Hole Saws - kit vs open stock?

[jsharpphoto]

I assume hole saws are similar to tap and die sets for most people. Buy them as you need them. But there are considerable savings to be considered in regards to the hole saw sets from the usual manufacturers (ie Irwin, DeWalt, Bosch).

Who has bought a kit? Which one, how do you like it? Bi-Metal?

I generally use them for wood (hard, soft and ply) and MDF. Occasionally plate aluminum or 5/16th steel, in my drill press.

I only have 2 or 3, and feel I'm designing my projects to only utilize the ones I have, because I don't know if I should invest more in open stock.

 

[astroracer]

I've never bought a kit but that means nothing. I have specific sizes I use for fish-mouthing tubing and have purchased enough in various sizes I don't feel restricted in my design processes. IF I need a specific size I order it...
I also have two sets of Rota-Broaches which I use exclusively for metal working.
Wood working is also done in my shop and I use Forstener bits and hole saws for that when needed.
If you are doing any metal cutting with your holesaws use Bi-Metal saws, cut slow and keep the chips clear. Go to use.enco.com for decent prices on holesaws. I use Milwaukee, Lennox and Starret saws with no appreciable differences between them in use.
Mark

 

[sberry]

A kit will come with a couple mandrels, nothing wrong with one and the others become extras. I want kit for my pickup, I am always chasing mandrels all over and it all in a box just for the truck would be good. Ridid has one for 70 at HD

 

[Matt Irvine]

I really like Starrett hole saws, I've never purchased any at all though, so I can't really help with that

 

[NUTTSGT]

I bought a cheaper set years ago not long after buying our house. I've used many of the hole saws in that kit. They are nothing fancy but worked during small projects and remodeling. While walking through HD one day, I spotted a Rigid Bi-metal set for $20 and bought it. From that set, I have used it a few times but neither set contained a size that I needed. I ended up buying the open stock size that I needed for that job.

If you're needing more, I'd buy a nice set and then buy open stock sizes for the particular job you are working on. If you don't mistreat them, they will last you along time.

 

[LordPsychon]

I bought a Lennox set at Lowes on Black Friday for $49 and I love it. I have only used it a few times but it has all the common sizes I need. It is bimetal and has speed slots for plug removal. It normally costs upwards of $85 so it may not be the most economical choice for you.

 

[cg81]

I bought the Milwaukee hole saw kit at home depot last year for $79. So far so good, and enough sizes I don't have to "make do" with a hole saw that is one size to big or small.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

When I buy a Kit I like having the biggest/baddest kit. When talking about Holesaws you are in the financial territory of having to give up your first born.
So what I did was buy the case for the Lenox Big Daddy and I am slowly filling it out as needed.
2 months ago when Milwaukee had the big rebate I stocked up on a bunch of missing sizes.

 

[royesses]

I purchased the Kobalt (Blue-Moly made) kit 4 or 5 years ago. I like not having to stop what I'm doing to run to the store for a tool. I use the kit for many tasks in metal and wood so it is cost effective to buy the kit. I add extras needed.

 

[themiller]

I bought the Milwaukee hole saw kit at home depot last year for $79. So far so good, and enough sizes I don't have to "make do" with a hole saw that is one size to big or small.

Same.

 

[boiler7904]

Picked up the Milwaukee set that as $39 at Home Depot on Black Friday a couple of years ago and add specific sizes as needed. Lenox has also has promos for free holesaws a couple of times in the last few years so every time I see it, pick a different size to add to the collection - sizes I don't have first followed by backups for common ones. Only downside to this approach is that the set is in one place in the garage and the random ones are in another since they won't fit in the case so I might need to think about resolving that situation.

 

[Thumper68]

I have never bought a kit, I tend to just buy open stock as needed over the years I have built up a good collection with several mandrels and just about every size from 3/4 up to 6 inch, for storage I keep them in a small rubbermade bin that has a tight fitting lid. I do have 2 Irwin lock set kits, mine are a mixture of Ridgid, Lennox, Milauwalkee, and a bunch of older ones from Knox lumber, no idea on the brand. All of them are Bi-metal and I do have doubles and triples of common used sizes.

 

[sberry]

I ruined a bigger one a while back cutting an alum pipe of all things and broke a couple drilling steel like a pig with small bores but due to the utility consider them somewhat a wear item and on occasion sheet happens. I try to buy one per substantial job.
I have never used carbides but,,, how do they cut light sheet in small sizes, plate too?
I really don't care if I got to throw a dollar of wear and tear for a blade if it saves having to some up with some other sophisticated tool or time scheme.
This summer I wil have to get a pic, I build up out of round pin holes with the mig and chase them with a holesaw.
I remember the job on the left. It was a bucket mod we wanted to keep the original app for and for a couple of new ones. We had to widen the mount an inch or so and cut the sister plate off the bucket, drilled new holes in the remaining flange, clamped one to the other to drill thru to duplicate, re space and weld on.
I recall something about being perfect cept for I read the tape off a 1/2. I clamped the slug back in welded it back up and recut the hole.
As much as welding I do hand drilling. I am a maniac and brutal to my bits but I am a whiz and 99% of it done dry having it shoved to er.
Me likey a few drops of rapid tap per 10 to 15 seconds cut time, uses it all out without a mess

 

[ishiboo]

I bought the Milwaukee 13-piece set from HD for $39, actually two of them.

They're great for wood. For any thickness steel other than light sheet, I find they have too much runout... actually all the brands I've tried have. For 1" I thought I would use my hole saws but I use a 1" S&D bit instead.

For wood, a Foresner bit leaves a much nicer hole for finish work. For rough work in 2X, the self-feeding bits by Irwin/Milwaukee/etc. seem to work a lot better. I ran one (2 9/16) through a 12" oak beam with my Dewalt twice.

 

[Todd.Brock]

When I buy a Kit I like having the biggest/baddest kit. When talking about Holesaws you are in the financial territory of having to give up your first born.

So what I did was buy the case for the Lenox Big Daddy and I am slowly filling it out as needed.

2 months ago when Milwaukee had the big rebate I stocked up on a bunch of missing sizes.

Quoted for truth. I have looked at the Milwaukee set and its arm and leg expensive. That said, it s more expensive to buy open stock, but it's only a couple bucks more and I'm not shelling out 100's at a time. I debate this same thing with rental hammer SDS drills.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Milwaukee. I use the regular ones for wood and the diamond ones for cutting holes in tile. I used lots of brands...some good, some ****. Milwaulke has a full line and is available at depot. Some of my tile ones are $60 a piece, but when they work I make the up front cost back on the job.

Lenox is the only other brand I would consider. Nothing worse than having a hole saw walk all over new tile, chip, or crack it.

 

[sberry]

Here is a job I did. This loader slid around with 2 top bolts in the connection and I wanted to keep it simple and installed with modest impact so I added 2 more rather precision bolts in each side compared to the oem. I used a cup or 2 of water and as I recall I changed out a battery and it took about half an hour farting around and a cig or 2 as I was probably still smoking at the time. A coffee and phone call job but I had about 5 mins per hole of drilling without wrecking the bit.
3/4 hole, inch per connection with battery drill and a bit for 8$ retail. A good 3/4 bit cost 3x that. This kind of a thing is a pain in the wennie to rig up in a press or mag drill anyway.

 

[MotoDave]

I bought the same Milwaukee set mentioned above, the new that I use often enough to wear out I've replaced with Starrett which I find to have less runout and last longer. Not unreasonably priced trough Amazon either, with free prime shipping.

 

[yaidunno]

Another vote for Starrett here. They stay sharper, and hold a more accurate hole dimension from my findings. Ive used and own some Lenox, Milwaukee, and Morse. I'll always reach for the Starrett unless I'm in a pinch and need to run to the box store for a random size.

As for the kit vs open stock, if you've got some extra cash to throw at it, and feel that you will use most of the sizes, go with the kit. I don't think many people will tell you that they regret getting a 12-15 pc. hole saw kit.

For reference, I purchased a kit similar to this: http://www.starrett.com/saws/product-detail/2-Saws/24-PTA-and-Hand-Saw-Blades/2404-Holesaw-Kits/240401-Bi-Metal/KDP11042-N for about $175.

 

[jsharpphoto]

What about bi-metal vs tungsten carbide