A hole saw is one of the most important tools for industrial and home use. This is because not only do hole saws offer efficiency in material installation, but also do they enhance productivity.
With the right hole saw, plumbing, construction, pipe connection, and industrial tasks are easier.
There are different hole saw brands in the market today, each with a different make, technology features, performance capabilities, and price. But which is the best to buy?
Given that most of these are advertised as the best, it gets daunting to choose a great deal online.
In a bid to make your hole saw online shopping easier, we have reviewed some of the best hole saws for the metal in 2019, and you most definitely will find one that suits your needs on our top picks.
DEWALT D1800IR5 5-Piece IMPACT READY Hole Saw SetBest Hole Saw For Metal Cutting
DEWALT D1800IR5 5-Piece Hole Saw Set
Made with optimized tooth geometry, DeWalt D1800IR5 is an excellent option for faster drilling speeds. It is impact rated for more durability and is sold in a set of five saws.
Additionally, this kit comes with a 1/4 – inches shank for the drill. When gentle, you can drill through to as much as ½ inches thick of steel.
Even though you may use this metal saw to drill wood, the core will stick. It is hence best you stick to using it on metal.
The cutting blade is thin, and this keeps the heat down. This also means removing lesser material and extended life. DeWalt D1800IR5 has a spring at the center that pops unwanted waste material out.
What’s Included in the Set?
The 5-piece DeWalt impact ready hole set comes with the following hole saws:
- A 1-3/8inch hole saw
- 1-1/8inch hole saw (2 pieces)
- 7/8inch hole saw
- ¾inch hole saw
Drilling Efficiency and Speed
All of DeWalt D1800IR5 impact-ready hole saws are made with optimized tooth geometry for more efficiency and better drilling speeds. Enhanced tooth geometry makes cuts almost 50% faster and doubles their durability.
Tooth Material
DeWalt D1800IR5 uses a bimetal material. This makes it fatigue-resistant. Bi-metal blades are also able to resist back edge swaging and operate at high band tension, thus giving straighter cuts.
- Has optimized tooth geometry to deliver faster drilling speeds
- The saws are impact-rated for more durability
- Has a bi-metal tooth material that makes it resistant to fatigue and edge-swaging
- Offers clean, smooth-edged holes
- The spring breaks easily
- The saw has a too big/excessive case
Final Verdict
Even though the spring of DeWalt D1800IR5 is prone to breaking, the saw set is impact-rated for more durability. This kit might not be best for you if you love compact saws due to its enormous case.
However, by choosing DeWalt D1800IR5, you will enjoy cleaner and smooth cuts, faster drilling speeds, fatigue resistance, and minimal swaging at an incredibly reasonable price.
Bosch HSM23 Sheet Metal Hole Saw SetBest Hole Saw Kit For Metal
Bosch HSM23 Sheet Metal Hole Saw Set
The Bosch HSM23 is a 23-piece saw set for sheet metal with hole saw springs ranging from 1-3/4inches to 6inches.
Bosch Tool Corporation uses a global manufacturing strategy that incorporates a network of suppliers across the globe and has worldwide manufacturing locations/ facilities that are all owned by Bosch.
Some countries with manufacturing facilities are China, the United States, Switzerland, Mexico, and Germany.
Similar standards are applied in the manufacture of Bosch HSM23 and other Bosch products in all their manufacturing plants.
What’s Included in the Bosch HSM23 Set?
- This set comes with a PCM38 quick-change mandrel with one HB85PB cobalt pilot bit (3-3/8”), and spring for hole saws that range from 1-3/4inches to 6inches
- Seven large adapters (AN02) and 3 small adapters (AN01) are included
- Hole saws available are one 3inch, 2-1/2inch, one 2-1/8inch, one 2inch, one 1-3/4inch, one 1-1/2inch, one 1-3/8inch, one 1-1/8 inch, one 7/8 inch, and one 3/4 inch metal hole saws
Design
Bosch HSM23 hole saws have a threadless design. This eliminates the chances of seizing in the mandrel and offers quick change.
A positive lock design has also been added to reduce wobble. Bosch HSM23 has been engineered for easy plug removal, and its ejector springs allow automatic disk ejection for any saw that’s 1-3/4 inches or larger.
Efficiency
Bosch HSM23 features quick change and simple plug removal technology. With this, you can work faster and smarter with Bosch’s patented universal quick change hole saw system.
The revolutionary design of this system and Bosch’s universal mandrel works well with all tool and hole saw brands, meaning that you will be able to change saws in no time.
The extended family of Bosch hole saw now has sheet metal saws and a new carbide multi-material. Additionally, the pilot bit snaps easily into the mandrel.
- Easy plug removal and automatic disk ejection technology saves your time
- The pilot bit snaps into the mandrel easily
- The positive lock design in the hole saw minimizes wobble
- A variety of saws, adapters, and springs in the set diversifies the product’s range of use
- The saw easily rips through a metal stud
- High quality – the set is durable, even with prolonged use
- Relatively pricey, and no offers are currently available on this product
- Sold as a pack, thus not ideal for people in need of a specific sized hole saw or just one item in the kit
Final Verdict
For professionals who don’t mind paying more for better quality, the Bosch HSM23 may be a great choice.
This kit makes hole cutting easier with its automatic disk ejection technology and with a minimal wobble, you most probably will enjoy working with it.
We thus highly recommend Bosch HSM23 to people in need of a durable and efficient hole saw kit.
DRILLPRO 13Pcs Hole Saw KitBest Hole Saw For Sheet Metal
DRILLPRO 13Pcs Hole Saw Kit
A 13 pieces hole saw kit; this product has an HSS high-speed steel and an extremely sharp blade to make metal drilling easier. The hole saw kit is suitable for installing locks, doorknobs, and cabinets quickly.
The kit is designed to help in drilling large diameter holes through home wood, desks, alloy plate, aluminum plate, mild steel, stainless steel, plastic sheet, copper, brass, iron, and so on.
Efficiency and Performance Capabilities
On top of the HSS high speed and a sharp blade, this DRILLPRO hole saw consumes lesser energy. The hole saw kit’s carbide teeth are capable of offering clean-cut and round holes in all the metals listed above.
These saw kits can drill depths of about 7/9 inches on wood, and up to 1/5 on stainless steel.
The screwdriver is 16 cm long and has a magnetic tip for the secure handling of screws. The shank can also fit in a wireless operated drill, so long as their sizes are compatible.
DRILLPRO saw kit has impact resistance technology. It is durable, and not easily prone to wear and tear.
What’s Included in the Kit?
DRILLPRO hole saw comes in 13 different sizes to meet your professional needs. These are:
- 53mm/2.09 inches
- 50mm/1.97 inches
- 45mm/1.77 inches
- 40mm/1.57 inches
- 35mm/1.38inches
- 30mm/1.81 inches
- 28mm/1.10 inches
- 26mm/1.02 inches
- 25mm/0.98 inches
- 22mm/0.87 inches
- 20mm/0.79 inches
- 18mm/0.71 inches
- 16mm/0.63 inches
The length is approximately 65mm/2.55 inches, while the diameter of the shank is 10mm/ 3.93 inches. The shank’s length is 25mm/9.84 inches.
Applications
this hole saw kit suits a wide range of applications. You can use the saws for a vertical electric drill, a hand-held electric drill, and on a mobile belt magnetic drilling machine.
For convenience, the saws are sold when packaged in a sturdy box. The after-sales service is excellent; if you are not satisfied with the product, you can return it within 90 days and get a 100% refund.
You can use water or lubrication to cool down this hole saw. For perfect drilling results, you should keep the saw kit in a stable position as you drill.
- A right resistance technology that guarantees durability
- The DRILLPRO brand is reliable, and the quality of this kit is excellent
- 90-day return policy for unsatisfied customers – you get a 100% refund
- An excellent customer service
- The HSS HIGH-SPEED technology in the kit saves you time while delivering exceptional results
- The hole saw is relatively shallow
- The bits lack size markings
- Tilting the drill even at low speeds makes the pilot bits snap
Final Verdict
We find the DRILLPRO HSS Drill Bit Hole Saw Set a good option for professionals in need of versatility in a hole saw set.
You can use this kit on a wide range of applications, and with the different saw sizes, you will be capable of cutting the exact size you need.
Unfortunately, this product will not be great if you prefer non-shallow saws. The lack of size markings and the tendency of the saw to snap after tilting are huge drawbacks.
Greenlee 660 Kwik Change Stainless Steel Hole Cutter KitBest Professional Hole Saw Set or Best Hole Saw for Cutting Thick Metal
Greenlee 660 Hole Cutter Kit
A stainless steel hole saw this Kwik change kit has 7 pieces of hole drilling accessories. You Can easily change the cutter head just with a push followed by a turn – the ejector spring on any size more than 4/4 inches makes slug removal much easier. The primary use is to cut out tools.
The minimum chunk size is 3/8 inches/ 9.5mm. The overall product weight is 1.3 pounds.
What’s Included?
This 7-piece stainless steel hole sow kit comes with:
- 2 inches cutter head
- 1-3/4inch head
- 1-3/8inch head
- 1-1/8inch head
- 7/8inch head
- Hex key
- Arbor
Efficiency
Greenlee 660 stainless steel hole cutter set makes the cutting of stainless steel quick and easy. With the Kwik change arbor, you can change cutter heads without strain. Flange Stop maintains control to ensure that you don’t over-drill.
Greenlee made this kit with carbide teeth, which means superpower and durability. The best result was archived at high speed with adding lubricant to prolong the life of the saw.
- Flange stop has been included to prevent over-drilling
- The precision-carbide teeth offer optimal performance and longevity
- Easy slug removal with ejector spring on sizes beyond ¾ inches
- A split-point tip on the cobalt steel pilot drill prevents walking
- Stopping the drill quickly makes the cutters pop off due to the quick change
- Lacks a 2-1/8 inches bit
Final Verdict
I recommend the Greenlee 660 Kwik to professionals looking for an efficient steel cutting solution.
This kit also works well in cutting other products, and with its flange stop, more accurate results are assured as there are minimal chances of over-drilling.
You will enjoy the efficiency of the saw’s carbide teeth, and the five saw sizes in drilling different hole sizes.
However, be sure not to stop the drill randomly as the cutters are prone to popping off.
DEWALT DWACM1802 Metal Cut Carbide Holesaw SetBest Carbide Tipped Hole Saw For Metal
DEWALT DWACM1802 Metal Cut Carbide Holesaw Set
A 3-piece metal cut carbide hole saw set, DEWALT DWACM1802 is one of the reliable hole saw set brands in the market. The product has carbide teeth to enhance the life in material, and three saw size options to enable users to carry out more professional drilling tasks.
What’s Included in the Set?
By buying this hole set kit, you’ll get:
- One 1-3/8 inches Hole saw
- One 1-1/8 inches Hole saw
- One 7/8 inches Hole saw
Efficiency and Ease of Use
DEWALT DWACM1802 comes with an ejection spring to ease plug ejection. The kit also has a raised shoulder that limits the chances of a breakthrough.
The product’s optimized tooth design enables fast drilling speed, and an optimized pilot bit that enhances mental life.
You can use DEWALT DWACM1802 to cut 1/8 of steel. However, you need to cut steel slower and keep the surface saturated with cutting fluid/ oil.
- With the carbide teeth, you’re assured of long life in material
- Comes with a raised shoulder to inhibit break-through chances
- Ejection spring eases plug ejection
- The tooth design has been optimized for speedy drilling
- An optimized pilot bit for long life in metal
- Drilling harder metals like steel require lesser speeds
- Lacks a variety of size options
Final Verdict
DEWALT DWACM1802 is an excellent option for anyone looking for a fast metal drilling solution. Even though you might need to work slow on heavy-duty metals like steel, the saw will get you good results at the end of the day.
The lack of a variety of size options is a drawback, but not too much of a deal-breaker to people in need of a set with the exact sizes these saws come with.
We hence recommend DEWALT DWACM1802 to anyone looking for efficiency in a hole saw kit.
Milwaukee Electric Tool 49-22-4800 Hole Saw SetBest Electric Tool Hole Saw Set
Milwaukee Electric Tool 49-22-4800 Hole Saw Set
The Milwaukee hole saw kit is excellent for cutting plastics and thin gauge metals whose thickness doesn’t exceed 1/8 inches. The saws offer a professional solution for hole-making with impact drivers and feature a ¼ inches hex shank, and utilizes an 8-TPI thin wall design.
What’s Included in the Set?
Sold in three parts, the Milwaukee 49-22-4800 hole saw set offers versatility in cutting holes. Available hole saws in this pack include:
- 49-56-9810 (7/8 inches) hole saw
- 49-56-9820 (1-1/8 inches) hole saw
- 49-56-9830 (1-3/8 inches) hole saw
With the size options, there are to choose from, Milwaukee enables you to cut different sizes of holes.
Drilling Speed and Efficiency
Milwaukee 49-22-4800 utilizes an 8-TPI design. With this, the saws offer a blur-free cut match, while taking 40% lesser time than bi-metal hole saws do.
An ejection spring is included to eliminate the frustration of getting rid of slugs manually through automatic material ejection, while the top shoulder design inhibits the chances of over drilling into the material, which could potentially damage the inside components of a junction and electrical boxes.
Impact Drivers
Milwaukee 49-22-4800 has a strong quick-change hex shank. Hence, Shockwave thin impact duty wall saws of Milwaukee offer users a hole saw that works with impact drivers.
- Offers excellent, fast cuts – 40% faster than bi-metal hole saws
- Works with impact drivers
- Comes with a ¼ inch hex shank
- Cuts both plastics and thin-gauge metals
- The saw’s design is durable, even with long-lasting use
- Great price
- Can’t work on thicker metals (beyond 1/8-inches thick)
- The saw portion might slide or push down the shank and fuse, making it unstable
Final Verdict
If you’re looking for a professional hole cutting solution designed for speed, Milwaukee 49-22-4800 might suit you.
This hole saw works well at cutting thin gauge metals and plastics. The fact that this kit works with impact drivers is a plus.
However, Milwaukee 49-22-4800 will not be an ideal option if you are looking for a hole saw kit with many size options or one you will use to cut thicker metals.
Best Hole Saw For Metal – Buyer’s Guide
Contents:
- Overview for Hole Saws
- What is an Integral Shank?
- What is the Best Hole Saw for Stainless Steel?
- What Does Arbored Hole Saw Mean?
- Attached vs. Detachable Arbors – Which is Best?
- How Do You Mount a Hole Saw?
- Conclusions
Overview for Hole Saws
Metal hole saws are versatile tools with a range of applications. Here are some of the benefits of using a metal saw over a regular drill.
Efficiency – Very little of the total size of the material being removed is usually cut by a hole saw. This results in the need for lesser power.
Versatility – Another benefit of using hole saws is the ability of a hole saw to cut a variety of hole sizes. There is a wide range of hole saw diameters in the market that are capable of cutting easily as compared to twisting a drill or spade to complete the same task.
To avoid this, ensure you back out the hole often saw to clear dirt and chippings. When cutting metal, it is recommended you use oil to help in lubricating the saw.
What Does Arbored Hole Saw Mean?
Some hole saws are sold with detachable arbors, while others come with attached arbors. Other hole saws are sold without arbors, which means that you will have to buy an arbor separately.
Attached Arbors
Attached arbors in hole saws are usually welded or fixed to the saw’s blade and can’t be removed.
The benefit of this is that you will not need to dismantle the arbor and hole saw anytime you intend to change the size of your saw. Since attached arbors cannot be removed, saws with this can be said to be having an “integral shank.”
Detachable Arbors
Unattached arbors are usually not fixed in the hole saw. They can be removed, and used on a variety of saw blades. Even though a detachable arbor can be removed, it can also have an integral shank.
Although a detachable arbor can be removed, it may also have an integral shank.
What is an Integral Shank?
A shank refers to the shaft which runs in the middle of an arbor and the part attached to the drill bit.
In simple words, a drill that has an integral shank can only be suitable to use with a specific make, model, or range of hole saws. An Abor of one manufacturer might fail to fit in the saw blades of another manufacturer.
Attached vs. Detachable Arbors – Which is Best?
One benefit of a detachable arbor is that you will not require to buy an arbor for each hole saw you have.
On the other hand, an attached/fixed arbor will give you the benefit of not having to waste time attaching and dethatching hole saws in between uses.
What is the Best Hole Saw for Stainless Steel? – Choosing the Right Hole Saw
The right hole saw for you will depend on the material you intend to cut, size requirements, and your budget, among other factors.
Below is a hole saw drill bit material options you need to consider when shopping for a hole saw kit.
High-Speed Steel (HSS)
An economical solution for most drilling applications, HSS is excellent for drilling into plastic, wood, and soft steel.
Cobalt (HSCO)
Usually considered as an HSS upgrade, this drill bit comes with 5 to 8 percent of cobalt blended into the material’s base. This is suitable for cutting harder steel and stainless steel grades.
Carbide (Carb)
This is the most brittle and hardest of all drill bit materials. It is typically used for production drilling, and should not be used in drill presses or hand drills. These bits are meant for hard and demanding materials.
How Do You Mount a Hole Saw?
Hole saws pose a danger, and thus, knowing how and when to use them is vital. Follow the following steps to attach your hole saw to a drill.
- Determine the right size – start by checking your requirements and set the necessary hole saw size. The nature of the hole you intend to drill will dictate this
- Select your arbor – if you’re using a detachable arbor, determine the right size that your hole saw will fit into
- Fit the arbor
- Screw together the hole saw and arbor
- Tighten the hole saw
- Tighten the chunk
Conclusion
I hope that this Best Hole Saw For Metal Review will make your hole saw for metal purchase easier. Keep in mind that hole saws are a safety threat and should be handled with utmost care.
Familiarize yourself with a hole saw best use practices and once you get one, be sure to maintain it through regular cleaning, sharpening, and safe storage.
Did you like our review? Please comment! And don’t forget to check our other reviews – Tool for Cutting Circles in Wood Review could be interesting for you.