Been eyeing some kits on sale, or will probably come on sale over Xmas time. Intended mostly for 'the brown stuff' but maybe softer alloy metals like aluminum based on some examples I've seen which actually surprise me. I'm kind of a Milwaukee fan boy but one of the kits on sale has some so-so reviews. My main criteria is to be able to buy replacement parts or saws if I burn them out, or maybe an in between size if not in the kit. That's where some product lines are not quite as plentiful. KMS sells Milwaukee & also Diablo. I see a Bosch set... Lennox was a good name back in the day but not as common? Any recommendations?
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Hole saw kit recs
- Thread starter PeterT
- Start date
Doggggboy
Ultra Member
I've had no complaints with my Milwaukee set. I like that it has 2 arbors. One straight threaded for the smaller diameter saws and another with push in tangs to hold the bigger saws and stop them from getting too tight. Used mostly for wood and occasionally sheet metal or metal clad doors. A few times for 1/4 or 1/2 inch plate. I've collected a couple or Irwin carbide tooth hole saws from PA in the mystery boxes, 2 3/8 and 4 1/2 inch and they fit the same arbor.
Going to surprise some here with this recommendation. Hole Saw set from Amazon
I needed a hole saw to cut a metric opening in steel, and saw I could get this set for the price of an arbor and single saw from Home Depot. Worked great getting though sheet steel (20 gauge maybe). 2 complaints - the provided set screws that retain the pilot drill are made of cheese and need replacing. And there is no organizer for them, each is individually packaged. For the price I'm happy. For wood to make nice clean holes I prefer a Forstner bit over a hole saw unless its going to be really big, like 3" plus, then I'll just pony up for a specific hole saw but those are usually construction jobs so the finish isn't usually a concern.
I needed a hole saw to cut a metric opening in steel, and saw I could get this set for the price of an arbor and single saw from Home Depot. Worked great getting though sheet steel (20 gauge maybe). 2 complaints - the provided set screws that retain the pilot drill are made of cheese and need replacing. And there is no organizer for them, each is individually packaged. For the price I'm happy. For wood to make nice clean holes I prefer a Forstner bit over a hole saw unless its going to be really big, like 3" plus, then I'll just pony up for a specific hole saw but those are usually construction jobs so the finish isn't usually a concern.
Yes, I thought about buying what I need which would start with smaller diameter sizes anyways. When I started to tally the components individually, it was exceeding the kit price. Maybe because of kit sale. But like you say, if you never use them... I'll have to study this. I suspect the bigger arbor is required after a certain diameter.
I thought the Bosch only used one arbor but seems to me there was a comment that 'a part was missing'. Once upon a time in the store I played with some parts. Some looked interchangeable, others not
I thought the Bosch only used one arbor but seems to me there was a comment that 'a part was missing'. Once upon a time in the store I played with some parts. Some looked interchangeable, others not
the arbor with the two pins and the screw collar is for the larger sizes, both kits have that. The smaller hole saw sizes just screw on, it looks like that Milwaukee one has the separate arbor, the Bosch one may just do it with a bushing.
98$ for that set its a very good price, i dont know how well they preform in steel for that price. I have found with hole saw's price is pretty much directly linked to performance
98$ for that set its a very good price, i dont know how well they preform in steel for that price. I have found with hole saw's price is pretty much directly linked to performance
Buy the Milwaukee hole dozer set and get the Packout case as an added bonus. Can’t have enough Packout. Price on sale is good too.
Elektrishun
Active Member
Looks like Construction Fasteners has the same kit for $98.00:
I have a few of each major brands, and most are good. Lubrication and cooling is extremely important to getting life out of holesaws. Even soapy water will extend the life of a holesaw 10x over dry cutting. They build a lot of heat.
That said, carbide tipped holesaws are incredible.
That said, carbide tipped holesaws are incredible.
I heard Tacoma!yes, the electricians (@djberta) love em, that and toyota tacomas
You have no idea how good a back Packout is until you have at least 5 pcs.
yea they do look pretty sweet, if i was in a trade that could utilize them i would have a bunch of them myself
BaitMaster
Ultra Member
Milwaukee has been good to me. You can get “master” sets on sale every once in awhile. I bought mine like 5 years ago. Have to replace a few now and then but only after some harsh use in steel.
Dan Dubeau
Ultra Member
Starrett, Diablo, Milwaukee are a few that I have that I would recommend. I actually have a mastercraft maximum set that is pretty good quality. The others I acquired because I needed a particular size and had to drill a lot of holes with them. That's the tradeoff, and if I had to do it over again I'd do it the same way. Buy a large cheaper Bi-Metal set of a variety of sizes, and If I found myself needing better quality in specific sizes, buy that size in a high quality name brand.
You can always nurse a lower quality hole saw through a need it now project for a couple holes, but having an expensive set of a variety of sizes sitting unused in a case for me is a waste of money. Unless you get a great deal on it!
You can always nurse a lower quality hole saw through a need it now project for a couple holes, but having an expensive set of a variety of sizes sitting unused in a case for me is a waste of money. Unless you get a great deal on it!
I was ready to click buy on Milwaukee 9-pc set which is closer to my current sizing needs. KMS & others have good sale prices. Lots of replacement & incremental Milwaukee sizes to choose from, carbide, diamond etc . I don't really care about the box. So those are all Milwaukee positives. Dismissing reviews like case quality beefs or obvious tool abusers, I'm reading too many bad reviews on saw quality, roundness, arbor fit... more fundamental QC things that are kind of cooling my jets right now. Normally I'm a Milwaukee fan boy. Diablo might win out. Their arbor system seems a bit simpler? TBC.
Milwaukee 9-pc set smaller sizes
www.kmstools.com
Milwaukee reviews
www.milwaukeetool.ca
Diablo 9-pc
www.kmstools.com
Milwaukee 9-pc set smaller sizes
Milwaukee HOLE DOZER General-Purpose Hole Saw Kit - 9PC
The Milwaukee 9-Piece general-purpose HOLE DOZER hole saw kit features Rip Guard teeth that were built with more steel behind the cutting edge for added strength. These teeth give you increased productivity on the jobsite as well as better hole quality, a
Milwaukee reviews
Reviews for Milwaukee Hole Dozer General Purpose Bi-Metal Hole Saw Set (9-Piece) | Pg 4 - The Home Depot
Read page 4 of our customer reviews for more information on the Milwaukee Hole Dozer General Purpose Bi-Metal Hole Saw Set (9-Piece).
www.homedepot.com
(9PC) HOLE DOZER™ Bi-Metal Hole Saw Kit - 3.5 TPI | Milwaukee Tool
The MILWAUKEE® HOLE DOZER™ Bi-Metal Hole Saws feature a new 3.5 TPI tooth design for the longest life in metals.
www.milwaukeetool.ca
Diablo 9-pc
Diablo 9pc Bi-Metal Hole Saw Set
The Diablo 9-Piece Hole Saw Kit features five (5) bi-metal hole saw cups, 1 piece SnapLock PLUS mandrel, 1 pilot bit and 2 adaptor nuts (1/2" and 5/8") for quick and easy hole saw cup changes for maximum job performance. This high performance hole saw set
Dan Dubeau
Ultra Member
I just went off on a price search, and the prices for the ones you linked above are really no different and sometimes cheaper than was you'd get at Can tire for maximum stuff (at full price, not CT's notorious jacked prices and perpetual sales). My advice above doesn't math out in this case. The Diablo, or Milwaukee kits above are decent deals, and you'd probably be splitting hairs between them as to quality.
Or just go straight to carbide? Some of the carbide kits/sizes reflected on Diablo web site are not offered (no carbide at KMS). Or kit varies wit CDN sellers (HD mixing bi-metal with carbide). Anyways Diablo carbide are out there in the wild. The more I look, the more I kind of like their adapter system more which I have a feeling might be part of the Milwaukee complaints (ie. arbor runout centering issue vs cup roundness, but really not sure)
www.diablotools.com
DHS09SGPCT | Hole Saws | Wood, Metal & Plastics | Carbide Hole Saw Sets - Diablo Tools
Learn all about #DHS09SGPCT. The General Purpose Carbide Teeth Hole Saw Set features 5 carbide hole saw cups and Diablo's 4-piece Snap-Lock Plus™ Mandrel System for quick and easy hole saw cup changes for maximum job performance. This new, high performance TiCo Hi-Density carbide hole saw set...