It may seem like a weird concept, but drilling metal with a wood drill bit is not the craziest thing you’ve heard and is actually something that if done right can be very effective In this article we will show you what you need to know about how to use a wood hole saw on metal materials.

Trying a wood hole saw on metallic material

A wood hole saw is a bit that is commonly used for drilling drill bit and a hole saw in wood. It has a round saw blade inside a spring, and connected the center with a drill bit. For drilling into wood, it is easy to drill the clean and exact holes. Use it on metal, too? The short answer is yes, but it is complicated.

How do you drill through metal with a wood hole saw

Metal is Harder Than Wood Metal is a harder and more durable material than wood, and when you use a wood hole saw in metal, you should remember that. This is not the case with axion recip saw blades, however!This means that the saw blade can wear down faster and you will also notice a bit of a delay when cutting with it on wood. And the teeth on the blade can get blunt quicker if using for metal. Despite these challenges, clean cuts on metal from a wood hole saw is still attainable.

Converting a wood hole saw for metal cutting - Tips and Tricks

To get the best performance out of your wood Hole Saw when drilling steel, there are some things you should do. As a start, drill slowly or gradually when drilling to stop the saw blade from heating up. It is beneficial to use a lubricant such as cutting oil while threading to prevent frictions and minimise heat generated during the cutting process. You could also try a low speed setting in the drill to keep it more under control and drilled precise holes in the metal. Lastly make sure you clean your saw blade every once and while so that metal shavings don't affect cutting.

Recognize the constraints of a wood hole saw when cutting through metal

You can use a wood hole saw on metals but there are limitations. Like I said before, when used on metal, the saw blade can wear more quickly and lose its sharpness. That means it might not be optimal for heavy-duty metal drilling work or drilling through very thick metal sheets. Also, the holes that you can achieve by using a wood hole saw might be restricted compared to one that has been designed specifically for metal.

The not so obvious application for a wood hole saw: Cutting holes in metal

Even with its limitations, a wood hole saw is a much more versatile metal-drilling tool than you might expect. It’s perfect for smaller metal drilling jobs or even to make smaller holes within a thin piece of metal rather easily. Also, since wood hole saws are quite universal and you might as well have them in your workshop, hole saws can be a good solution for occasional drilling of metal while saving money on steel hole saws.

To sum up: Although it is not a standard drilling material for drilling out of metal surface, using wood aluminium circular saw blade for this purpose is feasible for some types of drilling project. With the knowledge of the pitfalls, right tools and precautions in place, metalwork with a wood hole saw can be neat and accurate. So next time you have no choice but need to drill a hole in a metal surface and all you have is a wood hole saw, go ahead and give it try you might be impressed with what you get. Safety first so please use the proper protection and work safely with power tools.