On a commercial job you might cut fifty holes in a day — through wood studs, engineered lumber, LVL beams, and OSB. The hole saw quality shows up in every one of them.
Bi-Metal vs. Carbide
For wood framing and mixed-material construction, bi-metal is the right choice. Carbide is for tile and masonry. Bi-metal handles the occasional nail hit without shattering the way carbide does, which matters in framing where you're not always sure what's in the stud.
Lenox Bi-Metal Kit
Lenox has built their reputation on cutting tools and the hole saw line reflects it. The teeth stay sharp through more cuts than off-brand alternatives. The arbor design doesn't strip under torque. The plug ejection slot actually works — a detail that seems minor until you've spent ten minutes clearing plugs on a job.
The 13-piece kit covers the range you'll use most on residential and commercial electrical rough-in. From the small diameters for conduit knockouts up through the larger sizes for can lights and junction access.
Lenox Bi-Metal Hole Saw Kit 13pc — 13 sizes, teeth that last, arbor that doesn't strip.
View on Amazon ↗Speed and Feed Rate
Run hole saws slower than you think. High RPM generates heat and dulls the teeth fast. Moderate speed, steady pressure, let the teeth do the work. On LVL and engineered lumber specifically, back off the speed — the adhesives in engineered wood eat edges faster than solid lumber.
Arbor Quality
The arbor is the connection between your drill and the saw. A loose or worn arbor means wobble, which means sloppy holes and early tooth failure. Replace the arbor when it starts showing play. It's a few dollars and it matters for cut quality.