Hole saw source?

TomSlick · Post by **TomSlick** » Tue Aug 13, 2002 8:54 am

Anybody know a good online or phone order source where I can order a 3/4" antenna hole saw (like the Ripley or Antenex models)? I'm looking for a source that has them in stock, and will deal with end users rather than dealers. Should I bother with Tessco? They look geared towards dealers, setting up accounts, etc.

Post by **alex** » Tue Aug 13, 2002 8:59 am

sounds like something you can get at Home Depot or other hardware store. Have you tried there yet?

-Alex

TomSlick · Post by **TomSlick** » Tue Aug 13, 2002 9:25 am

Yes, I can get regular 3/4" hole saws locally, but I'm looking for the ones specifically designed for antenna installations. They have a built-in lip to prevent overpentetration.

Bugs Bunny · Post by **Bugs Bunny** » Tue Aug 13, 2002 9:35 am

Check with a local two dealer. They should be able to order you one. A few years back Larsen had them in their catalag.

Bugs

TomSlick · Post by **TomSlick** » Tue Aug 13, 2002 9:53 am

I don't really have any convenient local 2-way dealers, and since they would have to order it anyway, I figured I'd skip the middleman and try to find someone who would have it in stock online.

Google turns up a "Canyon River Cellular" that lists both the Antenex and Riley models (I think Moto resells the Riley one) so I may try ordering from them.

Monty · Post by **Monty** » Tue Aug 13, 2002 10:02 am

HI:

The Good Old Hole Saws for 3/4" are no longer
supplied by Motorola, a subsitute has replaced
the old reliable one....

When time permits, I will have a photo of before
and after...

What I did is get a Good 3/4 Hole Saw, and then Weld a
[ Limiting Ring ] around the Outside of the body of the
Hole Saw so it will not go futher than the Cutting edge.

This can come from Pipe Stock, and you can rough up one
side, so it will cut about 3/16" of the Paint away that a Chassis
Punch does not do.

Anyhow, I wish Motorola would have kept the old design, and
I have not found who made the Originals...

MS

Flametamer · Post by **Flametamer** » Tue Aug 13, 2002 10:24 am

Antenex.com has the hole saw I think you are looking for. I'm not shure on the ordering though.

dt

TomSlick · Post by **TomSlick** » Tue Aug 13, 2002 10:38 am

Ripley (Cablematic) and Antenex both make them. I'm just looking for a source who will sell to end users and has one in stock. Tessco probably stocks them, but I don't know whether they will sell to end users. I'll keep checking.

I may end up just using a home improvement store saw and just use a lot of caution so I don't end up with a nice hole in the headliner.

Jonathan KC8RYW · Post by **Jonathan KC8RYW** » Tue Aug 13, 2002 11:05 am

I honestly couldn't bear to watch myself drilling a hole in my car. When the time comes for me to get a NMO on my car, I'll let a 2-way shop do the job, so I don't have to watch.

TomSlick · Post by **TomSlick** » Tue Aug 13, 2002 11:10 am

The amount of money the shops around here charge cause me much more distress than drilling a hole in my car ;-)

FireCpt809 · Post by **FireCpt809** » Tue Aug 13, 2002 11:16 am

A good way to prevent drilling through the headliner is to use a roof board. Since you are going to have the roofliner pulled down. We use a piece of plywood apx. 4"x14" 1/2" or better it slips under the headliner to fit just under the place where you plan to drill. If it does go too deep the wood will take the brunt of it and by then you should realize you have good too far.

Seen one too many holes in roofliners to not use one.

n5tbu · Post by **n5tbu** » Tue Aug 13, 2002 11:25 am

I have a number for Ripley....1-800-528-8665
the replacement blades are ripley pn SB-89(this should tell them what saw you want)

wa2zdy · Post by **wa2zdy** » Tue Aug 13, 2002 11:44 am

I've never used a hole saw, but I can see that being the best way for a roof job.

How about a Greenlee chassis punch? I only put antennas on the trunk lid, so I have two sided access, but that chassis punch makes a PERFECT burrless hole. Again, you have to have access to both sides of the surface, but if you do . . .

Good luck,

Jonathan KC8RYW · Post by **Jonathan KC8RYW** » Tue Aug 13, 2002 12:41 pm

TomSlick wrote:The amount of money the shops around here charge cause me much more distress than drilling a hole in my car

Monty, Will & crew... how much should this cost?

The labor of a 2-way shop putting one NMO hole in your car?

shammond · Post by **shammond** » Tue Aug 13, 2002 2:00 pm

The Ripley is $30.75 from Tessco. You have to setup an account but you don't need a tax number to do so.

Antennex is $33.75

Steve

Monty · Post by **Monty** » Tue Aug 13, 2002 2:13 pm

HI:

Here is a photo of some of the more common
tools to drill a 3/4 " hole in the roof of a vehical.

Notice the [ Original Motorola ] Tool has a Ring which
prevents the Hole Saw from damaging the Liner ( In Most cases )

It also has cutters to [ Trim ] the Paint away so the
Washer can have a 100% RF Ground which a Chassis Punch
will not give you.

The Step Drill is good to have in emergencies, but I do
not normally use it unless my Crew Steals the Orighinal.

Monty

Will · Post by **Will** » Tue Aug 13, 2002 2:37 pm

Mine is a Cablematic 3/4 hole saw and it has the stop ring. Mine has over 50,000 miles on it!!
Try ComTelco, Maxrad, Antenex, as they have hole saws.

http://www.comtelco.net

tomskillman · Post by **tomskillman** » Tue Aug 13, 2002 6:41 pm

AF Comm Supply in Lenexa, KS (http://www.afcommsupply.com) is where I bought my Antennex antenna which I'm temporarilly mag mounting. I believe they sell the entire Antennex line which would include the 3/4" hole saw. You'll have to send them an email to get pricing, but their service was VERY good. Just my recommendation.

Post by **vcaruso** » Tue Aug 13, 2002 7:06 pm

Snap-On & MAC Tools carry 3/4" hole saws similar to the Moto type.
If you have a dealer that stops by have him look it up in the older catalogs.

Vince

jim · Post by **jim** » Tue Aug 13, 2002 7:52 pm

I use the Antenex and it works great. It's around $22.00 as I remember.
TESSCO carries them, too.

CHEFA2001 · Post by **CHEFA2001** » Tue Aug 13, 2002 7:56 pm

I got mine from motorola last year, its entirely diffrerent from all of the pics he's shown here, it's way smaller than those and it works great.... I've installed over 50 nmo's and still working flawlessly...
I will post a picture tomorrow, and if someone really wants the part #, let me know and I will call /\/\ and ask them which # we ordered.

Ciao

April · Post by **April** » Wed Aug 14, 2002 1:18 am

Hey guys, who pulls down the headliner to install a roof antenna, I would get in real truble taking time to r & r the headliner, NOT. I drill and de-burr the hole and just fish the coax down to the side and only have to open a very small spot to get the coax out to run down the post. I had a very good teacher.

FireCpt809 · Post by **FireCpt809** » Wed Aug 14, 2002 4:04 am

My situation is a bit different. I work mostly on police vehicles. We have them in pieces anyway . There are tons of cables, Lightbar, camera, antenna, AVLS, and MDT. When your putting 3 holes in the roof its just easier.

TomSlick · Post by **TomSlick** » Wed Aug 14, 2002 7:44 am

I finally ordered the Antenex model from Canyon River Cellular. Price was $15.70 - much cheaper than Tessco (no surprise there, I guess). They stock the Ripley as well, but it was $10 more.

As far as using a regular hole saw and a plywood board goes, that's actually what a tech at Havis-Shields told me they use on their installations.

BTW, Havis-Shields new facility is quite impressive, with dozens of vehicles in there at a time. They've come a long way in the last 20 years. I remember when they were in a little garage in Willow Grove...

RCVMO · Post by **RCVMO** » Wed Aug 14, 2002 5:33 pm

The Rota-Broach from Bluepoint available at your local Snap-on Dealer. About $75.00 and drills a perfect .750(3/4") hole. I have the full set from 5/16ths to 1". 1" is great for the Hide-Away strobes. It is also burr-less. Just drill the hole and go fishing your cable. I can have a complete antenna (moto NMO 3/4" mount) whip, installed in 5 min. It is made out of stainless steel and cuts 1" metal like butter. Mind you be- you have to drill a pilot hole or center punch the metal. I, too, have probably 50,000 miles on mine. Had it since the mid 80's, only having to replace the .750 broach 1 time.
Jimmy

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