Hole-Saw Hack
If the pilot bit is missing or broken, use screws to control the saw.
More than once I’ve found myself using a hole saw with a missing or broken pilot bit. Without the center bit, the hole saw is difficult to control and can skate away, damaging whatever it is you’re working on. To solve this problem in a pinch, drive three screws into the material you’re cutting, making sure to keep them spaced apart just enough to fit within the area of the hole-saw blade. With these screws in place, the spinning hole saw is held in position until it creates a kerf to guide itself. Once the kerf is established, remove the screws and finish cutting the hole.
—Tim Brenner, Medina, N.D.
Edited and Illustrated by Charles Miller
From Fine Homebuilding #290
