Have you ever found yourself staring at a drill, wondering how to unlock its full potential? Fear not, as we’re here to guide you through the basics of using a drill with confidence.
In our previous discussion, we explored the importance of choosing a Combi Drill as your first power tool. A versatile tool, the drill is designed to make tasks like drilling holes and driving screws much more efficient. Whether you’re assembling furniture, hanging shelves, or tackling a home improvement project, a drill is an indispensable asset. If you missed the previous post on choosing a Combi Drill, be sure to check it out here.
Now, armed with your new drill, it’s time to delve into the practical aspects of using it effectively.
Practicing with Screws – A Crucial Step in Learning How to Use a Drill
Before you go anywhere near a drill bit, you need to get the hang of using a Combi Drill as a screwdriver. Many individuals, even those with years of experience, struggle to wield a drill with precision. They will round the heads off of screws, and I want you to learn to avoid that.
To avoid common mistakes, you’ll need to invest some time in practicing with your new drill.
In this guide, I’ll break down the essential steps to help you confidently use your drill, avoiding common pitfalls and ensuring successful outcomes for your DIY projects.
The Basics of How to Use a Drill
First off, grab a box of screws, find a piece of scrap wood, and I’ll walk you through experimenting with putting screws in and taking them out at different angles. This hands-on approach will help you get accustomed to the power and control of your drill.
Step 1: Inserting the Screwdriver Bit
One of the first things you need to do is get used to putting a screwdriver bit into the drill. Your drill may come with some longer screwdriver bits, but they’re often poor quality. If it doesn’t come with anything, or you’d prefer to do it my way, I’d recommend buying a separate sleeve and set of bits, because then if you do damage your bit, you only need to replace that part rather than the whole thing. It works out cheaper in the long run.
So, you’ve got a sleeve and a screwdriver bit. These are magnetic usually. In the video, I’m using a PZ2 that slots into a standard sleeve, which you can pick up from somewhere like Screwfix. They have a hexagen fit so that they’re quick release for impact drivers, but also the hexagon on them prevents them slipping in the chuck of the drill when you’re doing a screw up tight.
So, grab your drill and work out which way you turn it in order to make the chuck (these three draw pieces) smaller and which way you turn it to make the opening wider.
Open it up. Place your screwdriver piece in the sleeve and then just wind it closed and do it up as tight as you can by hand. To undo it, turn it the opposite way and take it out.
Once you’ve got used to doing it by hand, you can use the the trigger to do it with more speed. This is what I would normally do: pick up my drill, make sure that the chuck is open wide by putting it in reverse gear and pulling the trigger back. Slide the piece in. Hold on to the chuck, put it into forward motion and pull the trigger.
Once you’ve got it tight by doing that, I always give it a quick twist by hand to make sure. You don’t want anything flying out at you.
I recommend you get used to your drill and keep doing this a few times each way – by hand to figure out how it works, and then with the trigger. It does take a little bit of getting used to. But just keep having a go!
Step 2: Getting Acquainted with Your Combi Drill
Before jumping in further, make sure you are familiar with the features of your particular Combi Drill, so you can learn how to use a drill effectively for your project.
Things to look out for:
Triggers
A lot of drills now have triggers where the harder you pull them in the faster they go.They’re not just on/off. So you can really control these drills very easily. It’s a great feature to have.
Torque Settings
Explore the torque settings on your drill, especially if you are working with different materials. Practice adjusting the torque to control the depth of your screws. This feature is particularly useful when working with soft woods or brittle materials.
In the video, I demonstrate that. I turn torque down to five and put a 45 mm screw in a piece of wood. It only goes so far before it starts clicking away. That’s because the torque setting is quite low. If I turn that torque setting up to 15, it winds the head straight into the wood.
Torque adjustment is very handy on a drill. If you are using soft woods, if you don’t want the head to disappear into the wood. Or if you’re using Plastics or other brittle things, you don’t want to split them. So, play about with the torque settings and see how they feel. When first learning how to use a drill and practicing with wood, it’s fine to have it about medium.
Speed Control
Your Combi Drill likely comes with speed control options, ranging from one (slower with more torque) to two (faster) or even three. Start with the lower speed setting as you practice, gradually increasing it once you are comfortable. This feature allows you to tailor the drill’s speed to the requirements of your project, and to get a job done quicker – once you’re used to it! But if you start off too fast, it’ll actually slow you down, because you’ll make mistakes.
Step 3: Properly Placing Screws – A Critical Technique in Mastering How to Use a Drill
It’s essential to learn how to position screws on your screwdriver bit positively.
Pinch the screw with your thumb and index finger and locate it in position at the end of your screw head. Pull it towards your drill so that holds the screw in place.
Now don’t be frightened of doing this: Hold it tight against your drill and then place it in the wood where you want it to go. Still holding the screw, push down on your drill, making sure that the drill and the screw are in line, and that tip is still positively placed inside the screw.
Hold the screw firmly between your thumb and index finger, ensuring it is securely placed. Keep the drill and screw in line as you push down and slowly press the trigger to turn the screw into the wood. Once it has gone in a little way, take your hand away and wind it fully in. Pay attention to the sound – if it’s not positively placed, you’ll hear a distinct clunking noise, indicating the need for adjustment.
This is what I was saying about people who destroy screws and their screwdriver bits because they don’t pay attention to what they’re doing. If you hear that clunking, you are ringing off the head of the screw. Stop what you’re doing, place the bit in the screw positively again and keep it in line.
If you wiggle the drill, you’ll feel whether its secure in the screw head or not. Don’t press that trigger unless you’re confident it’s in place.
Step 4: Practice, Practice, Practice – The Secret to Perfecting How to Use a Drill
Repetition is key to mastery. Practice placing and removing screws at different angles, gradually increasing the speed as you gain confidence. Why not challenge yourself by burying the screw head in the wood, testing your ability to positively place that screw bit even when the screw isn’t visible?
Conclusion:
By following these steps and investing time in hands-on practice, you’ll soon find yourself using your Combi Drill with confidence and precision. Remember, patience and persistence are crucial as you familiarise yourself with the nuances of your drill.
Once you’ve mastered putting screws in and out of a piece of timber, it will help you later on when you want to learn how to use your Combi drill with a drill bit. You’ll be able to keep it straight and drill accurate holes. But more on that later.
For now, Happy practicing!
