bi-metal hole saw for cutting SS

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I was pondering about buying a JD2 tubing notcher and was wondering if a Bi-metal hole saw will cut through SS.  Or is there another type of hole saw for SS.Thanks
Reply:We use them all the time for tapping gas main of various size and thickness.No stainless of course but I think it won't matter material wise.We use different brands and I believe most say they will cut most metals including stainless. If you have a good ace or fastenal store they can tell you too .Just buy name brand and keep the rpms down low.
Reply:Originally Posted by xspykeI was pondering about buying a JD2 tubing notcher and was wondering if a Bi-metal hole saw will cut through SS.  Or is there another type of hole saw for SS.Thanks
Reply:Originally Posted by RojodiabloYes, any of the Bimetal holesaw bits will cut SS tube. I do a lot of SS boat railings and towers. I use the JDsquared tube notcher..
Reply:From my experience, I find that keeping the hole saw cool is the #1 thing you can do to make it last longer.  I have even held an air nozzle to it while cutting, and it is a huge help.The best method I have found is not always possible...  submerge the part and hole saw in water while cutting.  Oil is fine, as it does reduce friction (which causes heat), but using a steady flow of water over the area will work MUCH better than oil will.Another trick you can use at times is to stuff the inside of the hole saw with paper towels, and dunk it in water occasionally.  This helps to keep it cool.So my take on it is to use water, and lots of it.  Sure, if you can use a lot of oil or cutting fuid, it would be great, but who out there is willing to use as much of those as they would if they were just using plain water?
Reply:Originally Posted by xspykethanks for the info.  Which JD2 notcher do you have? I like the larger one but I don't know if I want to fork out more $'s for it.
Reply:What RPM would be recommended to cut SS with a hole saw?  Thank you.
Reply:Originally Posted by x1riderWhat RPM would be recommended to cut SS with a hole saw?  Thank you.
Reply:Originally Posted by aczelleras with most metals, i woudl reccomend the slower, the better. also, if it is possible, use lubricant and/or coolant on the blade. it will last MUCH longer. another thing, LET THE SAW DO THE WORK!!!!! don't bear down on it. if you do, you have a risk of loosing some teeth and messing up the metal that you are trying to cut, or at the very least, you are dulling the teeth faster than you need to. the less metal you take off with each tooth, with each pass, the longer the blade will last. think of it as a stiff band-saw blade. the more teeth you have on it, the faster and cleaner the cut will be. hope that helps.later,Andy
Reply:xspyke, A tip I got from Lenox is to cut a sponge with the whole saw and soak the sponge in cutting oil. Then put the soaked sponge in the bottom of the whole saw. The heat from cutting will draw the oil to the cutting edge. As others said slower the better for SS. Give it a try. Keep it  Doug
Reply:Guys...  the only reason you need to go slow is to keep heat down.  If you can keep heat down, you can go much faster.I run the average drill wide open, when I have the part submerged in water.  It NEVER gets hot, cuts fast, and the saw holds up great.  Think about it...  do you use lubricant on a lathe?  no...but if you're turning a material that gets gummy when hot, the lubricant can help to keep the part cool...   but lubrication isn't what you need.  It's cooling that you need.  Just try it...put an air nozzle to your hole saw while cutting, and then come back here to tell me I'm right.
Reply:Originally Posted by Engloidlubrication isn't what you need.  It's cooling that you need.
Reply:Originally Posted by aczellerno offense Engloid. I highly respect what yous ay and thank you for your contributions to this forum, and my threads in particular. i personally do not agree with you on these specific points. please feel free to correct me if i seem to have misunderstood your post. like i said, i mean absolutley no disrespect.
Reply:Originally Posted by EngloidCompressed air will run circles around a spray bottle with lubricant.  Have you tried it?I've drilled two or three holes in my time on the job, and can tell you that a spray bottle with anything in it is just a big mess, and will not work as well as compressed air will.Compressed air will get more chips out of the way than coolant will also.
Reply:"yea... after you go to the medicine cabinet to get the tweezers to pull metal shavings out of your hand. treat the small shavings like brake dust... if you have to move them, use a liquid carrier rather than compressed air. even if you don't get shavings, there are still small particles that can become air-borne and you can breathe them in. even a small spray-bottle with a little water is better than air (in my opinion)."I can see where your coming from aczeller and its an important point.Personally I have not had any issues in that way. Common sense, PPE and good working practice seems to be sufficient ,operator experience and back ground is important.A good guess is better than a bad measurement
Reply:Common sense says you wouldn't want to blow the air towards yourself, but if your holesaw is putting out particles small enough that you can inhale them like dust, something's wrong.
Reply:Originally Posted by EngloidCommon sense says you wouldn't want to blow the air towards yourself, but if your holesaw is putting out particles small enough that you can inhale them like dust, something's wrong.
Reply:Originally Posted by BrettPersonally I have not had any issues in that way. Common sense, PPE and good working practice seems to be sufficient
Reply:A trick I've been told is to use more pressure on SS than you would on mild.  Because SS work hardens so easily, you really don't want to give it a chance to or it will tear the blades off the saw.I like the compressed air idea, I'll give it a go next time I'm holesawing..
Reply:Originally Posted by Ben WilsonA trick I've been told is to use more pressure on SS than you would on mild.  Because SS work hardens so easily, you really don't want to give it a chance to or it will tear the blades off the saw.I like the compressed air idea, I'll give it a go next time I'm holesawing..
Reply:The ideal thing would be to have gallons of coolant to flush over it...  or maybe oil..  but who typically has gallons of either that they can piss away on one hole?  that's where water has a HUGE advantage..  it's everywhere, and you don't mind using a lot of it...which keeps the metal and saw cool.Air works pretty good when you don't want the mess of water, though.