I guess I was wrong, not the first time, and won't be the last time either. A quick look online shows that things have changed a lot since I last had need of a hole saw. In the olden days, there used to be a set screw on the side of the mandrel that allowed you to set the depth of the drill bit in relation to the hole saw.

:subsim:

I readilly admit my gear is aged but that is what is on my kit.

Well it's possible there's a way and I just haven't figured it out yet. I mean, this - the mandrel and bit combo - is the part they sell to use with a whole line of hole saws, all of which (at least from what I saw in the store) are as long as the one I have. So the bit that came with the mandrel wouldn't work with any of them unless there's some way to adjust it. :hmmm:

Post a picture of what you are working with. I have always seen hole saws with the drill bit in the center of the round saw. The bit just helps with centering the saw blade and starting the hole.

My gear is a bit aged. We are talking tools right? Never mind... :shifty:

:haha::har:

Take yer pick...they're both in similar condition :)

I'm thinking that there must be a set screw (removable using a hex wrench or allen wrench as they are sometimes called) in the mandrel to secure the pilot bit in place. If you purchased all the components separately, then there may be a mismatch in regard to the length of the pilot bit.
I tend to buy my tools in sets. Unfortunately, a good hole saw set can run around $70.00.

Whatever it is you're talking about... I need a longer one, is all I'm sayin'. :O:

So were they.

You wouldn't want it hanging off the end of your nose as a wart :O:

Damn right. :o

Okay, here is the mandrel and bit:

http://www.boschtools.com/Products/A...PCM38#benefits

http://mdm.boschwebservices.com/files/r45269v33.png

The bit is separate and can be easily popped in and out, but if there's a way to adjust how far out it extends from where the hole saw fits in around it, I haven't found it yet.

Poking around on the Bosch site, it appears that what I really needed was probably this:

http://www.boschtools.com/Products/A...PCM38-MC#specs

http://mdm.boschwebservices.com/files/r45271v33.png

with the longer bit. The thing is, when I go to Amazon or Lowe's or Home Depot and try to do a search for it (PCM38-MC) the only results I get are either the item I've already got (PCM38) or an item that looks identical to it (and not like the picture above from the Bosch site) but is listed as model# PCM38-MC. So I'm really confused.

I don't know what those two adapters do that are mentioned (AN01 and AN02) but they are two items on the bottom left in this pic:

http://mdm.boschwebservices.com/files/r20938v33.png

I know I looked them up before and found descriptions and at the time it didn't sound like they were used to extend the pilot bit somehow but now I don't know. :hmmm:

Edit: looks like there may be some kind of live chat support at the Bosch site? Maybe I should try that.

Edit: chatting with someone now!

Pretty much looks like the upper example is non adjustable so the obvious choice is the lower one...that's a shame :-?

Just finished chatting with a Bosch rep, I don't need to buy the other mandrel, I just need to get the longer bit (4 3/4") for use with the type of hole saw I have.. She even looked it up at Amazon to see if they had it in stock (they do).

Edit: just ordered it, I should have it tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed, I really need to get the desk finished over the weekend!