Holesaws (uk)

[Wuffles]

One of the pilot bits (the sets seem to come with two) either the HSS or the Cobalt one(?) had some bad reviews on Screwfix for being ever so snappy. I snapped one first time out and had it replaced by Bosch as I informed them it wasn't fit for purpose. The other bit is fine and has been since.

They refuse to acknowledge there is a problem with them. Here's a couple of the reviews I sent to Bosch.

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Rubbish!
19 Oct 2011
By AckroydPlumbingandHeating
, Sussex
" Always breaks i have gone through 6 or 7 in the last 2 years ! I like the bosch powerchange for cutting holes in ceilings for downlights etc it is a good piece of kit but the powerchange pilot drill is so brittle and is the weak link. "
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Good, not brilliant
31 Mar 2010
By Woodman2
, Horsham
" I snapped two of these drills making pilot holes in 3mm mild steel sheet. On breaking through to the other side, the flutes snatched and the bit broke halfway up the shank.
I will buy this product again, but only because I have no choice as it's specific to the PowerChange arbor. "

 

[tomtom1984]

How about these. Look at bargain http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lenox-Pro-General-Purpose-Bi-Metal-Hole-Saw-Drilling-Set-17-Pieces-/400872543009?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item5d55dd9321

 

[Mr Heavy]

Not very expert in this field. I rarely use holesaws and have a set of generic badged-as-Clarke from Machine Mart which are OK for shallowish cuts in panels but if I wanted a deeper cut or a bastard size I'd buy an individual better-quality cutter, maybe a Bosch but I'd take advice on that one.

One thing I don't like about them; getting the "wheel" out of the saw after the cut can be a pain in the proverbial. If I remember rightly the backs on most sizes are solid instead of skeletal and the saw has to be dismantled to proceed. I can imagine it becoming extremely frustrating in a "professional" situation but for the occasional odd hole, they meet my needs.

One thing I'm certain of - avoid the old-fashioned concentric multi-bladed universal efforts as sold by B&D etc way back when. The cut's not too bad, surprisingly, but they're not accurate and years ago I had a couple of them catch and bend the arbor. Scary moment.  I found said busted units only a couple of weeks ago while clearing out the ubiquitous biscuit tins from the shed. I can't believe I ever used them.

Warning - while you were typing 2 new replies have been posted. You may wish to review your post.

Nah - I'll take a gamble.

 

[joiner1970]

How about these. Look at bargain http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lenox-Pro-General-Purpose-Bi-Metal-Hole-Saw-Drilling-Set-17-Pieces-/400872543009?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item5d55dd9321

Yep saw them too been doing a lot of googling this morning lol

I am tempted as they're less than half the price of the Bosch ones. I just don't know a lot about Lenox, whether they're any good , what the quality is like

Edit: even cheaper if you go directly to their website, just under £33 delivered

 

[tomtom1984]

How about these. Look at bargain http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lenox-Pro-General-Purpose-Bi-Metal-Hole-Saw-Drilling-Set-17-Pieces-/400872543009?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item5d55dd9321

Yep saw them too been doing a lot of googling this morning lol

I am tempted as they're less than half the price of the Bosch ones. I just don't know a lot about Lenox, whether they're any good , what the quality is like

Edit: even cheaper if you go directly to their website, just under £33 delivered

I use lenox stuff quite a bit and it's very good. Better than bosch I reckon. Looks like you get the quick change arbour with it too.

 

[promhandicam]

Bosch progressor every time. Buy a small set and then add more as and when you need them.

 

[John Bates]

I have two of the ProFit kits hanging around (under 4" of dust) pm me if you are interested in them. Lennox, Morse and Starrett are the best for metal, Bosch, if I remember correctly come from the Far East. Morse are deeper than the others so go through 2 x timber. The ProFit ones are the same as another famous yellow painted tct multi purpose hole saw. The downside to the current version is that each hole saw has an arbour. The Bosch quick fit system is great and more stable than the pin style. If you use the cobalt Bosch drill, it lasts a lot longer.

 

[joiner1970]

Bosch progressor every time. Buy a small set and then add more as and when you need them.

Probably best I get the 14pc set, if I get the small one and add what I need it will be cheaper to buy the big one now for me.

 

[joiner1970]

I went with the Lenox set in the end £45 cheaper than the Bosch set. Let you know what they're like when they turn up.

Cheers  [thumbs up]

 

[MAK]

Ordered myself some Lenox ones too, good price, thanks for finding them.

 

[andyman]

I went with the Lenox set in the end £45 cheaper than the Bosch set. Let you know what they're like when they turn up.

Cheers  [thumbs up]
where from I could do with some new ones depending on cost of a set mine are all starrett

 

[joiner1970]

I went with the Lenox set in the end £45 cheaper than the Bosch set. Let you know what they're like when they turn up.

Cheers  [thumbs up]
where from I could do with some new ones depending on cost of a set mine are all starrett

http://www.brooklyntrading.co.uk/p-...YoTQmTAA6Sv90TjcLsRfhJ5WZjAdP4GEcrhoCExvw_wcB

Not used them before but they seem an ok company

 

[andyman]

Crikes that's cheap interested to see if they are any good

 

[joiner1970]

I put a message on a UK kitchen fitter forum and a couple of people rated the Lenox ones. Will let you know when I get them

 

[joiner1970]

Saws turned up 2 days from ordering so that was good. They're pretty good , the snap back arbour is much better than my old cheapo one. Drilled a 3" hole in a high gloss white/mdf panel and it flew through and left a neat hole.

All in all they are good value , nothing amazing but they do the job and come in a good case with 3 spare drill bits too.

 

[james1988]

i use the bosch progressor quick change hole saws, brilliant. I too only really use them for kitchen fitting and bathrooms etc

 

[jimbouk]

A bit off tack but what speed /torqe do you guys use on em' ? I got bosch quick change. From about 20mm up to the max at 160.