How to Extend the Life of Your Hole Saw

Here are some basic guidelines that you should follow when using hole saws and jigsaw blades in order to maximize their efficiency and life span.

How do I extend the life of my Hole Saw?

  • You must always run your hole saw at the correct speed. It is often tempting to use a speed that is too high to get the job done faster, however this will quickly wear out your hole saw and lead to a lower quality of workmanship.
  • The speed you should use is dependent on the diameter of the hole saw and on the material you wish to cut.
  • The various speeds can be found on the side of the box and if you are unsure or the material is not listed then please ask your tool specialist.
  • Please see below for some example sizes and speeds;
  • A 20mm Morse Bi Metal hole saw cutting wood or mild steel should be run at a speed of 425rpm.
  • However a 20mm Morse Bi Metal hole saw cutting stainless steel should be run at a speed of 210rpm.
  • You definitely need to reduce the speed when cutting through stainless steel.
  • Keeping the saw cool will also greatly increase its life.

How do I keep my Morse Hole Saw Cool?

  • There are many ways you can do this, though one of the most popular is to use a shop bought lubricant.
  • This can be quite costly, though, so if you are looking to keep costs down you can keep your hole saw cool when cutting metal by cutting a household sponge to the size of the hole saw.
  • Soak the sponge in water and place inside the hole saw. As you use the hole saw the water will trickle down the sides of the hole saw helping to clear chips and disperse heat and so improving the life of the saw.

How should I use a Jigsaw?

  • The jigsaw works along the same principles as a sewing machine.
  • The cutting speed of the upwards/downwards movements can be adjusted in degrees, or can be regulated electronically.
  • The cutting speed ranges from 200 to 3000 cuts per minute. (determined by machine and manufacturer)
  • When using harder materials, for example metals, lower cutting speeds are used. With softer materials like woods, higher cutting speeds are more appropriate.
  • The clamped sawing blade is designed to cut during the upwards movement. This is aided by the so-called pendulum cut.
  • The pendulum cut ensures that the blade is pressed against the material with extra force during the upward movement. In this way, it is possible to saw faster, while using the same amount of energy.
  • During the upward movement the blade is automatically drawn slightly from the material.
  • These movements together produce the pendulum motion (Pendulum Cut.)

Summary

Follow these tips and you should see the life of your hole saws and jigsaw blades extended considerably as they will need repairing and/or replacing far less frequently. This will in turn lead to a considerable reduction in tool costs.