Long-lasting hole saw features high-performance carbide tips
The LENOX SPEED SLOT Carbide Hole Saw cuts through a variety of common jobsite materials with ease. With the addition of carbide teeth, this hole saw should last 50 times longer than a LENOX bi-metal hole saw. We tested them in our shop to see how they would perform in 2X materials, steel and more.
10 second summary
- Model: LENOX LXAH32 2 Inch Hole Saw
- High performance carbide welded to the cutting edge
- Versatile cutting of wood, steel, stainless steel, cast iron, fiber cement, plaster, PVC and more.
- Tall body for easy drilling in 2x wood
- speed slot design
- Manufactured in the USA using global materials
- Price: $24.99
Bi-metal hole saws do a good job of cutting wood, but over time these teeth can wear down quickly. Before long, the new saw started dragging and it took twice as long to drill the hole through. Even clean wood can wear down teeth after a dozen cuts.
For improved cutting performance and durability, LENOX welds carbide to the cutting edges of the teeth. This increases the durability of the hole saw, preventing tooth loss and handling heat better than bimetal. For comparison, LENOX claims that the SPEED SLOT carbide hole saw lasts 50 times longer than bi-metal models when cutting cast iron.
LENOX features a powerful cutting tooth that cuts through a wide variety of materials quickly. The LENOX Carbide Hole Saw cuts lumber, studded lumber, cast iron, stainless steel, fiber cement board, PVC and more.
TESTING THE LENOX SPEED SLOT CARBIDE HOLE SAW
LENOX has kept some great ease-of-use features in these carbide hole saws. The tall saw body allows it to drill through 2X wood at a time. While not an unusual design, we still run into hole saws that bottom out on 2X material.
We drove it through 2X wood as well as a pressure treated 2×6. For roughing, these hole saws do a great job. LENOX manufactures sizes from 11/16" all the way up to 6". Of course, for those larger sizes, you'll be using a max torque right angle drill to complete the cut.
If the hole saw can't easily remove the plug, removing the plug will really slow you down. This really becomes even more important when working high up, overhead or in an attic. The SPEED SLOT design has been around for a while—we love it. Using a standard flat-blade screwdriver, you can quickly and easily remove the plug. The Speed Slot features a 3-step step design that gives you three solid points of leverage to pull the plug out with a screwdriver. The slots are located on both sides of the tool, so you simply work the plug from both sides, one step at a time, and it pops out as easily as you want it to.
Multi-material cutting
We got that too. Opportunity to use these hole saws to cut composite plies of steel and studded wood. This is where carbide teeth really shine. The saw goes steadily through the steel, then goes into 2X, then meets the nail. When it does, the saw quickly does the work and completes the cut. We checked the saw afterwards and found nothing but a one-hit miracle. LENOX carbide hole saws can take care of many of these cuts on the job site before they need to be replaced.
Finally, these LENOX hole saws are made in the USA with global components.
Price
You can buy a LENOX LXAH32 2″ carbide hole saw for about $24.99. They go up or down from there depending on the size you need. All LENOX saws have the same design and features. From what we've seen so far, and our Having experience with LENOX Lazer CT Carbide Reciprocating Saw Blades, we highly recommend these products to professionals who are looking for something more heat resistant than standard bimetal.
LENOX Hole Saw Dimensions and Specifications
