Lenox effectively took a tool that has not changed much since its inception and was able add a new level of ease-of-use to their line of Hole Saws with their new Speed Slot technology. Lenox Speed Slot hole saws use a stair stepped angled slot on the side of the hole saw that facilitates easier plug removal. To further improve the Lenox hole saw line, all the hole saws feature an enhanced tooth geometry, a thinner kerf design, and a coating that is supposed to contribute to the efficiency of the cutting process. What all these equates to is a product that just about any professional tradesman will instantly appreciate.
Out in the field most tradesmen will tell you that removing the plug out of a hole saw is one of the biggest drawbacks to using them. Depending on how wedged the slug gets stuck inside the hole saw, it can sometimes mean that you have to completely disassemble the hole saw from the mandrel to get the plug out. This is exactly the design reasoning behind the Lenox Speed Slot hole saws. Fast and easier removal of the plug after cutting wood or metal means higher productivity and less down time. The Lenox Speed Slot hole saws are made of a bi-metal construction which means that the high speed steel teeth are welded to a high-strength carbon steel base. The high-speed steel teeth help to ensure long tool life by remaining sharper longer, even when used for cutting metal. The carbon steel base ensures that the bit can withstand shock and extended use without fatigue. The entire line of hole saws is compatible with any standard hole saw mandrel. It is also worth noting that the new line of Speed Slot Hole Saws are 10% taller then the previous models which should make drilling though and removing the slugs of 2X building materials much easier.
Lenox Speed Slot Hole Saws Testing and Use
To test out the bi-metal Lenox Speed Slot hole saws we relied less on simply drilling holes—we knew it could do that. Our review spent a little more time and focus on taking out the plug when we were done. We loaded up the hole saw on a standard screw pin type mandrel and went to town on a piece of 1X pine. After our first hole we took a screw driver, and utilizing the stepped leverage points, we were easily able to eject the slug. To see if we could get a plug stuck, we drilled the next few holes intentionally crooked so that the plug was not really round but rather wedged inside the hole saw at an angle when we were done. Again, using the stepped Speed Slot, the plugs came out easily. Next we drilled a hole in a 1X piece of solid oak just to try it on a hard material. To our surprise, the hole saw burrowed its way rather quickly though the hard wood and just as easily as before, the slug popped right out with out having to disassemble the hole saw from the mandrel. After some more drilling we pretty much gave up on trying to jam up the hole saw because, time after time, the Speed Slots proved to be a slick way to get the plugs removed. It is worth noting that the holes that we drilled in both the soft and hard woods were pretty smooth with very minimal jagged edges when we were finished.
Conclusion
The bi-metal Lenox Speed Slot hole saws are the way to go if your job involves using these types of tools a lot. Not only is the Speed Slot innovative, but the thinner kerf and other improvements over the previous models really makes it easy to pick one of these hole saws for the job. For our Value rating we gave these hole saws a score of 9/10 because you get more features for no extra cost over the previous models. For our Performance rating we gave these tools a well deserved 10/10 because with such a simple tool, you might not think that there is much room for improvement but Lenox really did their homework and designed a real winner that makes life out on the job site easier.
