Buy Holemaking Tools Online in Australia
Holemaking Tool Selection — Quick Reference
Holemaking tools = BROAD category producing HOLES from small diameters through large-diameter cutting. Drill bits + hole saws + annular cutters + reamers + step drills + countersinks — workshop drilling + hole-making essentials.
| Holemaking Tool | Best For |
|---|---|
| Twist Drill Bit (HSS / Cobalt / Carbide) | General drilling — see drilling |
| Step Drill Bit | Sheet metal + multiple hole sizes — see step drills |
| Hole Saw (Bi-Metal / TCT / Diamond) | Larger holes — see hole saws |
| Annular Cutter (Mag Drill) | Structural steel — see annular cutters |
| Reamer (Hand / Machine) | Precision finishing — see reamers |
| Countersink Bit | Countersunk screw seating — see countersink bits |
| Centre Drill | Drill point centering — see centre drills |
| Tap (Threading) | Internal threads — see threading |
Critical: Match TOOL to MATERIAL + HOLE SIZE + FINISH required. Hole saw above 50mm typically — twist drill below. Reamer follows drill for precision. Brands: Sutton Tools, Bordo. Companion: drilling, threading, drill bit size chart.
Holemaking Tools for Metal, Wood and Construction
Holemaking tools cover a broad category of cutting accessories designed to produce holes from small diameters through to large-diameter cut-outs in a wide range of materials. From step drills for sheet metal work and electrical installation, to annular cutters for structural steel fabrication, to hole saws for timber, plasterboard, and thin metals, the right holemaking tool for the application makes a significant difference to both cut quality and productivity. AIMS stocks a comprehensive holemaking range from leading cutting tool brands for trade and industrial customers.
Hole Saws
Hole saws use a toothed cylindrical cutting edge to produce large-diameter holes in timber, plasterboard, plastic, thin sheet metal, and similar materials. Bi-metal hole saws with high-speed steel teeth set in a spring steel body are the most versatile and are suitable for cutting wood, plastic, and thin metal without changing tools. Carbide-tipped hole saws are specified for abrasive materials including fibre cement, ceramic tiles, and harder non-ferrous metals. Hole saws are used with an arbor and pilot drill — select the correct arbor size for the saw diameter and ensure the pilot drill is sharp to prevent the saw from wandering on the material surface.
Annular Cutters
Annular cutters (also known as core drills or Rotabroach cutters) produce clean, burr-free holes in structural steel, plate, and thick material using a magnetic drill press. Unlike conventional twist drills or hole saws, annular cutters cut only the annular ring of material and eject a solid slug, which reduces cutting forces significantly and allows larger holes to be produced more efficiently. TCT (tungsten carbide tipped) annular cutters are the standard for general structural steel work. High speed steel annular cutters are used where a finer finish is required. Common shank standards include Weldon (19.05mm flat), Nitto, and BDS.
Step Drills and Cone Drills
Step drills and cone drills are designed for drilling and deburring holes in thin sheet metal in a single operation. They eliminate the need for multiple drill sizes when working in thin material, and their pointed tip self-centres without the need for a centre punch in most applications. Step drills are available in TiN-coated HSS, cobalt, and carbide grades to suit different materials including mild steel, stainless steel, aluminium, and plastics. They are widely used in electrical installation, HVAC, and automotive fabrication work.
For help selecting the right holemaking tool for your specific material and application, contact our team at AIMS Industrial.
People Also Ask — Holemaking Tools
Q: Twist drill, hole saw, or annular cutter — which do I need for a given hole size?
As a rule of thumb, twist drills handle the smaller diameters, hole saws take over above roughly 50mm, and a reamer follows the drill afterwards where precision finish matters. Match the tool to the material and hole size first, then the finish required.
Q: What's the difference between a hole saw and an annular cutter for large holes?
A hole saw uses a toothed cylindrical cutting edge and suits timber, plasterboard, plastic and thin sheet metal. An annular cutter is a structural-steel tool — run in a magnetic drill press, it cuts only the ring of material and ejects a solid slug, handling plate and thick material that a hole saw isn't built for.
Q: Why would I choose a step drill over a twist drill for sheet metal work?
A step drill drills and deburrs the hole in one operation and self-centres without a centre punch, and one step drill covers a whole range of hole sizes — eliminating the need to swap between multiple twist drill diameters when working through thin sheet metal.
Q: Does a reamer replace the need for a hole saw or twist drill?
No — a reamer follows the drill rather than replacing it. It's a precision finishing step that brings an already-drilled hole to its exact final diameter and finish; it doesn't remove the bulk of the material the way a twist drill or hole saw does.
Q: Why do annular cutters need a magnetic drill press rather than a standard drill press?
Annular cutters are designed to produce clean, burr-free holes in structural steel, plate and thick material, and that combination of large diameter and hard material needs the rigidity and torque a magnetic drill press clamped to the steel itself provides — not the more general-purpose setup of a standard bench or hand drill.