A quality debate has been floating around the woodworking community for years, and it will certainly go on for many years from now. The question is what equipment makes better woodworking pieces, laser or scroll saw? The actual answer should surprise you. My years of experience with both machines allow me to share this with you.

Lets start with design. Sawyers have a plethora of designs available to them. Often they can pick a design, photo copy it, paste it to a piece of wood and cut it out. A fairly simple process. After the cutting its a matter of assembly and finishing.

Design for lasers is completely different. Usually they don't have any pre-made patterns, and they can spend HOURS rebuilding a vector drawing of the photo copy the sawyer used. Usually the vector line tracing is usually nowhere near as enjoyable as the cutting time a sawyers gets with their machines. Once the design is done, the cutting speed is comparable if not faster than that of the scrollsaw. Finishing and assembly is also about the same.

The main advantage of a scroll saw is that for low production numbers it is superior in performance. No questions asked. Rarely a laser user can scan in a design, rebuild it, line up the wood, & cut it in the same time a scroll saw work enjoys his fun, and has a nice lunch too! The main advantage of a laser is that for multiple runs, it wins in speed almost every time. Once you need a run of about 5 pieces or more, a laser is usually the best way to go for your needs. Even if the scroll saw is faster, the pattern will be on file and can be used or modified at a later time.

So, what about limitations? Lets start with the scroll saw. This type of machine has less precision than a laser and cannot compare. It's repeatability at the same time can not match the laser. You also risk being injured by the blade of the machine.

As for the laser, most machines cannot cut metals and other interesting alternative inlay materials. Lasers also can not even dream of doing double bevel marquetry and the ultra fine detailed lines that are possible is this medium of marquetry.

So which one is better? That depends on the application:

Floor Inlays: Neither. Go with whoever has the best composition with nice glue lines.

Marquetry / Inlays (Such as boxes & furniture): DOUBLE BEVEL MARQUETRY is what you want. Make sure you can't see any glue lines between the pieces. Otherwise laser or scrollsaw is fine.

Fretwork: Go with the lasers unless there is too much charring of the wood on the sides. A scroll saw can not compare in quality for accuracy.