subject: Tips On How To Treat Equipment Like A Metal Hole Saw [print this page] If you are planning on creating large holes in solid objects, a metal hole saw is a much better option than a drill. This saw consumes much less power because it cuts around the material rather than through it. A good example of a saw of this type in action is when a hole needs to be drilled in a door so that a doorknob can be applied. A drill would need to demolish the material and will cost more energy. An excellent way of threading holes comes in the form of a tap and die. If you have just drilled a hole and need it to be made ready for a screw, this piece of equipment is ideal.
When using the tap, it is important to have the right sized hole already drilled so that the tap fits neatly into it. This will make it easy to thread. If the hole you drilled is too small, the tap will fit too tightly and could break. Too big a hole and it will be ineffective. It is always important to use lubricant when using a tap and die or else the results will be unsatisfactory. A die can be inserted into a hole to make it ready for a bolt. Much like the tap, if the hole is of the wrong size, the die will either get damaged or prove ineffective.
A big problem with equipment such as this is its propensity to break in the hands of inexperienced users. A metal hole saw can quickly be rendered blunt by running it too fast. Those who are new to DIY will become impatient with the saw and will try to get the job done too fast. This is bad news for the saw because the teeth will soon not be as sharp as they should be. The speed at which the hole should be drilled at depends on the diameter of the hole and the material being cut. The saw should always be kept cool, lubricant helps with this.
It is also very easy to break a tap and die set through incorrect use. The cutting edge of the tap in particular is extremely hard because it was treated at a high temperature in its production. The problem with this is that it makes the edge brittle and it can easily be broken when it is halfway through the threading process. It is also a common mistake to turn the tap with inappropriate tools. Although taps can be broken by twisting, it is usually bending that causes the biggest problems. Whether it is the tap or die being used, always pause to remove the metal shavings that are produced during threading.
When equipment such as a metal hole saw and tap and die set are used correctly, they will last for years and produce superb results every time. They are durable when performing the tasks they are designed for but weak when mistreated and forced to do tasks that are alien to what it is used to.
