Alpha | 25mm TCT Hole Cutter with Arbour | Tungsten Carbide Tipped
The Alpha HCSTCT25 is a 25mm tungsten carbide tipped (TCT) hole cutter supplied complete with an arbour, for cutting holes through sheet metal, tube and plate. The HCSTCT25 carries a 25mm cutting diameter, a replaceable TiN-coated pilot drill, and an ejector spring that pushes the cut slug clear of the cup. It fits standard drill chucks through a 10mm shank.
Cutting a 25mm penetration through a stainless steel enclosure gland plate defeats a standard bi-metal holesaw. The teeth blunt within a few holes, the cut wanders off centre, and the aperture needs deburring before a compression gland will seat. The HCSTCT25 runs tungsten carbide tipped teeth that survive stainless, and the replaceable TiN-coated pilot drill centres the cutter accurately on the marked position.
The cutter chucks up immediately because the 10mm shank grips in any standard three-jaw chuck, so no separate arbour assembly is required. Alpha rates the HCSTCT25 for 5mm depth of cut in stainless from a battery drill and 20mm from a low-speed drill press, covering plate, tube and enclosure work from one tool. The ejector spring releases the severed disc, so successive holes proceed without prising material from the cup.
Features
- Tungsten carbide tipped teeth — cut sheet metal, steel pipe, stainless steel, aluminium and fibreglass reinforced synthetic materials.
- 25mm cutting diameter — the HCSTCT25 suits 25mm gland and cable entries through metal enclosures and plate.
- Replaceable pilot drill — the TiN-coated pilot centres the cut and swaps out when it dulls, instead of retiring the whole cutter.
- Ejector spring — pushes the cut disc clear of the cup so the next hole starts straight away.
- Complete with arbour — the HCSTCT25 ships assembled and ready to chuck, with no separate arbour to buy.
- 10mm shank — fits standard three-jaw chucks on battery drills, corded drills and drill presses.
- Depth of cut in stainless — 5mm when run from a battery drill and 20mm from a low-speed drill press.
- Drill press speed guidance — Alpha rates the 25mm cutter at 400 RPM in 3mm stainless tube and 140 RPM in 10mm stainless plate.
- Hand-held speed ceiling — Alpha caps hand-held drilling at 550 RPM and notes that additional feed pressure is required.
- Annular cutting action — the cutter removes a ring of material and drops a disc, clearing metal faster than a twist drill of the same size.
- Accurate hole finish — the TCT teeth leave a clean edge, so less deburring is needed before a gland or grommet seats.
- Listed material scope — Alpha lists metals and fibreglass reinforced synthetics for this cutter, and does not list masonry, concrete or tile.
Where to use
- Switchboard gland plates — the HCSTCT25 cuts 25mm entries through steel and stainless plate for conduit and cable glands.
- Metal enclosures and adaptable boxes — clean 25mm cable entries through sheet steel and aluminium boxes on commercial fitouts.
- Stainless steel benches and splashbacks — TCT teeth hold an edge in stainless where a bi-metal holesaw stalls and burns.
- Steel pipe and tube — 3mm wall stainless tube cuts at around 400 RPM on a drill press with steady feed.
- Aluminium sheet and extrusion — cuts alloy cleanly for vents, cable entries and mounting holes on plant and enclosures.
- Fibreglass panels and covers — Alpha lists fibreglass reinforced synthetic materials, common in outdoor enclosure lids and covers.
- Drill press bench work — the HCSTCT25 reaches its full 20mm depth of cut in stainless when run at low speed on a press.
- Onsite battery drill work — a 5mm depth of cut in stainless covers most sheet metal and light plate found on site.
Alpha lists this cutter for sheet metal, steel pipe, stainless steel, aluminium and fibreglass reinforced synthetic materials, and does not list masonry, concrete or tile. Depth of cut is the limiting factor: 5mm in stainless from a battery drill, so anything thicker belongs on a drill press. Alpha also caps hand-held drilling at 550 RPM and notes that extra feed pressure is required at that speed.
