HOLE PRO X-148 Kit: 1-7/8" to 5-7/8" infinitely adjustable Twin Blade Hole Saw Cutter 4" 5" fractional holes in wood sheetrock plaster fiberglass OSB plastics MDF cement board. Use ¼ the torque of regular hole saws and cut twice as fast

Reviews of HOLE PRO X-148 Kit: 1-7/8" to 5-7/8" infinitely adjustable Twin Blade Hole Saw Cutter 4" 5" fractional holes in wood sheetrock plaster fiberglass OSB plastics MDF cement board. Use ¼ the torque of regular hole saws and cut twice as fast

1.) Great tool and it comes with a great storage case
Reviewed by: Peter Baltimore, MD
Rating:
I bought this tool to cut duct outlets for high velocity AC systems I install from Unico. I have used the X-305 model for Airtec MV diffusers and this smaller size uses the same blades and has the same great build quality.

It is easy to adjust the size hole and I can use a cordless drill to cut holes where if I used a hole saw I would need to use a cord drill and an extension cord and worry about clean cuts and have all the dust and shavings to cleanup afterwards. I used it with the high speed steel blades to cut 20 holes in a 5/8" tongue and groove wood ceiling for 5 inch light cans in less than an hour. And I used an old 18 volt Milwaukee cordless drill that uses NiCad battery packs.

I even cut speaker holes in my boat using the tungsten carbide blades to cut holes through the gelcoat and fiberglass. For a tight fit I needed to make a 5-1/8" cutout for the waterproof speakers. Try to find a hole saw that is 5-1/8" - it does not exist.

The 7 inch diameter shield makes it easy to get the tool in tight spaces or close to the edge of a soffit or cabinet and also keeps the cutter perpendicular. I like that I can adjust how deep it cuts so I don't need to worry about cutting something hidden behind the wall or clipping a beam.

The storage case is very high quality, and much better than the cases with the tools I have bought. I like having everything I need in a single case, including spare blades.

I like to buy a tool that will last for many years of use and the Hole Pro hole cutters are that kind of tool. Everything about them is first class.



2.) Great tool and takes less power than hole saws and cuts much faster
Reviewed by: Peter Mitchell
Rating:
When I switched almost entirely to using cordless drills I quickly found that I was limited on how big a hole saw I could use and could easily kill a battery after making two hole in MDF using a brand new Lenox bi-metal or one tooth hole saw. The X-148 is my go to tool for tight spaces where I need to get close to a wall or cabinet or work inside a cabinet. Even a 14 volt cordless can easily cut 4" diameter holes in oak flooring with this tool.

I have used it mostly for putting in central vacuum systems where I need to make lots of holes in sheetrock or wood. The shield keeps the hole cutter aligned so the outlet sits flush. The shield catches all the shavings so cleanup time is greatly reduced. I can also limit how deep I cut so just the paneling is cut and nothing else behind the surface.

The Hole Pro XL-arbor adapter is the perfect companion for the X-148's shield. With the adapter I can use any 1/2" or 5/8" mount hole saw to the arbor and use the shield. I have no dust to work about or clean up and I can limit how deep I cut and get a straight in cut which is otherwise just about impossible with a hole saw.

The kit costs $119 and with the XL arbor kit the total cost for both is $165 or less than the Starrett cowl kit which has only a shield and an arbor and the arbor cannot be used to control cutting depth. When I need to cut in floor or wall tile and want to use a carbide or diamond grit hole saw the shield catches all the dust so I don't need to put up plastic or carry along the shop vac.

Blades are quick to change and the high speed steel cut quickly and cleanly in wood and plastic (no melting) and the tungsten carbide are high quality and cut well in drywall, plaster, cement board, fiberglass, MDF, OSB, plywood.


3.) phenomenal hole cutter
Reviewed by: Michael Winters
Rating:
I just had a job that I was working on yesterday where I had to make a 5-1/8" in ship lap Hardie siding laid over OSB and this tool made a clean hole very quickly and using a 18v cordless drill. The tungsten carbide blades are very effective in even tough materials like Hardie fiber cement siding and the shield kept all the dust (which is very harmful) out of my lungs. It took less than 30 seconds to cut the hole through both the Hardie siding and the 5/8" oriented strand board sheathing.

What I also like is that I can get the exact size hole I need. With ordinary bi-metal hole saws I have few size options when making holes larger than 5" and it is great to make exactly the right size hole and get a snug fit when I want to. I have used the high speed steel blades that also come in the kit and cut holes in tongue and groove ceilings for can lights and it is fast and easy and makes a clean edge and is FAST! and I can use a cordless drill even for holes that are over 7" in diameter.

The carry case is very well made and holds everything in its place even after it has bounced around in the back of my truck. It is designed like the hole cutter to last on the job.

The plastic shield is made from a very tough material that is also very light in weight. The soft double lip of the gasket makes a good dust seal and does not scratch the ceiling. I have learned though that after using it on the ceilings of a house where there is a smoker, to wipe the gasket material with a sponge with a little detergent or hand soap to remove the oil film it picks up from the ceiling.

The shield is ball bearing mounted so it does not spin like the $30 toy adjustable hole cutters one sees in Home Depot and Lowe's. The slots in the shield automatically collect the sheetrock dust so you can still see what you are doing. I like to use the orange knob to restrict the cutting depth so it is enough for the 5/8" thick sheetrock but no deeper so I don't accidentally cut something hidden behind the sheetrock. Big improvement over using a jab saw or a reciprocating saw and a lot less chance of cracking when cutting in plaster ceilings.

Changing out the blades takes less than a minute as does changing the hole size. The twin blades are the only way to go. Perfect balance and no balance bars to change (after trying to figure out which one to use). Sheetrock is pretty soft so having the great balance of the twin blade design makes for round holes and no tearing.

Cutting is so fast the cut is made often before I realize it. It takes less power from the drill so even my light 14 cordless drills are up to the task in most materials. Even with OSB and cement board a 18v cordless works very well. With plastics the lack of side wall contact makes melting much less of a concern whereas with hole saws it is a real problem.

I have one of the larger models but bought this one for tighter spaces and it is easier to use with the Hole Pro XL-arbor kit adapter that enables any of the shields to be used with any hole saw. Sometimes I am cutting through thick material and want to use a TCT hole cutter or use a carbide grit hole cutter on tile while containing the dust and the XL arbor adapter is great for this purpose.

Hole Pro XL-Arbor hole saw adapter works with all Hole Pro X and CL Model clear ABS shields and all hole saws to control dust, provide straight cuts, adjust cutting depth.

Being able to change out a pair of high speed steel blades for $11 or a pair of tungsten carbide blades for $17 makes this the cheapest hole cutter by far and saves a lot of money compared to using b-metal hole saws. But the real benefits are from being able to cut larger holes, cut hole faster, cut even tough materials like cement board, having all the dust trapped, having the shield act like a drill press for perfectly straight cuts, and being able to control the depth of the cut (which the XL arbor adapter also makes easy to do).

This is a great tool at a good price and the 5-year warranty gives an idea of the build quality of the kit overall.

Features of HOLE PRO X-148 Kit: 1-7/8" to 5-7/8" infinitely adjustable Twin Blade Hole Saw Cutter 4" 5" fractional holes in wood sheetrock plaster fiberglass OSB plastics MDF cement board. Use ¼ the torque of regular hole saws and cut twice as fast

One kit takes the place of dozens of hole saws while enabling fast dust free cutting exact size holes from 1-7/8 up to 5 7/8" inches in diameter. Kit includes high quality adjustable hole cutter, ball bearing mounted ABS shield with soft rubber gasket to trap dust and shavings, user replaceable sets of both High Speed Steel and Tungsten Carbide blades, hex wrenches, and sturdy carry case. Shield keeps cutter perpendicular to work surface and cutter has adjustment knob to limit the depth of cut when making holes in walls or ceilings to avoid accidentally cutting wires or pipes. All parts precision machined, measure bar is chrome plated and marked in both inches and millimeters. ABS composite plastic shield is made from the same material as used in hocky helmets and is lightweight, strong, and will not discolor with age. Perfect for installing recessed lights, tubular skylights, in-ceiling speakers, ceiling fans, duct vents, or providing access holes for repairs. Kit includes user replaceable High Speed Steel blades for cutting wood, MDF, Lexan and other plastics, acoustic tile, tongue and groove, laminates, and Tungsten Carbide blades for cutting sheetrock, plaster, cement or Hardi board, fiberglass, OSB, chipboard, plywood, and similar materials. Twin blades for faster cutting and perfect balance eliminate the need for balance bars which can break off inside other cutters. Requires ¼ the torque of common hole saws so a smaller drill can be used and cordless drills can cut more holes before needed to be recharged. ½ cord drills that are rated for maximum hole saw size of 3-1/2 inches for wood can cut holes up to 12 in diameter in plywood using the Hole Pro hole cutter. Like all Hole Pro Power Series kits the shield can be used with the Hole Pro XL-Arbor kit to enable the use of specialty hole cutters such as tungsten grit cutters when cutting tile or stone and have the same dust control and depth control as provided with the adjustable hole cutters.

1.) Multi-functional hole cutter for cutting 1 7/8" to 5 7/8" holes in ceilings, walls and floors.;
2.) Depth of cut: 3/16" (5mm) - 1 " (25mm) cut from one side, 2" (50mm) cut from 2 sides.;
3.) Cuts plywood, sheetrock, lathe & plaster, MDF, acrylic sheet, ceiling tiles, fiberglass, etc.;
4.) For any 3/8" drill, Twin blades - User replaceable.;
5.) Comes with one High Speed Steel blade set and one Tungsten Carbide blade set.;