Customer Reviews

Bosch PCM38 3/8-Inch Bi-Metal Power Change Hole Saw Mandrel

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Bosch now allows you to adapt your old hole saw set to their Power Change system.

This mandrel and the addition of a adapter nut kit does exactly what you'd expect: it allows you to change hole saws quickly without having to unchuck the hole saw, fight to remove the mandrel that was jammed to the hole saw by the drills torque and then fit a new hole saw to the mandrel and chuck it. If you have to switch from cutting different sized holes such as holes for faucets and drain pipes or the two holes in a door when installing a lockset you will appreciate using these accessories.

Several items exist in the Power Change product line which can be confusing so take care when adding items to your cart:

Mandrel only:

- PCM12 1/2" Mandrel
- PCM38 3/8" Mandrel
- PCMSDSPL Mandrel with SDS-Plus shank

Mandrel kits:

- PCM12AN 1/2" Mandrel w/ two adapter nuts (small, large w/ locking pins)
- PCM38AN 3/8" Mandrel w/ two adapter nuts (small, large w/ locking pins)
- HE1 comes with 3/8" Mandrel with stacked thread adapter nut for enlarging holes

Adapter nut kits:

- CK1 6-pack of adapter nuts: 2 small and 4 large adapter nuts for small to medium hole saws
- CK2 6-pack of adapter nuts: 2 small and 4 large w/ locking pins for small to large hole saws
- AN01 2-pack of small adapter nuts (9/16 - 1 3/16")
- AN02 2-pack of large w/ locking pins adapter nuts (1 1/4 - 6")

Confused yet?

The best way to get started is probably to buy the HE1 and CK2 kits. This will give you a 3/8" mandrel, adapters for your hole saws and the ability to enlarge holes that were cut too small. I'm really not sure what the advantage of the 1/2" mandrel is other than the fact that most hole saw mandrels are 1/2" and probably designed to cut 6" holes. The 3/8" mandrel seems perfectly capable to me.

Pros:

- affordably priced
- ability to swap holes saws in seconds
- easy to fit adapter nuts

Cons:

- run-out creates wobble were none existed previously
- can no longer store hole saws in your case (depth and stacking problems)
- no ejector spring/mechanism (who does?)

As could be expected from a quick change system, run-out with the hole saws can be an issue. Some adapter nuts are made better than others and you'll find that you can reduce or eliminate the run-out by rotating the adapter nut to one of the other 5 hex positions possible in the mandrel. Sometimes this works, sometimes not. Either way it partially defeats the purpose of a quick change system wasting your time and is why I gave the product 4 out of 5 stars. Be sure that the top of your hole saws is flat so as not to further compound the run-out (something Bosch has probably taken into consideration with their own hole saws).

Something else I have noticed about the Bosch holes saws with the power change adapter nuts, is that of the three nuts (small, large, large with w/ locking pin), Bosch always uses a nut with no-pins and adds a washer. This is obviously a cost saving measure but I wonder if the addition of the thin washer reduces the chance of run-out.

Something I don't understand about the CK2 kit is that the washers included for the small adapter nuts are too large to fit properly. The CK1 kit which includes 4 large nuts without the locking pins comes with no washers at all. Someone didn't think those kits through properly. I would have included small washers with the small nuts and large washers with the large nuts and added more threads to the nuts to compensate for the thickness of the washer.

If you don't have a set of hole saws with these adapters I'd recommend buying a complete Bosch set that does rather than select a favorite brand of hole saws and try to adapt them to this quick change system.

The Bosch Quick Change as it is now called by Bosch is a good concept that does make it about 10-15 seconds faster to change a hole saw compared to a standard 2-pin mandrel. The downsides are that the Bosch Quick Change hole saws are the only ones that work with this arbor and vice versa.

This Bosch mandrel or arbor also requires a special Bosch pilot bit with a 1/4" hexagonal base. Bosch only makes a 3" high speed steel twist pilot bit and a 7" masonry style bit for use with their Quick Change hole saws. If you are cutting holes in wood neither type of drill works well and slows down the hole cutting considerably. So the 15 seconds one might gain in attaching a hole saw is more than negated by the much longer time it takes to drill through most materials other than mild sheet steel (where the HSS twist pilot bit is effective).

The hole saws by Bosch slip in easily and firmly in this quick change mandrel. BOSCH PCM38 Bi-Metal Power Change Hole Saw Mandrel 3/8-Inch

I have gone through 2 of these in about a years time. I like the fact that the bits are so easy to change, which is what attracted em to them in the first place. After 6 months or so the ball retainer for the pilot fell out or was broken, which meant that you had to start the hole and then take the pilot out or it would fall out on it's own. The second one was destroyed when I was drilling with the 3 inch hole saw that came with the set that I purchased, and the bit actually bound in the hole and the stub that is put into the drill chuck actually bent. I am a professional remodeler and do use my tools, but I never abuse them. I can't afford to keep replacing broken tools. If you are doing light duty or small diameter holes then this is the system to get, but don't expect the mandrel to last through much in the way of heavy use.

this quick hole saw changer is incredible!!!! I no longer will ever use all my other hole saw but these from Bosch. I love them.