Hole saws are capable of cutting holes that are much larger in diameter than standard drill bits. They create a hole in the workpiece without cutting the core material.
The hole saw mounts to your drill with an arbor that holds other moving tool components. The mandrel can carry a drill bit, so you can make a pilot hole in the material to reduce walking before cutting. While convenient, it's not required, and not all hole saws require one.
Because hole saws only cut the perimeter of the material and not the core itself, they are often the first choice for making larger holes. The same hole can be drilled faster and with less power than using a standard or flat drill.
Hole saws come in a variety of sizes and diameters and can be used to cut a wide variety of materials. When shopping for a hole saw or hole saw kit, it is important to consider the material to be cut and the desired finish. The diameter the hole saw can cut is determined by the diameter of the hole saw itself, and the depth it can cut is determined by the working length. Some may come with removable mandrels, some with fixed mandrels, and some not at all. In this case, you need to buy one separately. Fortunately, at Toolstop, we have a huge selection of hole saws, arbors, and hole saw kits.