Can anyone recommend a fast hole saw?

[lulu999]

Hi All,

I bought myself a cheap no-brand 51mm hole saw to drill through joists and was very disappointed with the progress. I had to keep removing it from the hole and clean the sawdust off the teeth before moving only another couple of millimetres each time.
Is there a type, or brand, of hole saw that will go through wood like the proverbial knife through butter without clogging up?

Thanks in advance

 

[noseall]

51mm!

how deep are the joists?

 

[lulu999]

9" (keeping it within 25%)

 

[Bodgeit and scarper ltd]

Use a drill bit

 

[xerxes]

Use a drill bit

There might be a problem finding a wood boring bit for that diameter, and another problem getting a drill powerful enough to drive it. Then, as the hole's already been started, it might be difficult to drill in the same site with a different cutter.

Hole saws are normally used to drill sheet material. In the nature of their design they don't provide sawdust or chip clearance, so if you're drilling thick stuff you will need to keep withdrawing the saw and picking out the sawdust with an awl or something similar, and allowing the saw to cool down. In any case, don't be surprised if the smell of burning wood soon reaches your nostrils.

If you are really sure you must have a hole this big through your joist, this may be the only way you'll achieve it (unless you've got a heavy duty router). Don't forget to start drilling from the other side once the pilot drill breaks through, if the access allows you to drill from that side.