Holesaw Set buying advice

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FineWine

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#295935 6-May-2022 12:54

Looking for a decent general purpose Holesaw set for around the $100 mark.

Suitable for most materials: metal, wood, plastic (not glass or ceramic type materials)

Bunnings - Sutton Tools 10 Piece Bi-Metal General Purpose Holesaw Set $129.00

Mitre 10 - Jobmate Holesaw Set Bi-metal 9 Piece White $99.77

ToolShed - Holesaw Set Bi-Metal 13pc $129.00 (9p = $109.00)

Google NZ & AU search reviews are mixed but strangely the Mitre 10 home brand Jobmate gets good reviews.

Members thoughts please.

Whilst the difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a bit longer. However, miracles you will have to wait for.

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mdf
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#2910985 6-May-2022 13:33

I am absolutely no expert on this but FWIW:

I own a couple of different brands of cheap holesaw (cannot find my set, buy another set; do not have the right size, buy another set; metric vs imperial nonsense, buy another set). They are all essentially the same construction, bi-metallic with a smooth shank for the arbor which secures with a nut and a separate pin plate ~~- this is the same style as the ones linked by the OP~~. They all get the job done in timber fine, somewhat less fine in steel. They all blunt relatively quickly. However certainly for timber, I have had good success in sharpening mine - I just use a triangular saw file to sharpen up the points; I've also experimented adding fleam/bevel to some - this has worked _amazingly_ well, at least for cutting timber. Even compared to a brand new hole saw, the sharpened holesaw cuts way better. But I don't know I'd want to hack away ham handedly (which is typically how my sharpening process works) at anything other than a dirt cheap throwaway part.

I have used a builder mate's _very_ expensive holesaws - these are TCT and a screw thread for the arbor, and a much wider gullet for sawdust and ejecting the slug. These are out-of-sight better than my rubbish ones and if money was no object, I would absolutely buy these.

So based on my experience, I'm not sure about a $100 price point. That's a lot more than a cheap set (which work really well if sharpened) and a lot less than an expensive set (that absolutely do not need sharpening).

But very much FWIW. Someone that has used both $30 and $100 holesaws may have better insights than me.

EDIT: On closer inspection, the sets linked by the OP do seem to have the screw on style arbor with spring loaded pins, rather than smooth/nut/separate plate combos I have.

Stu1

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#2910986 6-May-2022 13:33

I had some mitre ten ones found really blunt even with a decent drill. I brought some of these https://www.tradetested.co.nz/p/tools-hardware/power-tools/accessories/holesaw-sets/bahco-professional-14-piece-holesaw-set

If you are going to use them all the time there is a nice kit at tool shed https://www.thetoolshed.co.nz/product/16329-milwaukee-hole-dozer-holesaw-kit-15pc

eracode

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#2911074 6-May-2022 15:11

About 30 years ago I bought just one good quality hole-saw for a particular job - then later bought additional collar sizes as I needed them, to go on my original mandrel. I still only have five different collars ranging from 20mm to 60mm. I always bought good ones and have used them on timber, MDF and sheet brass, aluminium plate and fibre-cement. Most of mine are Blu-Mol or Suttons. They are all still in excellent sharp shape.

If you want to buy a set, you will not regret buying the Sutton Tools set. I believe they are an old Oz-based family firm but now owned by the respected old UK cutting-tool firm, Patience and Nicholson. They also make the P&N 'Evacut' brand - which is very high quality. About 25 years ago I bought a 25-piece boxed set of Evacut metric twist drills and they have been truly outstanding. I also have Evacut router bits - really good.

A lot of their products are made in NZ. You may recall news that a large fire temporarily wiped out a tool-making factory in Kaiapoi early this year - that is the Sutton Tools NZ factory.

I wouldn't buy Tool Shed stuff. IMO a lot of their tools are rubbish and made in China to meet a price-point under their branding. Old story - you get what you pay for.

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Senecio

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#2911082 6-May-2022 15:55

My advice, don't buy holesaw sets. Buy a specific holesaw size for the job you need to do. I find the sets imprecise and often you only end up using 2-3 of the different sizes in the set anyway.

eracode

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#2911088 6-May-2022 16:11

Senecio:

My advice, don't buy holesaw sets. Buy a specific holesaw size for the job you need to do. I find the sets imprecise and often you only end up using 2-3 of the different sizes in the set anyway.

Good advice. As mentioned, was my approach. Buy the best quality for the size you currently need - put the money into that rather than a set.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

mdf

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#2911092 6-May-2022 16:37

eracode:

<snip>

I wouldn't buy Tool Shed stuff. IMO a lot of their tools are rubbish and made in China to meet a price-point under their branding. Old story - you get what you pay for.

Just disagreeing with this last point a little. I really like the Toolshed categorising it's stuff DIY, Trade & Professional. I have found the "professional" stuff to be top notch, especially their hand tools. While endorsing the "you get what you pay for" bit, some Toolshed stuff really does what the marketing says and is clearly sourced from exactly the same factory as OEM branded stuff without the same markup for said branding. Toolshed clamps are awesome.

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richms

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#2911098 6-May-2022 16:56

I find that the sizes in sets are all pretty useless, being labeled in mm but clearly using some inch designation as the base sizing.

Example I needed some 60mm and 80mm holes for cable grommets in wood desks. No one sells those sizes but bunnings sell cable grommets that need that size hole. Whats the point selling things they dont have the tools to install.

I have just bought holesaws the sizes I needed off aliexpress for way less than the ones at bunnings. No seperate arbor and saw, theyre all welded together so it doesnt come off when you least need it. Sizes that are useful, accurate and good enough for the job.

Richard rich.ms

mdf

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#2911118 6-May-2022 17:48

richms:
I find that the sizes in sets are all pretty useless, being labeled in mm but clearly using some inch designation as the base sizing.

Example I needed some 60mm and 80mm holes for cable grommets in wood desks. No one sells those sizes but bunnings sell cable grommets that need that size hole. Whats the point selling things they dont have the tools to install.

I have just bought holesaws the sizes I needed off aliexpress for way less than the ones at bunnings. No seperate arbor and saw, theyre all welded together so it doesnt come off when you least need it. Sizes that are useful, accurate and good enough for the job.

I had this exact Bunnings mismatch grommets and holesaws experience. Same resolution too.

Rust

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#2911120 6-May-2022 17:59

I do not have much experience with wood but I have plenty with metal. If you are planning on cutting any metal, and are limited to the rough budget of the sets linked, then absolutely, without question, get the Sutton brand.

The others linked will fail on the first hole in metal.

eracode

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#2911144 6-May-2022 18:54

richms:

(Snip)

No seperate arbor and saw, theyre all welded together so it doesnt come off when you least need it.

If you’ve ever used the standard screw/pins/mandrel locking system, you would know that they can’t and don’t ever “come off when you least need it”. It’s physically impossible.

I’d buy that system every time ahead of a cheap welded unit from Aliexpress. And good luck with using that unit on any type of metal.

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k1w1k1d

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#2911154 6-May-2022 19:21

I use the Blu-Mol Bi-metal hole saws at work. Good quality and reasonably priced. Come in a multitude of sizes.

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#2911298 7-May-2022 13:53

Depends what size holes you actually need. I recently got a 105mm TCT holesaw off aliexpress. It has so far drilled MDF, Metal, gib and hardieboard(make sure you wear PPE). I looked at holesaw sets, but most of them aren't great and you are often buying sizes you'll never use. Used to by the TCT holesaws off AliEx for work and thats all we used for drilling holes in sheetmetal.

insane

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#2911309 7-May-2022 15:14

I bought this Diablo hole saw set (see link below) some years ago on clearance from Mitre10 for $50 I believe.

It's worlds apart from the $10 set I had from the $2 shop. Also like the quick release feature.

Probably the last set I'll own.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/3584698111

eracode

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#2911353 7-May-2022 17:35

insane: I bought this Diablo hole saw set (see link below) some years ago on clearance from Mitre10 for $50 I believe.

It's worlds apart from the $10 set I had from the $2 shop. Also like the quick release feature.

Probably the last set I'll own.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/3584698111

FTFY

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MikeAqua

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#2911771 9-May-2022 10:46

I don't remember what they cost sorry, but I have a set of blue-mole hole saws and they have been excellent. I've drilled various woods, marine aluminium alloy and stainless.

I saw them on special at Back's Fasteners.

Mike

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