Skil 16 IN. Scroll Saw

Setup and first impressions

I set up the Skil 16-inch scroll saw on a compact bench and gave it an evening of test cuts before committing it to a dedicated spot. Assembly was straightforward—table, guard, and accessories went on without fuss—and the footprint (about 26 by 14.5 inches) fit comfortably on a 24-inch-deep surface. At 34.6 pounds, it’s portable enough to stash on a shelf, but weighty enough to feel more substantial than the ultra-light budget models. Out of the box, mine arrived square enough for a first pass, though I did a quick tune-up to dial in table-to-blade squareness and tension.

The basics are what you’d expect in this class: a 16-inch throat, 2-inch cutting capacity, 7/8-inch stroke, and electronic variable speed. Skil adds a few quality-of-life features—an articulating LED work light, a dust blower, and a 1.5-inch dust port—that make a noticeable difference in day-to-day use.

Build and ergonomics

Fit and finish are good for a benchtop saw. The 16 x 10-inch table is flat and large enough to comfortably support most hobby and small craft projects. The bevel mechanism tilts from 0 to 45 degrees with a readable scale; there’s no micro-adjust, but the lock holds well. The speed control is easy to reach during a cut, and the tensioning is straightforward.

Blade guard visibility is decent, and the articulating LED light earns its keep. On intricate fretwork, being able to aim light precisely across the cut line helps me track patterns without leaning in. The blower is adjustable and, paired with the dust port connected to a shop vac, it keeps the line of cut reasonably clean.

Power, speed control, and cut quality

In wood up to about 3/4 inch, the Skil scroll saw is smooth and predictable. I tested with Baltic birch ply, poplar, and maple, and the saw handled tight inside turns and long radii without complaint. The variable-speed control is genuinely useful; I slowed down for plastics and thin aluminum and sped up for softwoods. Power is adequate for the saw’s intended range. It’s a 1.2-amp motor, so you won’t bully through dense hardwoods at full thickness, but that’s normal for this class.

Where the saw shows its limits is in thick stock near the top of its 2-inch capacity. With 1-1/2-inch Douglas fir, the factory blade cut but did so slowly, and I had to watch feed pressure and let the stroke do the work. Swapping to a more aggressive, high-quality plain-end blade dramatically improved throughput and tracking. The takeaway is simple: the saw is capable, but blade choice is everything. Budget for a selection of 5-inch pinless blades suited to your materials and tooth counts.

Tracking is generally good when the saw is tuned—proper blade tension, correct speed, and a fresh blade. Push too hard or run a dull blade and you’ll see the cut drift. That’s not unique to this machine, but the Skil is honest about it: it rewards good technique and quickly tells you when you’re rushing.

Blade choice and changes

This saw accepts standard 5-inch blades and ships with adapters for plain-end (pinless) blades, which is what I prefer for tight fretwork and cleaner cuts. Pinned blades will work for rougher, faster jobs, but pinless is where the precision lives. Blade changes are serviceable, not fancy. Expect to use the included hardware rather than a fully tool-free system. Once you get the muscle memory down, threading for interior cuts is quick enough, though the front access could be more generous.

A couple of tips that improved my results:
- Use a tension gauge or develop a consistent pluck test; under-tensioned blades wander.
- Match tooth count to material thickness. Skip-tooth or reverse-tooth for plywood, finer TPI for hardwoods, and specialty blades for plastics or non-ferrous metals.
- Don’t hesitate to change blades frequently. Scroll-saw blades are consumables; a fresh blade is cheaper than redoing a project.

Dust management and visibility

The integrated blower is strong enough to keep the cut line clear, and the 1.5-inch dust port works well with a small shop vac or dust extractor. Without suction, fine dust still lingers on the table, but with extraction connected, cleanup is minimal. The LED work light is genuinely useful—bright, adjustable, and sturdy enough to stay put over an afternoon of cutting. On busy patterns, that combo of airflow and focused light helps accuracy more than any single spec.

Capacity, table, and bevel cuts

The 16-inch throat gives you room for most craft, sign, and décor projects. Larger intarsia or big fretwork panels are possible with careful planning and blade-threaded interior cuts. The 2-inch cutting height is on par for the class. I was able to make 45-degree bevel cuts on 3/4-inch stock cleanly once the table was squared to the blade at 90 degrees and then set to the desired angle. The bevel scale is decent for rough setting, but I recommend an angle gauge or test cuts for critical joinery. The table surface is smooth enough to keep feed consistent without scratching softer materials.

Vibration, noise, and stability

Out of the box on a lightweight bench, the saw had some vibration at higher speeds. That went away when I bolted it down to a heavier surface and added a rubber mat under the base. At 34.6 pounds, it’s stable for a benchtop unit, but the extra anchoring pays off with better cut control and less hand fatigue. Noise is moderate—a steady hum with the usual reciprocating thrum—quiet enough to carry a conversation but loud enough that I still wear hearing protection.

Reliability and maintenance

There’s not much to fuss over: keep the mechanism clean, vacuum dust from the lower arm area, and a drop of lubricant on pivot points as needed. Blade clamps benefit from occasional cleaning to maintain grip. The electronics and speed control behaved consistently in my testing. As with all scroll saws, accuracy is as much about setup and blade condition as it is about the machine itself.

Who it’s for

• Beginners and intermediate users who want a capable, approachable saw for fretwork, signs, inlays, and small furniture details.
• Hobbyists who value a good feature set (LED light, blower, dust port, variable speed) without stepping up to a heavy cast-iron machine.
• Makers who need the flexibility to cut wood, plastics, and thin non-ferrous metals with proper blade selection.

If you’re planning production-level work in thick hardwoods or demand near-silent operation and zero vibration, a heavier, more expensive scroll saw will serve you better. For most home shops, this Skil hits a practical balance.

What could be better

• Heft: More mass would damp vibration further. Bolting it down is a must for the cleanest cuts.
• Blade changes: Functional but not tool-free; front access could be roomier for frequent interior cuts.
• Stock blades: Usable for light work, but plan on upgrading to quality pinless blades for best performance.
• Angle repeatability: The bevel scale is fine for setup, but it benefits from verification with a square or digital gauge.

The bottom line

The Skil 16-inch scroll saw is a thoughtful, well-rounded benchtop machine that rewards proper setup and good blade selection. It’s easy to live with, has the features that matter—variable speed, a tilting table, a strong blower, and an effective LED light—and it offers solid cut quality in the materials and thicknesses most hobbyists actually use. It’s not a cast-iron heavyweight, and it won’t brute-force through dense 2-inch hardwoods, but that’s not its mission.

Recommendation: I recommend this saw for beginners and intermediate woodworkers who want dependable accuracy, sensible features, and good value without the price or bulk of a pro-tier scroll saw. Bolt it down, feed at a measured pace, invest in quality pinless blades, and it will produce clean, precise work across a wide range of projects.