Bosch 2608594194 Review

Running cables through a floor joist, cutting a clean circular aperture in a plasterboard ceiling for a downlight, or boring a hole through a kitchen cabinet back panel for pipework all have one thing in common: a standard twist drill bit is useless. Twist bits top out at around 13 mm in a typical drill chuck, and even large-auger bits struggle beyond 25 mm. For the clean, round holes between 25 mm and 86 mm that electrical installations, plumbing rough-ins, and ventilation ducting demand, a hole saw is the right tool — and a set covering the standard diameters used in European electrical work means you never find yourself mid-job without the size you need. A quality hole saw set with progressive tooth geometry, a quick-change arbour, and robust centring drills turns a standard drill driver into a precise boring tool that cuts through wood, plasterboard, plastic, and even sheet metal and stainless steel with the right technique.

Choosing a hole saw set starts with the diameter range. For European electrical installation, the critical sizes are 25 mm (cable pass-through), 32 mm and 40 mm (standard conduit entries), 54 mm and 60 mm (socket back boxes and junction boxes), and 68 mm to 86 mm (downlight cut-outs and larger conduit). A set that covers this full range eliminates the frustration of buying individual saws at premium prices each time a new project calls for a size you do not own. Tooth geometry is the next consideration: progressive or variable-pitch teeth cut faster and clear swarf more effectively than uniform teeth, especially in metal where chip evacuation determines whether the saw cuts or jams. The arbour system matters for workflow — a quick-change adapter that lets you swap hole saws in seconds without tools keeps your momentum through a day of electrical first-fix work. Finally, check the working depth: 44 mm is sufficient for plasterboard, floorboards, and chipboard panels, but through-joist work may require a deeper saw or cutting from both sides.

In this review we examine the Bosch Progressor 11-piece hole saw set, covering diameters from 25 mm to 86 mm with Bosch's Power Change Plus quick-release arbour system. We cover cutting performance in wood, plasterboard, plastic, and metal, the effectiveness of the Progressor tooth geometry for fast cutting and swarf clearance, arbour usability and hole saw swapping speed, and overall value for electrical installation, plumbing, and general construction work.

The Bosch Progressor 11-piece hole saw set comprises eight bi-metal hole saws in the diameters most used in European electrical installation: 25 mm, 32 mm, 40 mm, 54 mm, 60 mm, 68 mm, 76 mm, and 86 mm — all with a uniform 44 mm working depth. These sizes correspond directly to standard electrical components: 25 mm for cable entry holes through studs and joists, 32 mm and 40 mm for conduit and pipe pass-throughs, 54 mm and 60 mm for flush-mount socket back boxes and junction boxes in plasterboard, and 68 mm and 86 mm for recessed downlight housings and larger service penetrations. Alongside the eight saw bodies, the set includes a Power Change Plus 11 mm hex adapter arbour and two HSS-G centring drill bits — everything needed to mount any saw in a standard 13 mm drill chuck and start cutting.

Bosch's Progressor tooth geometry is the defining performance feature. Conventional hole saws use uniform tooth spacing, which means the teeth engage the material in a regular, rhythmic pattern that can set up vibration and slow cutting when the gullets between teeth fill with swarf. The Progressor design varies the tooth pitch around the circumference — alternating between aggressive cutting teeth and wider chip-clearing gullets — so the cutting load is spread unevenly and swarf is actively ejected rather than packed into the teeth. The result is a measurably faster cut with less heat build-up, which preserves tooth sharpness and extends the saw's working life, particularly in metal where heat is the enemy of cutting edges. The bi-metal construction combines a high-speed steel cutting edge welded to a flexible alloy steel body, giving the teeth the hardness to cut stainless steel and non-ferrous metals while the body absorbs vibration and resists cracking.

The Power Change Plus arbour is a genuine workflow accelerator. Instead of threading each hole saw onto a threaded arbour with multiple turns of a spanner, the Power Change system uses a one-click push-and-twist mechanism: push the saw onto the adapter until it clicks, and it is locked. To remove, push a release collar and the saw pops off. This matters when you are working through an electrical first-fix on a new build — cutting 68 mm holes for a dozen downlights, then swapping to 25 mm for joist pass-throughs, then back to 54 mm for socket boxes — and the seconds saved per swap compound into minutes saved per room. The 11 mm hex shank fits all standard 13 mm drill chucks and resists slipping under torque better than a round shank, and the two included HSS-G centring drills (the pilot bit that guides the hole saw into the workpiece) are ground to a sharper, more durable point than standard centring bits, starting cleanly without skating across the surface.

Material compatibility is broad. The bi-metal construction and Progressor tooth geometry handle wood — softwood, hardwood, plywood, MDF, chipboard — effortlessly at any drill speed. Plasterboard and drywall cut cleanly without tearing the paper facing, which is critical for downlight apertures where the cut edge remains visible around the fitting. Plastics and non-ferrous metals including aluminium, brass, and copper cut cleanly with light feed pressure and a moderate speed. Stainless steel is within capability but demands patience: slow speed, cutting oil, and steady pressure to avoid work-hardening the material ahead of the teeth. The 44 mm working depth is sufficient for all standard sheet materials and most timber sections up to 44 mm thick — beyond that, a pilot hole from the reverse side lets you complete the cut from both faces. The set is compatible with all corded and cordless drills, though the larger diameters (68 mm and above) benefit from a drill with a side handle and lower gear range for torque.

The complete set weighs 2.04 kg and is manufactured in France. Customer satisfaction is outstanding: 4.8 out of 5 stars from over 770 reviews, with a #521 ranking in Hole Saws and #806 in Drill Bit Sets. Bosch provides a two-year manufacturer's warranty, and the individual saws and centring drills are available as replacement parts — so when the most-used sizes (typically 68 mm and 25 mm in electrical work) eventually dull, you can replace them individually rather than buying a whole new set. For the electrician, plumber, kitchen fitter, or serious DIY renovator, this set covers every circular aperture you are likely to need with the cutting speed and quick-change convenience that turns hole-drilling from a chore into a smooth part of the workflow.

The Bosch Progressor 11-piece hole saw set is designed for electricians, plumbers, kitchen fitters, and serious renovators who need a complete range of clean-cutting hole saws covering every standard European electrical and plumbing aperture — from cable pass-throughs to downlight cut-outs — with fast swapping between sizes.