Hole Saw Tech


When using a hole saw, the speed you drill at will significantly affect the quality of the hole you cut and the life expectancy of your hole saw. The following charts provide recommended RPM speeds for Bimetal, Diamond, and Carbide hole saws.

Note: The maximum speed of a variable speed drill is usually 1500 to 3000 RPM. Apply speeds accordingly, e.g., 500 RPM is equal to about one third speed.

Bimetal hole saw recommended RPMs

Size

Wood

Aluminum

Brass

Mild Steel

Stainless Steel

3/4"

3000

690

600

460

230

7/8”

2500

705

520

425

195

1”

2500

525

470

350

175

1 1/8”

2500

450

400

300

150

1 3/16”

2400

425

380

285

145

1 1/4”

2400

410

360

275

140

1 3/8”

2400

375

330

250

125

1 1/2”

2400

345

300

230

115

1 5/8”

2100

315

280

210

105

1 3/4”

2100

295

260

195

105

1 7/8”

2100

260

240

180

100

2"

2000

255

230

170

100

2 1/8"

2000

240

210

160

100

2 1/4"

2000

225

200

150

100

2 3/8"

2000

220

190

140

90

2 1/2"

1800

205

180

135

90

2 9/16"

1800

175

175

130

90

2 5/8"

1800

195

170

130

90

2 3/4"

1800

185

160

125

90

2 7/8"

1800

180

150

120

90

3"

1500

170

140

115

90

3 1/8"

1500

165

140

110

80

3 1/4"

1500

155

130

105

80

3 3/8"

1500

150

130

100

80

3 1/2"

1200

145

130

95

80

3 5/8"

1200

140

120

95

80

3 3/4"

1200

135

120

90

80

3 7/8"

1200

135

120

90

80

4"

1000

130

110

85

80

4 1/8"

1000

120

110

80

70

4 1/4"

900

120

110

80

70

4 1/2"

900

105

100

75

70

4 3/4"

900

95

90

70

70

5"

800

90

90

65

60

5 1/4"

800

90

85

60

60

5 1/2"

800

85

85

60

60

6"

800

75

75

55

60

6 1/4"

800

75

75

55

60

6 5/8"

800

75

70

55

60

7 7/8"

600

75

70

55

60

Diamond hole saw recommended RPMs

Size

Ceramic & Marble

Granite, Slate & Terrasso

Glass

3/16"

400

400

100

1/4"

400

400

100

9/32"

400

400

100

5/16"

400

400

100

3/8"

400

400

100

1/2"

400

400

100

3/4"

400

400

100

1"

400

400

100

1 1/4"

250

250

100

1 3/8"

250

250

100

1 1/2"

250

250

100

2"

200

200

100

2 1/2"

200

200

100

3 3/8"

150

150

100

3 5/8"

150

150

100

4 3/8"

150

150

100

Carbide hole saw recommended RPMs

Size

Wood

Fiber Cement

Composite Decking

3/4"

535

535

535

7/8"

530

530

530

1”

525

525

525

1 1/8”

450

450

450

1 1/4"

375

375

375

1 3 /8”

350

350

350

1 1/2”

350

350

350

1 3/4"

300

300

300

2"

250

250

250

2 1/8"

250

250

250

2 1/4"

250

250

250

2 1/2"

225

225

225

2 9/16"

200

200

200

2 3/4"

200

200

200

3"

175

175

175

3 1/4"

175

175

175

3 1/2"

150

150

150

3 5/8"

150

150

150

4"

140

140

140

4 1/8"

140

140

140

4 1/4"

120

120

120

4 5/8"

120

120

120

4 3/4"

110

110

110

5 1/2"

100

100

100

6 1/4"

80

80

80

 

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