Hole saw experience....

[mcspeed]

Needed to bore 18 2” holes in a steel shipping container and liked the idea of using a carbide bit for longevity. The Spyder brand was a complete fail. Carbide tips broke off after 3-4 holes. It tended to dig in and ultimately broke the center drill bit. Switched over to the Lennox
brand, non carbide, and it was a much superior product.

Spyder has a different model with many more teeth but it was not available locally. The Lennox did 12-15 holes without slowing down.


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[The Cobbler]

you were probably spinning the hole saw too fast and no lubrication

 

[DGersic]

Lenox carbide tipped are excellent. Spendy, but worth it.


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[nadogail]

Starret also makes a fine hole saw.

 

[liliysdad]

Seems like the perfect job for a mag drill and annular cutter.

 

[matt_i]

I had this job to open up 6 holes in 5/8" plate with holesaws and my Milwaukee drill. I thought I was going to roast/toast the drill.

What I found was that rather than modulating the speed with the trigger I needed to go WOT on the trigger and adjust speed with down-pressure. Apparently the major heat was coming from the motor control under max load.

I've hole-sawed up to 1-1/2" deep before on the mill, just have to place 2-4 holes so that the chips can drop thru to clear out the kerf.

 

[mcspeed]

Seems like the perfect job for a mag drill and annular cutter.

That’s what I was thinking too. Burned out my Milwaukee drill in the process ( probably from the previous project of horizontal boring under driveway) so bought a 10 amp Dewalt.

Can’t justify the cost though as I volunteer my time at a local Mountain Bike trail.


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[mmb617]

I like the Lennox holesaws. Managing the heat is key. When I had a number of holes to drill I rigged up an air line directing a constant flow of air onto the junction where the bit met the metal.

 

[Bretny]

When I was useing a hole saw to notch tube i found starrett hole saws to be the best. You still need a whole lot of lube to keep things cool. Now i just use a plasma cutter and touch up with an angle grinder.

How accurate do these holes need to be?

 

[Zaxxn]

I just saw this video a few days ago when it was uploaded. Project Farm always does some interesting tool tests, maybe not always 100% scientific, but I am not working 100% scientific either

Metal Hole Saw Test:

--Zax

 

[Kenstone1]

I just saw this video a few days ago when it was uploaded. Project Farm always does some interesting tool tests, maybe not always 100% scientific, but I am not working 100% scientific either

Metal Hole Saw Test:

--Zax

Thanks for the link
The guy gets right to it without ANY bloviation/and ums/pauses, with rapid fire dialog to keep your attention/interest.
Went to his "page" and saved a link to it, as he has many tests there of common tools/stuff used by most DIY'ers.
Thanks again,

 

[Augus7us]

I just saw this video a few days ago when it was uploaded. Project Farm always does some interesting tool tests, maybe not always 100% scientific, but I am not working 100% scientific either

Metal Hole Saw Test:

--Zax

Wow thanks for posting that. This may be the best "review" video I've watched.

 

[TuxThePenguin]

Carbide is only for use with a drill press in my opinion. stick to HSS with a hand drill. The harder materials that will drill harder materials are also more brittle and less forgiving with the movement that holding your drill by hand implies.

 

[dutchgray]

The Starrett carbide holesaw I have doesn't include steel in the list of suitable materials it should cut, I use ordinary bi metal holesaws on steel. I find you have to run them slower than you first think if you want them to last and use plenty of coolant, I use the machine coolant in a trigger spray when using a hand held drill.

 

[Augus7us]

Carbide is only for use with a drill press in my opinion. stick to HSS with a hand drill. The harder materials that will drill harder materials are also more brittle and less forgiving with the movement that holding your drill by hand implies.

I agree but many will say not to use carbide in drill presses for the same reason, only mills. And if you watch the video most of them suffered damage in the first cut or two.

That said for the price of most of those I'd use it on anything. I have 1/4" solid carbide bits to drill through hardened still and they are more pricey. I don't believe the 1095 in the video was hardened either, I think the armor was though.

 

[ttpete]

I agree but many will say not to use carbide in drill presses for the same reason, only mills. And if you watch the video most of them suffered damage in the first cut or two.

That said for the price of most of those I'd use it on anything. I have 1/4" solid carbide bits to drill through hardened still and they are more pricey. I don't believe the 1095 in the video was hardened either, I think the armor was though.

Armor can be funny stuff. It can be more tough than hard. Some is drillable.

 

[Bondo]

I like the Lennox holesaws. Managing the heat is key. When I had a number of holes to drill I rigged up an air line directing a constant flow of air onto the junction where the bit met the metal.

Ayuh,....... I've built many a dump truck pintle hitch usin' Lennox hole saws on an ole chinese drill press,.....

Lots, 'n lottsa Atf, drillin' through 1/2", 'n 3/4" plate,.....
1" to a couple inches diameter,....

Amazin' the abuse they'll take,.....