Professional Tool Reviews for Pros
Southwire has some new cutting tools, including a bi-metal hole saw kit that’s designed for fast cutting of metals like steel, aluminum, and brass as well as wood, plastic, and drywall. The kit includes 6 different hole saws ranging in size from 7/8-inch to 2-1/2 inches, and there are two mandrels including a 3/8-inch quick change model that’s very similar to what we’ve seen in the Lenox Speed Slot hole saws. I like the deeper thickness of the back plate on these, however—you can get a better grip on the mandrel when releasing it from the hole saw. The Southwire Bi-Metal holesaw kit BMHSKIT9 is just the latest product from this company to hit the market. Based on recent acquisitions and products announcements, I’d say this is just the start. To give you an idea, products like Yellow Jacket extension cords and the Coleman Cable LED power light are now part of the family.
Hole saws are a very common tool, so you get used to looking for the differentiating factors that help each product stand out. Aside from their coloring, the mandrels really made an impression, and their hardened steel composition should make for an extremely durable product that won’t break or even cross-thread after years of use. The hole saw teeth are pretty standard, but aggressive, so they’ll cut quickly through both wood and steel. Speaking of the mandrel, it uses large pin locks to drive the hole saw without forcing it to thread so fully onto the mandrel that you can’t get it off again. Over-tightening is a huge issue with hole saws, and we’re really enjoying the many solutions coming to market to help you remove the hole saws more quickly and easily. Many a Pro has cursed his hole saws when he had to reach for a pipe wrench to get it off the mandrel. This solution just works.
The drill bits on the 3/8-inch mandrels are split tip, so they won’t walk on you. We found them to be really fast when drilling through plaster and into wood—they’ll do equally well on steel. About the only negative on the Southwire Bi-Metal holes kit is the use of really thin access ports for plug removal. The upside, of course, is that the quick release mandrels let you pull out the drill bit and eject the plug from behind (using the bit).
We got a chance to experience the Southwire Bi-Metal holes kit when we mounted a television in a local church. While not exactly a test of cutting prowess, the saw did manage to plunge through about 1-1/4 inches of plaster, lathe, and drywall to run our cables.
The 1-1/8 inch hole saw cut cleanly through the material so quickly, our main photo was blurry—I barely had enough time to click the shutter! The split tip on the included drill bits are as nice in actual use as they are in theory. They stay where you put them, and that should be the case with either metal or wood. We’re looking forward to using these hole saws on more and more projects, but for now we’re anticipating these are going to continue to perform very well for general use.
When he's not remodeling part of his house or playing with the latest power tool, Clint enjoys life as a husband, father, and avid reader. He has a degree in recording engineering and has been involved in multimedia and/or online publishing in one form or another since 1992.
Clint’s career has covered nearly the entire realm of audio and video production. After graduating at the top of his class with an Associates Degree in Recording Engineering, he began working for the famed Soundelux studios in 1994, one of the largest post-production companies specializing in audio for feature films & television. Working on a myriad of feature films, Clint honed his skills as a dialogue editor, foley editor, and sound designer. Years later, he moved into the expanding area of video editing, where he served as the company’s senior AVID video editor for three years.
Working for such clients as Universal Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Paramount Home Entertainment, NASA, Universal Studios, Planet Hollywood, SEGA, NASCAR, and others, Clint dealt extensively with client management as well as film & video editing, color correction, and digital video & MPEG compression. He also carries several THX certifications (Technician I and II, THX Video), and is ISF Level II Certified.
After founding the CD Media, Inc. publishing company in 1996, he went on to help start or grow several successful online publications, including Audioholics (as Editor-in-Chief for 12 years), Audiogurus, and AV Gadgets. In 2008, Clint founded Pro Tool Reviews followed by the landscape and outdoor power equipment-focused OPE Reviews in 2017. He also heads up the Pro Tool Innovation Awards, an annual awards program honoring innovative tools and accessories across the trades.
Crediting his excellent staff for the success of what is now the largest power tool review publication in the industry, Clint DeBoer hopes to see continued growth for the company as it rapidly expands its reach. Pro Tool Reviews critically reviews hundreds of hand tools, power tools, and accessories each year to help inform users about the best and newest products in the industry. Reaching everyone from the construction industry professional and tradesman to the serious DIYer, Pro Tool Reviews helps tool consumers shop better, work smarter, and stay aware of what tools and products can help put them at the top of their game.
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Professional Tool Reviews for Pros
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