Best Scroll Saw Blades [2024 Review]

A scroll saw blade is one of the best power tools when it comes to cutting fine curves and intricate details in various materials, especially if you don’t want to use a tedious hand-coping saw.

However, picking the right set of blades for the saw plays a major role in controlling the quality of your output.

You need to match your scroll saw with the best scroll saw blades if you want to make the most out of it, and that’s what I’m going to help you with in today’s guide!

Scroll Saw Blade Reviews

To help you with the process of finding the best set of blades for your scroll saw, I’ve compiled a list of my top recommendations, so you can pick the ones that fit you the best!

1. Best Overall Scroll Saw Blade: Flying Dutchman Scroll Saw Spiral Blade Pack

Let’s start the list with one of the most popular scroll saw blades! Flying Dutchman Scroll Saw Blade Pack is ideal for anyone looking for an overall great saw blade that can work in a wide range of situations and projects!

Despite being a relatively small brand, The Flying Dutchman is a well known manufacturer when it comes to scroll saw blades due to the brand’s quality and commitment to delivering a worthy product.

The blades come in a variety pack, which is great news for hobbyists and DIYers who use a wide range of saw blades during their projects.

The blades are all made in Germany and use top of the shelf materials in their construction, although this also causes them to be a little pricey.

Even when you compare them to some of the premium options on the market, the Flying Dutchman pack is still a costly one. However, that doesn’t make it a wonderful investment.

Product Specs

• Blade Type: Pinless
• Blade Material: High grade steel
• TPI: 27, 35, 38
• Length: 5 inches long
• Weight: 4.8 ounces

This is because these scroll saw blades are made from hardened steel, which is a much tougher version of the regular steel used by other scroll saw blades on the market.

The durability doesn’t only come from the material, but also from the construction process. While many of the blades on the market are forged, these blades are milled.

Milled metals are much less porous, which allows them to resist chipping and shaving under high pressure. This means that the teeth of this blade will last significantly longer than other options with similar size and alignment.

Speaking of alignment, the arrangement of the teeth on this blade is also unique. This blade is one of the few options on the market that utilizes the unique spiral alignment.

In this pattern, the teeth of the blade are aligned in a spiral pattern rather than sitting in one direction. This allows the blade to cut efficiently in either direction, even on tight turns and angles.

This special design allows the twisted teeth to cut efficiently and smoothly into just about any metal out there without worrying about cracking or chipping!

Combined with their ability to cut in both directions, these are easily one of the most maneuverable blades on the market.

Such a design makes it a bit difficult to operate by absolute beginners, as it simply works in a unique way that makes the blade break down easily when handled roughly. Additionally, these blades are pinless, which makes them a bit difficult to install.

For that reason, you might need to have some scroll saw experience in order to make the most out of this excellent set.

The set includes 12 blades of different sizes including Sizes 3/0, 2/0, 1, 3, and 5 for a total of 60 blades per pack.

Pros

• Remarkable blade build quality, which allows them to last a lot longer than other blades from the same material
• The unique spiral design allows the blade to cut in both directions
• Compatible with a huge range of materials, so you don’t have to buy different types of blades

Cons

• A little pricey, but still a great investment!
• Not suitable for first time users

2. Best Value: SKIL 80182 Plain End Scroll Saw Blade Set

If you’re looking for a nice saw blade set that gives you a great bang for the buck, you should consider the SKIL 80182 Plain End Scroll Saw Blade Set, as it’s quite a versatile option that works very well for both hobbyists and professionals.

The SKIL 80182 set is one of the most versatile and handy sets on the market. For starters, this set contains 3 sets of 12 blades for a total of 36 blades.

At such a price, this makes the scroll saw blade set an excellent bargain for beginners and intermediate users. The size variety of the set is also great, as it comes in 3 different TPI scores of 9.5, 11.5, and 28.

The 28 teeth per inch set is excellent for cutting through materials like plastic and wood, especially if you’re trying to make delicate curves or cutting at sharp corners.

Product Specs

• Blade Type: Pinless
• Blade Material: Alloy Steel
• TPI: 9.5, 11.5, 28
• Length: 5 inches long
• Weight: 0.992 ounce

On the other hand, Both the 9.5 and 11.5 are excellent choices if you’re cutting through tougher materials like hardwood, especially if you’re cutting wide curves.

These plain end scroll saw blades are made of alloy steel, which gives them a decent level of durability to allow for sharper cuts and a smoother finish. However, the durability of the blades is not as high as the Flying Dutchman Set, so you shouldn’t expect them to last as long.

All in all, this set is one of the best if you’re looking for a good value pack that will get the job done. Thanks to the TPI range of blades, you should expect them to make a variety of cuts. The set is better used for soft materials and for making straight cuts.

Pros

• Excellent construction and product value for the price
• Universal fit that allows the blades to be installed on many scroll saw models
• Ideal for cutting through soft materials and making straight cuts

Cons

• Not the most durable set on the market

3. Best Budget Option: OLSON SAW FR49501 Pinned Scroll Saw Blade

Whether you’re on a strict budget or you don’t want to spend much on a saw blade without skimping on build quality or cutting efficiency, you should consider OLSON’s SAW FR49501 Pinned Scroll Saw Blade!

OLSON is another major player in the saw blade industry with a wide range of products to suit all kinds of users and budgets.

This model is the company’s best option when it comes to getting quality cuts for a fraction of the price when compared to other blades!

The pack is composed of 3 different sets of blades, which range from as small as 18.5 teeth per inch to 15 teeth per inch.

Although the pack gives you 6 of each set for a total of 18 blades, the difference between all these blades is quite small.

Therefore, the blades can be considered a bit limited when it comes to versatility. You can even notice this issue when you compare these blades with a set that has a wider range between its blades, such as the SKIL 80182 set.

Product Specs

• Blade Type: Pinned
• Blade Material: Steel
• TPI: 10, 15, 18.5
• Length: 5 inches long
• Weight: 0.3 ounces

However, that doesn’t have to be a downside for everyone, as a TPI range of 18.5 to 15 is suitable for cutting through different types of soft and hardwood in addition to paper, felt, plastic, and even some soft metals like lead!

The blades are made in the United States and the manufacturer uses quality steel to make these blades. For a budget option, the blades are surprisingly durable and can handle tougher jobs without breaking down.

However, the durability of the blades here is at the expense of thickness, as the blades can make cuts that range between 3/32  to 1/2 inches.

Pros

• Remarkably durable blades for their price
• The pin end design makes them very easy to use and replace when worn out
• Can cut through various materials, including wood, plastic, and even some soft metals

Cons

• Can’t be used in limited applications due to the lack of variety in blades

4. Best Pin End Blade: BOSCH SS5-20 Pin End Scroll Saw Blade

While many options on the market are pinless, pin end blades remain the best for making straight cuts without having to go through the tedious installation process. In that case, you should go for the BOSCH SS5-20 Pin End Scroll Saw Blade!

The BOSCHE pin end blade is a great mix that strikes an excellent balance between all the previously mentioned options.

For starters, this one is made from premium grade alloy steel, which allows the teeth to remain sharp and get the job done for quite some time. Additionally, the pack contains four scroll saw blades that are 5 inches long and rated at 20 teeth per inch.

At such a price, the price of each individual blade in this set is a bit higher than the OLSON FR49501 blade set. However, the durability of these blades makes up for the difference!

Product Specs

• Blade Type: Pinned
• Blade Material: premium grade alloy steel and plastic
• TPI: 20
• Length: 5 inches long
• Weight: 0.7 ounces

Additionally, BOSCHE uses high end technologies to sharpen each tooth on the blade with ultimate precision, which helps in maintaining a smooth cut throughout the lifespan of the blade.

Despite the lack of variety when it comes to the TPI rating of the blade, 20 teeth per inch are good enough to make smooth cuts with excellent maneuverability!

I also like that you can use these blades with a huge range of materials, including softwood, hardwood, plastic, and nonferrous metals like aluminum, copper, lead, bronze, and brass!

Pros

• User friendly installation that makes it ideal for beginners
• Comes at a highly affordable price
• Versatile despite the lack of TPI range

Cons

• The blades are a bit thick

5. Best for Speed Cutting: OLSON SAW PG49802 Precision Ground Scroll Saw Blade

Lastly, I have OLSON PG49802, another product from the Connecticut-based company, which shows the level of quality and craftsmanship that this manufacturer offers.

Unlike the previous OLSON blade, this one is a premium option that is specifically designed to give you the fastest, most accurate cut possible!

In addition to all that, the OLSON PG49802 set is designed so that it can be installed on a huge range of scroll saw models out there, so you don’t have to worry about any compatibility issues with your scroll saw.

The blades are made of carbon steel, which allows them to be up to 3 times longer than their nearest competitor at the same price level!

Product Specs

• Blade Type: Pinless
• Blade Material: Carbon Steel
• TPI: 9, 10, 12.5
• Length: 5 inches long
• Weight: 0.81 ounces

The pack contains 3×6 blades that have a pretty low TPI, which makes them ideal for cutting through most materials, including tougher ones.

Not only that, but the precision sharpening technology used in these blades allows them to cut through these materials in record time as well!

Pros

• Extremely durable construction that lasts a lot longer than its price competitors
• Highly effective and fast cutting through various materials
• Compatible with a huge range of scroll saw brands

Cons

• A bit difficult to replace and install on a scroll saw

Features to Consider While Buying a Scroll Saw Blade

While buying a scroll saw blade, there are some essential factors that you need to keep in mind if you want to make the most out of your purchase. In this section, I’ll take a closer look at them to help you make an informed decision:

Blade Type

Up until recently, all scroll saw blades were created equal. However, newer saw blades types have emerged. Each one of them has its own set of pros and cons, so here’s a quick look at each one of them:

Pinned

The pinned scroll saw blade is the older type of the two, which is why these blades are usually more affordable and readily available on the market. What makes these blades special is that they’re much easier to install on scroll saws because they fit through a pin at their base.

These blades are still a great pick if you want a relatively larger yet basic cut with fewer curves. Since they’re thicker, they’re less flexible and usually have a minimum cutting thickness of about 1/16 inches.

Pinless

As the name suggests, the newer type of scroll saw blades are the ones that don’t have a pin. The removal of the pin actually reduces the blade’s thickness significantly, allowing it to be much more agile than pinned ones, cutting up to 4 times thinner than pinned counterparts.

For that reason, pinless blades will grant you a more intricate cut, especially in smaller and more detailed projects. In addition to being more expensive, the lack of pins makes them a bit finicky while trying to install them.

Teeth Per Inch (TPI)

TPI is one spec that you’ll always find on any scroll saw blades you buy. They stand for “teeth per inch”, and they usually have a numerical value that describes that number, ranging from 1 to 20 or even more!

When it comes to TPI, your choice heavily depends on your needs. This is because higher TPI blades will have more teeth, which allow them to cut very smoothly. The teeth are smaller, so they remove less material at a time, so they take longer.

On the other hand, a low TPI saw blade will have larger teeth, so they’ll get the job done faster, but the cuts are usually rough. Additionally, larger teeth mean that the blade will last longer and work with tougher materials, and vice versa.

While picking a set of blades, make sure that their TPI range is suitable for your kind of projects (higher for fine details, lower for rougher ones).

There are many options that offer a wide range of TPIs to suit various projects too, but you can always pick something in the middle to get the best of both worlds!

Teeth Alignment

If you take a closer look at the blades, you’ll find that some of them differ in how the teeth are aligned. In fact, different teeth arrangements can have a major impact on their performance, and therefore, your choice:

Standard

These are the simplest and most common of all alignments. All teeth are separated at equal distances and are made of metal. They’re versatile and great for cuts with little to no curves.

Skip Tooth

These are quite similar to standard alignment, but they skip every other tooth. The extra space between the teeth increases airflow, so the blade doesn’t heat up quickly, it also collects sawdust more efficiently, which helps in creating smoother cuts.

Reverse Skip Tooth

This one is similar to the skip tooth on one side of the blade, but also features a reverse tooth in the skipped spot on the other side of the blade (2 up and 1 down pattern).

This design reduces cracking significantly, making them ideal for cutting through fragile materials like thin plastic and engineered wood, such as MDF and plywood.

Double Skip Tooth

These are also similar to skip tooth alignment but they skip every third tooth rather than every other one.

They create extremely smooth cuts but they’re typically difficult for beginners, because of the lack of symmetry.

Other Types

In addition to the previous types, there is less common teeth alignments, including:

• Spiral: The 360 degree motion allows them to cut in all directions, but they’re somewhat difficult to use by beginners. If you can operate them, they’ll provide you with limitless maneuverability while cutting!
• Crown tooth alignments: Every two successive teeth are pointing in different directions, making them look like little crowns. This alignment helps them cut in either direction as long as it’s facing the material.

FAQs

Conclusion

There you have it! A brief guide that walks you through everything you need to know before buying a scroll saw blade!

If you’re looking for the overall best option available you should go with the Flying Dutchman Scroll Saw Spiral Blade Variety Pack, as it offers the best features in terms of materials used, compatibility, and variety of TPIs.

However, if you’re on a strict budget and want an option that gets the job done, you won’t go wrong with an affordable alternative, such as OLSON’s SAW FR49501 Pinned Scroll Saw Blade.