Hole saw recomendations.

[BFHtime]

I have to drill a 4 inch hole and another 3 inch or so hole, in the metal inner fender liners of an engine bay. I want it to look neat. I was looking at Milwaukee, dewalt, Makita, Lenox, and a couple others. I was going to get a kit, but have not found any with a 4 inch or 4-1/8 bit. I have yet measure the exact clearance I need but I figured I could start looking to see what is a available. This has been the best place for advise, so garage journal what do you think?

Remember the bits have to be bi-metal not for wood only, which I have found also. Thank you.

 

[Gerald O]

This set is bi-metal. Harbor Freight, I know... but I have these and they are holding up well to wood, and including occasional use on metal.
http://www.harborfreight.com/large-diameter-bi-metal-hole-saw-set-3-piece-68111.html
$20. This set has 3", 4", and 4-1/4" except that they do not come with mandrel, but I got this 13 piece set too for $33 which comes with a mandrel that also fit the large size 3-piece set.:
http://www.harborfreight.com/13-piece-bi-metal-hole-saw-set-68990-8829.html

 

[Cab037]

I recommend Lenox. They have always worked well for me.

 

[bareass172]

I've used Lenox before on big stuff and they cut well. The problem I always had was the center "guide" bit breaking.

 

[CobraRed]

Hole saws i find never pay off when buying the cheap brands.
I notched cromoly and steel tubes for an entire 10point cage on my mustang with 2-3 Bosch hole saws.

 

[ecotec]

Hole saws i find never pay off when buying the cheap brands.

I concur. I have not had any luck with cheap hole saws, either.

Also, I prefer to buy a high end bit of the exact size I need. Quality over quantity.

 

[BFHtime]

Thanks for the replies. I was looking at the Milwaukee sets at the homedpotwebsite. I will have to consider some other options. I did not come across any Bosch bits before, and I did not know harbor freight carried those either.

 

[Thumper68]

Check out the morse hole saws, just as good as the lenox imo, I have a mix of lenox, morse, milwalkee and ridged, and they all have held up well. buy extra pilot bits no matter the brand.

 

[paranoid56]

i use the ones at home depot and have no issues with them. from tube notching to cutting through 1/4" plate.

 

[Cab037]

This is one area where you definitely get what you pay for.

 

[metaldad]

hey!. just be sure to let off, as the pilot bit pierces the work, and go slow.
a 4'' hole saw WILL break your wrist when she 'bites' and you ain't ready for it

 

[Fcvapor05]

I've had excellent life out of both Lenox bi-metal, and the 'blue boar' carbide hole saws.

 

[dr_clyde]

I have a mixture of Lenox, Milwaukee and Morse. In a shop I used to work at, we notched a ton of tubing with hole saws, and the Milwaukee ones have held up the best. I agree about getting extra pilots.

I prefer to run large hole saws in the air drill, because the drill will stall instead of taking you for a ride when the saw inevitably grabs.

 

[stage20]

This set is bi-metal. Harbor Freight, I know... but I have these and they are holding up well to wood, and including occasional use on metal.
http://www.harborfreight.com/large-diameter-bi-metal-hole-saw-set-3-piece-68111.html
$20. This set has 3", 4", and 4-1/4" except that they do not come with mandrel, but I got this 13 piece set too for $33 which comes with a mandrel that also fit the large size 3-piece set.:
http://www.harborfreight.com/13-piece-bi-metal-hole-saw-set-68990-8829.html

how thick of metal have you cut with the 13piece kit? i dont use them often, but ive had some from harbor freight that wont even drill through soft wood more than a couple times before "burning up"

 

[BFHtime]

hey!. just be sure to let off, as the pilot bit pierces the work, and go slow.
a 4'' hole saw WILL break your wrist when she 'bites' and you ain't ready for it

Especially of you are not square.

 

[PT Doc]

My Milwaukee ice set from hd are great. I used a 3" to cut through 1.5" mils steel plate and it worked well after chain drilling the perimeter

 

[Joe B.]

Considering it sounds like your dimensions are not exact, you might find a good deal at:
http://www.asmc.net/drill-bits/
This site is run by a GJ member.

 

[Gerald O]

how thick of metal have you cut with the 13piece kit? i dont use them often, but ive had some from harbor freight that wont even drill through soft wood more than a couple times before "burning up"

I've used some of them for cutting holes in junction boxes, only about 18gauge. However I'm constantly running into nails when boring through framework. These seem to go through framing nails without a complaint. None of them have gone dull yet or lost any cutting ability that I can tell. The trick is to not overheat them. When cutting wood don't continue forcing them when the teeth clog-- take a moment to clear the teeth. When cutting metal they do well if lubed. Avoid dry cutting.
These are actually as good as the typical bimetal hole saws sold at the big box stores but at a cheaper price. If I wanted better I'd just spend the money and get carbide tipped.

The ones to stay away from are the cheap "carbon steel" hole saws. Not good for more than one or two holes in wood and forget about metal.

 

[Gerald O]

hey!. just be sure to let off, as the pilot bit pierces the work, and go slow.
a 4'' hole saw WILL break your wrist when she 'bites' and you ain't ready for it

And throw you off a ladder as it breaks your arm! It helps if your drill has a 2nd hand grip attachment.