Any recommendations for a good hole saw kit

[potentz]

Looking to purchase a quality hole saw kit. Will use for both metal and wood. Primarily need it to start for electrical work. Thanks

 

[sberry]

I like that Ridgid kit from HD, 2 mandrels and 7 or 9 bits? About 70$ the price is right.

 

[Diablo]

Im an electrician, ive used them all and always go back to starrett.

 

[potentz]

Diablo,
What do you think of this buy?
http://cgi.ebay.com/STARRETT-25-PC-...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item53dd6149b5

 

[Diablo]

Looks good, i have those in my van right now. I have the electricians kit though, its just sizes that fit conduit hubs.

 

[garfunkle24]

There's also this style of holesaw that gives a nicer finish:
http://www.averytools.com/pc-757-32-rotacut-sheet-metal-hole-cutter--large-sizes.aspx

However, for the mixed work you're doing, I think the other kind would be fine. I've had them branded Milwaukee, Starrett and Lenox and they've all seemed about the same to me.

 

[Snappy]

I'm assuming the Starrett set is made in USA, judging by the price.I saw a Bosch set recently for around $90.00, but it was made in China.I just bought a couple Lenox hole saws to fill in my set. The Lenox reciprocating saw blades hold up well.

 

[t100]

Lenox are chinese steel. as far as i know because it's labeled as "made in U.S. with global components"

i think Morse is still made in the U.S.

http://www.mytoolstore.com/mkmorse/avkit.html

http://www.mkmorse.com/company.html

 

[nate379]

Lenox is what I use and they work great. I use them for anything from wood to 3/8" steel plate.

 

[nissan_crawler]

I like that Ridgid kit from HD, 2 mandrels and 7 or 9 bits? About 70$ the price is right.

rigid ***** horribly on steel. I stick to lenox, no problems. I put 20 holes in 3/4" plate with a 5/8" Lenox holesaw, still works fine.

 

[Vinko]

Lenox could be Brazil or elsewhere. Not necessarily China. Though I bet you're right

Also -- I'm pretty sure I've got Lenox from Swedish and English steel too. Large band saw blades. Global Components probably often refer to China (as in teh case of Vise-Grip), but could mean elsewhere.

I have a Starrett kit, but also have bought some other sizes that don't come in a kit. Either 2-1/16 or 2-1/8, I forget which.

 

[btmatt]

I cannot believe that I am going to admit this, but I bought the Harbor Junk bimetal set to cut holes in 3/16 steel and they actually cut as well as any other saw I have used. A couple of broken teeth, but they will still cut. Trick is to go SLOOOOWWW and be sure to keep the cut oiled.

 

[84scrambler]

I have a mac tools set. I think it was around $130. I would recommend this one because they actually warranty it. I already replaced 2 that were warn down.

 

[scooby074]

Lennox or Starrett

In that Ebay set, theres probably $80 there in Arbours and arbour extensions. Looks like a good deal to me (at least it would be here)

 

[Atlascycle]

if you are making cuts through thicker steel try to drill a hole in the path of the hole saw teeth to give the chips from the hole saw to go to.

 

[scooby074]

if you are making cuts through thicker steel try to drill a hole in the path of the hole saw teeth to give the chips from the hole saw to go to.

Definitely. This makes a big difference in the life and performance of hols saws in my experience.

 

[george4]

if you are making cuts through thicker steel try to drill a hole in the path of the hole saw teeth to give the chips from the hole saw to go to.

That makes a lot of sense, but if you do not mind elaborating for a dummy – how big of hole? Centered on the cutting path? Off to one side?

 

[malibu101]

I have a Morse AV100 Maintenance Hole Saw Kit.It goes from 3/4 to 2 1/2". Conduit KO sizes from 1/2 to 2". The plastic case says made in USA and Made In USA is stamped on each hole saw too.
It treats me well.
EDIT- Link to what I have http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000E8HTPM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[scooby074]

That makes a lot of sense, but if you do not mind elaborating for a dummy – how big of hole? Centered on the cutting path? Off to one side?

I usually drill right in the centre of the outline that the holesaw makes on the metal being drilled. Typically its a 3/8 or 1/4 drill i use (whatever's handy). You may have to offset the drill abit so you dont drill outside the path of the holesaw.

You want a hole big enough to let the holesaw shavings clear easily

 

[Atlascycle]

That makes a lot of sense, but if you do not mind elaborating for a dummy – how big of hole? Centered on the cutting path? Off to one side?

It depends if you are trying to cut a hole or a slug. If you are trying to cut say a 4" hole then you would want to drill a 1/4" hole 1.875" from the center of the hole so the outer diameter of the hole saw will line up with the outer radius of the chip clearance hole.

 

[wreckercologist]

I'm assuming the Starrett set is made in USA, judging by the price.I saw a Bosch set recently for around $90.00, but it was made in China.I just bought a couple Lenox hole saws to fill in my set. The Lenox reciprocating saw blades hold up well.

We just got a few new Starretts in the shop this week. Made in Taiwan.

I looked at the Rigids tonight when I was at HD. They were made in the US of global materials. Just an FYI.

Speed kills if you're sawing steel, so as was said before, no matter the brand, slow down and lube up!

 

[Stick Figure]

anyone found a good set to go through stainless? We do a lot of stainless work, and a 1" hole in stainless exhaust pipe becomes way more trouble than it should be with some of the saws i've tried.

 

[nissan_crawler]

anyone found a good set to go through stainless? We do a lot of stainless work, and a 1" hole in stainless exhaust pipe becomes way more trouble than it should be with some of the saws i've tried.

For that, you're better off spending the money on a good set of hole cutters, especially if you're only cutting something as thin as exhaust pipe.

 

[danski0224]

Looking to purchase a quality hole saw kit. Will use for both metal and wood. Primarily need it to start for electrical work. Thanks

If you need to make holes in boxes/panels, up to 3/4 conduit fittings, it is hard to beat a step bit (Unibit) for that.

Bigger/lots of holes in thin metal? Go buy an annular cutter. The previous link to Avery shows that style. Hougen also makes them.

Holes in wood... to run 1/2 and 3/4 conduit in? Go get a self feed bit or an auger bit.

Bigger holes in wood? I have found nothing better (yet) than a Lenox carbide tipped holesaw. Their One Tooth line is supposed to be nice... don't own any yet. I have had my 2 5/8" carbide tipped saw for 5 years now and it still works great.

I would buy these: http://www.mcfeelys.com/product/LHS-/Lyropa-Drill-Drop-Hole-Saws before I bought the made in China Milwaukee holesaws.

This place: www.holepro.com has some saws that will cut through cinderblock and stucco- I have a few of those, and they work well. Unfortunately, their products are made in China.

 

[danski0224]

anyone found a good set to go through stainless? We do a lot of stainless work, and a 1" hole in stainless exhaust pipe becomes way more trouble than it should be with some of the saws i've tried.

Tried an annular cutter yet?