Cutting curves in wood may be a daunting task but it is not as hard as it seems. You have perfected the straight cut and are now looking to cut other shapes.
You may already know how to cut curves in wood but are looking for addition methods or better tools to use.
I will explain the best tool to use to cut curves in wood and how to cut curves in wood.
Directory
Best tool to cut curves in wood
The best tool to cut curves in wood will vary based on if you are using hand tools or power tools, are working with thick or thin wood pieces, and if you are making broader or tighter curves.
Generally, the best saw to cut curves in wood is the band saw. However, the band saw has its limitations so it may not be a viable option to some woodworkers.
Some of the other tools that can be used to cut curves in wood are the coping saw, fret saw, scroll saw, jigsaw, router, and circular saw. You can click on the above links to jump to that section of the article.
| Band saw | Coping saw | Fret saw | Scroll saw | Jigsaw | Circular saw | |
| Curve tightness | All curves | Medium – Broad | All curves | All curves | Medium – Broad | Broad |
| Wood thickness | Thin – Thick | Thin – Medium | Thin | Thin | Thin – Medium | Thin – Thick |
| Interior or exterior cuts | Exterior cuts | Interior & Exterior | Interior & Exterior | Exterior | Interior & Exterior | Exterior |
| Power or hand tool | Power tool | Hand tool | Hand tool | Power tool | Power tool | Power tool |
| Precision | Medium | Medium | High | High | Medium | Medium |
| Wood size | All sizes | Medium – Large | Medium – Large | All sizes | Medium – Large | Large |
| Price range | $180 – 500+ | $10 – 30+ | $10 – 30+ | $100 – 400+ | $40 – 200 | $40 – 200 |
I will explain each saw, its benefits and limitations and along with if it is right for you.
Band saw
A band saw is a power tool that has a vertical blade going in between a work table. It is a good tool to use that allows you to move the work piece and get precise cuts of all shapes.
Benefits
All curves
The band saw is a precise and accurate saw that allows for curved cuts. You can cut broad and narrow curves along with curves of changing degrees. The the band saw is designed for cutting curves. The blade, when using the correct one, will not bend.
Thin to thick wood
Additionally, the saw is powerful enough to cut through most wood pieces. The blade is delicate enough to cut through thin wood pieces and it can powerful enough to cut thicker wood pieces.
The benefit of the band saw is that it can cut almost any curve on almost any thickness of wood.
Limitations
Interior Cut
The first limitation to the band saw is that it is very difficult to create an interior cut. An interior cut is when you cut the interior of the wood without cutting the exterior. An example of this is cutting a circle in the center of you wood piece.
When using a band saw, you will need to start from the edge of the wood to get to the hole in the center, thus making an exterior and not an interior cut.
Cutting an interior cut with a band saw is not impossible, but it is more time consuming than some of the other saws.
Work piece size
With the band saw, the blade is in a stationary location and you are moving the workpiece itself to complete the cut. This is very useful when cutting smaller to medium sized pieces, however, larger and extra large pieces will be difficult to control and maneuver.
The limitation to the band saw is that it is not as efficient when making interior cuts and not as effective when working with very large pieces of wood.
Ideal Band saw user
You should use a band saw if you..
- need a power tool
- want to cut general curves that are not too tight
- have larger pieces you need to cut curves on
- have thick wood you need to cut
- want to make rough cut and sand to perfection
You should not use a band saw if you..
- want a cheaper option (band saws range from $250-1500+)
- need to cut tight curves
- want near perfect cuts the first time
- want to make interior cuts
- want to work on huge work pieces that will not fit on the band saw
Coping saw
The coping saw is a hand saw that is good with cutting curves in wood. The coping saw of course takes more effort and time than the band saw since is it not a power tool. It is still effective at creating varying curves in varying wood thicknesses
Benefits
Broad to medium curves
The coping saw is ideal to cut broad to medium sized curvatures. The blade thickness and flexibility allows for cuts of these sizes to be executed quickly and effectively.
Interior and Exterior cuts
A coping saw can be used to cut exterior and interior cuts. One of the limitations to the band saw was that it was very difficult to do interior cuts. However, with the coping saw, you can unscrew the handle and pop off the blade to slide it through the wood. You will have to create an initial hole to put the blade through.
Thin to medium thickness wood
The coping saw is a sturdy saw that can support wood of medium thickness. What I would call medium thickness is wood that is no more than 2.5 inches thick. Most wood pieces come in 1×8 2×4 and 4×4. I coping saw will struggle greatly in cutting through a 4×4 wood piece. However, it will be able to handle the a 1×8 and a 2×4.
Limitations
Delicate blade
One of the limitations to the coping saw is that the blade is fairly delicate and can be difficult to use with thicker wood pieces. If you wan to cut curves in thick pieces of wood, thicker than 2.5 inches, the coping saw may not be the best option.
Not best for tight curves
The coping saw also has a fairly stiff blade that makes it difficult to cut tighter curves. If you have tried to cut joinery with a coping saw, then you have seen the radius limitation of the coping saw. It is however good when cutting larger, more gradual curves in relation to the tighter ones
Ideal coping saw user
You should use a coping saw if you..
- want a hand saw
- need to cut up to medium wood thickness of 2.5 inches
- want to cut broad to medium curves
- want a saw that can be used in other woodworking projects like making joinery
You should not use a coping saw if you..
- need to cut very thick wood
- need to cut tight curves
- need to work on a very delicate project
Fret saw
A fret saw is much like a coping saw, however, it has a much thinner blade that can cut tighter curves. There are some limitations to the fret saw and it can be considered more of a specialty tool
Benefits
Tighter curves
As mentioned before, the fret saw has a thinner blade in comparison to the coping saw. This blade allows for cuts of tighter curves than what the coping saw is capable of.
Delicate projects
The fret saw is ideal for delicate projects on thinner wood pieces. The thinner blade with more teeth per inch, TPI, allows for the blade to cut through thin wood pieces without damaging the project
Interior and exterior cuts
The fret saw is also effective at performing interior and exterior cuts. Just like the coping saw, to create an interior cut, you will first drill a hole through the wood. Then you will remove the handle of the fret saw and unattached the blade to allow the blade to slip through the hole. Afterwards, you will reattach the blade and proceed with the cut.
Limitations
Thinner wood pieces
One of the limitations to the fret saw is that it has a delicate blade that cannot support medium to thick wood pieces. The thinness in the blade is used to cut tight curves but the drawback is that the blade cannot cut medium-thick to thick pieces of wood.
Ideal fret saw user
You should use a fret saw if you..
- Need a hand saw
- need to cut tighter curves
- need to work on delicate projects
- want to make interior and exterior cuts
You should not use a fret saw if..
- need to cut medium-thick to thick wood
- want to cut a curve quickly
Scroll saw
The scroll saw is a motorized saw that is good for precise cuts of varying wood thicknesses and sizes. The scroll saw is comparable to the band saw, however, they both have different uses, benefits, and limitations
Benefits
More precise
In comparison to the band saw, the scroll saw is more precise in cutting curves. The band saw creates more of a rough cut while the scroll saw can create a near perfect cut
Intricate cuts
The nimbleness of the saw blade allows for the woodworker to create intricate designs and more narrow curves in comparison to the band saw.
Delicate projects
The scroll saw is also ideal for the use of delicate projects that can be damaged or destroyed by using a band saw. It is perfect when cutting thin wood or wood that is prone to splitting.
Limitations
Less Powerful
One of the limitations to the scroll saw is that is less powerful than the band saw. As a result, it is not ideal to use for thicker wood pieces.
Not for large pieces
The effective work area on the scroll saw is much smaller than that of a band saw.
The scroll saw is ideal for smaller, more delicate projects while the band saw is ideal for larger projects with thicker wood
Ideal scroll saw user
You should use a scroll saw if you..
- want a power tool
- want to create more precise cuts
- want to cut tighter curves and create more intricate cuts
- you need to work on smaller, more delicate pieces
You should not use a scroll saw if you..
- need to cut thicker wood pieces
- if you need to cut larger wood pieces
- if you want a really powerful saw
Jigsaw
The jigsaw is a hand-held power tool that can be used to create cuts of varying shapes and curves.
The jigsaw is a little different from the other saws previously mentioned because it is motorized and you actually move the blade on a stationary wood piece.
Benefits
The jigsaw is a very beginner friendly, inexpensive tool that can easily create curves in wood
Broad to tight curves
The jigsaw is ideal to use with broad to tight curves. The key is to use the right blade for the job. A stiffer, thicker blade will be ideal for gradual curves while a thinner blade will be used for tighter curves.
Thin to medium wood thickness
A jigsaw can cut thin to medium-thick wood pieces. As mentioned before, I consider medium-thick wood no more than 2.5 inches. A jigsaw will struggle to cut a 4×4 but will be able to cut 1×8 and 2×4 pieces of wood.
Interior and exterior cuts
A jigsaw can perform interior and exterior cuts. One way to can create an interior cut by using a jigsaw is to create an initial hole and then insert the blade into the hole to proceed with the cut.
Another way yo can create an interior cut is by using a plunge cut jigsaw blade. These blades allow you to initiate a plunge cut without creating the initial hole.
Safe, beginner friendly, and inexpensive
Lastly, the jigsaw is a very beginner friendly power tool that is safe to use. It is an inexpensive saw that can range from 20 to 100 dollars. Additionally, it is one of the safest power saws that woodworkers can use.
To learn more about the jigsaw’s use for beginner woodworkers and why I don’t recommend it as your only saw, then you should check out my article “Safest saw for beginner DIYers“
Limitations
Blade bending
One of the main limitations with the jigsaw is that it is prone to blade bending. This affects not only curved cuts but straight cuts as well.
One way to limit blade bending is to use a thicker, stiffer blade. These blades are ideal for straight cuts where you want the least amount of bend as possible.
However, these blades do not create curves as well. To create curves, you will need to use a thinner blade, but these blades are more prone to bending.
The key to using a jigsaw to create curved cuts is to cut right outside the line to allow room for error in case the blade bends.
Not for smaller projects
The jigsaw is also not ideal for smaller projects. The jigsaw is a hand held tool and you will need to clamp the wood piece to a table.
Smaller pieces will not have as much clamping area. Additionally, jigsaws have a face plate that is at least 3 inches on each side of the blade. Cutting anything less than that width will be very difficult and more dangerous to cut.
Ideal jigsaw user
You should use a jigsaw if you..
- are a beginner with limited tools
- need to work on thin to medium- thick wood
- need to do interior and exterior cuts
You should not use a jigsaw if you..
- want accurate cuts with minimal blade bending
- want to work on smaller projects
- want to make tight curves on thicker wood
Router
The router is another power tool that can perform curved cuts in wood. You will need the right router bit and set up to effectively create these cuts.
Benefits
Good for broad to medium curvature
You can set up the router as a hand-held tool or as a bench top tool with a router table. Both set ups will allow for easy cuts of broad to medium curvature for your projects
Thin to medium-thick wood pieces
The router good at cutting thin to medium-thick wood pieces. As mentioned previously, I consider medium thick wood pieces to be no more than 2.5 inches thick.
I would say that the router pushes its ability to cut medium-thick wood pieces. I will explain more why in the limitations section.
The reason why the router has trouble cutting medium thick wood pieces with ease is because a router is primarily for designs in wood. The router rarely has to penetrate the wood pieces entirely. There are bits that allow for cross cuts with the router, but I find many saws to be more effective
Limitations
Not ideal for cross cuts in general
The reason why the router has trouble cutting medium thick wood pieces with ease is because a router is primarily for designs in wood. The router rarely has to penetrate the wood pieces entirely. There are bits that allow for cross cuts with the router, but I find many saws to be more effective
Not as accurate
The router has more difficulty in creating accurate cross cuts. As mentioned before, the router is not ideal for cross cuts and it even has more difficulty in creating these cuts with the same accuracy as some of the other saws.
One work around is to cut slightly outside of the line and then sand the wood piece to the exact shape you want.
More difficult to operate
When working with a router, you need to take into account the wood grain and router bit rotation direction when routing. The router is harder to operate because the router bit rotates horizontally. The other saws cut by going up and down.
The rotation of the router bit makes kickback much more likely if you are not paying attention to the rotation direction and wood grain.
Not for tighter curves
The router is not able to create tighter curves. To create more intricate and tighter curves with a hand-held power tool then you will want to use the jig saw.
Ideal router user
You should use a router if you..
- already have a router and is all you can use
- want to create broad to medium curves
- already know how to use a router
- are cutting thin to medium thick wood of no more than 2.5 inches
You should not use a router if..
- if you have any of the above saws to use
- do not know how to operate a router already
- want to cut tight curves
- want to cut on thick wood
- want an accurate through cut
Circular saw
Here comes everyone’s favorite saw. The circular saw. The circular saw is a very popular saw within woodworking that has gotten a good name due to its versatility and ease of use.
Many woodworkers already have a circular saw and would like to use something that they already have to cut curves.
The good news is that you can use a circular saw to create curved cuts. However, the bad news is that there are a lot of limitations and it is not as effective, or safe to do.
Benefits
Very broad curves
With the circular saw, you can effectively create very broad cuts. If you want to make a general curve that does not change direction or angles, then the circular saw will work for you.
Thin to thick wood pieces
The circular saw is also effective at cutting thin to thick wood pieces. You can cut very broad curves on thick wood pieces, which is a limitation to many of the other saws.
However, with cutting curves the circular saw, the thicker the wood piece that you cut, the more likely you are to face kickback. I will explain how that works and why in the limitations section
Limitations
Not for tight or medium curvature
The circular saw is not made to cut curvature, however you can get away with cutting very broad curves. You are not able to cut tight or medium curves in the wood with a circular saw.
Not as safe
When trying to cut curves with the circular saw, one side of the blade will be in contact with the wood more than the other side of the blade.
Having contact on one side of the blade will lead to a greater chance of facing kickback. Kickback is when the saw kicks back toward you.
Kickback can damage the piece that you are working on and/or injure you.
Ideal circular saw user
You should use a circular saw if you..
- do not have one of the above tools
- are cutting very broad curves
- are cutting on thin to medium-thick wood pieces
You should not use a circular saw if you..
- have another tool above
- want to cut medium to tight curves
- want to cut on thick wood pieces
- want to limit your chances of kickback
Conclusion
In this article we went over the various woodworking tools that can be used to cut curves in wood and the pros and cons for each
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this article and I wish you luck on your woodworking journeys!
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