Violetta the Scroll Saw

Earlier this year, at a woodworking event, I mentioned to my friend Frank that I was thinking about getting a second scroll saw for the shop, so that my dad and I could both do marquetry at the same time. I’ve heard a lot of complaints about scroll saws currently on the market, so I told him that if I ever saw a used saw that seemed like a good deal, I might get it.

A few weeks ago, Frank emailed me a link to a scroll saw for sale on Facebook Marketplace and said, “A saw you need!” I’m not on Facebook, so Frank kindly reached out to the seller on my behalf. The saw was still available, and I told the seller I’d like to buy it. The next week, my husband and I drove up to Maine to pick it up.

The saw is an Excalibur, like the other scroll saw in the woodshop. It is only gently used, it has a nice long arm for big projects, and best of all, it’s purple!

I haven’t used it yet because I am building a table and don’t have any scroll saw work to do at the moment. But I am excited to use it for my next marquetry project.

I am going to make a platform for it so that it is at a better height for me. My friend Tony suggested that I put wheels on the platform, and I am going to do that so that I can wheel it out to the patio and do outdoor marquetry on nice days. Since there is no workbench outside, I made a little table that clamps to the arm of the saw, so that I can have a surface for my supplies no matter where the saw is.

I named the saw Violetta for its color and as an homage to Frank’s Italian heritage. Grazie, Francesco!