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Fret & Scroll Saw Blades

Fret and scroll saw blades sort by material first, tooth size second. For wood and plastic, start with the wood & plastic 12-pack. For metal, use the metal-cutting 12-pack with its finer, hardened teeth. All PRODIAMANT blades are plain-end blades at 130 mm (about 5-1/8") – the standard fit for hand fret saws and for scroll saws with flat blade clamps. Then match the tooth size to the thickness of your stock: fine for thin material, coarse for thick.

Wood, Metal or Plastic: Picking the Right Blade

Fret and scroll saw blade sizes run from 0 to 7. Lower numbers mean finer teeth: slower cuts, cleaner edges, tighter curves. Higher numbers mean coarser teeth that clear chips faster in thick stock. The working rules are simple:

  • Thin plywood and veneer – fine blade, low number, light feed pressure.
  • Thicker hardwood – coarser blade, higher number, so the gullets can clear the chips.
  • Plastic – fine teeth and a slow feed rate, so the material cuts instead of melting.
  • Metal – always a dedicated metal-cutting blade. Wood blades dull in a few strokes on brass or steel.

Pin-End vs. Plain-End Fit

Scroll saw blades come with two end types. Pin-end blades carry a small cross pin and hook into slotted holders. Plain-end blades are flat and clamp directly. PRODIAMANT blades are plain end, 130 mm long. Plain end is the standard for fretwork because the blade passes through small pilot holes for interior cuts and is available in much finer sizes. Most current scroll saws accept plain-end blades; some entry-level saws take pin-end only, and these blades will not fit those without a conversion clamp. Check your blade holder before ordering.

Spiral Blades for All-Direction Cutting

Spiral blades have teeth twisted around the full circumference of the blade, so they cut in every direction without turning the workpiece. That makes them the right choice for large panels that will not swing on the saw table, and for freehand pattern work with constant direction changes. The trade-off is real: a spiral blade leaves a wider kerf and a rougher edge than a flat blade. Use flat blades for clean straight lines and tight-tolerance work, spiral blades when freedom of movement matters more than edge finish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do these blades fit my scroll saw?
They fit any saw with flat (plain-end) blade clamps, which covers most current scroll saws and all hand fret saws. They are 130 mm (about 5-1/8") plain-end blades. Saws that only accept pin-end blades need a conversion clamp.
What blade size should I use for thin plywood versus thick hardwood?
Use a fine, low-number blade for thin plywood and veneer, and a coarser, higher-number blade for thick hardwood so the teeth can clear chips. Sizes in this range run from 0 (finest) to 7 (coarsest).
Can I cut metal with a scroll saw?
Yes, with a metal-cutting blade. It has finer, hardened teeth made for brass, copper, aluminum, and thin steel sheet. Feed slowly and let the teeth work. A wood blade dulls almost immediately on metal.
What are spiral blades actually good for?
Cutting in any direction without rotating the workpiece. That helps with large panels and freehand patterns. Expect a wider kerf and rougher edge than a flat blade, so keep flat blades for precision lines.
Are fret saw blades and scroll saw blades the same thing?
Plain-end blades work in both. A hand fret saw and a scroll saw with flat clamps take the same 130 mm plain-end blade. Pin-end blades are a scroll-saw-only format and are not what PRODIAMANT supplies.