Carbide Hole Saw vs Bi-Metal vs Grit: Read the Edge

A carbide hole saw isn't automatically the steel cutter. Match bi-metal, carbide-tipped or carbide grit to what's in the way, then pick the size, arbor and kit.

Tools19 in this guide

Read14 min

UpdatedNov 9, 2026

Quick answer: A carbide hole saw is not automatically the steel cutter. Pick the edge by what is in the way. Bi-metal (from $7.94) is the everyday saw for wood, steel boxes, panels and strut, and its 1-15/16 in. cup clears a 2x4 in one pass. Carbide-tipped (from $14.35) is for cast iron, fiberglass, laminate and nail-filled wood; ITM does not list sheet steel for it. Carbide grit (from $31.15) grinds tile, plaster and fiberglass without chipping. The charts below match your material, size, arbor and kit.

Is a carbide hole saw better than bi-metal?

A carbide hole saw is better than bi-metal only in materials that wear teeth out fast, like cast iron, fiberglass, plaster and particle board. In wood and ordinary steel, bi-metal cuts deeper and costs about half as much as carbide-tipped.

The three edges cut in three different ways, which is why "harder" does not mean "better" here. Bi-metal has many sharp teeth that saw. Carbide-tipped has a few very hard teeth (3 per inch on ITM saws) that chip away abrasive stock. Carbide grit has no teeth at all: crushed tungsten carbide bonded to the rim grinds the hole, so there is nothing to catch a tile glaze or a gel coat.

Trait	Bi-metal	Carbide-tipped	Carbide grit
How it cuts	Saws (M3 teeth, 5 variable pitch)	Chips (tungsten carbide teeth, 3 TPI)	Grinds (carbide grit, no teeth)
Cutting depth	1-15/16 in.	1-1/2 in.	1-3/8 in.
Clears a 2x4 (1-1/2 in.) in one pass	Yes	Just	No
Sizes we stock	9/16 to 6 in., plus 8 metric	3/4 to 6 in.	3/4 to 6-7/8 in.
Price at 2 in.	$12.24	$22.09	$43.17
Smallest order	4 saws up to 2-3/8 in.	4 saws up to 1 in.	1 saw, every size
Rated for	Wood and 2x4s (ITM); our pick for steel	Particle board, fiberglass, cast iron, Formica	Ceramics, fiberglass, hardwoods, cast iron, composites

All three lines are ITM, and the bi-metal saws are made in the USA. Prices per piece from our catalog, Nov 9, 2026.

Which hole saw cuts what material?

Match the hole saw to the hardest or most fragile layer the saw will pass through, not the first one it touches. A tub drain hole is fiberglass and nothing else. A can light in an old house is plaster, lath and maybe a nail. A box knockout is mild steel. Find each layer in the table below. Use the edge that rates Good or Best on every layer.

Material	Bi-metal	Carbide-tipped	Carbide grit	Why
Wood, plywood, studs	Best	Good	Slow	Bi-metal's deep cup clears a 2x4. Grit's 1-3/8 in. cup doesn't, though ITM lists it for hardwoods.
Wood with nails or a nail plate	Good	Best	Slow	A nail knocks bi-metal teeth dull. Carbide teeth shrug it off.
Mild steel box, panel, strut	Best	No	No	Bi-metal is the steel saw in our drill speed chart. ITM does not list its carbide-tipped saws for steel.
Stainless sheet	Slow	No	No	A 2 in. bi-metal saw runs about 80 RPM with cutting fluid. Up to 7/8 in., use a cobalt step drill.
Cast iron pipe or housing	Slow	Best	Good	Cast iron is abrasive, which wears bi-metal fast. Both carbide edges are rated for it.
Fiberglass or acrylic tub, shower, panel	Slow	Good	Best	Teeth can catch and crack the gel coat. Grit grinds it clean.
Particle board, laminate, Formica	Good	Best	Good	The glue in particle board dulls steel teeth. Carbide-tipped is made for it.
Plaster and lath	Slow	Good	Best	Plaster is grit. It wears bi-metal teeth out in a few holes.
Cement board, fiber cement	No	Good	Best	Abrasive and brittle. Grit is the common pick, though ITM doesn't name cement board.
Glazed ceramic wall tile	No	Slow	Best	Grit grinds the glaze without chipping it. ITM calls for a carbide-tipped pilot in ceramics. Porcelain is a different job.
Porcelain, stone, glass	No	No	No	Too hard for any hole saw here. Use a diamond core bit or a diamond tile bit.
Concrete, block, brick	No	No	No	Use a carbide or diamond core bit on a rotary hammer or core rig.
PVC, ABS, plastic panel	Best	Good	Slow	Any toothed saw works. Keep the speed down so the plastic doesn't melt.

Best, Good, Slow (works, but wears the saw or the hole) and No. Based on ITM's rated materials plus common trade practice where ITM is silent.

Will a carbide hole saw cut steel?

Some carbide hole saws cut steel very well, but ITM doesn't list the carbide-tipped saws we stock for it. ITM lists them for abrasive materials (particle board, fiberglass, cast iron, Formica), and sheet steel isn't on that list. Search results and AI answers often say "carbide is better for steel." That is true of short carbide hole cutters made for metal, which are a different tool.

For electrical boxes, panels, strut and duct, use a bi-metal hole saw at low speed with cutting oil. Our drill speed chart puts a 2 in. bi-metal saw at about 150 RPM in mild steel and about 80 RPM in stainless. Up to 7/8 in., a step drill suits thin sheet; our XSTP-04 cobalt step drill ($59.09) handles stainless, and our step drill guide covers the rest. For thick plate, a Silver & Deming bit reaches 1-1/2 in. from a 1/2 in. chuck.

What size hole saw do I need, and which arbor fits it?

You need the hole saw that matches the hole your part calls for, and that saw's size sets the arbor. Every ITM hole saw from 9/16 to 1-3/16 in. threads onto the small arbor, ARB-2 (1/2-20 thread, 3/8 in. hex). Every saw from 1-1/4 to 6 in. goes on ARB-5 (5/8-18 thread with drive pins, 7/16 in. hex). Every size is in our hole saws collection.

Hole saw size chart: every size, SKU and arbor

Size	Bi-metal	Carbide-tipped	Carbide grit	Arbor
9/16 in.	275HW0011 $10.46 · min 4	—	—	ARB-2
5/8 in.	275HW0012 $7.94 · min 4	—	—	ARB-2
11/16 in.	275HW0013 $7.94 · min 4	—	—	ARB-2
3/4 in.	275HW0014 $7.94 · min 4	AT120034 $14.35 · min 4	CG0012 $31.15	ARB-2
20 mm (0.79 in.)	275HW0114 $10.05 · min 4	—	—	ARB-2
13/16 in.	275HW0015 $7.94 · min 4	AT131316 $14.61 · min 4	CG0013 $31.15	ARB-2
7/8 in.	275HW0016 $7.94 · min 4	AT140078 $14.81 · min 4	CG0014 $31.15	ARB-2
15/16 in.	275HW0017 $7.94 · min 4	AT151516 $15.32 · min 4	CG0015 $31.15	ARB-2
1 in.	275HW0018 $8.42 · min 4	AT160001 $15.76 · min 4	CG0016 $34.01	ARB-2
1-1/16 in.	275HW0185 $8.42 · min 4	AT171116 $16.33 · min 2	CG0017 $34.01	ARB-2
1-1/8 in.	275HW0019 $8.42 · min 4	AT180118 $16.71 · min 2	CG0018 $34.01	ARB-2
1-3/16 in.	275HW0020 $8.42 · min 4	AT191316 $17.31 · min 2	CG0019 $34.01	ARB-2
1-1/4 in.	275HW0021 $8.42 · min 4	AT200114 $17.80 · min 2	CG0020 $34.90	ARB-5
1-5/16 in.	275HW0022 $8.42 · min 4	AT211516 $17.48 · min 2	CG0021 $34.90	ARB-5
1-3/8 in.	275HW0023 $8.94 · min 4	AT220138 $18.10 · min 2	CG0022 $35.19	ARB-5
1-7/16 in.	275HW0123 $8.94 · min 4	AT231716 $17.82 · min 2	CG0023 $35.19	ARB-5
1-1/2 in.	275HW0024 $9.10 · min 4	AT240112 $18.53 · min 2	CG0024 $35.19	ARB-5
1-9/16 in.	275HW0124 $9.10 · min 4	AT251916 $18.88 · min 2	CG0025 $35.19	ARB-5
1-5/8 in.	275HW0025 $9.21 · min 4	AT260158 $19.65 · min 2	CG0026 $35.19	ARB-5
1-11/16 in.	275HW0125 $9.21 · min 4	AT271116 $20.21 · min 2	CG0027 $35.19	ARB-5
1-3/4 in.	275HW0026 $11.15 · min 4	AT280134 $20.58 · min 2	CG0028 $43.17	ARB-5
45 mm (1.77 in.)	275HW0226 $15.24 · min 2	—	—	ARB-5
1-13/16 in.	275HW0126 $11.15 · min 4	AT291316 $20.63 · min 2	CG0029 $43.17	ARB-5
1-7/8 in.	275HW0027 $11.32 · min 4	AT300178 $21.44 · min 2	CG0030 $43.17	ARB-5
50 mm (1.97 in.)	275HW0127 $15.69 · min 2	—	—	ARB-5
2 in.	275HW0028 $12.24 · min 4	AT320002 $22.09 · min 2	CG0032 $43.17	ARB-5
2-1/16 in.	275HW0128 $13.73 · min 4	AT332116 $25.10 · min 2	CG0033 $43.17	ARB-5
2-1/8 in.	275HW0029 $13.73 · min 4	AT340218 $26.00 · min 2	CG0034 $51.07	ARB-5
55 mm (2.17 in.)	275HW0129 $18.75 · min 2	—	—	ARB-5
2-1/4 in.	275HW0030 $13.83 · min 4	AT360214 $26.89 · min 2	CG0036 $51.07	ARB-5
2-5/16 in.	275HW0031 $13.95 · min 4	AT372516 $26.91 · min 2	CG0037 $51.08	ARB-5
2-3/8 in.	275HW0032 $14.03 · min 4	AT380238 $27.80 · min 2	CG0038 $51.07	ARB-5
2-1/2 in.	275HW0033 $14.79 · min 2	AT400212 $29.04 · min 2	CG0040 $57.58	ARB-5
2-9/16 in.	275HW0034 $14.88 · min 2	AT412916 $29.26 · min 2	CG0041 $57.58	ARB-5
2-5/8 in.	275HW0134 $15.22 · min 2	AT420258 $30.00 · min 2	CG0042 $57.58	ARB-5
68 mm (2.68 in.)	275HW0234 $20.80 · min 2	—	—	ARB-5
68.5 mm (2.70 in.)	275HW0334 $20.80 · min 2	—	—	ARB-5
2-3/4 in.	275HW0135 $15.22 · min 2	AT440234 $30.89 · min 2	CG0044 $57.58	ARB-5
2-7/8 in.	275HW0136 $15.22 · min 2	AT460278 $31.84	CG0046 $57.58	ARB-5
75 mm (2.95 in.)	275HW0236 $20.80 · min 2	—	—	ARB-5
3 in.	275HW0035 $15.22 · min 2	AT480003 $33.20	CG0048 $69.76	ARB-5
3-1/8 in.	275HW0137 $15.38 · min 2	AT500318 $40.01	CG0050 $69.76	ARB-5
3-1/4 in.	275HW0138 $15.38 · min 2	AT520314 $40.70	CG0052 $69.76	ARB-5
3-3/8 in.	275HW0139 $15.38 · min 2	AT540338 $43.26	CG0054 $69.76	ARB-5
3-1/2 in.	275HW0036 $15.38 · min 2	AT560312 $44.16	CG0056 $74.08	ARB-5
3-5/8 in.	275HW0140 $18.06 · min 2	AT580358 $45.08	CG0058 $79.75	ARB-5
3-3/4 in.	275HW0141 $21.22 · min 2	AT600334 $46.35	CG0060 $85.88	ARB-5
3-7/8 in.	275HW0142 $22.31 · min 2	AT620378 $46.92	CG0062 $88.70	ARB-5
100 mm (3.94 in.)	275HW0100 $27.82 · min 2	—	—	ARB-5
4 in.	275HW0037 $23.27 · min 2	AT640004 $49.27	CG0064 $91.98	ARB-5
4-1/8 in.	275HW0143 $26.08 · min 2	AT660418 $68.39	CG0066 $98.44	ARB-5
4-1/4 in.	275HW0144 $33.93	AT680414 $70.86	CG0068 $103.39	ARB-5
4-3/8 in.	—	AT700438 $71.75	CG0070 $108.52	ARB-5
4-1/2 in.	275HW0038 $46.94	AT720412 $72.14	CG0072 $113.36	ARB-5
4-3/4 in.	275HW0145 $54.38	AT760434 $78.55	CG0076 $121.32	ARB-5
5 in.	275HW0039 $57.83	AT800005 $80.86	CG0080 $129.80	ARB-5
5-1/2 in.	275HW0040 $69.00	AT880512 $85.16	CG0088 $138.88	ARB-5
5-3/4 in.	275HW0146 $74.93	AT920534 $87.25	CG0092 $138.88	ARB-5
6 in.	275HW0041 $80.84	AT960006 $89.58	CG0096 $138.88	ARB-5
6-3/8 in.	—	—	CG0104 $146.65	Call us
6-7/8 in.	—	—	CG0110 $146.65	Call us

Price per piece, Nov 9, 2026.

Arbor part	Fits	Price	Min
ARB-2	9/16 to 1-3/16 in. saws, 1/2-20 thread, 3/8 in. hex, pilot included	$11.62	3
ARB-5	1-1/4 to 6 in. saws, 5/8-18 thread with drive pins, 7/16 in. hex, pilot included	$17.84	2
EXT002	12 in. extension for 3/8 in. hex arbors	$18.89	2
EXT001	12 in. extension for 7/16 in. hex arbors	$18.55	4

Is a hole saw kit cheaper than buying saws one at a time?

A kit is the cheapest way to get one of each size, because single saws carry order minimums. Loose, the six saws and two arbors in the Electrician's kit cost $92.94 one apiece, but the minimums push the smallest loose order to $294.88. The kit is $116.69 with a case. The 12-piece Master Electrician's kit costs less than its parts even at one apiece. We don't carry an HVAC kit; for HVAC crews the Master Electrician's kit is the closest, with 3, 3-5/8, 4-1/8 and 4-1/2 in. saws.

Kit	SKU	Price	Edge	Saws inside
Electrician's, 8 pc.	275AV02E	$116.69	Bi-metal	7/8, 1-1/8, 1-3/8, 1-3/4, 2, 2-1/2
Master Electrician's, 12 pc.	275AV08E	$195.12	Bi-metal	7/8, 1-1/8, 1-3/8, 1-3/4, 2, 2-1/2, 3, 3-5/8, 4-1/8, 4-1/2
Plumber's, 8 pc.	275AV04P	$93.48	Bi-metal	3/4, 7/8, 1-1/8, 1-1/2, 1-3/4, 2-1/4
Maintenance, 11 pc.	275AV100	$160.43	Bi-metal	3/4, 7/8, 1-1/8, 1-3/8, 1-1/2, 1-3/4, 2, 2-1/4, 2-1/2
Carbide Maintenance, 11 pc.	275AT100	$242.67	Carbide-tipped	3/4, 7/8, 1-1/8, 1-3/8, 1-1/2, 1-3/4, 2, 2-1/4, 2-1/2

Every kit includes ARB-2, ARB-5 and a molded case. Made in the USA.

Why did my hole saw stop cutting?

A hole saw usually stops cutting because it ran too fast, met a material its edge is not made for, or packed its teeth with chips. The spent saw tells you which one.

What the saw looks like	What happened	Next time
Blue or straw-colored teeth, tips rounded	Too fast in steel	Low gear, about 150 RPM at 2 in. in mild steel, cutting oil
Teeth fine, saw squeals and won't bite	Gullets packed with chips or plaster	Back out every 1/4 in. to clear it, pop the plug through the knockout slots
Teeth chipped or missing	Hit a nail, or a tooth caught a thin sheet edge	Carbide-tipped for nail-filled wood; bi-metal for sheet steel
Teeth worn smooth after a few holes	Abrasive stock: plaster, cast iron, cement board	Carbide grit or carbide-tipped
Grit rim glazed and shiny	Clean wood or metal, or no water in tile	Toothed saw for wood and metal; mist tile with water
Hole walks off the mark	Worn pilot drill	Replace the arbor's pilot, or the arbor (ARB-2, ARB-5)

What should I use where a hole saw stops?

Use diamond tooling for porcelain, stone and glass, and a core bit for concrete and block. No hole saw in this guide is made for those.

Porcelain tile: drill small holes with a diamond bit (HEX-14, 1/4 in. hex, $15.22) and finish them with a diamond countersink (Point-2). See how to drill through tile and our diamond end mill guide.
Granite and quartz countertops: a stone countertop diamond core bit (GRA-09, 1 in., $57.12).
Concrete, block and brick: a core bit. Our core drills cover rotary hammer and wet coring.
Small holes in wood framing: a spade bit costs a few dollars and handles holes up to 1-1/2 in. See our spade vs auger vs hole saw guide or browse spade bits.

Which hole saw should I buy for my job?

Buy bi-metal for steel and wood framing, carbide-tipped for cast iron and nail-filled wood, and carbide grit for fiberglass, tile and plaster. One row per situation, with the exact saw, price and minimum.

Your job	Buy	Price per piece	Min	Fits
Knockout for 1/2 in. conduit in a steel box	275HW0016 bi-metal 7/8 in.	$7.94	4	ARB-2
2 in. hole through plywood or a non-bearing 2x4 stud	275HW0028 bi-metal 2 in.	$12.24	4	ARB-5
Cast iron or old wood full of nails, 1-1/2 in.	AT240112 carbide-tipped 1-1/2 in.	$18.53	2	ARB-5
Tub or shower valve hole in fiberglass	CG0024 carbide grit 1-1/2 in.	$35.19	1	ARB-5
Glazed ceramic tile or cement board, 2 in.	CG0032 carbide grit 2 in.	$43.17	1	ARB-5
Recessed light in plaster, 6-7/8 in. cutout	CG0110 carbide grit 6-7/8 in.	$146.65	1	Call us for the arbor
A truck kit for conduit, 7/8 to 4-1/2 in.	275AV08E Master Electrician's kit	$195.12	1	Both arbors included
A plumber's set, 3/4 to 2-1/4 in.	275AV04P Plumber's kit	$93.48	1	Both arbors included
4 in. hole in a sheet-metal duct or air handler panel	275HW0037 bi-metal 4 in.	$23.27	2	ARB-5
Reaching past a joist or into a cabinet back	EXT002 12 in. extension, 3/8 in. hex	$18.89	2	ARB-2

Prices per piece from our catalog, Nov 9, 2026. "Min" is the order minimum.

In a bearing 2x4 stud the code limit is a 1-3/8 in. hole; in a non-bearing 2x4 stud it is 2-1/16 in. Our stud and joist guide has the rules. For glazed ceramic tile, ITM calls for a carbide-tipped pilot. ARB-2 and ARB-5 don't come with one and we don't stock one, so call us before a tile job.

Hole saw questions

Are carbide hole saws worth it?

Carbide hole saws are worth it when you cut abrasive material often: cast iron, fiberglass, plaster, cement board or nail-filled wood. In clean wood and sheet steel, a bi-metal saw at about half the price cuts as well or better.

Can a bi-metal hole saw cut metal?

Yes. Bi-metal is the hole saw for mild steel boxes, panels, strut and duct. Run it slow, about 150 RPM at 2 in., with cutting oil, and it lasts.

What is a carbide grit hole saw used for?

A carbide grit hole saw grinds holes in glazed ceramic tile, fiberglass, plaster and cement board. With no teeth, it can't catch and chip a fragile surface. Its 1-3/8 in. cup won't clear a 2x4, and it is not for porcelain or concrete.

Do bi-metal and carbide hole saws use the same arbor?

Yes. ITM's bi-metal, carbide-tipped and grit saws share the same threads. Use ARB-2 for 9/16 to 1-3/16 in. saws and ARB-5 for 1-1/4 to 6 in.

Can I use a hole saw on an impact driver?

Use a drill. ITM lists its arbors for corded and cordless drills only, and the hammer blows of an impact driver chip carbide teeth and grit edges.

Not sure which edge fits your wall? Call our team at (833) 4-ETOOLS or email sales@eldoradotools.com with the material and the hole size.

Sources: ITM product listings for the 275HW, AT and CG series, ARB-2/ARB-5 and the 275AV/275AT kits; Eldorado Tools drill speed chart; Eldorado Tools catalog prices, Nov 9, 2026.

Prices checked on the store Nov 9, 2026.

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