Using a holesaw without centre drill

[oldman_pottering]

Greetings

I'd like to make easy to build wooden toys and I watch this maker a lot but I could never work out how they make a round wheel without drilling a hole right through the centre. 

Scrolling this video and stopping at the 1:29 shows the morse hole saws that are used but none of them seem to have the centre drill for locating, is it ok to use hole saws like this or will it wander all over the place

 

[wtnhighlander]

I've never had much luck using a hole saw without the pilot bit, except in a drill press. Even then, the work should be clamped to the press table to avoid twisting.

[pkinneb]

Agreed and also use two fences one in back and one on one side to help keep it tight. Also go in and out a fair amount to clear the chips. BTW he is using a center bit for some of them you can see the center holes on the wheels and at 1:24 you can see he is using a drill press and has the center bit in.

[Tpt life]

I use a hole saw all the time without the aid of a centering bit. I drill through a scrap piece first and clamp that to the work. The hole in the scrap provides the guide. 

[Mark J]

It can be done.  Use a drill press.  Secure the workpiece very firmly.  Low RPMs.  Advance the bit very very slowly and use a pecking technique.   @Tpt life makes a very good suggestion, if that's feasible for your operation.

[gee-dub]

Looks like the center drill is present to me ???

[BonPacific]

Yeah, if you watch the operation carefully in the video there is a center bit, but it is shorter than the teeth so it doesn't blow through the far side. Still would only consider this operation in a drillpress with well-clamped material.

If I were doing this I think I'd look for a large plug- or tenon-cutter rather than modifying a holesaw first.

[Coop]

On 10/16/2023 at 7:55 AM, Tpt life said:

I use a hole saw all the time without the aid of a centering bit. I drill through a scrap piece first and clamp that to the work. The hole in the scrap provides the guide. 

+1

[tperson]

On 10/16/2023 at 7:55 AM, Tpt life said:

I use a hole saw all the time without the aid of a centering bit. I drill through a scrap piece first and clamp that to the work. The hole in the scrap provides the guide. 

+1

That's the way I do it. 

[oldman_pottering]

On 10/16/2023 at 11:19 PM, pkinneb said:

Agreed and also use two fences one in back and one on one side to help keep it tight. Also go in and out a fair amount to clear the chips. BTW he is using a center bit for some of them you can see the center holes on the wheels and at 1:24 you can see he is using a drill press and has the center bit in.

Thanks mate, seems I didn't look close enough

On 10/16/2023 at 11:55 PM, Tpt life said:

I use a hole saw all the time without the aid of a centering bit. I drill through a scrap piece first and clamp that to the work. The hole in the scrap provides the guide. 

Thats a good idea, thank you

On 10/17/2023 at 1:53 AM, gee-dub said:

Looks like the center drill is present to me ???

It sure does mate  , my wife has accused me on more than one occasion of having a 'man look' but I can always find the beer