I've been doing this for years, but Saturday someone saw it and thought it was a good idea so I'll share it real quick. I get 1/2 or 5/8 fine thread bolts, cut the heads off and use them as hole saw arbors on my mill or drill press. No need for a guide hole when the work is clamped, and it holds the hole saw rock solid for exact hole sizes. Works real well when coping tubing as well. Also, if you've ever stripped the threads in a holesaw, just weld a nut to it and keep it going. For a few bucks all your holesaws can be on their own arbor ready to go. Will it change your life? Um, no. Just dumb and simple.
I also have been using hole saws for years! They are much cheaper than end mills and your only removing a fraction of the material compared to a end mill! They are more than acurate for fitting and welding. To add a quick tip to that you can buy hole saws with a lees agressive tooth pattern from electrical supply stores. I think one name brand is greenlee. They work better for lighter tubing such as chromemolly!
Thats a good idea! I'll use that one for sure. Another hole saw trick is when you've already made a big hole but need a bigger one is to use the original hole saw inside of the bigger one and it'll act like an arbor, the hole saw arbors have enough thread for both blades.
Another tip for using a holesaw - on soft stuff like plexiglass: Spin it backwards. (no shit, it works like a champ)
Thanks for the idea! I use Lenox brand hole saws, they seem to last a long time (provided I keep them lubed!)
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