Choose the Right Hole Saw for Your Project
Updated: Oct. 10, 2018Tips for drilling big holes in wood and metal
Drill large holes in wood
If you hate to use a hole saw because it’s slow, dulls quickly or burns the wood, take heart. We talked to Matt Savarino, the hole saw expert at Lenox Tools, to get to the bottom of your dilemma. Matt told us that most DIYers don’t need expensive hole saws. In fact, for occasional cuts in wood, he says the cheapest carbon steel saws work just fine (see Photo 1). But don’t try using them in metal—that’ll destroy the saw teeth in seconds.
Even if you drill relief holes, hole saws take forever to drill through thick wood. If the holes are less than 1-1/2 in. in diameter, don’t bother with hole saws; use spade bits.
Hole Saw for Metal: Drill large holes in metal
But if you’re cutting a hole in your steel door for a deadbolt, or cut lots of holes, step up to a bimetal hole saw for metal. The teeth are made from a harder steel than the shell, so they last longer. But that doesn’t mean they’re indestructible. Always provide lubrication when drilling into metal. Cutting oil is best, and even ordinary motor oil is better than nothing (see Photo 2). You can use bimetal saws to cut through all types of materials except ceramic, porcelain, granite and the like. For those, you need a carbide-grit hole saw.
