Milwaukee’s BIG HAWG kit delivers 50X longer life and 5X faster cutting than standard hole saws, with carbide teeth that can cut through 1,000+ nails. This isn’t your budget hole saw set. It’s engineered for contractors who drill through the worst stuff — nail-embedded wood, cement board, shingles, plaster, and stucco.
Skip it if you’re just punching holes in clean drywall. Some users note that the size and aggressive design could be overkill for lighter tasks. This kit earns its keep on renovation work where every stud has three generations of nails buried in it.
What Makes the BIG HAWG Different
The kit features carbide teeth that are 10X larger than standard hole saws. That’s not marketing fluff — those oversized teeth bite harder and last longer. The 3-tooth design creates aggressive cuts that power through materials bi-metal saws would burn up on.
The numbers that matter:
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 50X more than standard hole saws |
| Nail cutting capacity | 1,000+ nails |
| Cutting speed | 5X faster than standard |
| Max cut depth | 2-3/8 inches |
| Tool weight | 2.1 lbs |
The enlarged braze surface creates a stronger bond to the carbide teeth, and the thicker backer provides extreme life in demanding applications. These aren’t the thin-walled hole saws that warp after hitting their first nail. The optimized slot design enables rapid plug removal — because nothing kills productivity like fighting stuck wood plugs.
Real-World Performance
The kit maintains approximately 4.7/5.0 average rating across retailers. Key positives include extremely fast cutting speed in wood, long-lasting teeth even after hitting several nails, and large gullets that make it easy to clear plugs.
Primary use cases include drilling through metal, wood, and nail-embedded materials, making it a popular choice for contractors working on framing, remodeling, or electrical installations where speed and durability are critical. That’s exactly where these shine — old work where you never know what’s hiding in the wall cavity.
Can be aggressive and requires a powerful drill with a side handle. Don’t expect to run these with your 12V driver. Milwaukee specifically recommends using a drill with a side handle to manage high torque during aggressive cutting.
What’s in the Kit
The 7-piece kit includes 2-1/8”, 2-9/16”, and 3-5/8” BIG HAWG hole saws — the three sizes you’ll actually use for electrical boxes, plumbing runs, and HVAC penetrations. Also includes the BIG HAWG Arbor with Carbide Teeth, two pilot bits, and a diamond file.
Everything runs on a 7/16-inch hex shank, compatible with standard corded or cordless drills with 1/2-inch or larger chucks. No proprietary arbor systems. No adapters needed.
The Bottom Line
Worth the investment if you’re drilling through old lumber, renovating buildings with unknown nail placement, or cutting cement board regularly. BIG HAWG is optimized for larger wood boring applications like plumbing/HVAC rough-ins, not precision metalwork.
Compared to Milwaukee’s own Hole Dozer line, the Hole Dozer is bi-metal and better for metal cutting, but slower and has shorter life in nail-embedded wood or abrasive materials. Pick your tool for your material.
For Montana contractors dealing with century-old buildings full of hand-forged nails, or cutting through modern engineered lumber with metal fasteners everywhere, these carbide teeth earn their premium. The limited lifetime warranty covers manufacturer defects on the arbor and pilot bits, though hole saws themselves are consumed items.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What size holes does this kit cut? The kit includes three sizes: 2-1/8 inch, 2-9/16 inch, and 3-5/8 inch hole saws. Maximum cut depth is 2-3/8 inches, which handles standard 2x4 construction with room to spare.
Q: Can these cut through metal? The saws can cut through metal, wood, and nail-embedded materials, but Milwaukee’s Hole Dozer bi-metal line is better optimized for straight metal cutting. BIG HAWG excels at mixed materials — wood with embedded nails, not sheet metal.
Q: Do I need a special drill? Any drill with a 1/2-inch or larger chuck works with the 7/16-inch hex shank. Milwaukee recommends using a drill with a side handle due to the high torque these generate. Maintain appropriate RPM speeds — slower for larger diameters — to prevent overheating the carbide teeth.
Q: How do these compare to standard hole saws? BIG HAWG offers 50X more life and 5X faster cutting in nail-embedded wood compared to standard bi-metal saws. The carbide teeth are 10X larger, designed to handle impacts that would strip or break standard teeth.
Q: What materials can these cut? Specifically designed for nail-embedded wood, cement board, shingles, plaster, stucco, and other abrasive materials. The kit’s ability to cut through over 1000 nails and its durability in abrasive applications are seen as significant advantages.
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