Questions about Annular Cutters

bquinlan

bquinlan

Joined
Jan 5, 2001
Messages
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A while back several people recommended annular cutters to me. They do look like the perfect solution to one of my problems, but I need to find out more about them. Can anyone tell me what kind of tool they're designed to fit? I've seen several references on tool sites to "Magnetic Drill Presses", which is a whole new category of tool to me. Will annular cutters fit a regular drill? If so, how large a chuck am I likely to need for a 1" cutter? If not, what are my least expensive options for finding a tool that will fit one of these suckers?

Any advice would be most appreciated. With every little bit I learn I discover just how much more there is for me to be ignorant about. :rolleyes:

--Bob Q
 
http://www.csunitec.com/magneticdrills/cutterssmll.html

Bob, from what I can tell on this web page, an annular cutter is a glorified hole saw.
I don't think this type of work should be done free hand with a hand drill. It looks more like a drill press job to me. You can buy a good bench top drill press for around $125 at Home Depot or Lowes. Besides your own personal safety you'd benefit in tool life with a drill press over a hand drill. Just my observations. Hope things work out for you!
 
Bob, the annular cutters are available in catalogs like MSC and a host of others. I recommend MSC. Annulars are available in different configurations and mounting styles. You'll have no trouble finding what you need at MSC.

Disclaimer: Sheesh I feel like the guy in the Wendy's ad!
 
Bob,
They are designed primarily for a Magnetic Drill Press (it's a drill press with a big magnetic base that you would put on an I beam or other steel and core a hole out). Very rigid and cuts a clean accurate hole.
I used one to core a 7/16th hole thru a piece of 1.25" Timascus round to make rings. It leaves a 1/4" piece of round stock in the center that comes out when the cutter goes all the way thru.
I used a chuck in the tail stock on the lathe.
For most applications, there are other cheaper ways of doing it.
 
It's good to know what a magnetic drill press is. I'm always amazed at the variety of specialized tools that exist way outside of the "home shop" world.

I expect to use the cutters in a borrowed drill press, since I don't have one yet, but several friends who live nearby do. So I just need to make sure that whatever I buy will fit a 3/8" or 1/2" chuck and I'm in business. I'll check with MSC.

Thanks to all!

--Bob Q
 
Bob,
I didn't mention, but these cutters are hollow center. The chuck end is a specific size on all of them and it has slots and cams that lock it in place. They are too big to fit into a 1/2" chuck. I used a tool post grinder to get it down small enough to fit into a 1/2" chuck. The whole cutter is hardened.
 
They also have ones that are actually for a standard chuck, Kit - not just the ones for the mag drills. One company that comes to mind is Rota-Broach. :D
 
There is nothing all that wild about Mag drill presses, or hole shooters. They are just an aobvious solution to cutting hole it beams. You can make a nice vice to mount on wood beams also, and then yuse the mag press as acheap deal for shooting mortices.

My local supply store could field anulars for about 100 dollars can., while each hole saw sized cutter in carbide was about 10 bucks. The hole saw makes an awesome. clean cut, so I don't see the point to anulars for my level of production. When I cut through a sheet with a hole saw, what is left over is a perfect washer than I can use for other construction stuff like mounting bow limbs
 
I tried a regular hole saw, but the best I could find locally was a bi-metal version. It has proven to be pretty much useless. Will a carbide cutter actually do the job? And should I look for carbide or carbide grit?

I'm only looking to drill a few holes, so I would be happy if I could get away with something a little less expensive than the $40 to $50 annular cutters, plus whatever I need to adapt them.

--Bob Q
 
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