Holesaw set advice (Buying)

[busastars]

Right, im in the market to buy a holesaw set, been looking on ebay and they seem to range from £15 - £40. It will be to cut through upto 6-8mm mild steel max.

I dont want to spend lots on the Bosh kit, Sealy does a few sets. Here is a few links of some ive seen. Can a few people give me a few recumendations.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/11-piece-HSSC...Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM?hash=item3359d18e2a

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DRAPER-EXPERT...Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM?hash=item2c53012807

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/QUALITY-BI-ME...Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM?hash=item27af2f14b4

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Silverline-27...Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM?hash=item2ea38bb4c4

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BOSCH-POWER-C...Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM?hash=item414c57caeb

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/9PCs-Bi-Metal...Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM?hash=item3eee979aa4


Chears

 

[Shox Dr]

Just buy decent ones in the size you know you need, you never use all of the sizes in a set.

 

[busastars]

Just buy decent ones in the size you know you need, you never use all of the sizes in a set.

I was thinking that but from what I can see I would need two arbors and two holesaws forinstance 25mm & 64mm. This would be near the price of a set. Just thought it be nice to have a set here for future use.

 

[brightspark]

have a nosey on screwfix there prices are ok

 

[busastars]

have a nosey on screwfix there prices are ok

Something like this?

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/93131/Drill-Bits/Holesaws/Sets/Titan-Holesaw-Set-15-Pc

Would these be any good?

 

[brightspark]

Something like this?

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/93131/Drill-Bits/Holesaws/Sets/Titan-Holesaw-Set-15-Pc

Would these be any good?

i use the bi metal ones all the time from screwfix there ok

 

[busastars]

i use the bi metal ones all the time from screwfix there ok

Thats good enough for me, gess ill pick up a set tomorow

 

[brightspark]

they will drill through a fair few half inch girders with cutting compound and last

 

[busastars]

For the money I would only get two hole saws and abours if I went for Bosh thats why I thought about the kit.

Ive used very cheap holesaws in the past with not great sucsess BUT back then I used them on a normal hand drill going realy fast, lol, ive lernt my lessons over the years though & probably learn alot more, lol.

Well after work tomorow its Screwfix for me

 

[Hitch]

I can't vouch for the Titan ones, but i have a set of the SF own branded ones, which are about as good as Bahco/Starrett i reckon

 

[Welderpaul]

I only buy Starrett ones. Have bought sets of holesaws in the past, but we only tend to use 14mm up to maybe 25mm, and get left with piles of the larger diameter ones.
Bahco ones are pretty good, i believe they are manufactured at the same place the Starrett ones are made.

 

[Rick]

I use bosch, buy in singles from SF. I can gwt about 10-15 holes in 3mm stainless steel if i'm paitent and use cutting fluid.

I've not tried many others, but the habours and pilot drills from bosch look to be the best. When they snag, the pin style 1's soon break.

 

[busastars]

Ive never used cutting fluid, what advice can you give me on it, best place for it?

Ive only ever used oil when drilling to cool the drill etc.

 

[brightspark]

Ive never used cutting fluid, what advice can you give me on it, best place for it?

Ive only ever used oil when drilling to cool the drill etc.

rocol cutting compounds the best. but trefolex or any make is ideal for hole saws and drilling and general hacksawing .makes the blades last 5 times as long. and faster cutting any engineering suplies sell it. cromwell tools buck and hickman ect

 

[Chickenjohn]

I bought a set of hole saws that have had a surprising amount of use a few years ago. I bought them ("electricians set") from Toolstation a few years ago. Exactly the same set as Screwfix sell but about £5 cheaper! It was £9.99 as opposed to £15. Before you buy something from Screwfix http://www.screwfix.com/prods/18459/Drill-Bits/Holesaws/Sets/Electricians-Holesaw-Kit (owned by B&Q and put their prices up a LOT two years ago) check Toolstation http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Pow...ricians+Holesaw+Kit+9+Piece/d80/sd1530/p41247 which is the new company set up by the original founders of Screwfix.

 

[Rick]

I bought a set of hole saws that have had a surprising amount of use a few years ago. I bought them ("electricians set") from Toolstation a few years ago. Exactly the same set as Screwfix sell but about £5 cheaper! It was £9.99 as opposed to £15. Before you buy something from Screwfix http://www.screwfix.com/prods/18459/Drill-Bits/Holesaws/Sets/Electricians-Holesaw-Kit (owned by B&Q and put their prices up a LOT two years ago) check Toolstation http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Pow...ricians+Holesaw+Kit+9+Piece/d80/sd1530/p41247 which is the new company set up by the original founders of Screwfix.

SF are cheaper than TS for bosch hole saws.

 

[inchpincher]

I've got a mix of Starrett and the white Bosch ones, both are really good quality.

 

[Chickenjohn]

Exactly, my point is- shop around!

 

[superls]

ive used starret, bosch and bahco (sandvik) ones for cutting holes in 10mm mild steel flat bar up to 50mm, but generally around 38mm, and the starret ones seem to out preform the others for some reason, the other 2 arent crap by no means but imo the starrets perform better.

providing they are adequately lubricated.

speed and feed are the key to cutting thick metal though, low speed and a high feed, mi pillar drill runs around 100-200 rpm and im almost swinging on the handle to feed it through

 

[eil]

There was a tip posted on this site by someone before, which was to insert some sponge in the holesaw and first soak the sponge in cutting fluid for cutting steel, the cutting fluid runs down the insides of the holesaw lubricating the cut.