Popular Woodworking 2000-11 № 118, страница 58

Scrollsaws have features and prices to

match the needs of the amateur hobbyist or the scrollin' pro.

he scroll saw is one of the most popular woodworking machines available on the market. It is safe, inexpensive, compact and quiet. Most of all, the scroll saw is fun to use.

There are major magazines in the United States devoted entirely to the scroll saw and a worldwide organization (Scroll Saw Association of the World) that promotes scrolling. Added to all of this, there are also three or four scroll saw newsletters and thousands of books of patterns. But before you can get started in the scrolling community, you need to buy a scroll saw.

Scroll sawing can be fun, relaxing and

rewarding. It also can be frustrating and if you do not buy the right saw. There are four major designs of scroll saws available today:

• Rigid Arm. This is the Delta jigsaw of the 1930's and 1940's. Today, Powermatic is the only company offering such a saw.

• Parallel Arm. The original design of the parallel arm saw actually goes back to before 1860. Two arms run parallel to each other with the blade attached to one end of each arm. There are two pivot points in this design and the blade moves in a nearly true up and down motion.

• Double Parallel Link Arm. This is the

By John A. Nelson

John Nelson is a highly regarded scroller and author. His latest book, The Scroll Saw Workbook, is available from Fox Chapel Publishing in East Petersburg, Pennsylvania.