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Hole Saw - experience - help please.
bobbyb13:
--- Quote from: Mike A on March 04, 2021, 06:07:27 pm ---It is a big hole saw for a hand drill. I find that high speed and a light touch helps keep it from binding.
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This is it.
And be mindful that your drill is as perfectly square to the board as you can manage.
tron319:
I needed to the do the same thing (3 1/4" hole) for a trackball. I went with a forstner bit instead of a hole saw. Found a decent not expensive one that worked perfectly on multiple panels. Technique:
- Center punch the center of the hole (just a small mark to know where the tip goes)
- I used a drill press set to low speed and a backing board
- Drill into the panel until part of the hole is cut - say 1/8" into the wood
- Then I removed and cut out a hole about 3" with a hole saw. The reason is to get rid of a bunch of the material from the center. The rough edge of the hole saw is no problem as I'll finish with the smooth the forstner bit
- Put the panel back on the drill press, align the forstner bit to the groove you already cut and finish it right through
The last step is very easy as a bunch of the material was removed with the hole saw.
I did the forstner cut on a drill press but you could do both with a hand drill ensuring you keep it vertical/level.
Hope that helps!
Gilrock:
Those big hole saws tend to wobble a bit before they get buried a bit into the wood. It can tend to make the edges not very clean. If that matters you can use the technique I use for another reason. Ever cut a hole too small and need it bigger. Well with the wood gone there is no way to guide the pilot drill bit. So grab a scrap piece of wood where you're not too worried about being clean and cut out a hole. Then clamp that piece of wood on top of the board and it will guide your hole saw for a nice clean start. It needs to be thick enough that the saw is captive in the hole before the pilot drill hits the wood. And like someone said to get it clean on the backside if its your first cut you can flip it over after the bit comes through and get it started from the other side to prevent blow out.
Richardgregory:
Thank you! That might have been it....maybe I wasn't completely square with the wood, and the slight angle was enough to bite into the wood and thankfully, my wrist was okay. I'm actually a bit afraid to practice, but I know as they say, practice makes perfect, so I will - thanks again.
--- Quote from: MartyKong on March 04, 2021, 10:26:29 pm ---I used a hole saw bit to drill my trackball hole. Whether you use high speed or low speed you need to keep the hole saw drill bit even especially when you start the hole. If you rock/angle the bit it can bind in the hole .... not great for the wrists! Start with a practice piece of wood, keep the bit square with the wood and apply light not heavy downward pressure until you get used to drilling it. The larger holes are more sensitive to binding but after you drill a few you'll get the feel for it :cheers:
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Richardgregory:
Thanks Jennifer - I have a drill press, but the challenge is the board is too big for me to secure to the drill platform :( I think I'm using a bimetal saw too...not sure, but good to keep in mind. Cheers!
I must say cutting into MDF was so much easier when I was working with that material!
--- Quote from: jennifer on March 04, 2021, 10:47:49 pm ---The bigger the cutter more cutting surface, and consequently more Friction, a bimetal
works nice on ply because the teeth are smaller (usually 18 to a inch) and will be less grabby they also make an arbor with locking pins, (cost a little more) but it is spring loaded, (and well worth the extra cost) It will lock into the little holes on top of the cutter so all the stress isn't just on the center hole ( it will strip out on larger cutters) ... A drill press would be best, but if slowly cut halfway though flip it over, and using the center hole, finish the cut the tearout will be minimal, and contained in the hole...Or use a backing board behind the cut... And don't use an impact drill...Slow, even smooth, let the cutter do all the work.
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