Which holesaw for mild steel

[deema]

My holesaw set has finally given up the ghost! The arbour, pilot drill and most of the saws are now destined for recycling. So the question is which holesaw? At the moment I'm wiring up my workshop and need lots of 20 and 25mm holes through mild steel. To avoid lots of filing at the exit of the hole I'm after a very accurate (centred around the pilot hole) that will stay sharp for a good number of holes holesaw, what would you recommend?

 

[TFrench]

A rotabroach is the the best thing I've ever used for cutting sheet metal. Holesaws tend to leave a bit of a rough edge.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

 

[heimlaga]

Morse are pretty good.

They can be bough one by one from industrial suppliers so when a part of the setr wears out you just replace that part. If you need a hole saw in a size that didn't come with the set you just buy it.

If your old set is Morse compatible you should save all parts that are still serviceable.

 

[No skills]

Not the cleanest of cut (it's a hole saw after all). But I've been using the Bosch ones for the last couple of years, the quick release action makes clearing the waste so easy.

 

[deema]

Thanks chaps,
I'm going to have a go with the a Bosch saws that No Skills highlighted.

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

I've got a Staret TCT one for cutting cable management holes in stainless. It's cut at least 30 holes but still good as new and cuts well through chipboard worktops too

 

[n0legs]

I've got a Staret TCT one for cutting cable management holes in stainless. It's cut at least 30 holes but still good as new and cuts well through chipboard worktops too

Starrett is my first choice also.
I have a few Erbauer from Screwfix and I've been pleasantly surprised with them.

 

[No skills]

We used to use the starrett (standard yellow ones no carbide tips) - they are a tiny bit more accurate but far less convenient. The Bosch last just as well for what we do (shipping containers).

Don't chuck the blunt ones away if you do any wood butchering as well, I was tinkering around a while ago and found I can re sharpen the bigger saws good enough to use for chowing through timber - not got good enough at it yet to be used again on steel but I'll work on it.

 

[deema]

Thanks Guys,
I'm going to get a starter and a Bosch 20mm, wood butchery is my normal pursuit, electrical is a skill and qual I Picked up along life's journey.

 

[deema]

Help! I'm think I've finally lost my mind! I can't work out how to get the pilot drill out of the quick change Bodch arbour. Does anyone know the secret?

Eternally grateful

 

[Richard S]

It should just pull out, it's a standard 1/4" hex held in by, iirc a spring loaded ball gearing.

 

[Richard S]

Bearing!!!

 

[deema]

Thnaks Richard, I will give it a try tomorrow, I'd tried that but clearly my muscle as well as my mind are growing feeble.

 

[MikeJhn]

Sometimes pilot drills are held into the arbors by a grub screw.

Mike

 

[Richard S]

Not on the Bosch Progresser it's a quick release system. On one of my arbours there must be a little wear as the pilot drill occasionally gets left in the waste plug.

 

[cammy9r]

I know you got the holesaws but a step drill is good for holes of that size in sheet steel up to ~3mm