Hole Saw Tips - For Easy Accurate Installations
For those of you who have never used a hole saw before and are worried that you may not make the pilot cut perfectly vertical into the post and that your post anchor will go in crooked don’t worry.
Here are some tips to help.
Without a Jig or Guide
Take a 2x4 and practice a couple cuts and try to get all sides of the blade to make contact with the wood all at once. This means you are perpendicular.
Also take a quick look from two perspectives; side and front view. This also shows you vertical.
Use Our Hole Saw Guides
These metal jigs are precisely built to fit 2x4, 4x4 and 6x6s so that the saw is positioned perfectly over the center of the hole and held in a vertical attitude.
Hold the jig, insert the saw. Push down. You’re done!
Make Your Own Hole Saw Guide
And you can make your own jig to perfectly guide your hole saw if you like. Here’s how.
Do a couple practice cuts on a 2x4 as mentioned above so you can consistently hold the saw vertical.
Step 1
Take a small piece of ½” MDF board and cut two pieces; 3.5”x3.5” and 2.5”x3.5”. Place the smaller piece in the middle of the larger piece and nail or screw and glue the two together.
Step 2
Draw diagonal lines from the corners on the bottom face of the larger piece to locate center.
Position the hole saw at the center of the bottom face of the larger piece or use a smaller drill bit to cut a pilot hole first if you like.
Step 3
Cut a hole with a 1.25” hole saw through the bottom side of the larger piece and right through the smaller piece. Remove the plug. Sand it smooth a bit. Let the glue cure before using.
Step 4
Place this jig over the end of a 4x4 so it is perfectly flush with the walls of the post. Tack it with some nails to hold it in place.
Now use your hole saw confidently knowing each cut is straight up and down.
What if I Still Can’t Get it Right?
If after all this you still can’t cut perfectly. Use the hole saw a second time and cut more on the side that is misaligned.
Also, you can alter the path of the tube a bit by hammering on one side more than the other.
And finally, if the base doesn’t touch perfectly flush with the post bottom, the lag bolts will pull it into place. No need to pre-drill for the lag bolts unless you are using a really hard wood.