Abstract: A hole cutter having an extruded plate cap and methods and apparatuses for making such caps and hole cutters. The plate cap has planar opposing external and internal surfaces with an extruded hub extending axially inwardly from the internal surface. An aperture extends axially through the hub from the external surface. At least a portion of the aperture can be threaded for threaded engagement with a driving arbor. The hub is long enough so that the threaded portion contains at least two full threads. A blade body with a cutting edge is attached to the cap to form a hole cutter.

Abstract: 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 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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 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.

Abstract: A hole cutter for cutting a work piece, such as a wood and/or metal work piece, has a substantially cylindrical blade body defining a wall thickness within the range of about 0.032 inch to about 0.038 inch, and a cutting edge formed on one end of the blade body including a plurality of teeth defining an average tooth pitch within the range of about 3.5 TPI to about 5.5 TPI for cutting the work piece and forming chips therefrom. The substantially cylindrical blade body and cutting edge define an average tooth pitch to blade body thickness ratio of at least about 110.

Abstract: 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 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.

Abstract: A utility knife blade comprising a blade body defining a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a back edge and a cutting edge opposite the back edge. The cutting edge includes a plurality of serrated portions and substantially non-serrated portions. The blade further defines two opposing lateral edges extending between the back edge and the cutting edge. A plurality of score lines laterally spaced relative to each other along the cutting edge extend across at least one of the first and second sides of the blade between the cutting edge and the back edge, the score lines defining a plurality of blade segments therebetween. The score lines extend between the non-serrated portions of the cutting edge and the back edge so that the serrated portions avoid contact with the score lines to facilitate the breaking off of each cutting segment when desired.

Abstract: An arbor for quick change and standard hole cutters, wherein each hole cutter includes a central aperture and at least one drive pin aperture. The arbor comprises an arbor body including an end portion engageable within the central aperture, a drive shank opposite the end portion for engaging a power tool, and an aperture for receiving a pilot bit. The arbor further comprises a drive pin plate and/or collar having at least one drive pin receivable in a corresponding drive pin aperture of the hole saw for drivingly engaging the hole saw. The arbor, in at least one embodiment, further comprises a pilot bit mechanism for engaging and releasing a quick change or standard pilot bit.

Abstract: An arbor is provided for small diameter quick change and standard hole cutters. Each hole cutter defines an outer diameter of less than 1¼ inches, a central aperture and at least one drive pin recess. The arbor comprises an arbor body including an end portion engageable within the central aperture, and a drive member having at least one drive pin for engaging a corresponding drive pin recess of the hole cutter for rotatably driving the hole cutter.

Abstract: An arbor is provided for both quick change and standard hole saws. Each hole saw includes a central aperture and at least one drive pin aperture. The arbor comprises an arbor body including an end portion engageable within the central aperture, a drive shank opposite the end portion for engaging a power tool, and an axially extending pilot bit aperture for receiving either a quick change pilot bit or standard pilot bit. The arbor further comprises a drive pin plate having at least one drive pin receivable in a corresponding drive pin aperture of the hole saw for drivingly engaging the hole saw. The arbor further comprises a pilot bit mechanism having a first state for engaging a quick change pilot bit, a second state for engaging a standard pilot bit, and a third state for disengaging and releasing the inserted quick change or standard pilot bit from the arbor body.

Abstract: A plurality of aviation snips, each snip comprising a visible graphic indicia indicative of the respective type of snip and visibly different from the graphic indicia of every other type of snip. The indicia is placed on the end portion of the upper handle grip to indicate the orientation of the snip relative to the user's hand during use, and is optionally debossed to add a tactile feel element to the indicia such that the user can determine the type of snip by feeling the indicia without visual contact. Each snip is optionally color coded on the spine of the snip to indicate the cutting direction of the snip.