Pros:
Made in the USA
Nice box for storing it
Durable cutting heads
Spring loaded drill bits pretty much remove need for drilling pilots
Cons:
One of the three driller heads seemed possibly defective, read below.
Extremely difficult to remove from the arbor. If you don't have a vice, you better buy one right quick.
So I bought these after getting frustrated with the lower end blair spotwweld cutter which is commonly found in auto parts stores. You've seen them, they have the spring loaded little pilot pin and are pretty cheaply made. They do the job, and if you want to sit there and drill pilots, or use a punch and hammer to make a divot go ahead. However, if you have a lot of spot welds to drill out, or are drilling through some structural steel you'll want to step up your game to this bad boy.
The picture above is inaccurate. The little thumbnail with the black box and white label are what you'll receive. The box itself is good quality and really holds things together nicely. Which is good, the cheap ones you buy at autoparts stores are easily lost and add to the frustration. Included in the kit is 3 driller heads, 2 drill bits, a washer and the arbor.
Using the tool:
This tool really speeds up your progress because you're not sitting there drilling pilot holes, or smashing your hand up with a hammer and punch. The included drill bits aren't super sharp, and don't really drill through the part at first but do manage to do a good job of keeping the tool straight. You start by pressing the bit to the center (or close) of the spotweld, and drill away for a good 10-20 seconds. You then press against it's internal spring to bring the cutter into contact with the weld and keep pressing until you feel or hear the weld separate from the substrate it's welded to. I did have numerous bouts of the tool skipping across, but that could've easily been due to my technique rather then a fault of the tool. That said, I could usually drill out 5-6 at a time with one skip, so not a bad ratio even considering. I didn't realize there was a lube they sell associated with this tool, so when I re-buy one I'll be sure to include that in my order. That said, I drilled a BUNCH of spot welds without it and it didn't complain. I probably had 40+ spot welds drilled before I noticed any decline in cutting ability and then continued for another 20+ before changing the head.
I nearly knocked off a star because the second drill bit shattered immediately. This could have been bad technique, and not a fault of the tool. I put the tool to the spot, and as usual drilled away at it for a good 10-15 seconds before pressing against the spring and bringing the cutter in contact with the metal. At which point, it pretty much turned to dust. All that was left was some jagged remains where it screws onto the arbor. Oh and remember the bit above about unscrewing the heads? It's all the more difficult when they shatter, so be warned. The third cutter head was as durable as the first and made for smooth sailing. Will I buy another? Absolutely. This is the best tool for the job, and with any metal work you're bound to go through material and have failures.
| Manufacturer | Blair |
|---|---|
| Part Number | 11096 |
| Item Weight | 1.6 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 8 x 6 x 1.5 inches |
| Item model number | 11096 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Size | One Size |
| Color | Factory |
| Style | Cutters Arbor & Pil |
| Material | steel |
| Power Source | Hand Powered |
| Installation Method | spot-welding |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Included Components | Blair - Spotweld Cutter Set 3 3/8In. Cutters Arbor & Pil (11096) |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
