I’ve enjoyed marquetry from the beginning of my furniture-making career, and I’ve used a variety of scroll saws along the way. A scroll saw comes in handy for a range of other woodworking tasks too, including removing the waste in hand-cut joints, working on thin materials, and cutting tight curves.

Grizzly’s latest scroll saw, the 21-in., variable-speed G0969, is a great choice for all of the above. I made a variety of cuts, including fine marquetry, with the blade both straight and angled, and I was impressed.

Innovations and high points are many. Leading the way are an extralarge table and a saw head that tilts 45° in both directions. The tilting head lets the table stay flat during angled cuts, making workpieces easier to control than they are on saws with tilting tables. The included foot-pedal control makes things even easier, letting you keep both hands on the work.

The 50-watt motor is strong enough to power through 3/4-in.-thick pine without slowing, and vibration was minimal at all but the very highest speeds.

The Grizzly G0969 is a smooth, powerful, user-friendly scroll saw at a very good price.

—Craig Thibodeau is a furniture maker in Altavista, Va.

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