Hole saws are some very convenient tools for carpentry, woodworking, and more. This is something that you have likely heard of before. However, unless you are a pro with many years of experience, you probably don’t know that there are different types of hole saws out there. The two main ones include the arbored hole saw and the non-arbored hole saw.
Yes, they perform more or less the same function, but with a few key differences. Let’s figure out which one is best for you.
What Is a Hole Saw?
Before we can talk about specific types of hole saws, you first need to have a basic understanding of what this is. A hole saw may also be known as a hole cutter. Now, what is important to note is that a hole saw is not actually its own power tool. Rather, this is an attachment or a drill bit that you fit onto the end of a drill. It’s a saw that is used with a power drill. The shank or arbor fits into the chuck of the drill.
The hole saw, the actual head, looks like a cylinder, kind of like a small soda can. The end of the hole saw is open, and along the circumference of that end, there are very small and sharp teeth. This hole saw, when attached to a drill, spins in a circle at very high speeds.
This, therefore, allows the user to cut a circular hole into a piece of wood. They can also be used to cut holes in drywall, plaster, plastic, and some metals. This does of course depend on the exact type of hole saw. Simply put, a hole saw cuts a perfect hole into a variety of materials, and of course, this can serve a variety of purposes.
What Is an Arbor?
Now that you know what a hole saw is, you also need to know what an arbor is. After all, we cannot really compare arbored and non-arbored hole saws if you don’t know what an arbor is. So, the arbor, in technical terms, is the shaft that holds the blade of the saw.
In the case of a hole saw, the arbor is the long metal component in the middle which is inserted into the chuck of your drill bit. The arbor is the central shank that attaches to the drink, and the center around which the hole saw spins.
Now, what gets really confusing here is that in terms of arbored and non-arbored hole saws, what is actually being referred to by this distinction is the pilot drill bit that one features and the other does not. This is reasonable because you cannot actually mount a hole saw to a drill without an arbor itself.
You need to have that central shaft or shank that is inserted into the chuck of the drill. If a hole saw did not have this central shank or arbor, there would be no way to attach it to a drill. However, the pilot drill bit that an arbored hole saw has is what is being talked about here.
Differences Between Arbored and Non-Arbored Hole Saws
Now that you know what a hole saw and what an arbor is (in reference to a hole saw), we can begin to determine the main differences between an arbored and a non-arbored hole saw, so let’s take a look.
1. Build
The main difference between an arbored and a non-arbored hole saw has to do with that central pilot bit. Now, as mentioned before, a non-arbored hole saw does need to have that central shank or arbor to attach to a drill.
However, a non-arbored hole saw does not have a central pilot drill bit. On the other hand, an arbored hole saw, along with the exterior circular blade, also has a central pilot drill bit. This is the number one difference, and as you are about to find out, it’s a huge difference.
2. Ability to Change Hole Saw Sizes
One very interesting difference here is that with an arbored hole saw, everything is usually fixed together. This means that one specific hole saw blade has a pilot drill bit attached to the interior and the shank or arbor shaft to the other end.
Everything is solidly fixed in place, and you cannot take anything apart. This means that to make different sizes of holes, you need totally different components.
However, with a non-arbored hole saw, that central shank is not solidly fixed to the hole saw blade. The arbor or shank that attaches to the drill can be removed from the blade. This means that you can easily change hole saw blades while using the same drill bit shank. This is one convenient aspect no doubt.
3. Central Pilot Drill Bit
Ok, so the main difference is of course that an arbored hole saw features that central pilot drill bit, whereas a non-arbored hole saw does not. Well, this then leads to some other major differences. With an arbored hole saw that has a pilot bit, you can easily drill a hole into wood without any kind of guide or walking occurring.
That central drill bit keeps the hole saw perfectly in place as intended. It’s like a guide that makes sure your hole is perfect and in the spot it is supposed to be.
On the other hand, because a non-arbored hole saw does not have that pilot drill bit, they may sometimes suffer from a bit of walking or lateral movement. Moreover, due to this, many people opt to use hole saw guides to help the hole saw blade stay in one specific spot when using a non-arbored hole saw. That pilot bit is all about stability.
5. Difference in The Hole Itself
Another major difference between these two tools has to do with the hole after it has been made. So, an arbored hole saw with a pilot bit is going to cut away a circular piece of wood. Due to that central drill bit, that circle is then going to have a small hole right in the center of it. If you are just removing that material to make a hole, then this is fine.
However, if you need to keep that circle you removed, and use it for whatever purpose, and it needs to be one solid piece without a hole in the center, then an arbored hole saw just won’t do. If you need that cut-away circle to be 100% intact, you need to use a non-arbored hole saw that doesn’t use a pilot drill, and therefore doesn’t cut a hole into the center of that circle.
6. Durability of the Components
One thing worth noting here is that with arbored hole saws, the pilot drill bit is usually what lasts the longest. Although it may not affect overall longevity when comparing these two tools, that central pilot bit is usually the most durable component of all.
7. Ease of Use
In terms of usability, there is a clear difference here. That pilot bit on an arbored hole saw makes this variety much easier to use. It keeps the hole saw steadily in place, it keeps your circle centered, and it prevents hole saw walking from occurring. This makes life quite easy.
However, with a non-arbored hole saw, due to the lack of a pilot bit, walking and movement may occur. This makes a non-arbored hole saw much harder to keep steady and to use. For this reason, many people use some sort of a guide. The bottom line is that arbored hole saws are much easier to use.
8. Cost
The other difference here has to do with cost. Non-arbored hole saws, due to having less material on them, generally cost a bit less than the arbored variety.
Arbored vs. Non-Arbored Hole Saw: Which of the Two Should You Use?
What it really all comes down to is your primary purpose. If you are making a hole with the aim of just removing that material, then an arbored hole saw is best. However, if you need the circle that gets cut away to remain whole and 100% intact, then it is the non-arbored hole saw you need.
That said, do keep in mind that to use a non-arbored hole saw, you do need to have a good bit of skill and experience. However, unfortunately, your own skill level doesn’t really change things in terms of whether or not you need that circle that is cut away to remain intact.
Summary
There you have it, folks, everything you need to know about arbored and non-arbored hole saws.