ebinmaine 66,312 #1 Posted July 7 General Hardware No. 55. Makes a hole from 1/2" or so up 8". Depth is just shy of 3/4" I used it to make an oval shaped hole in the barn wall for an AC warm air vent. Takes a light careful touch with good speed going. 5 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JimSraj 382 #2 Posted July 7 Yup, a light touch is right. Too much pressure and that will break your wrist and make a mess of your project. Steady as you go there. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sqrlgtr 544 #3 Posted July 7 light touch or big guns...I'm beginning to see why they call you the BEAR ... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CCW 1,280 #4 Posted July 7 1 hour ago, ebinmaine said: Takes a light careful touch with good speed going. I get it and boy do I hate those bits. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lynnmor 7,218 #5 Posted July 7 General number 4, 3/4" to 5". Haven't used it since Mr Jig invented his saw about 50 years ago. 3 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 66,312 #6 Posted July 7 1 hour ago, CCW said: I get it and boy do I hate those bits. Absolutely understandable. I picked this up a year or three ago and hadn't used it for a real purpose yet. Whatever reason I had for purchase must have been done by other methods. This bit would certainly be more friendly in a drill press but I had to get down low on a wood wall. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 37,281 #7 Posted July 7 44 minutes ago, ebinmaine said: This bit would certainly be more friendly in a drill press In the press is the only way I use mine. For cutting large holes with a hand held drill, I use hole saws. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 66,312 #8 Posted July 7 4 minutes ago, Ed Kennell said: In the press is the only way I use mine. For cutting large holes with a hand held drill, I use hole saws. Normally I would too. I needed a 3-3/4" hole and didn't have a hole saw for that. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peter lena 8,413 #9 Posted July 8 @JimSraj broke my right wrist many years ago , was setting up some piping for another small area , shop, went for the second step on a 8 ft ladder , next thing I was on my back on the floor , no pain but the 45 degree angle said it all , up until that had no accidents on my file . had lots of mechanical related opportunities for a problem . pete 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wayne0 361 #10 Posted July 8 I have 2 of those from my Dad when he passed. Different sizes. I remember using them as a kid. They also work for -.125 aluminum. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red-Bovine 309 #11 Posted July 8 I have those and use them from time to time. Drill press only. Probably one of the most dangerous tools. BE CAREFUL. 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 40,663 #12 Posted July 8 We got some Spyder Carbide tipped hole saws for work. We were installing a multi head AC system in an old house that the school was converting into offices. There were still some old gas pipes in the walls for the gas lighting system. Didn't know the pipe was there and this hole saw tore right thru it! 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 11,820 #13 Posted July 8 18 hours ago, ebinmaine said: This bit would certainly be more friendly in a drill press but I had to get down low on a wood wall. The temptation is to go deeper than ~½” when control becomes very difficult. I inherited three of these in different sizes. After one use that nearly cost me broken bones, I decided I could afford good hole saws more than the inconvenience, pain, and medical bills. So far, so good. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 66,312 #14 Posted July 8 7 minutes ago, Handy Don said: The temptation is to go deeper than ~½” when control becomes very difficult. Luckily I was able to access both sides. As a "safety measure" I left the bit just a little loose in the drill so if it stopped turning the power unit wasn't wrenched from my grip. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rick3478 414 #15 Posted July 9 I have too many memories of splinters, bruises, and sprains to use those or spade bits in anything but a hand brace. For a power tool I'll usually get a hole saw, or for a couple special uses I've become enamoured with ship augers. When the going gets really tough, I've been known to toss aside the power and use a long handle ratchet. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites