Hole saws have seen many uses among DIY enthusiasts and handypersons because of their effectiveness and ability to make many different size holes. Furthermore, they’re cost-effective and use less energy.
This article will go over some tricks and other information regarding using holesaws. We will also discuss how to use a hole saw to ensure successful projects, and treatment tips to ensure that your holes will last longer.
You might be wondering why a drill cannot perform the same function as a hole saw. If drilling huge holes is your goal, you’ll need an instrument suitable for the task. Some of the reasons an edge saw will outperform the drill bit in drilling holes includes
6 Important Tips for Using a Hole Saw
When you require drilling large diameter holes quickly and efficiently, a hole cutter is usually the most efficient option.
However, unlike traditional drill bits, holes can be difficult to operate. Here are six tricks and tricks to get the most value from holes saws.
- Enlarging Existing Holes
They are guided through and through the workpiece using an axial pilot bit. But, the pilot bit becomes useless when trying to increase the size of an existing hole since it has nothing for it to drill. Here’s how you can fix that.
Begin by drawing vertical and horizontal lines that mark the exact centre of the hole. Place the pilot bit of the hole saw cutter at one of these centerlines, and cut through the workpiece and the plywood.
The next step is to clamp a piece of plywood on top of the hole. After that, you can transfer the lines that are in the hole to the piece of plywood.
Another option to expand the diameter of a hole is to put two saws on the arbour, one within the other. The smaller hole saw has to have the same diameter as the hole in which it is located.
The bigger outer saw must be of the same size as the larger, new hole. When you begin drilling, the inner hole saw will pass through the previously used hole and assist in guiding more of the bigger saw into the cut. Not all arbours accommodate two hole saws.
- Preventing Blow Out
If a hole saw is exiting the cut, it’s likely to blow from the side of the piece leaving behind a rough and splintered surface.
This is not an issue when drilling holes into the floor or wall studs; however, it can be a problem when you’re sawing through surfaces that are more polished such as doors.
There are two methods to ensure that you don’t blow out the scrap board: clamp it onto one side of the piece, drill it into the workpiece, drill halfway from one side, and end your hole with drilling on the other side.
- Metal Drilling
Hole saws are as adept in drilling through steel as they are through the wood. When you can, make use of cutting oil to lubricate your hole saw when drilling into metal.
The oil serves two key goals: first, it helps reduce friction, which makes the hole saw cool so it can cut better and last for longer.
Additionally, cutting oil can help flush out metal chips from the kerf, which allows the saw’s teeth to perform their work.
- You can rub oil onto the steel. However, you can try this alternative:
- Place an everyday kitchen sponge between 2 pieces of scrap plywood.
- Utilise a hole saw drill holes through the sandwich of sponge.
- Take the round plug of sponge between the plywood, and then insert it inside the hole.
- Fill it with cutting oil, and you’ll have an auto-lubricating hole saw.
There’s a slight exemption to the rule. Cast iron should always be drilled dry. Don’t make use of any grease.
- Stress-Relief Drilling
Drilling holes with large diameters can be difficult and stressful, particularly to your wrists as well as the motor and your hole saw.
To make difficult hole-sawing tasks less difficult, consider creating a series of high speed drill bit around the edges of your cut. Begin with the hole saw to create a 1/8-inch deep, circular groove in the workpiece.
After that, switch to a 3/16-inch diameter drill bit and drill a series of small holes evenly spaced around the circumference that form the circling groove.
Then, return to the drill to finish drilling the hole. What you’ll notice is that the 16-inch diameter relief holes permit the saw hole to be cut quicker while reducing pressure and tension.
- Plug-Removal Tips
One of the most frequent complaints people have concerning hole saws is that they remove the wood plug from it after drilling every hole.
There are plug-ejecting holes saws, but they’re widely used and are only available in a limited number of sizes. The most commonly used method to take the plug out is to pull it off using an angled screwdriver.
This can be done but is very trying when drilling a lot of holes. Consider this alternative: Drill about halfway on each side of the workpiece. This will leave the plug hanging off your hole saw. Take the plugin in your hand and pull it away from the saw hole.
You can then use an electric drill to insert a 3-inch screw through each of the holes. Alternately the screws are driven in one at each time. Once the screws are seated against the outside of the saw, they’ll push the plug out.
- Sawing Tough Material
To drill holes into cement backer board, tile and fibre-cement boards, among other hard, abrasive materials, you can use a hole saw that has a rim made of diamond or carbide grits that are super-sharp.
They cost more than conventional bi-metal hole saws; however, they are more efficient in cutting and last longer.
Final Thoughts
Based on the advice we’ve provided previously, you’ll face no issues with using an electric hole saw. Use the buying guides provided in this article for choosing the best hole saw for the job you are working on.
