School me on Hole Saws

[Taylor J.]

If this thread already exists, I couldn't find it. If so, please direct me to it

Basically I'm looking for a quality hole saw set. I would like sizes up to about 1.5 or 2 inches. I've been using an el cheapo set and am tired of dulling teeth after only a few cuts.

Looking forward to opinions of GJ

-Taylor

 

[Fcvapor05]

Can't go wrong with Lenox in my experience. Milwaukee also sells hole saw kits that seem ok. I've never owned a whole Milwaukee kit, but I've purchased several and they've been good. I've used a zillion Lenox hole saws and they are good too.

 

[W0rLDWaR4]

I like wood-boring bits for sizes under 1.5" and hole saws for anything bigger up to 6".

Preferably I like the Milwaukee ICE and Lenox holesaws. You can find a 29 piece for 200 on Ebay (New) or the Bosch quick-change set (I think 16 piece?) for around 75. I don't have too much experience with different brand hole saws..

 

[boosteddsm92]

I don't mean to hijack but I think my question is relevant. I see lots of wood cutting hole saws but do they make ones for metal? If so, what's a good set to get? I've used the wood ones on metal knowing they're only good for a couple holes, or maybe they were crappy quality to begin with...

EDIT:
I see Lenox makes some, I think I'll pick up a set.

 

[MotoDave]

I think the biggest issue people have with hole saws in metal is most hand drills and drill presses spin them way too fast. A typical homeowner drill press may have a low speed around 200 rpm, which is OK up to a 1.5" hole saw. I like this chart:https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...i3rwy230uOZ896idA&sig2=4_v_m8MnTNToMxQooqa7GQ

I have a set from Milwaukee, they aren't the best out there but have worked well for me.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Sidebar: if cutting enough metal just get the Hougen annular cutter set...about $90 and last 10x longer than normal holesaws.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003LY4E0Y/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[DWise]

I have been very happy with my Greenlee 830 kit.

 

[marinepride]

We use rigid at work

 

[franzdom]

Agreed, punches are a lot more common for sheet metal.

 

[Notgrownup]

Just buy decent ones, hell a good hole saw is at least $10 each for even the smaller one.

 

[Taylor J.]

As always great info here. Thanks for all the responses.

 

[ecotec]

At work we use the Morse ones. They are okay, but I prefer the carbide ones (Ideal TKO, Klein, Champion CT7…). They are a lot easier on the elbows and wrists. I keep them hidden in my tool box. If you ask to borrow a hole saw you get a Morse. If I do not like you, you get a dull Morse (seriously).

You want to be on the slowest speed. You also want to use a good amount of pressure. If you go too slow, you harden the steel that you are cutting through. It is a balancing act.

The vast majority of my work uses 7/8", 1-1/8", and 1-3/8", so I do not have to have a huge set.

 

[Monkey_Wrench]

Do any of the home improvement stores ie. Home Depot and lowe's carry any that are worth a damn?


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[cheechi]

The only ones I can recommend from personal use are Lenox. I've also used Dewalts but for the similar price I'd say Lenox last longer and cut better new or old.

If you're having difficulty with a hole saw, what I find works best when going through anything non-metal with a hole saw that won't get a good grip or smokes is to drill the pilot hole all the way through, then the only part cutting is just the hole saw teeth since the bit inside is spinning freely. This means all the power from the drill is getting to the saw teeth. If you're really aggressive with it though, it could get you a slightly oblong hole.

 

[astroracer]

Do any of the home improvement stores ie. Home Depot and lowe's carry any that are worth a damn?

DeWalts are generally pretty good. I use Morse hole saws for tube notching and Blair Rota-Broaches for cutting holes in sheet metal and plate. Once you use the Broaches in sheet metal you won't go back to a regular hole saw.
Go to Enco or MSC for good prices on hole saws.
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INPDFF?PMPAGE=634&PMITEM=990-0776
eBay will have the broaches for about the best prices you will find. Search Rota-Broach or Blair.
Mark

 

[royesses]

Do any of the home improvement stores ie. Home Depot and lowe's carry any that are worth a damn?


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Lowes carries Kobalt kits. They are re-branded Blu-mol. very good quality. I have also seen lenox at my local lowes. I believe Home depot carries Milwaukee brand.

 

[Advan]

I use Starret, and am very happy with their performance. I'm sure you can't go wrong with any good name brand though.

 

[Cab037]

I have a set of Lenox that works really well in wood and metal.

 

[PT Doc]

I can vouch for the Milwaukee ICE hole saws. My drill press has a slow speed of 300 rpm. I used a 3" ICE hole saw and drill through 1.5" steel plate. Gentle steady pressure and dark thread cutting oil was used. I did score it first then drilled holes in the perimeter of the score so that the hole saw connected these and I ended up with a smooth hole in the 1.5" plate.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Better hole saw are "bimetal". These will cut wood, plastic, aluminum and mild steel. Lenox certainly is one of the better brands. You will need an arbor. Make sure your saw accept a pin arbor and that you buy one that is compatible with the saws.

If you are not looking to buy/build a set, sometimes you can buy some holes saws with built in arbor (old Ridgid were sold both ways).

A punch will almost always make a cleaner hole, especially in metal or plastic. The down side of punches is that they usually have a limited size range and you have to have access to both the front and back of the work piece.

Carbide tipped hole saws cut faster and last longer. There is a difference between carbide tipped and carbide grit edge. The grit edge do not last as long.

 

[mattyrattypoo]

My favorite is Ruko!