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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