Dull Hole Saws?

In this video I'll show you just how easy it is to sharpen those dull hole saws with a common angle grinder and "cut off" wheel. It's a good idea to use a new wheel that's not glazed which can easily cause the tips of the teeth to overheat. With this simple method, you can quickly learn to sharpen the hole saws without cumbersome jigs...it's fast and very effective. I like sharpening the hole saws outside for two reasons: A) I don't have to worry about getting fine metal & abrasive dust in my shop and 2) The strong sunlight is your friend...of course it helps to see the teeth angles much easier.
The Dynabrade brand, in-line blower that I have on all my air hoses. (No affiliation...I just love awesome & effective tools: cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-f4083...
My website: ramonvaldezfinefurniture.com/
Tons of woodworking tips & tricks on my Instagram account (use hashtag #ramonartfultips to see a compilation: / ramonartful

[@dollyhadbraces9361]

Respect from an obsessed 30 year plumber, all these points are on hit!

[@ramonartful]

Ok cool! You guys would know! Much thanks.

[@DaileyWoodworks]

Keep sharing these tricks! I’m pretty much self taught. So those “obvious things” from you decades of experience are completely new to some of us. Thanks, I always learn something from your videos

[@ramonartful]

Thank you for the positive feedback…I appreciate it!

[@Advcrazy]

+1!!

[@rickdafler2515]

I love it. I come to learn one thing and pick up four or five new ideas. THANKS, Ramon!

[@ramonartful]

I dig hearing that. Much thanks

[@billsmith5166]

The spade bit was brilliant! It works like a charm.

[@ramonartful]

So good to hear! I appreciate the feedback!

[@rok4220]

Every time the videos are just packed with top tips. Thank you!

[@ramonartful]

Great to hear! I’ve got more coming. Thanks

[@bobfalk2896]

Ramon, You are an amazing woodworker with ingenious ideas. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience!

[@ramonartful]

Bob! Thanks so much for the good words…I appreciate it! Much thanks.

[@lenturnbow8038]

As everyone else says, thank you for these great tips! I found it far easier to clamp the pilotless arbor in my angled bench vise. As I unscrewed the hole saw and braced it with my left hand, I used a Mototool cutoff blade to touch up each tooth top. It was really fast and easy to do; left the teeth scary sharp.

[@ramonartful]

It’s amazing how well they cut with a touch up! Thanks for the input and feedback.

[@mvred100]

Awesome video. You cover so much in this short clip. I will be putting your advice into action. Thanks for sharing!

[@ramonartful]

Thanks a lot...glad to hear you like!

[@Dave0421]

Thanks Ramon, I was ready to go by a new 4” hole dozer and when I found your video I tried your technique with my grinder, it worked well and now I just saved $40

[@ramonartful]

That’s great to hear! I’ve noticed that the hole saws that I sharpen myself cut better than factory ones. Thanks for checking out the video.

[@gunnyoorah1846]

Nice demonstration and really nice methods, the drill and sandpaper was a first for us ... OORAH!!💥

[@ramonartful]

Good to hear! I love showing what works for me. Much thanks.

[@ticovogt]

I always pick up great stuff from your videos.

[@ramonartful]

Thanks Tico...I appreciate that

[@scottcallan3897]

You always present great info. Thanks

[@ramonartful]

Thanks...I appreciate that

[@bobzeis5461]

Just happened upon your video. WOW, lots of new things I just learned from you. Thanks!!

[@ramonartful]

I love hearing that…Much thanks.

[@humor62]

Nice Video! Thanks for all the cool tips!

[@ramonartful]

Awesome to hear! Thanks for letting me know you liked!

[@cdbflynow]

Thanks for the tips. Paul

[@ramonartful]

Thank you for looking! I appreciate it

[@TheCanadianBubba]

Great tips to get through the job 👍

[@ramonartful]

Thanks man! I love how much sharper I can make the hole saws than how they come from the factory!

[@viorsa8200]

Clase magistral de afilado , sencillamente genial , rápido y conciso , gracias por compartir sus conocimientos y experiencias , un saludo cordial y por supuesto un gran like desde Narón , Galicia ( España) 🤓 😜

[@ramonartful]

¡gracias! Me alegra que lo hayas encontrado útil.

[@arubanjames]

Good tips! Wafer wheels can fly apart pretty easy, might want to keep a guard on that grinder with wafers!

[@ramonartful]

Yeah…that’s a good point! Here I’m not taxing the wheel at all…probably not much chance of that. But you can never be too safe! Much thanks.

[@thomas8230]

spade bit tip , awesome!!

[@ramonartful]

It does make a big difference! Thanks so much for watching

[@tagi3d]

Great tips!

[@ramonartful]

Thank you thank you!

[@randsipe224]

Well worth my time, as always.

[@ramonartful]

That’s great to hear. Thanks a ton for checking it out!

[@TheMadawg67]

Another Great video Ty for learning us sompin.

[@ramonartful]

Glad to hear that you liked! Thank you

[@jonkinzel6241]

Thanks for the great info bro

[@ramonartful]

Awesome to hear. And thanks for checking it out

[@billf9526]

Great tips, thanks! Chugging through a 4x6 with an old hole saw bit… the wood being a tad wet doesn’t help (treated). I had broken out the files but decided to search and found this. Thanks!! 👍

[@ramonartful]

Oh yeah…wet PT is a bear😆. Another thing I’ve done that’s not in the video is grind most of the teeth away. Leave four or so…however many works with the teeth that are there. Try to make em bigger when you grind. This will cut way faster with less clogging. Anyway, have fun. Much thanks.

[@storjoel]

All killer, no filler!

[@ramonartful]

Yeah...but not much thriller 🙄😆. Much thanks

[@redridgemillwork4188]

Just subbed baby... Coz I just wanna hear the chuckle after you describe a little nugget! U da man Ramon

[@ramonartful]

Thanks! Ha ha 😬👊🏼

[@FHG1st]

It works better if you can "clamp the grinder down" and bring the metal up to the grinder disk. Gives you much more control and is easier to manipulate for precision sharpening

[@ramonartful]

That actually makes sense. Someone needs to make a “grinder Dock” 😬 Similar to the Dock that I sell for the Festool Domino. Thanks for your input.

[@karyldavidkidd7111]

I have time to save my gear and create less annoyances. Increasing my chances of accomplishment in the first run at it is worth the f'n time. Oooohh, expletive. Thanks bud!

[@ramonartful]

Wait …huh?

[@charlesgray1981]

Another great video. I can’t wait to try your sharpening technique. I would want to know if you have tried a Dremel with a cutting wheel. I know it would be slower but for us less talented folks it might be safer. LOL

[@ramonartful]

Hello Charles. I have not used a Dremel for this...I’m sure it would work as well. The guard gets in the way a bit with these types of grinders but may be a good alternative. Much thanks 🙏🏼

[@OldSneelock]

I used a Dremel with a pink grindstone. I could shape the stone to a rounded edge. That let me shape the gullet while I sharpened the tooth. Running the smaller wheel and slowing down the Dremel to about 10,000 rpm keeps it from bluing the tooth. Sharpening can be a run what ya brung process. The angle grinder does a decent job.

[@carterscustomrods]

Have you ever made a wave style hole saw (like the saw system used on Forstner bits from Fisch and Freud)?

[@ramonartful]

I have not. But I have reduced the number of teeth on hole saws by tons of grinding. They cut superbly well without clogging! Thanks

[@Verstore]

Thank you for the excellent tutorials, please will you do a video re sharpening the various wonderful Stew Mac scrapers

[@ramonartful]

Thanks! And good idea...I have some footage about the Stew Mac scraper. I’ll have it post on April 25th.

[@Verstore]

@@ramonartful I have a curved model that is challenging to restore accurately do you use them?

[@ramonartful]

Are you referring to the “Ultimate” scraper...with several different round corners? If so, then yes! That’s the one I sharpen. I love that thing.

[@Verstore]

@@ramonartful yes that's the one I also use the rectangular 3 inch model

[@ramonartful]

​@@VerstoreYes, next Sunday I'll show that. Thanks a ton for the suggestion!

[@t.e.1189]

Hey Ramon, I've heard you say a couple of times now that you use to be a production manager work in a commercial shop. Do you have a video explaining your background and history in woodworking? If not it would be great to hear your story. You have lots to share to the woodworking community.

[@ramonartful]

I’ve added this to my requests for KZbin videos. I’ll try to keep it short and not too boring! Thanks a lot for the suggestion!

[@Rusty6450]

Great tips on how to sharpen my existing tools. I am a novice and did notice a 'wobble' on the hole saw on the drill press. Should that be a concern? Thanks.

[@ramonartful]

You’re right…hole saws do tend to wobble a bit. Generally, lower speeds should be used. This makes the cuts safer by helping to maintain control as the cutter contacts the material. Also, lower speeds will keep the small tips of the teeth from overheating, which can quickly dull the tool. And the wobble of the hole saw will smooth out as the cutter engages the wood. Thanks

[@benborsa8266]

Solid tips as usual! 👊🏼 The "table" you built for your bench grinder, what angle do yoy have that set to from the wheel and why? As well as why so low on the wheel? I've always seen and have used jigs and such on the top side of the wheel.

[@ramonartful]

Good question. I had to go see my set up in the shop.😆 The drill bit contacts the wheel dead center...but it appears low in the video due to the camera angle. In other words...if you draw an imaginary line through the drill bit...it would line up with the center of the wheel. The actual angle is matching the end of the drill bit. Those bits are most likely 118° maybe 135°...standard drill bit angles. So I am merely matching that (complimentary angle). Hope that helps

[@benborsa8266]

@@ramonartful haha thats funny. Right on, so that is exclusively for doing drill bits then?

[@ramonartful]

@@benborsa8266 Another good question! This grinder is actually set up for sharpening my Stew Mac scraper...nearly exclusively. It just happened to be the same angle that I needed for the drill bit. But most of my grinding is done on a Tormek. thanks man

[@benborsa8266]

@@ramonartful solud thank you, good sir 👊🏼

[@henrysscrollsawworks6917]

Can you use the diablo hole saw without the centering bit

[@ramonartful]

I’m not sure about the Diablo. However, I do that often by simply cutting a hole in scrap 1/4”…then use that as a template or guide to drill holes without a centering bit. Just clamp the template down , yeah? Works well.

[@williamhicks2763]

Great tip on cutting the extra hole before hole sawing. I was helping a friend cut holes in pressure treated plywood over the weekend and wish I had know about that then. The in-line blowers are something I need but the reviews on Amazon are pretty bad. It seems like perhaps they stopped making them in the USA and are now selling cheaper made blowers that do not work as well. One comment I saw said to look around and you could find a rebuildable in-line blower that is made in the USA and much better quality, but for the life of me I can’t find anything that’s not made in China and/or has good reviews. Can anyone point me to a really well made in-line blower? Or perhaps these are still good and a few unlucky customers are dominating the comments. Help please?

[@ramonartful]

Thanks for checking out the video! I used to use the cheaper ones…and they end up failing after a while. The button will develop a leak or sometimes the housing begins to leak. Dynabrade sells a good one. And I see they’ve gone up in price. I had been getting them for around $24. But at least, they’re well made. I believe they’re still made here in the US. www.wurthmachinery.com/DynaJet-In-Line-Blow-Gun-Dynabrade-94467.html?gclid=CjwKCAjw8sCRBhA6EiwA6_IF4f8SsdCOERPuUDEMxmok4DpxWUhKk-0te_s62jwg1ShBDVgCIIvX3RoCVD0QAvD_BwE

[@williamhicks2763]

@@ramonartful Thank you for the link. Just ordered one. Appreciate it.

[@OldSneelock]

@@ramonartful that is a nice looking little air nozzle. Great for quick dusting before finishing.

[@zohranbloedjes9770]

As i said definitily worth the effort

[@ramonartful]

Thanks buddy

[@EFD620G]

One more thing.... most drill presses have speed change capability that never gets used. Try using it,you;ll burn fewer bits.

[@ramonartful]

I change my speeds on the drill press constantly. You’re right, it makes a huge difference. Thanks

[@xman4328]

In case you happen to read and reply,,, What did you do to ensure all the teeth remained the exact same height?? Did you grind the cutting edge of the teeth and not show it?

[@ramonartful]

I grind the leading edge of all the teeth and attempt to use the same pressure and time in the “gullet”. This keeps the teeth the same height. The sharpened teeth cut crisp and clean…It’s amazing how well they cut…way better than new! Hope that makes sense. Thanks

[@carterscustomrods]

This is a perfect task for a good rotary tool. (I said good, I didn't say Dremel lol.)

[@ramonartful]

That’s a good idea! To use a good rotary tool…not a Dremel 😬

[@samponette3306]

Is it faster then with a handfile? Or are the teeth too hard for the files?

[@ramonartful]

Years ago I use to use a file. They need to be triangular. But man...it’s a lot of work! When “cut off” disks became popular for small grinders, I thought that the thin shape would work well for this...and they do. Give it a try...they cut so good! Thanks

[@d.k.1394]

Respect

[@ramonartful]

Thank you! I appreciate the view.

[@network_king]

Was curious how to do this till saw no guard on the grinder and fingers an inch away, can't bring myself to finish watching this.

[@ramonartful]

Well, watch the video and take from it what you want. Keep your fingers away, keep your guard on. 🤷🏼‍♂️ It’s an effective solution 😬

[@lyster1ne681]

Be careful man, you’re asking for trouble with that grinder setup! Otherwise super helpful, I gotta fix up some of my old ones.

[@ramonartful]

How so? The bench grinder or the small cut off wheel? Been doing it like this for years...no issues. Let me know where you see a potential problem. Thanks a ton

[@josephbree742]

Just found you via Blacktail Studio kzbin.info/door/6I0KzAD7uFTL1qzxyunkvA And he is right, you do have A LOT of great tips. I love the one where you curl up a piece of sandpaper and put it in the drill. Wish I had known about that 2 weeks ago when I was trying to smooth out small holes when I was at work without a file. Very helpful videos, Thanks for putting them out.

[@ramonartful]

I certainly appreciate the good words and feedback! Check out some of my YT vids of finished pieces some time…I include many usable tips n tricks throughout. Much thanks.

[@joshentheosparks7492]

For a quick sharpen, run backwards on a belt sander

[@ramonartful]

Yeah…that would sharpen it. But the teeth would lose their “set” causing the hole saw to bind easily. Thanks

[@wessamazzo8856]

Don't leave the battery attached to the tools it will drain it and it can case the battery to fail.

[@ramonartful]

Just now seeing this. But, what you’re saying doesn’t make sense. The tool has a switch…connected to a relay. There’s only a connection to the battery when the trigger is pulled. I’ve never had an issue. 🤷🏼‍♂️ thanks

[@wessamazzo8856]

@@ramonartful I don't know from experience but I've heard from someone, but thanks for clarifying.

[@ramonartful]

@@wessamazzo8856 Thanks for the input...I had to think about it for a while! 😁 But, I always leave the batteries in...no problemo! Thanks

[@rogertaylor8615]

That bit is a chamfered bit

[@ramonartful]

Not sure what you’re referring to. Thanks

[@rogertaylor8615]

The bit you said you didn't know what it called

[@ramonartful]

@@rogertaylor8615 Oh right...the countersink for aluminum...thanks!

[@brenon4766]

Great tips!

[@ramonartful]

Man...I appreciate you