How to Use a Cordless Drill & Driver the Right Way

A cordless drill/driver is the workhorse of any home tool kit. It drills holes and drives screws, and with the right technique it does both cleanly instead of chewing things up. Here's how to get real results out of it.

Know the three controls

Before the job, get familiar with what the drill actually does:

• The chuck is the jaw at the front that grips the bit. Twist it to open, seat the bit fully, and twist firmly to tighten. A bit that isn't seated straight will wobble and slip.
• The direction switch above the trigger sets forward (drive/drill) or reverse (back out). If a screw won't go, check you're not in reverse — it happens to everyone.
• The clutch is the numbered collar behind the chuck. It controls how much force the drill applies before it slips and stops driving. Low numbers for delicate work, high numbers or the drill symbol for tougher driving and drilling.

Driving a screw without stripping it

1. Match the bit to the screw. A Phillips bit in a Phillips screw, the right size. A loose or wrong-size bit is the number-one cause of a stripped screw head.
2. Seat the bit and keep it straight. Push the bit firmly into the screw head and keep the drill in a straight line with the screw. Angle it and the bit cams out and strips the head.
3. Start slow. Ease into the trigger to get the screw biting, then speed up. Let the drill do the work instead of leaning on it.
4. Set the clutch so it stops at the right depth. Dial the clutch down a couple numbers so the drill clicks and slips just as the screw sits flush. This stops you from overdriving and sinking the head through the surface.

Drilling a clean hole

1. Mark your spot and dimple it. A pencil mark plus a quick tap with a nail or an awl gives the bit a divot to start in so it doesn't wander.
2. Pick the right bit for the material. Twist bits for wood and metal, masonry bits for brick and concrete, spade or hole-saw bits for big holes. The wrong bit either won't cut or will burn.
3. Set the clutch to the drill symbol so it doesn't slip while cutting, and run a higher speed for small bits in wood, slower for metal and masonry.
4. Keep it straight and let it cut. Steady, moderate pressure. If it's not cutting, the bit is dull or wrong, not too gentle. Ease off as you break through the back so you don't blow out the far side.

Care that makes it last

Keep two batteries and leave the spare on the charger so you're never dead mid-job. Don't store batteries stone-dead for months. Keep a small set of sharp bits — a dull bit does more damage than a cheap drill. Wipe the tool down and store it out of the damp.

Know when to call a pro

A drill makes a lot of jobs possible, but it doesn't make a licensed-trade job into a DIY one. Drilling into a wall where electrical or plumbing runs — near outlets, switches, or under fixtures — is where you stop and be sure before you cut. And no tool turns panel work, gas, or in-wall plumbing into a homeowner job. Knowing that line is part of using the tool well.