If you own tools, you must know the importance of sharpening them. Tools that are not sharp and dull are of no use. They have the potential to ruin your project as well, and can you can incur more costs because of them. This is why it is very important to sharpen your tools and keep them in good condition. If you are someone who owns tools, then you must also own a hole saw. After all, it is one handy tool. It can help in a variety of different projects and is overall a very useful thing to have.
What is a Hole Saw?
So what is a hole saw? A hole saw is a blade made in a way that allows it to be attached to a power drill. The shape of the hole saw is cylindrical. When the saw is attached to the power drill, it allows the cutting of perfect circles. These tools have made their name and are quite popular, especially in the plumbing and electrical sectors. They are more efficient than the other drills. They have earned their name due to their good functions. In addition, they cut more perfect holes. Furthermore, they are used when bigger holes need to be drilled, or there is a need to make already existing ones bigger.
Why Choose Saw Holes
These saws can cut bigger and better holes. They also drill cleaner holes without affecting the area underneath or around the hole much. This makes them a much better option than a standard drill. Another advantage of this saw is that it uses less energy and is faster.
A hole saw attaches to a drill press via a mandrel to grip other moving tool components. The mandrel can be loaded with a drill so you can pre-drill the material before cutting to reduce walking. While convenient, this is optional for all hole saws.
These saws have many sizes. They also come in different materials and diameters. This is because different hole saws are made for different types of materials. They depend on the kind of project you are working on. How the saw is made determines how the hole will be cut. The diameter of the saw will be the diameter of the hole it cuts. At the same time, the saw’s length will determine the cut’s depth. Sometimes the saws come with removable shafts, some with fixed shafts, and some without. If so, it must be purchased separately. So this must also be kept in mind when getting a hole saw.
Should You Sharpen a Hole Saw
The answer to this question is yes. You can and should sharpen your hole saw. It might not seem easy, but it can be done with the right instructions. It is, in fact, very important to sharpen your hole saw. Not sharpening it can lead it to become dull. This can be both troublesome in short and in the long run. In the short run, it can ruin your projects. Dull blades do not have the ability to cut properly and lead to rough edges. If the saw is dull, it will not drill perfect circles and can also affect the core material. In the long run, the saw will have to be replaced sooner. If you keep using the dull blade, the saw will no longer remain useful, and eventually, you will have to throw it away and get a new one. This will incur costs. On the other hand, keeping your saw sharpened will provide the desired function correctly and have a much longer lifespan.
Sharpening a Hole Saw
Sharpening your hole saw might seem difficult, but with a few steps, it can be rather easy. There are different methods you can use to sharpen your hole saw. These methods are;
- Universal sharpener
- File and sharpening stone
- Electric grinder
- Bench grinder
- Hole saw sharpener tool
Universal Sharpener
You can use the universal sharpener to sharpen your hole saw easily. The following steps should be followed when sharpening your saw hole saw with a universal sharpener.
· Step 1
A universal sharpener has a drill end on the vise handle. Insert the hole saw into this drilled end of the vise of the universal sharpener. Usually, this part is removed, so it has to be fixed in the holder first. The drill end of a sharpener’s vise looks like the drill press’s drill chuck. Secure the pruner by tightening the chuck with the wrench that came with the all-purpose sharpener. However, do not overtighten as this can damage the mechanism.
· Step 2
The next step requires you to unscrew the rotating head of the handle. Insert the hole saw so that the tines of the hole saw lightly touch the sharpener blade. Use the screw knob to ensure the hole saw is securely attached to the sharpener blade. You may also need to use the head angle adjustment feature to adjust the teeth of the sharpening blade to the proper position for sharpening the hole saw. The head angle is easy to tell apart as it is usually on the front of the universal sharpener and looks like a very long, thin button.
· Step 3
As the hole is circular, it moves in a circular motion when you sharpen it. To avoid going through two turns or sharpening a freshly sharpened tooth, use a marker to mark the first used hole saw tooth. This way, you will be able to avoid sharpening, again and again, the already sharpened tooth.
· Step 4
A universal sharpener requires a hose that connects to the vacuum cleaner. When sharpening a hole saw, you should use a vacuum cleaner to keep metal shavings from flying everywhere. Orient the hose directly under the hole saw to catch as much material as possible.
· Step 5
The last step is to turn on the universal sharpener, move the hole saw to touch the sharpening blade, hold for two or three seconds, and then pull the saw back. Rotate the hole saw and continue this process until all teeth are sharpened. When you reach the marker, you’ll know you’re done.
File and Sharpening Stone
The other method is using a file and a sharpening stone. Manually sharpen each tooth on the hole saw using a hand file. The most recommended files for such tasks are small diamond files. Unless the saw is completely dulled, the results for this file are reliable. However, the drawback of this technique is that it is time-consuming. If you have no other way, then this way works perfectly fine and can sharpen your tool easily.
Electric Grinder
An alternate way of sharpening your hole saw is using an electric grinder. If you have an electric hand grinder, you can use it to sharpen your hole saw. A grinder is faster than a hand file because it has an electrical aspect built into it. However, using these grinders still requires a lot of time and focus.
Bench Grinder
You can also use bench grinders for sharpening your hole saw. In this case, the hole saw is attached to the grinder’s rotating vise. After attaching the saw to the rotating vise, place the saw teeth on the bench grinder’s wheel. This process restores the sharpness of the saw. However, it requires extra focus and more time to get positive results.
Hole Saw Sharpener Tool
This is another method that can help you sharpen your hole saw. As the name suggests, this product is specifically for your hole saw. These are small and can be kept with you at all times. They are useful because all it requires to sharpen the hole saw is to give it a few strokes of the hole saw sharpener tool. It is very easy to use and comes in handy a lot. It is also less time-consuming and demands lesser effort.
All these methods can help you sharpen your hole saws and keep them as good as new!
