If the rear side and edges of the workpiece are accessible, clamping a scrap piece of timber behind it can give you a surface to drill your pilot hole into An alternative configuration of hole cutter designed for use on ceramic tile, porcelain, glass and masonry is the toothless or ‘coated’ hole saw. Rather than having jagged or crenellated teeth protruding from the cutting edge, these types of hole saws instead feature a flat rim that’s coated with a hard, abrasive material such as diamond or carbide. As a minimum, this should always include suitable goggles or glasses, an appropriate dust mask for the material being cut, and good quality work gloves More advanced designs might feature an ejector spring for this purpose, usually wound around the central arbor if one is present - you can also buy ejector springs (pictured on the right) as an aftermarket hole saw accessory

This is due to the width of the hole cutter bit, and the subsequently large amount of material being removedBe aware that going in at a slightly off-centre angle - or hitting a nail while drilling - can cause very sudden and violent binding/jamming of the drill when using a hole saw

These simple add-ons also help to protect the drill itself by stopping dust from directly entering the motor, especially when working overhead Dust covers and cowls generally work by accepting the shank of the arbor through a central hole, and flexing as you drill to allow better access to the work surface In many cases, it’s possible to do this via the handy ‘speed slots’ that many brands cut into the side walls of their hole cutters for this very reasonAs implied by the name, a hole saw is made to cut a circular hole of much wider gauge through a workpiece than standard drill bits can create on their own. As with most power tool accessories, the key to choosing a high-end, well-made hole cutter is to look out for a combination of robust construction, quality materials and accurate, tidy machining. Cordless models can get the job done on thinner or softer materials, but you’ll require at least a 14V model