Diablo Tools FAQ: Carbide Hole Saw Kit, Combination Saw Blade, Socket Sets, and Angle Grinder Use

What's the Short Version?

I'm the office administrator for a 260-person distribution company. I manage maintenance and facilities purchasing—roughly $80,000 a year across six vendors. When I took over this role in 2020, placing a tool order meant calling around and hoping. Now I keep an approved list, compare part numbers, and check whether the order will actually get used.

I don't pretend to be a mechanic. My job is making sure the right thing arrives before someone has to stop working. This FAQ answers the questions I hear from our maintenance team and from anyone else who has to order Diablo tools without being a tool expert.

• Is a Diablo carbide hole saw kit worth it?
• What does the Diablo combination saw blade do?
• Does a 163 piece master socket set make sense for a maintenance shop?
• Why do I keep seeing part #83520 hex key sets on the order list?
• How to properly use an angle grinder.
• Can one blade do everything?
• What's the hidden cost of choosing the wrong tool?

Is a Diablo carbide hole saw kit worth it?

In my first year, I ordered cheaper hole saws because the unit price looked better on my spreadsheet. Then a pilot bit snapped on a metal door, and the maintenance crew lost half a day. Then a worn hole saw made a rough cut on a painted surface, and what should have been a quick fix turned into a repaint.

The moment that changed my mind came in March 2023. Our lead needed to cut through 1/4-inch steel brackets. The budget hole saw smoked, stalled, and quit. He reached into the cabinet, grabbed a Diablo carbide hole saw kit, and finished the job without drama. The kit also made inventory easier: one case, three sizes, no more guessing. I do not think carbide tips are a marketing gimmick anymore. I also don't think you need the most expensive option for one-off work. But if the crew grabs a hole saw every week, the price per hole usually makes the better kit the cheaper buy. Just confirm the sizes and arbor style before ordering.

What does the Diablo combination saw blade do?

A combination blade is the middle ground between a ripping blade and a crosscut/finish blade. We keep the Diablo combination saw blade on miter saws and circular saws around the facility. It leaves a clean enough cut on trim and still pushes through framing lumber without bogging down.

I was skeptical because 'does everything' usually means 'does nothing great.' The numbers said generic blades were fine. My gut said our crew would leave the combo blade on the saw anyway, so we'd save more time than if we bought separate blades and forced a 20-minute changeover. I went with my gut. It worked out. That said, a combo blade is not a dedicated finish blade. If you're cutting veneer plywood and the edge is visible, switch blades. For general maintenance, the combo blade earns its spot.

Does a 163 piece master socket set make sense for a maintenance shop?

We added a 163 piece master socket set after our techs got tired of pulling sockets from four different rails. The upside: SAE and metric sockets, ratchets, extensions, and driver bits in one case. The risk: half the pieces never move, and the case becomes a black hole for missing 10 mm sockets. I kept asking myself whether a complete set was worth the money. For a cart that travels between buildings, it is.

One thing I want to make clear: this is not a Diablo set. Diablo makes cutting accessories, not sockets, and that's fine. Buy the socket set from a hand-tool company that does that well. If your crew uses impact wrenches, choose impact-rated sockets rather than a pretty master kit.

Why do I keep seeing part #83520 hex key sets on the order list?

In our purchasing system, part #83520 hex key sets is a standing line item. It's not a mysterious new tool. It's a basic set of hex keys—Allen wrenches—that we stock in maintenance carts and tool bags. Part numbers like 83520 don't tell you much on their own; they're only useful when tied to a clear description in your inventory system.

Why order multiples? Because hex keys are small, cheap, and essential. A machine guard won't stop for a missing 4 mm key, and I don't want a technician waiting while someone digs through a drawer. We buy a few sets at a time, assign them to locations, and replace them when they disappear. If you see the same part number in your order history, check whether the sets are genuinely missing or just sitting in an untidy drawer. In our case, it's usually a little of both.

How to properly use an angle grinder

I'm the buyer, not the operator. But after two close calls, I asked our maintenance lead to walk me through the checklist so I could order the right replacement parts and understand what the crew needed.

1. Use the right disc for the material and check that its rated RPM is higher than the grinder's no-load speed.
2. Inspect the disc for cracks or chips before mounting.
3. Keep the guard on. Don't defeat it for convenience.
4. Unplug the grinder before changing discs or cleaning it.
5. Use two hands and a stable stance. Let the grinder reach full speed before touching the material.
6. Do not force the disc. Let it cut or grind at its own pace; too much pressure causes kickback.

OSHA's abrasive wheel machinery standard, 29 CFR 1910.215, covers guards and flanges and is a useful reference. But the grinder's manual is the real source for your specific tool. If you are not trained, ask someone who is. That isn't a nice-to-do; it's part of proper use. A short job can turn bad when someone skips the basics, so the checklist lives in the toolbox, not on a wall.

Can one blade do everything?

No. A combo blade handles most general cuts. A carbide hole saw handles round holes. A grinding disc removes material. A cutting disc cuts. Each one has a specific job, and trying to stretch one tool into every job usually ruins the work.

I didn't always believe that. We once used a cutting disc for heavy grinding because it was already on the grinder. It wore unevenly, made the job look bad, and cost us a replacement part. The warning was simple: check the disc and match it to the task. I should have listened.

You don't need every specialty blade in a small shop. You need the right few for work you actually do. A setup with the correct blade is boring. That's the point.

What's the hidden cost of choosing the wrong tool?

The invoice shows the tool price, not the cost of downtime. If the wrong blade ruins a piece of material, that's a real cost. If a tool fails mid-task and two employees wait around for an hour, that's worse than almost any price difference on the shelf.

When I compare orders, I look at total delivered cost. Shipping a 163 piece master socket set isn't a First-Class Mail letter; USPS parcel rates depend on weight and distance (usps.com), and freight from a distributor can change the total. The lowest unit price isn't always the lowest total cost. The line item might say $40, but the meeting to explain why the project slipped costs more.

Now I track what gets reordered and why. Some purchases fail. Some suppliers let us down. But the goal isn't to have the fanciest tool cabinet. It's to keep work moving safely and make the next order simpler.