Blair Holcutters

[Bob D.]

Interested in hearing your experiences with Blair Holcutters if you've used them.

I know there are other brands out there. I have a set of Hougen rotabroach cutters, but it only goes up to 1-1/4".
The Blair cuttters I am interested in are for sheet metal up to 1/8".

https://www.blairequipment.com/products

[blue_can]

Are you referring to the diameter or thickness when you mention 1/8".

I have a Blair set of Rotabroach cutters for cutting holes into sheet metal HVAC ducting. It is a smaller set than the one in the video. Hole diameters from 5/16" tp 3/4" and upto 1/4" thick steel. Of course most HVAC ducting I encounter is between 26 and 30 gauge. I find they work well but you really have to pound the punch to get a starter hole - otherwise the bit just skates around. Probably won't be an issue for thicker steel but on thin sheet metal the duct also flexes under pressure when you try and prevent skating. Once it bites though it drills quickly and gives a clean hol.

I mostly drill 3/8" holes for things like inserting manometer probes and various in-duct instruments like pitot tubes.

[Bob D.]

material thickness, a 1/8" hole diameter would be a twist bit not a hole saw.

Thanks for your report on their performance for you on sheet metal duct.