Hole drilling bits

[vidmouse]

I borrowed some bits to make my button and joystick holes (see picture).
I think most people have used the spade bit before but do people have
better/worse experience with the step bit or hole saw?  I used the
step bit primarily and it seemed to do a much cleaner job than the
spade bit.  I did not use the hole saw because it was the wrong size
(my friend just loaned it to me in case it would work).

[RichSorr]

I usually stick to spade bits or hole saws for wood. I'll use my step bit when I'm working with metal

[NiteWalker]

I stick to spade bits or forstners.

I use holesaws for aluminum drilling.

[fixedpigs]

i get nothing but consistently good results with the forstner bit...
 

[ScottS]

I use high-quality Forstner or saw-tooth (= large-diameter Forstner) bits whenever I can get them and get consistently great results. For larger holes (> 2") I use hole saws. I've never understood the attraction of stepped bits, especially when used in a hand drill...

[Tahnok]

[...]I've never understood the attraction of stepped bits, especially when used in a hand drill...

It's a one size fits all concept. When used in a thin material that is. With a 3/4" thick wooden CP they aren't of any use.

As others have said, spade bits, hole saws, and forstners will all work well enough. It's a matter of personal preference.

[vidmouse]

Heh.. whatever you can get for free...
I borrowed the step bit from work first then
someone loaned me the spade and hole saw.
Unfortunately the hole saw is 1 1/4", I figured I didn't
want to chance the hole being too big.
I did use the spade bit once on a practice panel...
it cut easily enough but I noticed it wobbled a bit
toward the end (maybe the way I was holding the
drill) and I ended up with a sort-of oblong hole.

One of these days I'll cough up for a true 1 1/8" forstner
or hole saw I'm sure.  Can never have too many
control panels. 

[ScottS]

It's a one size fits all concept. When used in a thin material that is. With a 3/4" thick wooden CP they aren't of any use.

Actually, I think they make more sense when drilling through metal, which is pretty difficult under normal circumstances. I suppose you can start with a small hole and use the step bit to gradually expand it to the proper size. They're useless for wood, in my estimation... unless somebody knows of one where the steps are 0.75-1.0" long?

[bfauska]

Step bits are fantastic for metal, I would never even think about using them in wood.  Their main purpose in my experience is to make a round hole.  While it sounds like all drill should make a round hole you would be surprised what a twist drill will do to a piece of metal.  Once you get up to spade bit/hole saw size they are less useful, unless you are opening up an existing hole, there aren't a lot of good ways to center a hole saw in an existing hole, you can get close, but rarely dead-on.  Step bits leave a nice round hole with very little burr and that hole is centered on your pilot hole even if the "pilot hole" is 1". 

My tool preference for buttonish sized holes (in order of preference):

Wood: Router w/template
            forstener
            spade
            hole saw (many people would move the hole saw up that list, but I hate removing plugs.)
Metal: Punch
           step bit
           hole saw (see above for hole saw)
Plexi: Router w/template (either template on top w/top-bearing bit, or pre-drill with plastics drill bit for template on bottom w/bottom-bearing bit)
          hole saw (in a press, no centering bit, work piece clamped and backed w/wood, forward (fast) rotation, very slow feed rate.)
          I haven't tried a step bit w/ plexi, but it seems like a questionable idea.

I would work my way down the list if it meant I could stay on a stationary tool (with router being the exception, hand-held or table=better than most other options), making holes with handheld tools is just too touchy for my taste.