Milwaukee Tool is bringing new changes to their line of Hole Dozer hole saw products.
A little over a year ago, Milwaukee refreshed the design with new plug-removal holes. Now, they have updated their bi-metal hole saws with a new tooth design.
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Milwaukee says that the new hole saws will have a 3.5 TPI tooth design, and this provides for the:
unmatched durability to provide users with the longest life in metal-cutting applications.
The updated Hole Dozer hole saws feature an all-access slot design, for easier plug removal and also better visibility of the pilot droll bit for accurate placement.
The previous generation of Hole Dozer hole saws had a 4/5 variable TPI design.
Milwaukee says that theirs are the industry’s only hole saws with a Lifetime Tooth Break Warranty, which they say helps to make them the most durable hole saws on the market.
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Perhaps most exciting about this news is that Milwaukee will be updating their hole saw cases with a new design with interchangeable pins that allows for customization.
Milwaukee says that the new cases will be compatible with all of their hole saws, and the small case size will easily fit into Packout storage solutions.
Interchangeable posts might not sound like a big deal, but this lets you customize the sizes and numbers of hole saws you pack with you.
I bought a larger Milwaukee hole saw set a few years back, and one of the posts broke off during shipping, creating a frustration that I have not yet forgotten about. These new removable and customizable posts look more durable. It’s also a hassle to drag that larger case around when I know I might just need a couple of specific sizes for a given project.

It looks like the new cases will have a double-action hinge that allows the lid to nest under the case for unencumbered access.
There are SKUs for two case styles:
- 49-56-1006 – small Hole Dozer case
- 49-56-1007 – large Hole Dozer case
The large case has a more robust latch, as well as reinforced corners.
Both of the new Hole Dozer hole saw cases have flexible webbing-based handles that should fold flat for easier stowing.
Price: $10 for the small case, $20 for the large case
ETA: Feb 2021
Matt J.
Great news. The old style cases were terrible! Not that most other options were nay better, but this is a case worth not throwing away in frustration it seems.
Jared
Cool. That case does sound convenient – though I suppose I usually just keep all my hole saws in their case all the time anyway. My current case also has a couple broken posts (but it’s not Milwaukee).
I wonder if that tooth design might work better on wood too. Bigger spacing should help avoid jamming up with sawdust. That’s something that happens at times with my cheap set – resulting in burning if I’m not careful.
Jared
Just curious, is tooth-breakage something that happens to people often?
Certainly some warranty is better than none, but my holesaws get dull, not broken. I don’t think I’ve ever broken a tooth. Maybe if you hit a nail unexpectedly?
Eric
I’ve never broken one off, and haven’t heard of anyone doing it. I think the important thing though is it sounds great for marketing.
Bruce
I’m usually drilling in metal. Broken teeth happen all the time.
KeithinSC
“one of the posts broke off during shipping”
Sounds like this might be a good chance to try out that new 3D printer you are building!
Stuart
But to do what? To build an entirely new case? The case size is too big. And it has to support quite a bit of weight, which would require considerable strength when workout out the design. Designing a mechanical shaft replacement that is screwed-in would take many iterations and even then it might not be perfect.
I simply let the hole saws rattle around and I curse at the case every time I move it around.
Plastic materials are not easily glued back together.
If I really wanted a makeshift solution, I could cut a strip of foam and fasten a stop or two inside the case to hold everything in place.
It bothers me enough to mention it, but not enough to want to spend any effort trying to marginally improve anything.
Mac
There are many, many times that I relate to this final expression
Ben
Any thoughts on these compared to the carbide tips version they also sell?
Corey Moore
Carbide is generally the top of the pile for holesaws, usually just for metal but I see Milwaukee says multi-material. Either way they’re going to be longer lasting than bimetal and priced higher for it. The concern with the carbides though is typically they’re brittleness, so I am curious what exactly they’ve done to have carbide toothed plain-ole holesaws that will be treated like regular-ole holesaws lol Getting dropped, smacked, channelocked, fumbled and dropped again.
King duck
The case looks nice hopefully some day it is available separately I already bought a 20+ piece set 2 years ago and really like having the organized in a nice case. I’m a little worried about the new teeth hopefully they don’t make them softer and wear out faster I don’t really recall breaking teeth but definitely wear them out.
MoogleMan3
The day that large case is available I’m grabbing one. I bought their 28 piece hole dozer set for $149 duiring the recent sale and of course, one of the pegs was broken in shipping.
OldDominionDIYer
The case is nice but why not do it with a PACKOUT compatible latching connection. Seems like they missed an opportunity there.
Frank D
I’m going to guess, that if it were a Packout version, they’d charge an extra $50 for the half width case (if it is tall enough)… whereas this one is essentially a $5 thing.
Flotsam
I tend to agree. I’m not invested in Packout but if i were this would be an advantage. It might also be an opportunity to have people get exposed to Packout and maybe they would get other Packout boxes as well. These hole saw sets are not going to be cheap and from a manufacturing cost doesn’t seem like they are that expensive to manufacture.
Tom D
Given they already have at least two holesaw kits in a Packout case I think we’ll see that before long.
They did the same with their sockets remember.
Leo B.
Hey, if anyone is interested, Tool Nut just set an email saying the Packout drawers are available. I’m not sure if they were previously or not, but thought I could drop that here.
Tom D
Available for preorder unfortunately. Might hold out for a deal.
Mac
Do not like webbed handle on plastic case. Not sure I need to customize arrangements as long as the saws fit. I guess it’s nice to carry more in smaller form, but more work to unnest(denest?) sizes and I don’t like the handle. Doesn’t seem as rugged as the large or small suitcase boxes I have. Do like new cleanout slots. Will believe new tooth design is a plus, but don’t have one needing replacement currently.
I must have a lucky old case. 20some sizes fit, no breakage of holes, posts, or shell. I don’t bring the whole case out though. I’ll just throw the size or 3 I’ll need in a bag and leave the set on the van.
Ted
Gonna be great when these come to Packout.
Though I’ve been 3D printing Packout accessories, so I guess I should just do that instead.
JoeM
My first thought on seeing this headline: “Because OF COURSE they did! it’s Milwaukee!”
(Insert laughing emoji here, as I don’t know the code to make it appear on this site.)
Steven
Real question is how many hole saws fit in each of these cases, I have their 28pc set and have purchased a few additional sizes.
Stuart
Take a look at the last image of the full large case. I count 22 hole saw sizes. Arbors and pilot drills can go in the separate accessories compartment.
The 28pc set looks to have 22 hole saws, also arranged in 6 stacks, although in a different configuration.
MoogleMan3
Looks like the big one will hold quite a few. I have the same set and am looking into one of these new cases.
Greg
Didn’t they do a complete redesign of these last year?
Greg
Nevermind, it was right in the article. Sorry.
Stuart
They added new slots, and now they changed the tooth pattern.
For reference: https://toolguyd.com/milwaukee-hole-dozer-slots-refresh-102019/
I think that with the two changes combined, and the new cases, this could be considered a big redesign. Perhaps not a complete redesign, as the mandrels and pilot drills seem to be unchanged.
Eric
I just got my small case First thing since I couldn’t find dimensions anywhere, the biggest bit you can fit in the small case is 3″ if you keep the arbor holder in there. If you need any bigger than that you’ll need the large case. Over all the interior space for bits is about 7 1/4″ long. The width varies between 2 1/2″ – 3 1/4″, with the arbor holder removed it goes up to 4″-4 1/2″. And the stacks of bits can be 2 1/4″ tall.
As far as first impressions go, I was disappointed. There is nothing keeping the lid “locked” in place when the case is closed. With the double hinge and the clip that holds it closed there is a lot of play. I can move it front to back probably 1/2″ by hand. It’ll probably hold up ok as long as it’s not getting bounced around or dropped. But it doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. I was even more disappointed after folding the lid under the case to find out that they had taken the time to make sure it “locked” into place when it was in that position. It just baffles me that they went to the effort to design what otherwise looks to be a decent case with good features and then totally missed something so simple.