Hole Saws – The Ultimate FAQ Guide

Looking for the best hole saws in the market is a challenge in itself – how about a hole saw manufacturer you can consider as your business partner? – That’s a totally different story.

Should you be on the hunt for high quality hole saws without ever burning a hole in your pocket, you’re just on the right page!

By the end of this guide, you’ll not only be an expert in finding good quality hole saws, you will also develop the eye in finding trusted and remarkable hole saw manufacturers in the market.

Before we dive right in – how do you understand what a hole saw is?

What is a Hole Saw Used For?

A hole saw is a special type of drill bit that you can use to cut or bore out a large-diameter hole.

It’s distinct from a traditional drill bit because it usually creates larger and bigger holes than what regular drill bits can create.

You can use hole saws in boring a hole through wood, plastic, stone, concrete, and other materials.

Can You Use a Hole Saw to Cut Metal?

Yes, in fact, once mounted onto a power drill, they work akin to how regular drill bits work.

You’ll see how easy it’ll cut through a thin sheet of metal, like stainless or aluminum steel. In working on thicker, sheets, though, it’s worth noting that the hole saw of your choice needs to be strong and durable enough to cut through the workpiece.

That brings us to our next question, which is…

Bi-Metal Hole Saw vs. Carbide Hole Saws: Which One is Better?

You can purchase two (2) different kinds of hole saws – one that is bi-metal and one that is carbide.

Bi-metal hole saws simply refer to a hole saw made out of two (2) different/separate materials that are fused and joined together. It’s not like an alloy where the materials are mixed – they’re joined and fused through different layers.

Carbide hole saws, on the other hand, are usually made of high speed steel (HSS). They’re not completely made out of tungsten carbide – the tungsten carbide material is only at the tip or the cutting edges of the hole saw.

You can use bi-metal hole saws for the cutting of a wide variety of ferrous and non-ferrous materials, with a few types of metal, preferably those that are up to 5.0 mm thick. While carbide hole saws are useful in cutting through aluminum steel, stainless steel, cast iron steel, bronze, brass, titanium, and the like, they’re also highly effective in terms of cutting through a depth of 20 to 23 mm.

What is a Hole Saw Kit?

A hole saw kit is a set of products that includes different-sized hole saws for different kinds and types of application.

Hole saw kits are offered to residential homeowners so they wouldn’t have to worry about sizes. A regular hole saw kit would contain the most common and the most usual sizes – usually about eight (8) to twelve (12) pieces.

What Materials Can You Work on Using Hole Saws?

Hole saws are versatile and flexible materials that you can use to cut through a wide range of materials.

You can use it for different types and kinds of wood such as hardwood, maple, oak, softwood, cedar, plastic, PVCs, steel and metal, fiberglass, and so on!

What is a Hole Saw Arbor?

Arbors are added tools that you use to link a drill chuck to a hole saw.

In simpler and easier-to-understand terms, arbors are somewhat shanks that are attached in the middle part of the hole saw.

They’re also known as “mandrels,” so don’t be confused. In the industry, you’ll hear a lot of interchanging of these two (2) terms.

Can You Use a Hole Saw Without an Arbor?

The most recommended is to utilize an arbor or a mandrel in using a hole saw.

However, there are several sources that say you can use a hole saw without an arbor or a mandrel.

You can do this by securing the following materials:

1. Hole saw
2. ½ inch hex bolt (width must fit inside hole saw’s threaded portion)
3. Nose pliers

You start off by screwing the bolt into the back of the hole saw. Once it’s placed, use your pliers to grip the bolt.

Then, place the wood or the workpiece below the hole saw and slowly drill it by doing a rotating motion of the pliers.

This manual way of using a hole saw doesn’t require you to have an arbor – there’s always a makeshift arbor to use!

However, if you are to use it in bulk, you would need an arbor as it’s the most recommended.

Are There Hole Saws Specifically for Glass?

After learning about bi-metal and tungsten carbide hole saws, it’s definitely worth noting that there also are different hole saws for other materials, such as glass and fiber glass.

If you need to cut through or work on glass, the best type of hole saw to use is a diamond hole saw. In fact, diamond hole saws are so flexible, that you can work on other materials, too, such as:

• Granite
• Marble
• Porcelain
• Ceramic
• Fiberglass
• Slate
• Limestone
• And many more!

These diamond hole saws can help you with your projects no matter how fragile they are.

What are the Most Common Hole Saw Sizes?

Hole saw sizes would depend on the type – if it’s handheld or if it is to be mounted to a drill; as well as its purpose.

Nevertheless, the most customary sizes for hole saws range between ½ inch (14 mm) and 8 ¼ inches (210 mm).

When it comes to the most common size used, the size 80 mm is never overtaken by other sizes.

How Do You Properly Operate a Hole Saw?

Using or operating a hole saw does not fall far from how you use a regular drill bit.

1. The first thing you need to do is to ensure that your hole saw fits your drill bit drive
2. Then, you need to mount the hole saw onto the drill, then insert and place the drill bit through the hole saw’s center hole
3. Ensure that the mounting plate – specifically at their exact decision
4. Before usage, make sure that the bolts and nuts are screwed into place to avoid vibration and inaccuracy
5. Make sure that your hole saw is perpendicular to the workpiece you are working on
6. By applying little-to-moderate pressure, gently push the entire drill bit onto the surface to remove the material
7. Once you get to the point where you’re satisfied with your cut, make sure that you store and properly keep the hole saws for its longevity and its effectiveness over time.

Can You Create a DIY Hole Saw?

A lot of people are trying the trend out of creating a hole saw using common household materials you’ll see in every home.

Though it might not be as effective as purchasing a legitimately manufactured hole saw, choosing the latter would still be best.

How Do You Choose a Hole Saw?

A lot of hole saws differ from one another – and choosing which hole saw is the best would depend on the person or the business that needs to do it.

There are quite a few characteristics and traits you need to consider in choosing and in buying a hole saw.

However, based on the recommendations by experts, you can play with the following traits in choosing which hole saw to use and work with:

• Type of Material of the Project or Workpiece
• Strength of the Hole Saw (Material)

These two (2) are the most influential factors you need to consider in choosing a hole saw.

Type of Material You’ll Work On

What you’ll be working on is one, if not the most important and the most influential factor because different types of hole saws are only capable of working on a few materials.

For instance, there’s only a specific type of hole saws for glass – therefore, using it on other materials or substances can dull it faster, which will make it wear out quicker and more urgently.

Material of the Hole Saw

What a hole saw is made out of also plays a crucial role in selecting which hole saw to work with.

You can choose from bi-metal hole saws, carbide and carbide tipped hole saws, and diamond hole saws.

All of these have specific benefits and advantages you have to take note of.

Forstner Bits vs. Auger Bits vs. Hole Saws

You might find these terms and these products dumbfounding, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll know it like the back of your palm.

To start, forstner bits are among the rarest and the most unique. It’s a type of drill bit that does not contain a spur and is specialized in accuracy woodworking procedures.

The primary idea in using a forstner bit is to be able to cut neatly, precisely, and accurately.

If forstner bits are spurless drill bits, auger bits have spurs, which is considered to be its cutting edges.

Auger bits are designed for heavy-duty applications; their figure and their overall design is perfect for timber applications without the use of excessive force and pressure.

Last but definitely not the least, a hole saw is a classification of a drill bit that is made to produce large-diameter holes cleanly and accurately.

Instead of using a regular drill bit to work its way up to the diameter needed, a hole saw will be able to produce a large diameter easily and effortlessly.

If you need to bore holes with huge diameters, choose hole saws. However, if you’re looking for a drill that can produce a deep incision, auger bits would be the best choice. You should use a forstner bit if you are to drill out through holes as they can chew the hole out completely.

Which Hole Saw Manufacturing Company Should You Trust?

You will find a lot of hole saw manufacturers in the industry, especially in the West. But, which one should you place your full trust on?

For the past decade and so, we here at Tenyu Tools Co., Ltd. have been deemed and considered as China’s top and most relied on hole saw and power tools manufacturer.

We’re able to provide a wide variety of power tools and accessories to our clients. Whether they need regular drill bits, circumferential blades, hole saws, or other accessories that may help their business – we can provide!

Why is Tenyu Tools Co., Ltd. the Best Hole Saw Manufacturer?

Tenyu Tools Co., Ltd. is a Chinese hole saw manufacturer in partnership with some of the world’s top and most famous brands such as DEWALT, DREMEL, Stanley Black & Decker, Apex Tool Group, Bosch, and many more!

Our company has continuously improved and developed the sourcing for highly skilled and experienced engineers, power tools experts, and staff members.

Without the aid of our people, Tenyu Tools Co., Ltd. would still be the same small business that started back in the late 1900s to the early 2000s.

Wherever you are in the world, you can bank and count on us here at Tenyu Tools Co., Ltd. to provide products and services!

Get a Free Quotation From Us Today!

We here at Tenyu Tools Co., Ltd. can offer you a complete set of hole saws and hole saw sets perfect for whatever your projects are.

If you are a business in need of hole saws and other types of power tools and accessories – you can bank and count on us.

In addition to that, we’re also a company you can consider as partners if you’re looking to resell or distribute power tools and accessories.

In case you’re not sure how much you need to do business with us – don’t fret! We can and we will give you a free estimate!

Work with us here at Tenyu Tools Co., Ltd. and experience world-class quality products and services at the best and the most competitive rates available!