Homemade Hole Cutter

Although I made this specifically for cutting glass, it works well for cutting wood. It's very important that the stock is clamped down so that it can't move during the cut, and it's best to stop before going all the way through.
If you do cut all the way through, the stock should be suspended, for example clamped in a vice with space underneath for the disk to fall out.
The big benefit of this type of cutter over something like a holesaw is that it can be adjusted to cut any size hole, rather than one fixed size, It can also create perfect wooden disks for plugs or inlays or poker chips, if you are into that.
The glass cutting video: • Cutting Holes Through ...
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[@IBuildIt]

Although I made this specifically for cutting glass, it works well for cutting wood. It's very important that the stock is clamped down so that it can't move during the cut, and it's best to stop before going all the way through. If you do cut all the way through, the stock should be suspended, for example clamped in a vice with space underneath for the disk to fall out. The big benefit of this type of cutter over something like a holesaw is that it can be adjusted to cut any size hole, rather than one fixed size, It can also create perfect wooden disks for plugs or inlays or poker chips, if you are into that. The glass cutting video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kH7SeXWbfdhpe6s You can help support the work I do in making these videos: Plans for sale: www.ibuildit.ca/plans.html Support this channel on Patreon: www.patreon.com/user?u=865843&ty=h Did you know I have other KZbin channels? My main channel: kzbin.info My home reno channel: kzbin.info My "Scrap bin" channel: kzbin.info Website: www.ibuildit.ca/ Facebook: facebook.com/I-Build-It-258048014240900/ Instagram: instagram.com/i_build_it.ca/

[@Yety44]

U should try it with diamond saw blade teeth. (for cuting glass)

[@IBuildIt]

yrty CZ - Guy, I already have more than enough of those pointing-out-the-obvious comments on the other video, I don't need them here too.

[@Dutch1954]

Very cool bit of improv milling, now all I need is a six pack of Corona's to bribe my neighbor into giving me one of his old blades.

[@louschmiz5605]

I Build It 1 try metal

[@McAVITYourWay.]

I think that is a great idea, I also like to make my own tools wherever possible, and with your permission I would like to copy this hole saw!? :)

[@Bigjohnreid]

By the way you are a Great teacher. I am 72 years old and been in the home furniture industry for more than 50 years. ( still working) and you have taught me things that I would've never imagined. I just want to say thank you! John Reid

[@johnfithian-franks8276]

Hi John, this jig might have started life as a glass cutter, but it is great for cutting knobs, I do not know why but until I made your jig I could never made knobs that were even and they always looked a mess. Now I can make them till my hearts content and they look great. Thanks again for a brilliant idea that works.

[@Vermoot]

"I thought to myself throw away the idea, throw away the footage" --> I like seeing videos about "fails". Seeing you develop an idea and not succeeding right away (or even at all, really) is still very interesting, and it shows that it's all about trying, even though it doesn't always work. There's interesting content even in things that don't work as intended :) PS: Love your videos, I'm always looking forward to the next one. Cheers!

[@robertoenocbermudez83]

For a long time I have followed his very neat works, but that really inspire us to carry out diverse projects in the world of carpentry. Thank you for that constant way of presenting us with these tools that are so necessary in each workshop and that make our lives easier. From Venezuela we value that support that urges us to continue advancing in the theme of wood, with its texture, smell or any form is its presentation, it will always be possible to do so many things at home, as time or simply in the professional field . Thanks 1000 thanks. Please excuse my entangled English. From the Llanos, to the south of Venezuela, our greatest consideration and respect. Affectionately yours. Atte. Roberto Bermúdez

[@kidderbug7140]

If you succeed all the time. You will never know how to learn from your mistakes. Keep being Human John ...Your show is Real.interesting and a blast to watch. Thanks John.

[@armadilloscs8724]

You have the most beautifual and most organised tool shop I have ever seen... your slide out cabinets for the files is awesome!

[@UBO58]

How interesting your videos are doesn't depend on success for failure. At least not only. Of course it's always good, if I can adopt successful methods or tool builds. But fails are interesting to watch too. And not everybody is able to make fails public - you are. Thanks a lot for that too!

[@jamescrombie2320]

John The wobble you were seeing is due to balance issues. For small holes like that you could use a shorter section of threaded rod, or extend the rod out more on the cutter side. Nice experiment.

[@methuso]

Love it.If You want to experiment further.To be able to cut deeper, grind a relief-angle on the trailing edge of the cutter. Much like a drillbit works. So there is no rubbing.

[@kentaylor3087]

Your shop just blows me away....wow

[@davidarrowood6620]

John look up trepan. Machinists use them to put a groove in a face of a cylindrical part. The groove is normally concentric with the centerline. The cutters have ranges they can cut. The view from the butt end of red cutting piece down towards carbide end should look like a " ) ".

[@RobJeffrey]

Your videos are great but seeing your lovely clean and organised workshop really makes me happy. The shots of your getting tools or putting them away is really nice and hopefully, inspires people to create a nicely organised workshop like this. Once I finally get mine I hope it will be as good :)

[@cchambers35]

British Steel played that album non stop back in the day!

[@chuckholton4666]

I love the idea of you showing people a way of improvising with what you have on hand to perform as task. I do it all the time in my shop too.

[@oscarfarley4104]

love the way you have your tools organized

[@SWSimpson]

Holy Crap! you're amazing. My dad used to design nuclear war plans for the Air Force, and he did make 2 sailboats out of wood and fiberglass named Pulsar and Quasar, but you have that really cool workshop and you can make something out of nearly nothing. I'd say that's a tie.

[@chiefbiglew]

YOUR SHOP IS WELL ORGANIZED

[@FilmMastersChannel]

I envy how clean your workshop is! Very organised

[@joshuac1364]

That's pretty resourceful as far as using up old saw blades. it cut pretty clean too

[@montazarmhsin1880]

Everything in the workshop is made of wood ... this is amazing more than hole cutter it self

[@scottsheward4740]

I really appreciate the idea of repurposing old TS blades, and this was a very cool hack. It seems that the biggest problem was the blade rotating around the shaft and throwing off the cut. I was wondering if making the mounting hole and rod square, or perhaps incorporating a tab to serve as a locking dog to maintain the blade at vertical would help prevent this. Love these experiments, John, thank you for posting them even if you don't consider them successes.

[@signmeupruss]

John, It looks like this tools would also be useful for making surface embellishments on work pieces. Decorative rings could be cut out with your tool, then optionally, filled with epoxy, polymer clays, wires, crushed stone, etc. I suppose one could even make multiple cutters to create double- or triple-rings. Thanks for another great DIY idea.

[@hotrodhog2170]

Good info on the uses for stuff we already have. Hope you update if you continue to tinker with your idea further. Thanks John for posting

[@SuperYtviewer]

Way to go - lemonade from lemons or limes or some citrus fruit. Your videos are always enjoyable and educational- Annie

[@leonh1971]

I just watched the glass fail video and was thinking the whole time "this would work better for wood or plexiglass". nice way to build your own tool witch seems like your thing by the look of your shop..Nice Job

[@tynyyn5344]

One of the most enjoyable vids I've seen from you. Thanks for taking the time to make a simple tool and explain how to manufacture it. You are a stud!!

[@commanderaverage]

Tried it, on glass- crap, wood - crap, plastic - crap, on a melon - fantastic!

[@francoisfouche2568]

I like the idea, will try to replace my store bought cutter blades with your blades!! Might just work as my store bough one is crap!

[@KSFWG]

"Is this red enough for you?" I think it's the perfect shade of red! Thanks for brightening up my morning! ;) lol

[@OU81TWO]

You should balance the thing by having the length of the threaded rod centered on the spindle then install a 2nd "dummy cutter" on the opposite side the same distance from spindle center as the functional cutter. The dummy doesn't do anything except account for weight of the functional cutter. It can be just a similar sized piece of metal flipped up 180 degrees so its out of the way and doesn't touch the work piece. This isn't a perfect balance but it will significantly reduce vibration.

[@andyxox4168]

Definitely balance it if you’re working at 10,000 rpm, as for slow speed on a heavy drill press … what’s the point?

[@WhitentonMike]

Time for a paper hole saw video. Cutting a clean hole through a banana would be both funny and cool.

[@tunafish3216]

Mike Whitenton Or you could just buy a donut

[@digitaIgorilla]

Banana Donuts. Drool. But only if they have clean edges.

[@BrassLock]

Good job there John. You have lots of ideas that save trips to the specialist hardware store for us guys in S. E. Asia. Prussian Blue would be nice.

[@TheGathumpus]

Saw the glass try. Think vibration may be one of the problems as well because its a single tooth cutter, try sticking some duct tape over the cut to stop it resonating.You could also experiment with reshaping the saw tooth so its thinner at the back and at the rear bottom. might be worth trying to use a drop of liquid soap as well to oil it

[@daveh777]

Cool Idea! I thought I had already subscribed to your channel, but upon noticing that I had not, I corrected that. Keep up the good work!

[@johnwurst6691]

I like it that you show when things don't work! And yes, it's red enough for me. Could do with a bit of blue...

[@andrewcady9443]

The best parts of this video are the storage porn.

[@SeanBZA]

Good improvement is to thin the section of blade that is going to go in the hole, so there is minimal side rubbing of the hole. Just have to thin the trailing edge so there is still a good metal backing but no side rubbing on the hole. Tip for next time is to thread the larger rod, so the adjustment rod is held more firmly, and then use the nut as a guide when threading it so you get a good thread, but you will lose the lock ability with this, so just take some red threadlock and use it. Use a hardened capscrew for the rod instead of the allthread rod, harder steel and you just wind it in all the way to the shoulder and lock it, then cut the head off after the lock has cured.

[@HaharuRecords]

This is when you say homemade ,my home is like a factory.!🐄

[@brianedney8858]

Well done and I like ur workshop

[@hugobose2254]

saw your vids about cutting Glass they were good and as usual very informative, great use of it for another purpose :-)

[@MRrwmac]

Glad you cut wood with it. Thanks for not trashing the glass cutting video. Yes red enough but what happened to the red shirt?

[@gunner678]

You have a fantastic workshop. I would love to build storage like that!

[@parksmitchell]

Brace your wood on both sides of the hole and use double stick tape to keep the circular plug from moving once the cut is complete.

[@sabrinasantana7809]

VERY VERY NICE , YOU ARE THE BEST,TKS.

[@fayyaz1859]

Awesome! I love your work station.

[@UriValdez]

This is fantastic sir!

[@salemhardan6412]

Good work , you may need to cut the blade a bit longer with an other hole in it for supporting it from wobbling, regards from Sweden

[@dekurvajo]

i have a fly cutter. I only use once, and i kept it for very special situations when or if i really need a specific size and i have no other possibility. Those fly cutters are scary

[@404Anymouse]

When I made this myself, I used two horizontal screws so the cutting piece wouldn't rotate and the bar would be longer than the cutting point, so it could rest in pre drilled hole. Worked okay until it all warped and collapsed and ended up cutting a cone

[@balvindersingh4085]

Great post keep it up 👍👍👍

[@edumdq]

Hi: Could you please make a video (and if you did please let us know how to find it) showing all that interesting cabinets that you made for your shop? I like your work. thanks for sharing it.

[@vids46SB]

You're insanely skilled Bro!!! Love ur videos!

[@Bigjohnreid]

Hi John, try the Dramel circle jig 687 and the glass cutting bit 667 DR. I think those are the correct model numbers. Hope this helps. John Reid

[@bicyclerider3978]

Great for making thin gears of different sizes using with various types of materials.

[@southernshop8424]

Hells bells, awesome skills

[@benchtopwoodworks]

Cool tests John, always very satisfying to make something on your own. I Hope the glass cutting works out.

[@mwganson]

Interesting concept. Cutting a larger radius hole would possibly work better than the smaller hole since the thickness of the blade wouldn't matter so much, kinda like how you can cut tighter radii with a 1/4 inch bandsaw blade versus a 1/2 inch blade. Only downside I see is safety could be an issue with that slinging bolt while trying to hold down a piece of wood for cutting the hole. And, of course, if the bolt breaks or something comes loose might be advisable to wear a full face shield.

[@nasaruddinajare9926]

Beautiful video...

[@russellsmith8609]

Hello. I thought that another threaded shaft could be added above and inline to the first to keep the bit from twisting. I thought that the cutter worked very well on glass, it is just a slow process. Also, for glass, you might be able to use a small segment of a diamond bit from a utility tool. I think you have a very good, workable idea here that could easily be made.

[@leksey7870]

Great tool!

[@bobclifton8021]

Great idea and it eats up less material than a normal fly cutter.

[@IppiopaidFEEDBACK]

Nice job! 👍🏽

[@glennworton2494]

I've watched both videos and have an observation - to me old saw blade = dull teeth.This might work better if you touched up the tooth. A diamond blade in a 4 1/2' grinder works well.

[@GoDillip]

bro if you use two hole to keep tight the blade and the marvel also in balancing.overall hatsup to your creativity

[@wyw876]

John, My opinion, after watching the glass cutter video first: the re-used footage feels like it's playing at a different pace than the "new" footage. Don't know if that affects future "recycle existing footage" videos in the future, though.

[@MeroxNorway]

so cool, i just love these experiments, i love homemade tools, its inspiring as i cant afford the expensive stuff myself.

[@cobberpete1]

Keep at it John. Could you heat/bake the rod to harden it up; to give you the strength? Not sure about the counter weight theory. it's pretty small in the scheme of things.

[@eliasnavarrobenady5192]

hi! I really liked your video and I think you could improve your device by making a guide just by soldering an other bit. You should also check if your table is perpendicular to the bit because it seems to go a bit sideways.

[@ItsLaneNBama]

AC/DC Back in Black, Thumbs Up.

[@craigpereira6381]

Hi . great idea. from your video is looks like it lost the Englefield because of the thread momentum which made loose balance. have tried welding 2 saw Teath together to make the cutter stronger?

[@africancichlids3011]

great idea. ill be making one since i have the stuff already. cool vid

[@rafsnale]

I am doing this, great idea!

[@guzik992]

Back in Black! Thumb up for tshirt :p

[@JustTex]

Hmmm pretty cool sir

[@tykellerman6384]

Good idea

[@ConstructIcon]

Awesome!

[@73superglide62]

good one

[@AWSmith1955]

I'm thinking there wasn't enough surface area on the blade tooth between the two locknuts and it eventually turned enough to get hung up in the kerf. Perhaps if you made a slot in the blade tooth instead of a round hole. and had it register on two flats on the threaded rod, it would not turn.

[@summerswoodworking]

pretty cool

[@GharGrihasthi]

Do you have any idea for a hand drill.

[@baconsoda]

Hey! You could always use a diamo.... sorry, I read the comments and The Voices made me do it.

[@BenjasUberHobby]

Thanks good advice.

[@fergabmmx]

how about if you make a wood disc attached to the rod then screw the tooth to the wood ? or just make the tooth thinner and smaller hole and add a second hole so its more secure and dont move in the screw like an axis

[@LivefreeanddiyTv]

Great idea, love it! 🤓👍🏼

[@burntsider8457]

Any reason not to put double-stick tape under the disk that will be cut out to keep it in place when you cut through?

[@ehinders2000]

Grinder on table - **cuts with hacksaw**

[@erikparker9900]

you commented that this is a fly cutter...more specifically it is a trepanning tool. I think it would be made better if it were equiped with a way to prevent the cutting edge from rotating around the bolt. perhaps with a second bolt above the first.(?)

[@imortaldeadead]

Could you put a diamond tip on, like the ones you find in a dermal kit. I'm thinking smaller tip, and more of a point

[@nextlevel5145]

Not a saw blade you can use a hard shape iron rod or something else to make a wood shredder

[@bexyrexy]

I love you drill bit organizer! So cool! Did you make it yourself?

[@Traderjoe]

I like it!

[@iamdarkyoshi]

I made one of these last year, called it the widow maker. I just bolted a rod on the side of a worn out hole saw. I'd swear it worked better than the hole saw ever did, but it was a bit more....... jumpy

Great jig, thanks for sharing!

[@BenjasUberHobby]

Thank you for stopping by.

[@drivewaystar6485]

I have that same shirt!

[@texassportingclays7996]

Hey John great video...would it be possible to cut an additional whole in the cutting blade and put in an additional bolt and nut to solve the issue with it moving?

[@TheRealJoeMama1]

Has it occurred to anyone that throughout history ideas that fail at first cause tenacious people to try other approaches until they find the one that works? That's what the word breakthrough means, it's the approach or procedure that finally succeeds. The phrase 'trial and error' also applies here.

[@Al-ms6me]

if the circle you were cutting waste bigger...would it be less likely to bind up like that?

[@fermitupoupon1754]

@I Build It if it can cut say 6mm deep, it'd be trivial to saw the disc out and clean it up on a router with a pattern bit. Very handy if you live somewhere where the health and safety pansies have decided that a fly cutter is too dangerous.

[@lactobacillusprime]

Quite an innovative way to try to do this. :)

[@twxedge5615]

Give us an I build it home update!!!