Hole saws are one of the most essential tools you will be able to find in the toolbox of workmen such as construction workers, handymen, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, and etc.
It seems to play a very important role among a number of field jobs, and sure enough, it’s proven to be true. One of the things it does is to help workmen to easily create a hole for various purposes.
If hole saws were not invented, people would have a hard time dealing with hole operations as they would have to use a drill to create holes in different surfaces like studs, floors, and joists.
Before going further through the discussion of this tool, let us first answer the question the common question people, who are not that familiar with identifying certain tools, ask: “What is a hole saw and why will I need it?”
My List Of Best Hole Saws
| Name | Pieces | Weight (lbs.) | Hole Size Range (Inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEWALT D180002 | 9 | 3.2 | 7/8" to 2-1/2" |
| Milwaukee 49-22-4185 | 28 | 14.4 | 3/4" to 4-3/4" |
| LENOX Hole Saw Kit | 17 | 7.7 | 3/4" to 4-3/4" |
| Greenlee 660 | 7 | 1.3 | 7/8" to 2" |
| Greenlee 830 | 7 | 3.1 | 7/8" to 2-1/2" |
DEWALT Electricians Bi-metal Hole Saw Kit
DeWalt’s hole saw kit is specially designed to cut holes on wood and metal. This features thick and hardened backing plates that reduce warping, and at the same time, make the saw long-lasting.
Its advanced deep-cut style allows wider application of hole cutting on any type of material than other hole saw brands.
Pros:
- The kit comes with replacement parts.
- The product is made in the USA.
- Endurance is evident with the enlarged bi-metal section.
- It is built to withstand jobsite abuse.
Cons:
- The pilot bit and the chuck arbor break easily.
Milwaukee All Purpose Professional Ice Hardened Hole Saw Kit
Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation’s all-purpose hole saw kit is ideal for metal and wood cutting in a variety of maintenance/repair applications such as electrical, plumbing, and etc.
This ice hardened product is consistently hard as it utilizes a propriety cryogenic hardening process. This hole saw kit also features Matrix II bi-metal construction for greater durability and a unique tooth geometry for faster cutting.
Pros:
- Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation ensures users to up to a 50% longer life and usage than other brands.
- The kit promotes high durability.
- Its unique precision-ground tooth geometry features faster hole cutting.
- The product has a wide range of application.
Cons:
- Disassembling of the cutter with fixture can be complicated after use.
LENOX Tools Bi-Metal Speed Slot Hole Saw with T3 Technology, Electrician’s Kit
LENOX’s hole saw kit features enhanced tooth geometry, cutting 50% faster than the previous hole saw models. The product has thicker walls to minimize or avoid tooth loss and improve durability.
While the staircase speed slots have wide slots placed on each hole saw that makes it easy to work plugs out, this design also removes sawdust and chips from the inside to prevent plugs getting stuck in each saw.
Pros:
- It effectively removes sawdust and chips to prevent plugs from getting stuck.
- This model is 10% taller than the previous ones for improved and cleaner cuts.
- This hole saw kits features 2x more durability than the previous generation.
Cons:
- There were no sizes listed in the product advertisement, leading to confusion.
Greenlee 660 Kwik Change Stainless Steel Hole Cutter Kit
Greenlee’s hole cutter features a quick change arbor that can be used with all cutter sizes and makes saw changes easy with its push button design.
It’s improved carbide quality cuts stainless steel and other materials quickly.
The kit’s optimum performance and durability make it compatible with all standard power tools.
Pros:
- The product’s flange stop prevents over-drilling.
- The brand promotes high durability and quality performance.
- Greenlee’s hole saw kit’s numerous features make it ready for any job.
Cons:
- The pilot bit slides off after fast speed drilling, at some time.
Greenlee 830 Bi-Metal Hole Saw Kit
Greenlee’s bi-metal hole saw kit features an extra thick back plate for vibration minimization.
The hole saws can be applied to a variety of materials such as aluminum, fiberglass, steel, tin, wood, and plastic.
Pros:
- The kit comes with a high-impact, rugged plastic carrying case.
- The kit includes 7 hole saws that are applicable to various materials.
- It’s thick back plate design minimizes vibration.
Cons:
- No note-worthy cons.
WHAT IS A HOLE SAW?
Hole saws are cylindrical cups with a toothed edge for cutting various sizes of holes in different kinds of materials. Literally, these tools doesn’t have anything to do with saws as they are cutting accessories, ring in shape, used with drills to create clean and round holes in different kinds of medium.
There are two types of hole saws, namely, adjustable hole saws and circle cutter hole saws.
Adjustable hole saws consist of a number of thin metal saw blade-like strips, and a flat disc with numerous grooves in one side and a shank on the other.
Circle cutter hole saws are formed by having adjustable teeth on a platform with a pilot bit. This type is available in sizes, from a foot to a larger size. It can also be used for accurate large circle cutting.
Now that we have knowledge about what hole saws are, let us identify how it works. We all know that it lets users drill holes, if not flawlessly, in a very neat way. However, how would you work with such tool? What are the measures you’d want to know; especially when it’s your first time using a hole saw.
HOW WILL YOU WORK WITH A HOLE SAW ON HAND?
Choose the Right Size for the Specified Job: Like everything in this world has a certain part in a suited situation, every tool you have in your toolbox has a special role to play in a job suited for them. From screwdrivers to saws, these things have different sizes, shapes, and even types, because even if they are for the same type of operation, there will always be a situation that the job requires more than what the tool already have. The hole saw is no different from these tools, as size is the most important thing on this one. Determine the size of the hole you are going to make by using the measuring tape. Choose the proper hole size for accurate hole cutting.
Know How Deep It Has to Go: Determine how deep you want the hole to be when selecting the right hole saw bit. A hole saw bit can go an inch, by the standard. However, if you need a deeper hole for a specified job, look at the saw bit to check if you have the correct size.
Determine Which Drill to Use: When creating a hole, the drill is the perfect partner of hole saws. The choice of drill depends on the size of the hole you want to make, of course, considering the fact that the drill needs to have enough power to be able to actually make the hole you require and the material you’re drilling a hole through. Small holes need at least a drill with 12 volts while larger holes need more than that.
Use the Hole Saw: You have to locate the center of the hole you are going to drill and mark the starting point, creating a pilot hole and acting as a stabilizer. Line the pilot bit with the mark on the starting point and drill. While drilling, hold the tool firmly but slowly do so for friction reduction between the drill and the surface of the medium you’re drilling through. Make sure the hole saw drill you’re using is sharp as dull hole saws will tend to give you poor finished products.
HOW TO USE A HOLE SAW?
- Maintain a Proper Setup: Mount the hole saw in the arbour. A hole saw that has an adjustable centre bit, it should extend past the toothed edge of the saw about 3/8 inch. If the center bit has a flat spot on its shank, align it with the setscrew then tighten the setscrew to secure the bit in place. Tighten the hole saw in the chuck of a corded drill.
- Do It Slowly but Surely: The key to getting a clean, straight, and splinter-free hole is taking it slowly as it reduces the friction it generates when drilling a hole.
- Enlarge an Existing Hole via Clamping: Clamp a ¼ inch piece of plywood over the existing hole to provide a solid surface for the centre bit. Jamming a wood plug into the existing hole will also do the job.
- Clear Out Dust When Drilling Deep Holes: Always remember to withdraw the hole saw every five seconds to clear the sawdust build up in it.
Now we know how what hole saws are and how you can use them. We have pointed out earlier that you can’t actually make holes with a hole saw alone as it needs to be attached on a drill. However, another question links in with this point. “How do you attach it on a drill?”
HOW TO ATTACH A HOLE SAW ON A DRILL?
Choose your drill, wisely: Without a drill, a hole saw is pretty much useless as it only relies on the rotational power of the drill in order to comply with its main purpose. The recommended drill for the task of creating a hole has at least 14 volts of power. If you are going to use a cordless drill, make sure that the power is increased to 18 volts. Like what had been said in the previous section, the sharper the drill, the more consistent and accurate the finished product will be. Otherwise, it will result in a poorly finished product and unsatisfied users.
Connect the pilot drill to the chuck arbor: Pilot drill is what connects the hole saw to the drill, and hole saw packages usually come with this. This also provides an anchor to be able to connect the hole saw to the drill securely. It fits the hole saw on one end and the chuck arbor on the drill on the other end. Make sure that the pilot drill is firmly connected on the chuck arbor while it’s attached tightly in place.
Attach the hole saw to the pilot drill: Hole saws come in different sizes, from 1 inch to 4 inches and so on and so forth. Choose the hole saw with the size that is suited for the hole operation you’re about to do. Attach the hole saw bit to the pilot drill by using the threads in the chuck arbor. Screw the two tightly and use the screwdriver to make sure that the screws are firmly attached.
Lock the hole saw: After doing the earlier steps from this section, lock the hole saw using its featured mechanism. As soon as it is locked, then the drill is ready for use.
An important reminder: Make sure that the drill is not connected to a power source when you are attaching the hole saw to a drill.
HOW I MADE MY PRODUCT PICKS?
- Quality: It is very important to do a quality check before making a purchase of anything. This is pretty common sense; however, a lot of people fall for it the endorsement traps. It’s an important reminder that just because the product is expensive, it doesn’t already mean that they are true to their words in their advertisements.
- Durability: Quality and Durability are two things that won’t get away when stating things to consider before buying tools. It’s a waste of time and money if you found out that the hole saw you just bought last week isn’t working anymore. Make sure that the product you chose is of good quality. Good quality will always be equal to high durability.
- Which is which: There are different kinds of hole saws and every single one of it is meant to play a significant role on the job. Carbon-steel hole saws are for drilling wood; Bimetal hole saws are for drilling wood and metal and are a sure bet for lasting a lot longer than other hole saws; Diamond grit hole saws are used for drilling hard materials like tiles and stones.
CONCLUSION
We have reached the end of this article. Hopefully, this article helped you a lot in understanding more about hole saw; what it is and how it works. Knowing more about something is a big plus here in the age of information.