A hole saw is a drill bit that transforms your drill into a saw capable of cutting perfectly round holes. The larger the hole you need, the larger the hole saw you will require, but all hole saws offer a much wider diameter hole than can be achieved with a standard drill bit.

Sometimes, a hole saw is referred to as a hole cutter. Usually, hole saws are fixed onto a drill arbor with a central guide drill bit, which makes it possible to ensure your hole is centred on a particular point.

Why we love a hole saw

Hole saws can create a neat, clean hole at exactly the right diameter with minimal fuss. So, if you want to cut a hole in the back of a unit to pass a cable through – you’ll find a hole saw the perfect diameter.

Fancy installing a pop-up socket in your kitchen island, or a desk grommet in your bank of desks. Again, a hole saw is exactly what you need.

Installing downlights? A hole saw will give you the perfect circle at the perfect size for a good fit. Drainage pipes, ventilation holes and door furniture also all need hole saws if they are to be fitted well and look good.

Choosing a hole saw

Different hole saws possess different qualities and, like most things when it comes to DIY, you need to choose the right hole saw for the job.

For most DIY projects, a carbon steel hole saw would be sufficient, however, for a more durable saw, choosing a bi-metal construction will give you a more robust saw which will be able to cut for longer periods and prevail through tougher materials.

Many of these bi-metal hole saws offer high-speed reinforced teeth that provide greater variability to cut through materials at the speed you need, according to the material you are cutting. Bi-metal hole saws are best suited to non-laminated plastic, plasterboard, plywood and non-ferrous metals such as aluminium, zinc and copper.

Our bi-metal hole saws have a variable tooth pitch which helps the saw to clear dust more efficiently and, at the same time, deliver a superior cutting performance over and above hole saws with a standard tooth pitch.

Most hole saws sit on a standard drill arbor, which has a pilot drill bit in the centre to help you align the hole saw centrally and drill in the correct position.

Other, more specialist hole saws include Tungsten carbide tipped hole saws- these deliver a fast-cutting action and are extremely durable; welded shank soffit cutters – these have a base plate which is welded to a non-detachable arbor and tend to have a large diameter as they are used for cutting ventilation holes in soffit boards; and diamond-edged hole saws which are infused with diamonds and are typically used to cut harder materials such as ceramic tiles.

One more point about hole saws

When choosing a hole saw, ensure you select the correct size. At BPF Online, we stock a wide range of hole saws that range from 38mm to 210mm. You can see our full range of hole saws here, including our Makita hole saws.

For more information on our hole saws, or which ones you’ll need to fit our pop-up sockets, or desk grommets, call us on 0844 7766800 or chat with our friendly advisors online.