Everything You Need to Know About Hole Saws
Hole saws are a type of drill bit that is designed to cut smooth, clean holes into a variety of materials, from metal to wood, plastics and masonry. We offer a selection of these bits at Ruwag, including Standard Bi-metal, Industrial Bi-metal and Industrial TCT. To help you find out how to use these bits for your project, we’ve put together a guide to hole saws. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about these versatile bits.
A Comprehensive Guide to Hole Saws
Just like any other project, using the right drill bit for the job at hand is essential. As their name implies, hole saws have a unique design that allows you to smoothly cut holes in various materials. They have a hollow centre that helps to get through material, removing the core without the risk of tears or uneven holes.
Types of Hole Saws
As we briefly mentioned above, this drill bit comes in a few different types. Standard Bi-metal bits are made from high-strength HSS Bi-metal that quickly and accurately cuts through wood, plastics, non-ferrous metals, and even extremely hard metals such as aluminium and steel. Ruwag offers a range of sizes in this type, from 16mm to 76mm. Industrial Bi-metal bits are equally durable and long-lasting and can also cut holes into metal and other materials. Ruwag offers a range of sizes in this type, from 14mm to 210mm. Both have jagged edges or teeth that allow them to get through extremely tough materials. Industrial TCT Saws are used for industrial-grade projects. They can cut through wood, fibre boards, laminate, and porous concrete. Sizes are available from 19mm to 90mm.
Using Hole Saws Safely
Using any type of rotary drill requires a great deal of safety. As drill bits such as hole saws are used on softer and porous materials as well as hardened materials such as steel, it is essential to use them properly to avoid problems. Cutting through metal with Bi-metal saws typically requires high energy and high cutting speeds, with higher temperatures and forces involved, too. This can often result in heated, flying chips of metal during cutting. Most materials are able to handle these high forces and temperatures but that doesn’t mean that precautions should not be taken. Always make sure that you use your drill bits carefully to protect yourself, workers and your tools. Some safety tips to follow when using this type of drill bit include the following:
- Use eye protection at all times.
- Ensure that the pilot drill extends the saw’s cutting edge.
- Secure material you are cutting to prevent spins or slips.
- Start cutting with the saw positioned square to the material to ensure that all teeth start cutting at the same time. This will prevent damage and wear to the saw.
- Follow the recommended operating speed for the size of the saw and the material you are using.
- Move the saw in and out to clear material shavings from the hole as it is cut.
- Use cutting oils or lubricants to extend the saw’s lifespan, unless you are cutting wood or cast iron.
- Use an oil-soaked sponge within the saw if you cannot lubricate normally, you are using stainless steel or you are drilling vertically from above.
- Check the mandrel’s drive pins to ensure that they are still engaged in the saw’s drive holes.
- When sawing in wood, finish the hole from the opposite side to avoid splinters. You can then use the hole to ensure that everything is aligned once the pilot drill breaks through the other side.
- Drill smaller holes around the circumference when sawing harder to cut materials. This will help to clear chips.