A hole cutter has a substantially cylindrical blade body defining a blade body circumference, a cutting edge formed on one end of the blade body, and an axially-elongated slot formed through the substantially cylindrical blade body. The axially-elongated slot is configured to receive chips flowing from the cutting edge within the interior of the blade body and (i) into the slot and/or (ii) through the slot, to prevent the collection of such chips within the interior of the blade body and/or at an interface between the blade body and the work piece. The axially-elongated slot defines a first end adjacent to the cutting edge, a second end axially spaced further from the cutting edge, and a slot area. The hole cutter further defines a total slot area to blade body circumference ratio within the range of about 0.1 to about 0.3 depending on the size of the hole cutter.

A hole cutter has a cylindrical blade body including a cutting edge and one or more axially-elongated apertures formed within a side wall of the blade body. The axially-elongated aperture is configured to receive a lever, such as a screwdriver, therethrough. Each axially-elongated aperture includes a first fulcrum axially spaced adjacent to the cutting edge, a second fulcrum axially spaced further away from the cutting edge than the first fulcrum, and optionally a third fulcrum axially spaced between the first and second fulcrums. A lever, such as a screwdriver, can be inserted into the aperture and placed against each of the fulcrums to lever slugs out of the interior of the blade body.

A hole saw includes a substantially cylindrical body defining a cutting end and an axis of rotation. The hole saw also includes first and second apertures formed through the body and spaced from the cutting end such that a portion of the body extends between the cutting end and both the first and second apertures. The first and second apertures are both configured to receive a tool for removing work piece plugs from within the cylindrical body. The first aperture is axially spaced from the cutting end a first distance. The second aperture is axially spaced from the cutting end a second distance that is greater than the first distance. The first aperture and the second aperture are separated by a portion of the body.

A cutting tool includes a body having a cutting edge. A plurality of cutting teeth is formed on the cutting edge. Each cutting tooth includes a tip, a rake face extending from the tip, a planar primary relief surface extending from the tip, and a concave secondary relief surface extending from the primary relief surface. The cutting tool further includes a plurality of non-cutting protrusions formed on the cutting edge. Each non-cutting protrusion includes an apex, a leading edge extending from the apex, and a trailing edge extending from the apex. A plurality of primary and secondary gullets is formed on the cutting edge. Each primary gullet is formed between the secondary relief surface of one cutting tooth and the leading edge of one non-cutting protrusion. Each secondary gullet is formed between the rake face of one cutting tooth and the trailing edge of one non-cutting protrusion.

A hole cutter has a cylindrical blade body including a cutting edge and one or more axially-elongated apertures formed within a side wall of the blade body. The axially-elongated aperture is configured to receive a lever, such as a screwdriver, therethrough. Each axially-elongated aperture includes a first fulcrum axially spaced adjacent to the cutting edge, a second fulcrum axially spaced further away from the cutting edge than the first fulcrum, and optionally a third fulcrum axially spaced between the first and second fulcrums. A lever, such as a screwdriver, can be inserted into the aperture and placed against each of the fulcrums to lever slugs out of the interior of the blade body.

A hole saw including a plurality of sidewall openings is provided. The sidewall openings are shaped and grouped in patterns that improve debris ejection of the hole saw, and that allows for easy access to the interior of the hole saw for manual debris removal by the user. The opening groups are space from each other by larger uninterrupted areas such that the hole saw has a high strength despite the number and size of openings provided in the saw sidewall.

A hole cutter can include a cylindrical blade body with a cutting edge and one or more axially-elongated apertures. Each axially-elongated aperture can include a first fulcrum axially spaced from the cutting edge, and a second fulcrum axially spaced further away from the cutting edge than the first fulcrum. The blade body can also include a third fulcrum defined by a second aperture different from the one or more axially-elongated apertures. The third fulcrum may be spaced closer to the cutting than the first and second fulcrums. A lever, such as a screw driver, can be inserted into the apertures and placed against each of the fulcrums to lever slugs out of the interior of the blade body. The third fulcrum may alternatively be defined by another axially-elongated aperture that is located a different distance from the cutting edge than the axially-elongated aperture containing the first and second fulcrums.

A cutting tool includes a body, a plurality of cutting teeth formed on the body, a plurality of non-cutting protrusions formed on the body, and a plurality of gullets formed on the body. Each gullet is formed between one of the plurality of cutting teeth and one of the plurality of non-cutting protrusions. Each gullet has a base and a gullet depth measured from the base to a tip of a corresponding cutting tooth. Each non-cutting protrusion is located approximately halfway between the tips of two adjacent cutting teeth and has a height that is at most about 75% of the gullet depth.

A hole saw includes a cylindrical body disposed along an axis of rotation with a side wall extending axially from a cap end to a cutting end. The cutting end includes a plurality of cutting teeth. The hole saw also includes a cap coupled to the cap end of the cylindrical body. The side wall defines an elongated aperture configured to receive a tool for removing work piece plugs from within the cylindrical body. The elongated aperture has a first slot portion adjacent the cutting edge. The first slot portion is oriented perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The elongated aperture also has a second slot portion connected to the first slot portion and extending from the first slot portion toward the cap end. The second slot portion is oriented at an oblique angle relative to the axis of rotation.

A hole saw with various teeth sets and/or sizes that overhang a sidewall is provided. In some embodiments, a large tooth overhangs an inner diameter of the sidewall to create a larger kerf than the sidewall's thickness. Similarly, a tooth set or variations in the circumferential directions of the teeth increase the kerf in a work-piece, either inward or outward. In various embodiments, one or both an enlarged tooth overhang and/or a set of the teeth increases the kerf of the hole saw relative to the sidewall thickness. This results in improved wear resistance, decreased heat on the teeth while cutting, and facilitates slug removal.