Note the 4 holes at the base of the hole saw in the photos. You are there for a reason. The mandrel must have a serrated ring to prevent the hole saw from rotating and breaking the threads. If you're cutting drywall or chipboard, don't worry about that. But when you're cutting wood, your saw can bind, applying a lot of torque to the threads and eventually wearing out. Please note: the thorn in the photos is NOT a thorn. that comes with this hole saw. I had another one that I replaced.