Tools & DIY · Head-to-head
DeWalt DW788 20 in. Variable Speed Scroll Saw vs WEN 3922 16-inch Variable Speed Scroll Saw
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Scroll Saws: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The DeWalt pairs a parallel-link arm and a heavy cast-iron table with a 20-inch throat, a lifting arm for inside cuts and controls grouped on the front of the arm. The WEN covers the basics for a fraction of the cost and is more flexible about blades than either the DeWalt or the Ryobi.
DeWalt DW788 20 in. Variable Speed Scroll Saw
Buy itA 20-inch parallel-arm saw with a lifting arm, front-mounted controls and a cast-iron table that bevels both ways.
- DeWalt's double parallel-link arm is designed to reduce vibration and noise and keep the blade perpendicular to the work.
- The arm lifts so you can thread the blade through a pilot hole, which speeds up fretwork with many inside cuts.
- The on-off switch, variable speed, dust blower and blade-tension lever all sit on the front of the upper arm, and the table bevels 45 degrees left and right.
- The manual says to use only 5-inch plain-end blades, so pinned blades are out.
- DeWalt lists no dust collection port, only a flexible dust blower.
- At 65.48 lb assembled it is heavy, and no stand is included.
WEN 3922 16-inch Variable Speed Scroll Saw
Buy itA budget 16-inch saw that takes pinned, pinless and spiral blades and has a flip-open panel for blade changes.
- WEN says the blade holder accepts pinned, pinless and spiral blades, so you can start easy and move to finer plain-end blades later.
- A side panel swings open for access to the lower blade holder, and a thumb screw makes blade changes tool-free.
- It publishes the numbers: 550 to 1,600 strokes per minute, a 9/16-inch stroke, a 2-inch hardwood capacity and a 1-1/2-inch dust port.
- The 16-inch throat limits how wide a panel you can turn inside the arm.
- The two-year warranty is the shortest here.
- The arm does not lift like the DeWalt's, so threading many inside cuts takes more fiddling.
Side by side
| DeWalt DW788 20 in. Variable Speed Scroll Saw | WEN 3922 16-inch Variable Speed Scroll Saw | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Woodworkers who scroll regularly and want a smooth, quiet saw with easy inside cuts. | Beginners and occasional scrollers who want a capable saw without a big outlay. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $ · budget |
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the DeWalt DW788 20 in. Variable Speed Scroll Saw - A 20-inch parallel-arm saw with a lifting arm, front-mounted controls and a cast-iron table that bevels both ways. Choose the WEN 3922 16-inch Variable Speed Scroll Saw instead if beginners and occasional scrollers who want a capable saw without a big outlay.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Scroll Saws: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).