I was just at Northern Tools, and I saw an annular cutter. Looks like a hole saw on steroids to me. Being an old oilfield hand, annulus means the space around the drill pipe. So, this would mean that this cuts out a plug. Is this just a hefty hole saw, or does it have other uses?
Steve
It may have other uses, but it is a hefty hole saw.
Pete Stanaitis
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SteveB wrote:
They're commonly used in a mag drill for drilling structural steel. But run in a sturdy drill press or mill they also make clean, accurate holes in sheet metal. I use them to cut the holes for oiltight switches in control panels.
They work well in a mill for partial holes, but everything has to be rigid.
The most common varient of these are used to cut through thick concrete walls for pipe and cable transit. Steve
I have used them for structural steel in a mag drill, and they work great in a mill for cutting holes, especially in thin material. Did several hundred .625 holes through one side of some 1x1 .065 wall square steel tubing with one.
Google Jancy or Hougen for more annular cutter info than you can use.
Have you used them for deep holes? I have a couple of intermittent jobs where I have to make 1 3/8" diameter, 1 1/2" deep holes in mild steel. I have been using better quality holes saws, but they only last for about a dozen or two holes. They cost under $20 each. Would I be better off with and 80 or 90 dollar annualar cutter? I know guys who use them for thinner work, and they work well there.
Pete Stanaitis
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Stupendous Man wrote:
No, i am using a pretty wide set of short cutters,
We actually sell an Automatic Drill set-up for use with the annular cutters. Automatic plug ejection and coolant and all. Works quite well even with multiple spindle heads.
Start here:
We mostly use Hougen, but Jancy is a big, reliable name too.
With annular cutters, you can drill a deep, large hole (perspective is everything) with much less HP. The cutters are expensive, but the HP needed for a standard twist drill is more expensive. :)
Regards, Joe Agro, Jr. (800) 871-5022
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