Hole Saw vs Auger Drill Bit vs Spade Bits Comparison?

[oldschoolcraft]

I've been researching to build out my drilling tools and I am a bit stuck on the differences between hole saw bits, auger drill, and spade. Here's is my current understanding, please correct me if wrong:

Hole saw bits are bimetal, can cut metal or wood. Of the three types, it's the only one that can cut metal. To compare it to the other types of metal bits, there's "regular" drill bits and those holes will be limited in diameter that can make much bigger holes for similar sized tool. Then there's step drill bits which are limited to thinner sheet metal.

Between Auger and Spade bits, it looks like auger bits should be superior at making holes. I'd guess the spade bit benefits are that they're smaller, lighter, and cheaper. If you're a contractor doing some dirty holes that dont need to be perfect, maybe the spade bits are the way to go?

But what if you need a perfectly sized hole in wood to run something precise. Do you go hole saw bit or auger? Maybe depth is an issue? Since the hole saws are only about 2" deep, you're going to struggle cutting a 6" deep hole but looks like auger bits come in long lengths.

Looks like the auger bits will be a hassle to store and transport, compared to hole saw bits that can be nested into a compact package with a single inner drill bit core. So even if both could drill the same hole in 2" wood, maybe the hole saw is better for contractor work?

Here's a table I came up with to help me visualize what I think is correct:



Any other attributes to add? Maybe diameter? I'd guess auger bits will be most limited in diameter compared to the other two?

 

[NoahG]

If I need a perfectly sized hole in wood I use a forstner.

You can get them in larger sizes with long shanks. You’ll pay a bit for one but when you need em, ya need em.

 

[jblnut]

Are you trying to get drilling tools to drill from 1/32" to 6" or what is your target size range ? I have Spades from 3/8-2" and use them rarely. Sometimes but not often. I also have a nice auger selection from 3/4-2". Hole saws in various kits from 3/4"-6" in pretty consistent 1/4" increments above 3" and 1/8" increments below 3". I'll grab the hole saw as often as I can before one of the other styles unless I need the extra depth. I'm not building houses or anything like that but I've used my 2" auger more than I thought and recently purchased an 8-1/4" hole saw to make some holes in a barn to get a grain auger in.

I like that hole saws can go through my metal tin and at least get the hole started and I can switch to something else as needed. When I'm running something through tin with wood behind it I'll drill a slightly larger hole with a hole saw though the tin and fininsh with an auger. Gets the center of the hole marked and then the sharp tin is away from whatever it running through the wood.

Ask 100 people and they'll give you 100 answers. Ask an electrician vs a plumber vs a homeowner vs a farmer vs a metal fab guy vs etc and they'll all give you different answers based on their line of work.


I say if you're going to invest $$$$$ I'd get a decent sized Milwaukee or Lenox hole saw kit. You can add spades as they're cheap and buy the augers in the size you need as you need them.

 

[WisJim]

What size of holes in which material? How deep for each size and material? How quick? How clean and accurate do the holes need to be? An electrician drilling 3/4" holes in studs has different needs than a cabinet maker drilling 3/4" holes in walnut, and a machinist drilling metal or a contractor drilling in concrete all have different needs. So--this is GJ, so you need one of each. Even auger bits come in different styles, recommended for different wood, and as mentioned, there are Forstner bits, brad point bits, etc., so we need more info from you about what you are drilling.

 

[pancholasvegas]

Drilling equipment is going to be dictated by the material, application, and specific job at hand. You need to start actually working on things to determine what requirements you are going to have for tooling up. If you aren't going to working on wood, it doesn't make much sense to stock up on spade bits if you're strictly doing mechanical work.

It might be best for you to start compiling a list of things that you'd like to work on, and begin working on those things, instead of trying to buy / locate tools before you even begin the work.

This topic, much like your others, requires experience and actual work to find the answer. If you don't begin the project(s), then you don't know what equipment you need to take you to the finish line. Similarly, if don't work on anything, you don't realize what tools would make your life easier or that would have impacted the job, because you never did anything to warrant tooling up.

I understand based on your previous threads that you would like to be prepared for situations that may come your way in the future - No matter what amount of tooling you have, you're still going to be woefully unprepared, because you lack the experience and only have the tooling.

You want to do all of these things and acquire all of this tooling and equipment, but you don't seem to ever have a reason to put it into action. Most of us got started acquiring tooling and machinery because we needed it to complete the job, or to make the next job easier / more profitable, or it was the only way to complete the job. None of these scenarios apply to you, because you aren't doing the job.

I'm sorry if I sound harsh, but I've been following your threads and it mostly consists of thoughts like "I'd like to do this," or "What should I do for this situation." You need to get out from behind the computer and start doing instead of speculating. I know, I know, you live in an apartment and can't do mechanical work at your residence. That's fine, maybe it's time to step away from the idea of becoming Mr. DIY in that case, considering that there is nothing you can really DIY due to your living situation.

 

[Dave455]

You’re not wrong in your thinking so far, but I’ll add my few cents worth.

First off, before getting any of these more specialist types of drill, make sure you have a couple of good sets of conventional drill bits. By “good” I mean from a decent manufacturer, made in a first world country. Some of the drill bits that you can buy, especially the “homowner” grade, are next to useless, so avoid these.

I use regular HSS bits for both wood and metal, but I keep separate sets for woodwork. I actually have both Imperial and metric, and also regular and long series. I use the latter a lot in woodworking. These Ruko bits are a good “mid grade “ for woodworking, and allow me to keep “bright” drills for woodwork, “blue” for metal.



Hole Saws - I really don’t like using these, and am seldom totally satisfied with the result. If you have to, try and find a decent quality one (Morse, older Starrett etc), but if you can find another option, do so. For larger holes in wood I prefer to use a hole routing attachment on my router.

For working in sheet metal, up to about 2 inch, I always punch rather than use a holesaw. I use these “Q Max” cutters (which are superb) but they’re a British manufacturer. I believe Greenlee offer similar in the U.S. To use them, you drill a small hole on the centre mark for the cap screw, then just assemble the punch and wind the screw. The punching action is progressive, so you get a smooth hole every time.


You’re right about Auger bits, generally the best option, and can be had in many lengths. Again, get decent ones. Long auger bits are expensive and easily damaged so always get some shorter bits.

I don’t much like spade bits either. The best thing about them is that they are cheap, but so often there are better options

Forstner bits have been mentioned, and these often are the better option. They give a superbly clean hole. and are have an almost unique quality, in that you can drill overlapping holes with them. Highly recommended.


Finally, consider the “fast” auger bits that are popular today. I don’t always like these (some make very rough holes) but the decent ones definitely have their uses. There are special short shank versions for drilling rafters.


Don’t worry too much about portability. Most of these bits come supplied in plastic tubes, so you can get quite a comprehensive set of all the types shown into less space than a cordless drill.

Worry, by all means, about cost. Good bits are expensive, but if I could leave you with any thought it would be to buy the best you can, even if you have to get less initially. Perhaps look at the website of a reputable maker (I’d suggest “Fisch”) and get an idea of what’s out there.

 

[Wamsutta]

Always use a hole saw if you can. Augers and spade bits give you a rough cut. Spade bits are the worst.

 

[theoldwizard1]

If I need a perfectly sized hole in wood I use a forstner.

Wood only, but I agree !

 

[whateg01]

You can get Spade bits for metal. But they aren't the cheap ones you see used in wood.

 

[RoninB4]

Don't buy solutions for problems you haven't encountered.

 

[whateg01]

Don't buy solutions for problems you haven't encountered.

Seems like lately there's been a lot of people asking for suggestions of told to buy that they might need someday.

 

[pancholasvegas]

Don't buy solutions for problems you haven't encountered.

Agreed. The problem usually dictates the solution. Firstly, you need to encounter the problem. This is done by doing, not theorizing.

 

[RoninB4]

-As a retired toolmaker it is my opinion that almost every tool that can be made or bought that's ideal for one application will be a compromised/marginal solution for another. I have designed/made all manner of tooling using decades of experience and yet they all fail to perform in some aspect. When it's perfect for all applications it's too expensive to risk or maintain. Run with what you got and move on to the next job. JMO.

 

[RoninB4]

Agreed. The problem usually dictates the solution. Firstly, you need to encounter the problem. This is done by doing, not theorizing.

^^^^ This.

 

[sparky 1971]

Most homeowner type projects can be accomplished with a simple set of twist drills, spade bits and a 10 piece set of hole saws from a hardware store. Auger bits are awesome, but take a pretty hefty drill to make a mess out of a bunch of 2X4's. If I have to drill 300 holes in a new house, I'm getting out my 7/8 auger bit and a Hole Hawg. If I'm drilling a hole to fish in a new outlet, it's probably going to be a 5/8 spade bit and a pistol grip drill. Start with the basics and add specific sizes and bits as needed.

 

[dchawk81]

He'll eventually stop making these threads if people stop responding.

 

[four.cycle]

^ What Wamsutta said. Spade bits are dandy if you don't give a damn what it looks like.

 

[Metal-Marc]

He'll eventually stop making these threads if people stop responding.

OP has a headboard to fix, or so I've heard.

 

[tarbellb]

One note about most Auger and some Spade

= they have a self threading/pulling tip that is only designed for full pass through holes.

 

[signcrafter]

All bits have a purpose. Depends on what you are doing. I have a few grand in bits but I do all kinds of work. I do plumbing and electrical rough ins and some woodworking. Do metal working and things like auto repair drilling out broken bolts. I like to buy sets because if I need one size I'll probably need a few other sizes. It all depends on what you doing. There is a correct bit for everything, and then bits that will get the job done.

 

[dchawk81]

OP has a headboard to fix, or so I've heard.

Chad already fixed her control arms, controlled her arms, broke her headboard, fixed her headboard, and broke her headboard again.

Probably even changed her sister's oil.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

Don't buy solutions for problems you haven't encountered.

I agree with you in many cases that buying tools for unneeded situations is a waste of money and space.

I didn't specify in my original post but I'm planning to drill a hole in my drywall to have a hole going out to my apartment patio so I can run an extension cord to do some stuff on occasion with the patio sliding door closed.

So I started thinking about what kind of tool to use, realized there's a bunch of different kinds of tools that make holes and decided to learn about all of them, not that I'm actually going to buy a complete set of everything. Mostly so I know what the right tools are for different applications so if the time comes, I know what to go buy. And which tool to buy right now for this particular job)

I think Just In Time (JIT) tools can be acceptable, such that I dont go buy the specialized drill bit until I need it, but I dislike JIT Knowledge. I dont want to be a friend/family members house doing some handyman work, need to drill a hole in something, and then take a 2 hour break because I have to post on the forum and solicit advice before I go to the hardware store.

Part of my researching tools is to learn about what is the right tool for a job, and what makes the tool good, so if the time comes that I need it, I can go get one locally without last minute JIT research. And the internet is terrible for general searching these days. If I google search "what tool to drill a hole" I'm going to get a bunch of AI-written drivel.

There's also some level of baseline tools that are so useful and good to have, that they shouldn't be JIT tools. For example, I have a Norseman mechanics length drill bit set. Around 30 pieces up to 1/2". I think most here would agree that having such a $100 drill bit set isn't overkill even if you aren't planning on drilling holes in the next few weeks. We're eventually going to need to drill a hole and this will handle a lot of jobs.

But if I were going to buy a set of 12" length drill bits in all sorts of sizes, that seems overkill for me. I dont envision needing to drill 12" deep into something, local hardware stores sell long drill bits, and if I need it, it likely won't be for my car, so I'll have a functional transport method to get to the store.

The question then becomes, what about the other types of bits? I think having a set of Spade Bits can make sense, since they're cheap, and take up little space. Even if they're the worst of the ones mentioned.

I think having Forstner bits doesnt make sense. I'm not likely to need to drill a precision hole with a precision bottom on short notice. I can order one online and wait a week.

 

[dchawk81]

I agree with you in many cases that buying tools for unneeded situations is a waste of money and space.

I didn't specify in my original post but I'm planning to drill a hole in my drywall to have a hole going out to my apartment patio so I can run an extension cord to do some stuff on occasion with the patio sliding door closed.

So I started thinking about what kind of tool to use, realized there's a bunch of different kinds of tools that make holes and decided to learn about all of them, not that I'm actually going to buy a complete set of everything. Mostly so I know what the right tools are for different applications so if the time comes, I know what to go buy. And which tool to buy right now for this particular job)

I think Just In Time (JIT) tools can be acceptable, such that I dont go buy the specialized drill bit until I need it, but I dislike JIT Knowledge. I dont want to be a friend/family members house doing some handyman work, need to drill a hole in something, and then take a 2 hour break because I have to post on the forum and solicit advice before I go to the hardware store.

Part of my researching tools is to learn about what is the right tool for a job, and what makes the tool good, so if the time comes that I need it, I can go get one locally without last minute JIT research. And the internet is terrible for general searching these days. If I google search "what tool to drill a hole" I'm going to get a bunch of AI-written drivel.

There's also some level of baseline tools that are so useful and good to have, that they shouldn't be JIT tools. For example, I have a Norseman mechanics length drill bit set. Around 30 pieces up to 1/2". I think most here would agree that having such a $100 drill bit set isn't overkill even if you aren't planning on drilling holes in the next few weeks. We're eventually going to need to drill a hole and this will handle a lot of jobs.

But if I were going to buy a set of 12" length drill bits in all sorts of sizes, that seems overkill for me. I dont envision needing to drill 12" deep into something, local hardware stores sell long drill bits, and if I need it, it likely won't be for my car, so I'll have a functional transport method to get to the store.

The question then becomes, what about the other types of bits? I think having a set of Spade Bits can make sense, since they're cheap, and take up little space. Even if they're the worst of the ones mentioned.

I think having Forstner bits doesnt make sense. I'm not likely to need to drill a precision hole with a precision bottom on short notice. I can order one online and wait a week.

Do you own this apartment or have you cleared these holes with the landlord first?


This entire post makes me think you're just a troll.

 

[RoninB4]

I'll attempt to be The Devil's Advocate for a moment. To begin with I really detest internet trolls and people too lazy to do their own research. Students with term papers, pot stirring malcontents, and poseurs all irritate the shyte out of me and I usually do not suffer fools gladly.

Having said that there's a possibility that the member in question is a 12 year old. Whether this is a 12 year old boy or a grown adult might be irrelevant. Unless this is a troll or a marketing research bass-turd then perhaps this member is just pursuing an objective in an awkward manner. Perhaps this member is seeking to gain the knowledge and experience held by the collective. Perhaps this member comes from the rarified atmosphere of academia where most people don't really know how to do anything with their hands. This could be a someone that hasn't a father, relative, or friend to offer advice/guidance to an unfamiliar subject. As such, the member may seek inclusion to a world that's not had an open door or an invitation to. So, the member creates a lot of threads with hypothetical situations just to get a dialogue started with others.

There was once this kid that didn't know how to assemble a bicycle because nobody in the family knew how. He didn't know how to work on much of anything at the age of 21. Through trial/error, reading, and self-determination he became a tool and die maker, mechanical designer, and inventor of patented designs.

Yeah, it was me and I wished I'd had the benefit of a bunch like all of you when I was young. Maybe I've got the wrong read on this member. If you think the member is a troll, then stop feeding the threads. If it's some geeky kid with too many questions and no social graces just keep the replies short or try to offer some guidance. The members here that deserve the help may not even have the courage to post for fear of ridicule. I'm not trying to beat up on anybody for their questions or replies, just trying to offer a perspective. YMMV

 

[dchawk81]

I'll attempt to be The Devil's Advocate for a moment. To begin with I really detest internet trolls and people too lazy to do their own research. Students with term papers, pot stirring malcontents, and poseurs all irritate the shyte out of me and I usually do not suffer fools gladly.

Having said that there's a possibility that the member in question is a 12 year old. Whether this is a 12 year old boy or a grown adult might be irrelevant. Unless this is a troll or a marketing research bass-turd then perhaps this member is just pursuing an objective in an awkward manner. Perhaps this member is seeking to gain the knowledge and experience held by the collective. Perhaps this member comes from the rarified atmosphere of academia where most people don't really know how to do anything with their hands. This could be a someone that hasn't a father, relative, or friend to offer advice/guidance to an unfamiliar subject. As such, the member may seek inclusion to a world that's not had an open door or an invitation to. So, the member creates a lot of threads with hypothetical situations just to get a dialogue started with others.

There was once this kid that didn't know how to assemble a bicycle because nobody in the family knew how. He didn't know how to work on much of anything at the age of 21. Through trial/error, reading, and self-determination he became a tool and die maker, mechanical designer, and inventor of patented designs.

Yeah, it was me and I wished I'd had the benefit of a bunch like all of you when I was young. Maybe I've got the wrong read on this member. If you think the member is a troll, then stop feeding the threads. If it's some geeky kid with too many questions and no social graces just keep the replies short or try to offer some guidance. The members here that deserve the help may not even have the courage to post for fear of ridicule. I'm not trying to beat up on anybody for their questions or replies, just trying to offer a perspective. YMMV

I'd just like to see him do something with the knowledge he's gleaning.

 

[dchawk81]

He never seems to do anything and post about it and say hey thanks for your help I was able to accomplish blah blah.

He doesn't HAVE to but it would be nice to know we aren't wasting our carpal tunnel on this.

 

[RoninB4]

I'd just like to see him do something with the knowledge he's gleaning.

-So would I and many more of us playing along. Maybe it's not the knowledge he/she is after

 

[dchawk81]

-So would I and many more of us playing along. Maybe it's not the knowledge he/she is after

No idea. I hate people too much to start unending threads just for attention.

 

[RoninB4]

No idea. I hate people too much

-So I shouldn't set a place for you at dinner tonight? I'm a bit disappointed

 

[dchawk81]

-So I shouldn't set a place for you at dinner tonight? I'm a bit disappointed

Well I mean...

 

[RoninB4]

-Will tolerate people for food? Like Hannibal Lector type food? Or does this suggest why cannibals don't eat clowns?