⚡ Quick Verdict
The Dremel MS20 Moto scroll Saw for woodworking is a niche tool that excels at one thing and struggles at everything else. After five months of using it for small projects, detail work, and on-the-go cutting, I can say it’s genuinely useful for hobbyists who need portability above all else. The compact size, lightweight design, and ability to switch between stationary scroll saw mode and handheld coping saw mode are clever innovations. But the 2-inch throat depth is crippling for standard scrollwork, the vibration is harsh, the blade changes are fiddly, and the motor bogs down on anything thicker than 1/4 inch. At around $80–$100, it’s cheap enough to be an impulse buy, but most woodworkers will find it too limited for serious use. My rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars. Clever concept, flawed execution.
Table of Contents
Why I Bought the Dremel MS20 (And What I Hoped For)
I’ve tested full-size scroll saws from the $130 WEN 3921 to the $850 Excalibur EX-21. But a reader asked about something I hadn’t considered: what if you don’t have a shop? What if you craft at a kitchen table, take projects to friends’ houses, or need something that stores in a closet?
The Dremel MS20 Moto-Saw promised exactly that. Marketed as a “compact scroll saw and coping saw in one,” it’s designed for hobbyists, crafters, and DIYers who need cutting capability without dedicated space. I paid $89 for the kit, which includes the base unit, four blades, and a carrying case.
My hope was modest: a tool that wouldn’t replace my Excalibur EX-21, but would handle small projects, quick cuts, and situations where dragging out a 70-pound machine made no sense.
Some of that hope was realized. Much of it wasn’t.
Dremel MS20 Moto-Saw Specifications and Features
| Feature | Spec |
|---|---|
| Motor | 0.9 Amp |
| Throat Depth | 2 inches (stationary mode) |
| Blade Stroke | Not specified (approximately 1/4 inch) |
| Cutting Capacity | 3/4 inch (wood), 3/8 inch (plastic/metal) |
| Variable Speed | 1,500 – 2,250 strokes per minute |
| Arm Design | Single pivot, compact |
| Table Tilt | None |
| Blade Change System | Tool-free quick-release |
| Weight | 3.5 lbs (handheld), 5 lbs with base |
| Dust Collection | None |
| Work Light | None |
| Special Feature | Detachable handheld mode |
| Price | ~$80–$100 |
Unboxing and First Impressions: Tiny and Plastic
The MS20 arrived in a box smaller than a shoebox. The carrying case is genuinely useful—everything fits neatly inside, and the whole package stores on a shelf. Unpacking it felt like opening a power tool from a different category entirely. This isn’t a benchtop machine; it’s a Dremel rotary tool that happens to accept scroll saw blades.
The construction is almost entirely plastic. The base is lightweight ABS plastic with rubber feet. The arm is a thin metal stamping. The “table” is a small plastic platform with a throat insert. Everything feels disposable, which at this price point, it essentially is.
Assembly takes two minutes: attach the base, insert a blade, plug it in. The blade change system is actually clever—flip a lever, insert the blade, flip back. Tool-free and fast, though the small scale makes it fiddly for larger fingers.
My first power-on test was jarring. The motor whines at a high pitch, and the vibration is immediate and aggressive. This is not a smooth machine. It shakes in your hand in handheld mode and dances on the table in stationary mode. I had to clamp the base to a heavy board to keep it still.
Dremel MS20 Performance Test: Pushing a Tiny Saw to Its Limits
Vibration and Smoothness: Harsh and Unrelenting
The MS20’s vibration is its defining characteristic. In handheld mode, it numbs your fingers within minutes. In stationary mode, it rattles the base against the table unless firmly clamped. There’s no escaping it—the small motor, lightweight construction, and high stroke rate combine into a buzzy, unpleasant cutting experience.
I tested it against my other saws using the water glass method. At any speed, the water splashed. There’s no meaningful vibration damping here. This is a tool you use for short bursts, not long sessions.
For practical cutting, this means:
- Hand fatigue sets in quickly—15 minutes is my personal limit
- Precision suffers because the workpiece shakes along with the saw
- Blade control is difficult in handheld mode, where the saw wants to wander
- Delicate materials crack from the aggressive vibration (I broke thin plywood and acrylic)
Variable Speed: Limited Range, High Pitch
The speed range is 1,500 to 2,250 SPM—noticeably higher at the low end than any full-size scroll saw. There’s no slow, controlled cutting here. Even at minimum speed, the blade moves fast and aggressively.
Low speed (1,500 SPM): Still feels fast. Best for thin plywood and softwoods under 1/4 inch.
High speed (2,250 SPM): Aggressive and loud. Useful for quick rough cuts in soft materials, but precision is nearly impossible. The motor sounds strained and the vibration intensifies.
There’s no sweet spot for fine detail work. The MS20 is built for speed, not finesse.
Cutting Capacity: Severely Limited
The 2-inch throat depth is the MS20’s fatal flaw for standard scrollwork. You cannot cut anything wider than 4 inches in diameter without rotating the workpiece around the blade—a clumsy process that ruins pattern alignment. Compare this to the 16-inch throat of budget benchtop saws, and the limitation is stark.
I tested various materials:
1/8-inch Baltic birch plywood: Cuts adequately in stationary mode. Edges are rougher than a real scroll saw but acceptable for casual projects. Handheld mode is harder to control but works for quick notches.
1/4-inch pine: The practical limit for clean cuts. Motor handles it but vibrates heavily. Edges need significant sanding.
3/8-inch oak: Motor bogs down. Blade wanders. Burn marks appear. This is pushing the tool beyond its design.
1/2-inch soft maple: Struggled constantly. Slow feed rates, frequent stalls, and one smoked motor smell convinced me to stop.
Acrylic sheet (1/8-inch): Melts and re-welds behind the blade. Requires very fast feed to prevent melting, which compromises control. Results were poor.
Thin aluminum (1/16-inch): The included metal-cutting blade handled this surprisingly well. One of the MS20’s better applications.
Corian/countertop material: Forget it. The motor lacks torque and the blade lacks aggression.
The Two-Mode Gimmick: Useful or Gimmick?
The MS20’s headline feature is its detachable handheld mode. Press a button, lift the saw from the base, and use it like a powered coping saw for plunge cuts and tight spaces.
Stationary mode: Functions like a micro scroll saw. The tiny table supports small workpieces. The 2-inch throat limits project size severely. I used it for cutting small wooden shapes, trimming dowels, and notching thin stock.
Handheld mode: More versatile in theory than practice. The saw is front-heavy and vibrates intensely. Plunge cuts are possible but scary—the blade kicks when it bites. I used it for trimming laminate, cutting PVC pipe, and rough-notching plywood. It worked, but never felt safe or controlled.
The mode switch itself is well-designed. The release button is positive, and the saw seats securely in the base. Dremel’s engineers solved the mechanical problem; they just couldn’t overcome the physics of a 3.5-pound vibrating tool.
What I Made With the Dremel MS20: Finding Its Niche
To test this tool fairly, I attempted projects suited to its scale and limitations:
Small Wooden Ornaments (1/8-inch Plywood, Under 3 Inches)
Result: Acceptable. The stationary mode handled these adequately. Vibration made detail work hard, but simple shapes cut cleanly enough. I wouldn’t sell these, but they’d pass as handmade gifts.
Dollhouse Furniture Components (1/4-inch Basswood)
Result: Frustrating. The small scale should suit the MS20, but precision was elusive. Chair legs and table tops came out slightly uneven. Sanding fixed most issues, but the tool fought me.
Plastic Model Part Modifications (Handheld Mode)
Result: Surprisingly good. This is where the MS20 shines. Removing sprues, notching plastic pieces, and trimming thin styrene were all easier than with a knife or coping saw. The high speed and small blade work well on soft plastics.
Quick PVC Pipe Cuts (Handheld Mode)
Result: Functional. Faster than a hacksaw for small-diameter pipe. Messy edges, but adequate for plumbing projects where appearance doesn’t matter.
Laminate Trim Work (Handheld Mode)
Result: Useful. Trimming countertop laminate edges was faster than manual methods. The small blade reaches tight corners. This is genuinely practical DIY work.
Attempted Fretwork Bookmark (1/8-inch Walnut)
Result: Abandoned. The vibration, limited throat, and lack of table tilt made this impossible. I switched to my Excalibur and finished in five minutes what the MS20 couldn’t start.
Dremel MS20 Pros and Cons: The Brutal Truth
✅ What I Liked
- Extremely compact and portable — stores anywhere, travels easily
- Two-mode versatility — stationary and handheld in one package
- Tool-free blade changes — fast and genuinely convenient
- Carrying case included — everything fits neatly
- Affordable price — impulse-buy territory
- Decent on soft plastics and thin materials — finds a niche here
- No setup required — plug in and cut within seconds
❌ What I Didn’t Like
- Severe 2-inch throat limitation — cripples standard scrollwork
- Aggressive, unrelenting vibration — numbs hands and compromises precision
- High minimum speed — no slow, controlled cutting option
- Motor bogs down on materials over 1/4 inch
- No dust collection — sawdust everywhere with no mitigation
- No work light — hard to see cut lines on small workpieces
- Plastic construction feels disposable rather than durable
- Rough cut quality — edges need extensive cleanup
- Handheld mode is front-heavy and hard to control precisely
- Loud, high-pitched motor whine — unpleasant to use for extended periods
Dremel MS20 vs. Competitors: An Unfair Comparison
Dremel MS20 vs. WEN 3921 / Shop Fox W1713
These budget benchtop saws cost $50–$150 more but offer 8x the throat depth, significantly less vibration, and actual scroll saw capability. The MS20’s only advantages are portability and handheld mode. For any project larger than a coaster, the benchtop saws win decisively.
Winner: WEN 3921 / Shop Fox W1713 (for scrollwork); Dremel MS20 (for portability only)
Dremel MS20 vs. Full-Size Scroll Saws (DeWalt, Delta, Excalibur)
This isn’t a comparison; it’s a different category entirely. Full-size saws offer 10–20 inch throats, smooth operation, precise control, and professional results. The MS20 offers convenience. Choose based on whether you need a tool or a toy.
Winner: Full-size saws by knockout
Dremel MS20 vs. Manual Coping Saw
Here’s an interesting comparison. A $15 coping saw cuts slower but with more control and no vibration. The MS20 cuts faster but rougher. For occasional trim work, the coping saw is more pleasant. For production cutting, the MS20 saves time at the cost of quality.
Winner: Tie (depends on priority: speed vs. control)
Who Should Buy the Dremel MS20 Moto-Saw?
Buy the Dremel MS20 if:
- You need a truly portable cutting tool for travel or small spaces
- You work primarily with soft plastics, thin plywood, and craft materials
- You want a quick-trim tool for DIY projects (PVC, laminate, dowels)
- You build plastic models and need faster sprue removal
- You have no shop space and craft at a kitchen table or desk
- You want a second tool for rough cuts so your good saw stays sharp
- You’re buying for a child or teen who wants to experiment safely
Skip the Dremel MS20 if:
- You want to do standard scroll saw work (fretwork, puzzles, intarsia)
- You cut hardwoods over 1/4 inch regularly
- You value smooth, vibration-free operation
- You need precision results for selling your work
- You can fit even a small benchtop saw in your space
- You plan to scroll saw for more than 15 minutes at a time
- You expect professional-grade cut quality
Dremel MS20 Accessories and Reality Checks
The kit includes four blades: two wood-cutting, one plastic/laminate, one metal. They’re adequate for testing but dull quickly. Replacement blades are proprietary and cost roughly $10 for a 5-pack—expensive relative to standard scroll saw blades.
There’s no meaningful upgrade path. You can’t add a light, improve dust collection, or reduce vibration. What you buy is what you get.
Long-Term Durability: 5-Month Report
Five months of moderate use revealed no mechanical failures, but the plastic construction shows wear. The base feet are compressed and less grippy. The blade lever feels slightly looser. The motor still runs but smells slightly different under load—possibly brush wear.
I don’t expect this tool to last five years. At $89, that’s acceptable if it serves a specific need. But don’t buy it as an investment.
Final Thoughts: The Right Tool for the Wrong Job
The Dremel MS20 Moto-Saw isn’t a bad product; it’s a good product solving a problem most woodworkers don’t have. If you absolutely need portable, compact cutting for small materials, it works. I’ve used it more than I expected for quick trims, plastic work, and situations where dragging out the Excalibur felt absurd.
But calling it a “scroll saw” is misleading. The 2-inch throat eliminates 90% of scrollwork. The vibration eliminates precision. The motor eliminates thick materials. This is a powered craft knife with aspirations, not a real scroll saw.
If Dremel doubled the throat to 4 inches, added vibration damping, and included a basic dust blower, the MS20 could be genuinely useful. As it stands, it’s a niche gadget that most woodworkers will use twice and forget.
My recommendation: buy it only if you’ve identified a specific need it fills. Don’t buy it hoping it will substitute for a real scroll saw. It won’t.
Dremel MS20 Moto-Saw Review Score
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Value for Money | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Portability | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Cutting Performance | ⭐⭐ |
| Vibration Control | ⭐ |
| Ease of Blade Changes | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Build Quality | ⭐⭐ |
| Versatility | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Long-Term Durability | ⭐⭐ |
| Overall Enjoyment | ⭐⭐ |
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐½ (2.5/5)
Would I keep the Dremel MS20? Yes, but only as a specialized trim tool, not as a scroll saw. Would I recommend it to a woodworker? Only with heavy caveats and a clear understanding of its severe limitations.
Have you found a genuine use for the Dremel MS20, or did it disappoint your scroll saw expectations? I’d love to hear your experience in the comments.
