Welding Tips and Tricks

So I’ve been using cheap hole saws from Home Depot and Lowe’s for a long time and finally stepped up to a nice carbide hole saw about a year ago, well a few weeks back I ran it into my vice accidentally while drilling through some sheet metal and dulled the hell out of it. Before I order up another one I want some opinions on what people have been using. It’s an 1 1/2” hope saw and I use it very often on 16 ga cold rolled steel. I use it to cut the hole to install weld in bungs for the gas caps in the tanks I build. I would rather spend a decent amount of money on a good one that will last. Thanks for any input.

Honestly, for me, a decent bi-metal hole saw with good quality cutting fluid, on a low speed have worked great. I use simple Milwaukees in my tubing notcher cutting up to .120 wall DOM endlessly. I use Walter cutting fluids, and it pays to do so in my experience.

It sounds like you had a good hole saw, what brand was it? Agree with CJ if used at the right rpm and a good cutting fluid, just like any cutting tool.

As usual, CJ hit the nail on the head. Most drill presses turn too fast for larger hole saws so cutting fluid is a must.

These are the ones I currently have and the black one up front so the carbide one I use. I do not know what brand the carbide one is. I purchased it from a tool shop that gets them from a local company who makes them. Also I must add that I do not use a drill press for drilling the holes because the tanks cannot be chucked so I use a hand held Milwaukee Fuel Drill. Good bi metal hole saws can’t handle the abuse I put on them. They are sloppy and they walk to much. The carbide one has been the best and I really want to stick with that for this purpose. I just wanted recommendations on what are good brands to look into. Thank you for the input as usual!

I’ve used several brands, but Starrett, Milwaukee, and Lenox seem to have pretty good life for the cost.

I like the greenlee chuck and holesaws but lenox is a good hole vs cost.

Decided to pick up a mn EZARC carbide hope saw to see how it works. If it doesn’t I’m probably going to pick up a champion, that’s the brand I had a few jobs ago and I drilled through 1/4” stainless like it was nothing. Thanks again for the input.

First impression with this new hole saw is that it is very well made and the cut quality is amazing! Just used it and I am very impressed and please with my purchase here.

I bought a 1 1/4" EZARC carbide hole saw to drill 48 holes in 1/8" steel and it worked like a charm. Low speed and cutting fluid and you can't even tell the saw was used.

Blain wrote:I bought a 1 1/4" EZARC carbide hole saw to drill 48 holes in 1/8" steel and it worked like a charm. Low speed and cutting fluid and you can't even tell the saw was used.

Drilled with what drill ?

I cut wood, nail embedded wood, and sometimes steel up to an inch thick. All bi metal hole saws work well if they don't overheat. For steel, I drill relief holes reaching the ring where the saw will cut. This allows the teeth to clear themselves, and reduces heat. Then, keep it oily. Slow is the only speed you want the drill press.

Willie

https://www.rocol.com/products/rtd-comp ... g-drilling

I use this paste and like it a lot. It’s the consistency of grease. It sticks to the blade good and cleans up easy. You can get by with just an old window cleaner spray bottle and water as well.

Antorcha wrote:

Blain wrote:I bought a 1 1/4" EZARC carbide hole saw to drill 48 holes in 1/8" steel and it worked like a charm. Low speed and cutting fluid and you can't even tell the saw was used.

Drilled with what drill ?

Just a cheap Wen 10" desktop model.

I have used Lennox hole saws but lately have switched to Blair hole cutters. These work nice. After the holes were cut I used a dimple die to bevel them. http://shop.blairequipment.com