Skil 1.2 Amp 16 In. Variable Speed Scroll Saw

Why this scroll saw stands out in the entry class

A good scroll saw should disappear under your hands—quietly controllable, predictable, and nimble. After several weeks with Skil’s 16-inch scroll saw, I found a lot to like for hobbyists and light-duty shop work, especially given its feature set. It isn’t a brute and doesn’t pretend to be, but with the right blades and expectations, it’s an easy machine to live with.

Setup, build, and first impressions

Out of the box, setup was painless. The keyless blade system and on-tool storage meant I was swapping and stashing blades within minutes. The steel table (16 × 10 in) arrived flat in my sample and the finish offered enough glide for pattern work without being overly slick. The table tilts to 45° (left), and the bevel scale on mine was close but not perfect—I dialed in true angles with a bevel gauge and then trusted those marks thereafter.

At 16 inches of throat capacity, this slots into the standard hobby class, accommodating most fretwork, ornaments, and small boxes. The frame and table have enough mass to feel stable, but this is not a heavyweight; hard mounting to a bench or a dedicated stand dramatically improved smoothness. Once bolted down, vibration dropped to a level where fine-radius cuts felt controlled.

Speed control and the foot pedal

The variable speed range (550–1,650) is well chosen. I spent most of my time in the midrange for hardwoods, bumping up for softwood and stepping down for plastics and delicate veneers. The included foot pedal is genuinely useful: it lets me keep both hands on the work and “feather” speed mid-cut when approaching tight turns or fragile sections. That said, cable management matters. On a crowded bench, the pedal cord can get in the way; routing it under the bench and securing a small loop with a clip kept my workspace clear. If you prefer a fixed speed, you can leave the pedal unplugged and run off the panel controls.

Cutting performance: what it does well and where it tops out

This saw’s motor is modest (1.2 A), and that defines its sweet spot: finesse over force. In 3/4-inch Baltic birch with a #5 pinless blade, feed rates felt smooth and consistent, and I could hold a line confidently through inside cuts. In 1/8-inch maple and basswood, it excelled at fine fretwork; keeping speed moderate and using a sharp, higher-TPI blade minimized fuzz and breakout.

Pushing into thicker stock is possible but requires patience and the right blade. I tested 1-1/2-inch Douglas fir to simulate small carving blanks. Using the included 18 T blades made for very slow progress and noticeable deflection. Switching to a heavier, lower-TPI pinless blade (7–9 TPI) improved cut speed and line-holding, though I still had to slow my feed and let the machine work. If you intend to frequently saw 1-1/2-inch softwood, plan for deliberate feed rates and expect to sand to final line; this is not a production-capacity thickness saw.

On very tight curves, I did encounter some blade wander with lighter blades in thicker material. Increasing blade tension, reducing speed slightly, and pausing to clear sawdust helped. A small technique tweak—leading with the waste side and making relief cuts ahead of aggressive turns—also tightened my results. For intricate inside cuts, the saw’s control is absolutely good enough to produce crisp results with the proper setup.

Blade changes, tension, and compatibility

The keyless blade clamps are quick and genuinely tool-free for routine swaps. I particularly appreciated that it accepts pinless blades, which are my preference for fine work. The included pinless blades are serviceable for getting started, but you’ll see a big step up in performance by stocking a small range: fine-tooth for veneers and thin hardwood, medium universal for plywoods, and coarse for thicker softwoods. Spiral blades cut faster in thick stock but leave a rougher edge; I reserve them for rough-ins and switch back to standard blades near the line.

Tensioning is straightforward and repeatable. I could go from a straight cut to a pierced cut and back without losing my settings, which kept workflow efficient during fretwork sessions.

Visibility, dust, and the integrated light

Visibility to the cut line is excellent once you pair the onboard blower with a small shop vac connected to the dust port. The blower keeps the kerf clear; the vac keeps the surrounding area from fogging with fines. The LED work light is bright and flexible enough to eliminate most shadows near the blade. I still prefer additional overhead lighting for detailed patterns, but the onboard LED is far from a gimmick—it makes a noticeable difference.

Vibration, noise, and comfort

Noise levels are perfectly reasonable for a scroll saw—conversation-level with ear protection recommended for long sessions. As for vibration, the saw behaves best when bolted down. Free-standing on a bench, there’s a bit of shimmy at higher speeds that’s typical for lighter frames. Two fixes helped: mounting to a rigid surface and placing a dense rubber mat under the stand to decouple from a springy floor. Once secured, I could work on delicate cuts without fighting the machine.

The foot pedal reduces fatigue on start/stop heavy jobs, and the front controls are logically placed. The compact size and lightish weight also make it easy to store if your shop is multipurpose.

Table adjustments and bevel work

The 45° left tilt works smoothly, and the lock holds well once snugged. Bevel accuracy depends on setup; I recommend squaring the table to the blade with a small engineer’s square, then adding a pencil mark to the gauge where “true” lives. For band-saw-style relief cuts and decorative chamfers, the tilt feature proved handy and stayed put through a series of cuts.

Where it shines

• Fretwork, ornaments, and small boxes in thin to mid-thickness hardwoods and plywoods
• Inside cuts and pattern work that benefit from quick blade swaps
• Shops where a foot pedal and compact footprint matter
• Users who value clear sightlines, onboard lighting, and tidy dust control

Limitations and tips to get the best results

• Thick stock requires patience. Use lower-TPI, high-quality pinless blades, slow the feed, and let the blade clear chips.
• Control blade wander with proper tension, moderate speed, and relief cuts. If your cut drifts, don’t force it—back out and restart on the waste side.
• Mount the saw. A rigid base transforms the feel of this machine.
• Upgrade blades early. The included blades will cut, but premium blades unlock the saw’s potential.
• Keep a small brush at hand. Even with dust collection, a quick swipe between tight curves keeps the line visible.

Reliability and maintenance

There’s not much to fuss over here. Keep the table clean and waxed for smooth feed, check the blade clamps for debris, and occasionally verify table-to-blade squareness. The motor and linkages in my sample ran consistently across all speeds without noticeable heat buildup during typical sessions.

Final thoughts and recommendation

This Skil scroll saw is a thoughtfully equipped, user-friendly machine aimed squarely at hobbyists and light-duty woodworkers. Its strengths are control, convenience, and value features—the foot pedal, LED light, dust port, and tool-free clamps make day-to-day use pleasant. Its limitations are predictable: it’s not built for fast ripping of thick stock, and it benefits from being bolted down and paired with better blades.

I recommend it for anyone starting into scroll work or building out a small shop who wants dependable precision on typical projects without spending pro-level money. If your work regularly involves thick, dense hardwoods or production output, you’ll outgrow its power ceiling; otherwise, with a solid bench, smart blade choices, and a measured feed, this saw delivers clean, accurate results and a smooth learning curve.