Hougen or Blair Hole Cutters

[tombell572]

I'm going to buy a set of sheet metal hole utters, USA made of course, and I've noticed that Hougen and Blair products appear identical in all respects. In researching the brands it appears that Dr. Douglas Hougan began the Blair Company in the 1950's when he invented the spot weld cutter. He later established the Hougen Corporation when he invented the Rotabraoch hole cutter.
The hole cutters are sold under both brand names--Hougen is located in Swartz Creek MI and Blair in Flint, MI.

Anyone have insight as to similarities, differences or any other comments?

Tom B.

 

[ttpete]

I'm going to buy a set of sheet metal hole utters, USA made of course, and I've noticed that Hougen and Blair products appear identical in all respects. In researching the brands it appears that Dr. Douglas Hougan began the Blair Company in the 1950's when he invented the spot weld cutter. He later established the Hougen Corporation when he invented the Rotabraoch hole cutter.
The hole cutters are sold under both brand names--Hougen is located in Swartz Creek MI and Blair in Flint, MI.

Anyone have insight as to similarities, differences or any other comments?

Tom B.

They interchange. No problem.

 

[IndyGarage]

Swartz Creek is a suburb of Flint. I always thought they were the same company - Hougan for the Industrial cutters and Blair was the consumer line.

Perhaps one is a spin off of the other. I have some Blairs and they work great.

A few decades ago when I was in college in Flint, Michigan, Doug Hougan gave one of our engineering classes a tour of his manufacturing facility. He had graduated from our school some years earlier. It wasn't a large place but was full of machines grinding the cutters. Many of them were custom made at that time.

 

[Caterpillar Cowboy]

I own a Hougen magnetic drill with their pilot/annular cutter I believe they call them drill bits that I use on truck frames and this product is truly top notch. I would have to imagine that anything else that bears their name would have to be of the same quality.

I would like to hear how you like their hole saws, I've been thinking about investing in some for drilling holes for 2" and 2.5" grommet lights.

 

[f1sleepy]

I have both brands in various sizes and have no complaints. Just make sure you run them nice and slow. They are very sensitive to being spun too fast.

 

[PelicanPines]

I have the small set that fits in a regular drill... used them a dozen times so far... awesome.

 

[LXCam]

I have both brands in various sizes and have no complaints. Just make sure you run them nice and slow. They are very sensitive to being spun too fast.

Same here, they are great hole saws but run them slow and use cutting fluid. The instant you get them hot it's tooo late toss it in the round file.

 

[bodyguy16]

I used blair rotabroatch spot weld bit at work and they are great, as mentioned use lubricant ( we use the blair tube of lube) and a regulator is ideal if used on an air drill. Truly a qjality product, never used hougan but dont think you could go wrong with either.

Sent from my SM-G903W using Tapatalk

 

[tombell572]

Thanks everyone for your input--sounds like a good product either way, glad to hear it.

Tom B.

 

[FigureItOut]

Funny you asked about these, I just got done cleaning up and running thread chasers through all my cutters and arbors. The Blair and Hougen are identical. Call the number listed on the Blair website, they'll answer the phone with the Hougen name.

Use their cutting lubricant absolutely. They know their product and they strongly recommend it. It's very thick, kind of a chap stick like texture and it'll accumulate and clog up the threads, so clean everything often.

The small rotabroach kit comes with an arbor, but absolutely get the upgraded arbor with the skip-proof pilot, it'll make life much easier. You'll have to use the included arbor for the smallest cutters, and with that one you'll really want to drill a pilot hole rather than just center punching like instructed.

Don't be tempted to get the cheaper Blaircutters, they're totally inferior to the rotabroach cutters. The Holcutters are okay for thin material, but be aware the carbide tipped Holcutters are NOT made in the USA.

If you get the big ones over 7/8", you'll need a third arbor. This one doesn't have a skip proof pilot and needs ALL of a 1/2" chuck.

Oh one last tip, the sets come with small round spacer washer and a larger stop washer with two flats cut. Always use the larger washer, and keep a stubby 3/4" open end wrench near your kit. I like to put flat rubber washers over the cutters to protect the surfaces I'm cutting into, or the stop washer will rub and mar the surface around the hole.

 

[FigureItOut]

Oh one more thing to add to my long reply. These cutters work wonders for me on all kinds of materials, not just metals. Many types of plastics for example, I always seem to just crack or destroy using other types of bits. The rotabroach have always given me exceptionally clean and precise holes in everything I've tried them in, so don't forget about them when cutting other materials.

 

[tombell572]

Again, thanks for the tips on using these, especially the cautious to run at a slow speed, using lubricant and FigureItOut, your comments on suitability for other materials.

One additional thought: I'll be getting the small kit covering hole sizes 5/16" - 3/4" since this is where most of my work falls on motorcycle restoration projects. I frequently use my Walker Turner radial drill press which has a double speed reduction. I can't visualize any problems using these cutters in a drill press rather than in a hand-held drill but are there any comments or cautions here?

Tom B.