Power Drill Care, Use
TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-648 -- More Projects »
Handywoman Adair Theis explains how to properly care for, maintain and use a power drill.
- Before you start working with a power drill (figure A), look it over so that you can become familiar with the forward and reverse buttons, the trigger, high and low settings and clutch.
- High settings are best used when working with hard woods. Low settings are best for preventing stripping when drilling in a screw.
Setting the clutch properly will also prevent stripping. Set it to the correct tension (figure B) for proper drilling.A bit is a interchangeable metal piece used for drilling, screwing bolts and screws.To prevent stripping the head of the screw, make sure to choose the correct size of bit.
A magnetic extender (figure C) works great for easily replacing bits.Use a hairpin to hold a screw in place (figure D).When tightening drill bits into the drill, use a glove to prevent damage to your hands.There are a couple of options for items that can be used interchangeably with the drill. There's the plain drill-bit set that's just used for drilling, then there's a set with drill bits as well as bits for screwing into the drill bits. Both are fairly inexpensive--around $10.Become familiar with the various types and sizes of screw-head types and drill bits. A simple method for this is through trial and error. Just slip the bit into the top of the screw until you find one that's good and tight.
Some drill-bit extenders come with a mechanism that slides right over the top of the screw (figure E) to keep it sturdy.If you're not comfortable with the large handheld power drill, then start out with a more compact version (figure F).The size of the drill varies with the battery strength. Some even have a recharger that's attachable.
