Bosch 11 Piece Diamond Hole Saw Set

Why I reached for this kit

Installing fixtures through tile can go sideways fast: skating bits, chipped glaze, overheated rims, and sloppy holes you’ll stare at for years. I picked up Bosch’s diamond hole saw kit for a bathroom remodel and a small kitchen backsplash project, looking for cleaner starts and repeatable results across ceramic and porcelain. Over a few weeks of cuts—small anchor holes up to 2-1/2-inch penetrations—the kit proved both fast and surprisingly forgiving, provided I respected its limitations and used water.

What you get and how it’s built

This is an 11-piece set centered on vacuum-brazed diamond-grit hole saws. The vacuum-brazed bond is the right call for tile and stone: it exposes sharp diamond particles and tends to shed heat and slurry better than electroplated rims. Bosch also uses a segmented rim profile, which helps move debris out of the cut and reduces glazing.

The included sizes cover a useful spread for tile work:
- 1/4, 5/16, 3/8, 5/8, 1, 1-3/8, 2, 2-1/4, and 2-1/2 inches
- A dedicated mandrel (arbor)
- An AutoStart pilot bit with a spring-loaded, retractable shaft
- A plastic carrying case

Working length is listed at 1.75 inches, but the practical maximum cutting depth is 1 inch. In other words, you can’t core through a 1-1/4-inch slab in one pass; you’ll need to plan for a two-sided cut if you’re dealing with thicker material.

The mandrel has a quick-change feel—saws snap on positively—and the AutoStart pilot is designed to let you begin a cut without a separate guide or pilot hole. Weight for the set is about 3.75 pounds, and the case keeps everything tidy, though you’ll want to dry the gear before you toss it back in to avoid rust on the mandrel.

Starting holes: the AutoStart advantage

Starting on glossy porcelain without a guide is where most hole saws misbehave. The spring-loaded AutoStart pilot solved that on flat surfaces. My process:
- Tape the tile face with painter’s tape.
- Seat the pilot against the mark.
- Start the drill slow and square.
- Light pressure until the rim begins to score a track.
- Once the rim is engaged, the pilot retracts and clears out of the way.

I had fewer “walks” starting this way versus the classic angled scratch method. On especially slick, high-polish porcelain, I still found tape essential, and a slight angle for the first second helped. On curved or uneven surfaces, I used a guide block; the AutoStart isn’t a magic bullet there.

One note: if you cut a lot of wet holes back-to-back, slurry can creep into the pilot’s spring area. A quick rinse and a shot of compressed air kept it snapping freely.

Cutting performance on tile and stone

I tested across:
- Ceramic wall and floor tile
- Dense porcelain tile
- A small offcut of marble threshold

On ceramic, the kit is extremely quick—small sizes felt almost too fast if I wasn’t careful, so I kept RPM modest and pressure light to avoid chipping the exit edge. Porcelain required patience and a lower RPM, but the segmented rim and vacuum-brazed grit kept the cut steady and predictable. The 2-inch and larger sizes needed frequent clearing; every 10–15 seconds, I’d lift to let water in and slurry out. Doing that, the kerf stayed cool, and the diamonds didn’t glaze.

The 1-inch maximum depth is real. Through standard wall and floor tile, you’re fine. For thicker stone or layered assemblies (tile over backer, for example), you may either:
- Cut from both sides, registering carefully to avoid a lip, or
- Stop at the tile and finish the substrate with a different tool

Hole quality was consistently clean at the rim, with minimal face chipping. The exit can chip if you push too hard in the final millimeter—tape the backside when possible, and ease off at the end of the cut.

Speed and technique tips

A few habits made the most of this kit:
- Run wet. A squeeze bottle or sponge feed is enough; you don’t need a flood. Wet cuts ran cooler, faster, and extended grit life.
- Moderate RPM. Bigger diameters like 2–2-1/2 inches prefer slow speeds; think low gear on a cordless or sub-600 RPM. Smaller sizes can run faster but still benefit from restraint.
- Pulsed feed. Advance, lift to clear, advance again. You’ll cut faster overall and avoid packing the rim.
- Angle starts sparingly. With the AutoStart, stay square unless the surface is unusually slick.
- Backside protection. Tape and light pressure as the core breaks free to keep edges clean.

Durability and maintenance

Vacuum-brazed rims hold up well if you avoid overheating. After multiple holes in porcelain and a few in marble, the diamonds still cut with bite. I’ve used cheaper electroplated bits that dull after a couple of porcelain holes; this set didn’t show that kind of fade. The segmented design helped keep the rim “open,” and water was the biggest difference-maker for longevity.

Between cuts, I rinsed the cores and rims to keep abrasive slurry from drying on the segments. I also popped the AutoStart pilot off and cleaned the spring area after any long wet session. Simple upkeep, and it pays off.

Ergonomics and use with different tools

Handheld drilling was the main use case, and that’s where the AutoStart shines. With a drill press, the setup becomes almost foolproof: square starts, perfect circles, quick cooling dips. The quick-change attachment is solid enough that swapping sizes is painless, though I’d love a more robust knurling on the mandrel collar for gloved hands.

Vibration was minimal when I let the rim work. Any wobble I felt came down to operator error—rushing or leaning into a tight corner. Keeping the drill square and using light, even pressure produced the cleanest holes.

Gaps and limitations

No kit is perfect, and a few things stood out:
- Size omissions. There’s no 1-1/2-inch saw, a common plumbing size. I added that separately. The included spread is great for anchors and many pipe penetrations, but you may still need to supplement.
- Depth ceiling. The 1-inch max depth limits thicker stone and some countertops. Plan for two-sided cuts or a deeper-core bit for that work.
- Not a metal/wood solution. These are for tile, stone, and similar brittle materials. They’ll scratch metal, but you’ll toast the diamonds.
- Pilot dependence on flatness. The AutoStart is excellent on flat tile; on curved or textured surfaces, use a guide.

None of these are deal-breakers for typical tile installations, but they’re worth knowing so you can plan your layout and bit purchases.

Value and who it’s for

This Bosch kit sits on the pricier end of diamond hole saw options. In return, you get:
- Faster, cleaner starts with the AutoStart pilot
- Durable, vacuum-brazed rims that hold up to porcelain
- A wide diameter range in one case
- Predictable, clean edges that reduce touch-up time

If you’re a tile installer, remodeler, or a plumber who frequently penetrates finished tile, the time saved on starts and the edge quality easily justify the cost. For a one-off project, it’s still compelling—but if you only need one or two sizes, buying those individually might be more economical.

The bottom line

I’d recommend the Bosch diamond hole saw kit. It produces clean, accurate holes in ceramic and porcelain, starts reliably without skating thanks to the AutoStart pilot, and the vacuum-brazed, segmented rims balance speed with longevity. The 1-inch depth limit and the absence of a 1-1/2-inch size in the box are the main caveats, but they’re manageable. If you value repeatable results and want a kit that behaves well in real tile—especially dense porcelain—this set earns its spot in the case.