a time and place for each. This article will attempt to show some of the differences as well as the similarities. It will also clarify the purpose and best uses for each.
Scroll Saw: What’s The Purpose?
The purpose of a scroll saw is to make extremely detailed cuts that wouldn’t be possible with any other saw. The thin blade allows you to follow patterns that have lots of curves and tight turns. The ease of use will allow you to cut the most detailed patterns out of wood, metal, and plastic.
The main uses include detailed craft pieces, fretwork, and dovetails. It can be used in decorative woodworking but also more functional applications like musical instruments.
Coping Saw: What’s The Purpose?
A coping saw is primarily built for coping cuts. These types of cuts are typically done on baseboards and are used in 90-degree inside corners. They can also be used in other projects that require detailed cuts around curves and tight areas that other saws might not be able to reach.
The shape of a coping saw allows it to maneuver around a piece of wood in such a way that it can cut similar to a scroll saw, only manually. Both of these saws have a similar look with two arms that hold a blade. The main difference is that the scroll saw is a much larger arm and has a saw table whereas the coping saw is smaller without a table.
The other obvious difference is that one is the electric and the coping saw is not.
Similarities
Small Blade Made for Intricate Details
Both of these saws feature a blade that is small, thin, and can cut curves and other detailed areas accurately. The blade can be changed to meet the needs of the material and pattern you are cutting. They are both designed to cut easily around curves and do so in a way that gives a smooth finish. Whether you use a coping saw or a scroll saw will depend on what you are cutting, your preference as well as the setup that you can afford.
For many projects, either one might be used but the scroll saw certainly makes the job easier since it is electric and will only require you to maneuver your workpiece around rather than move the saw around as you would with a coping saw.
They Require Time and Patience to Use
Both of these require more time and patience to use than you might be used to. Rather than the speed of a circular saw, jigsaw, or table saw, these two saws require one to take their time. You won’t be able to speed through your work if you intend for the finished piece to come out looking good.
Slow and steady is the best way to go about using the scroll saw and the same can be said for the coping saw.
They Have a Unique Purpose in the Workshop and May Not See a Lot of Use
Neither of these saws will see much use in standard woodworking. Instead, you’ll need to be working on projects that require more precision cuts or have lots of curves and details that need to be cut.
Someone who cuts out detailed patterns often will find the scroll saw indispensable. However, for those who only have an occasional need for it, it will just sit in the workshop taking up space.
The same is true for the coping saw. If you install baseboard molding or crown molding regularly, you will use the coping saw quite often. If not, you may use it for an occasional cut in your workshop but it may hang on the wall or sit in a draw for extended periods of time untouched. This won’t be a big deal for the coping saw since it takes up very little space.
Differences
Their Intended Purpose
The intended purpose of each of these saws is different in what they primarily are designed for. A scroll saw is designed to cut out detailed items and works great on sharp curves, tight turns, and very detail-oriented craftwork. They are designed to cut out even the most detailed patterns that you can dream up.
It’s amazing to see some of the projects people create with a scroll saw. While some of them seem super challenging, a scroll saw generally makes easy work of it for someone who knows what they are doing.
The coping saw has a much different purpose as its main intention. It is designed to make coping cuts on a baseboard or crown molding. As mentioned earlier in the article, a coping cut is a cut that allows you to butt up the ends of the molding in inside corners so they fit perfectly even if the corner isn’t a perfect 90 degrees.
The coping saw does this with ease and it has a mobile advantage that doesn’t require electricity and is easy to take from place to place.
One Is Electric, One Is Not
The obvious difference between a scroll saw and a coping saw is that the scroll saw plugs into electricity and does most of the work for you. You will find that a scroll saw works great as you maneuver your workpiece through the blade. It will cut buttery smooth through the workpiece.
The coping saw requires that you do all the work while the workpiece remains fixed. Rather than moving your workpiece around as you would on the scroll saw, you will move the coping saw around to cut out a pattern within wood using a coping saw.
Because of this, a coping saw is more difficult to use and more difficult to achieve good results with. Both saws require practice and have a learning curve, but the coping saw adds an extra layer of difficulty into the mix by making you do the work yourself.
The Scroll Saw Is More Powerful and Versatile
The scroll saw is much more powerful and versatile than the coping saw. This is mainly due to the scroll saw being electric and having a larger cutting area than what a coping saw does. When you use a scroll saw, you can easily cut through wood up to one and a half inches thick in most cases.
Depending on the scroll saw you are using and the blade, you will find that it usually makes easy work of nearly any type of detailed project.
With a coping saw, on the other hand, the thicker the wood, the more difficult it will be to work with. If you are working with quarter-inch plywood, a coping saw will work fine but as you get into thicker woods that are half-inch and up, you will find that it is much more difficult to make cuts and it is also more time-consuming.
Rather than utilizing the horsepower from electricity, as the scroll saw does, the coping saw relies on horsepower from the user. It can be physically demanding to cut out a piece with a coping saw.
Size
The sizes of both of these are much different. A scroll saw is large and often very heavy. The weight of a scroll saw allows it to be more stable as you are using it since it is in a constant up-and-down motion. These often require lots of space in your workshop and if you don’t use them very often, can become an annoyance that is just in the way.
A coping saw is a tool that takes up hardly any space and can be stored in a drawer or easily hung on the wall, using pegboard or some other type of hanging system. It’s just another standard saw that weighs very little and has very minimal size. This allows you to carry it around easily and store it away easily when not in use.
A Scroll Saw Has a Larger Clearance Area
Both of these saws have a similar look but the scroll saw has a much larger cutting area. A scroll saw may be able to work with a piece that is 20 inches or more allowing you to turn and maneuver it around however you wish.
A coping saw is usually limited to around 6 inches. This means that you won’t have as much clearance to work on larger pieces. However, a coping saw often has a way to turn the blade at different angles to help compensate for this.
The Coping Saw Is a Lot More Affordable
A coping saw is going to be way more affordable than a scroll saw will be. I purchased my coping saw for around $10 and it does the job well enough. On the other hand, my DeWalt scroll saw was much more expensive. At the time I purchased my saw, it was $549. This is quite an investment for a tool that some may only use occasionally but when it becomes part of your regular work routine, it’s worth the cost.
Coping saws range from $10-$30 depending on the type you buy and the quality of it. Likewise, scroll saws vary in price but the range is much higher. You can typically find a scroll saw for an entry-level price of around $100 and they go all the way up over $1000 for a top-of-the-line model.
In general, a really good scroll saw can be purchased for a couple of hundred dollars while a good coping saw can be purchased for $20 or less.
The Coping Saw Takes Skill & Physical Exertion
One of the hardest skills to learn with using a coping saw is keeping it at a 90-degree angle. Since you have to manually work the saw around the piece you are cutting, it’s easy to cut crooked.
With a scroll saw, you have a table that lies at a 90-degree angle with the blade. You don’t have to worry about the cut becoming crooked. It also requires physical work since you are moving the saw up and down rather than the machine of a scroll saw doing most of the work.
Who Uses a Scroll Saw?
A scroll saw is mainly used by crafters who create small decorative items. They are perfect for creating holiday decorations, such as hanging signs, family names, Christmas ornaments, and other items that can sit around–some being decorative and some being functional.
I use my scroll saw for all kinds of projects around the house. Not only do I use it to create decorative items that satisfy a need for something during a holiday or other event, but I also use it on random projects to cut something that just might be easier done with a scroll saw. I’ve used a scroll saw for many years so feel confident in my control of the saw and often find myself using it even though it may not even be the best tool for the job.
There are patterns galore on the Internet so anything you can imagine is probably available in a pattern already designed for you to attach to your wood and then cut out with a scroll saw.
Who Uses a Coping Saw?
A coping saw is likely in the toolbox of someone who installs a lot of baseboard and crown molding. It’s a necessary tool for ensuring perfectly aligned corners. Home improvement professionals as well as serious DIYers may have this tool on hand at any given time.
It’s easy to add to a toolbelt or keep in your toolbox and as discussed earlier, doesn’t take up much space.
Besides the use for coping cuts, it’s also a go-to saw for those who occasionally cut something detailed but don’t want the expense nor have the space for a scroll saw. When a scroll saw is overkill for what is needed, a coping saw, or even a fretsaw which is similar, can be used.
Conclusion
Both of these saws have some similarities but in general, are used in different ways. The scroll saw is more versatile and can cut lots of different patterns that would be very challenging for a coping saw to contend with. If you are wanting to create projects that are detailed and intricate such as those often found with scroll saw projects, you will probably want to stick with a scroll saw.
However, if the job only requires some small detailed work but not often, a coping saw can do the job for much less money while taking up much less space in your workshop.
It’s good to have both on hand because there are often times when a manual solution just works better. It may be easier to get out of the drawer or take off of the wall and use and then put back up without a fuss. For small cuts that require some curvature and precision, either one will work but will just depend on which one you prefer using and your budget and space you have available.
