Power Drill Tutorial: Tools 101

Knowledge of some basic tools can help you in so many ways. If you’re wanting to add one more skill to your resume, then using a power drill should be next.

And that’s why I’m here with my Tools 101 series – here to teach you all the things and answer the questions you didn’t know to ask!

Why Tools 101?

I have a little secret. No one is born knowing how to use tools. Everyone that knows how to do anything learned either by trial and error or by being taught by someone. And you know what that means? If you don’t know how to use a specific tool, you can learn.

There are definitely some tools that are not beginner-friendly and have a greater chance for major injuries (I’m looking at you, table saw & angle grinder), and there’s a learning curve for others, but basic tools? You can do this.

In case you don’t have a sweet grandma or grandpa to teach you all about tools, or you don’t want to be taught by the random creepy helpful dude at your local home improvement store… I’m here to help.
**P.S. Regarding the creepy helpful dude: Be weird. Be rude. Stay alive. (Thanks, Crime Junkie)**

Ready to go? Let’s do it.

Uses for Power Drills

If you live in the world, you should know how to use a drill. It’s probably my most used power tool, and I use it for countless tasks in almost all of my projects. Whether you’re doing big projects or are just wanting to hang up curtains or replace your door jamb screws with something longer, you need to know how to use a drill.

Why use longer screws in your door jamb?
The short answer is this: It increases the security of your door!
Also, if your short screws keep loosening and letting the door drag, this could help.

1) The screws in both your hinges and strike plate should be at least 3” long so that the screws are driven into the studs and not just the door trim.

2) Use exterior-grade screws so that they don’t rust out over time. I like these.

Power Drills from A to Z

Types of Drills

Most of our drills are cordless (because we’re rarely doing projects 4 feet from an outlet). Corded drills are stronger, so you might prefer that for super hefty projects (like if you need to drill large holes deeply into concrete). But when starting your beginner/intermediate tool stash, I’d always recommend a cordless drill. I suggest this one!

Pro Tip:
You can also hold the clutch still, then run the drill either forward or reverse.
It provides the power while you hold steady. It’s just a bit faster.
Make sure the bit goes in straight, and you’re good to go!

Because batteries are expensive, it’s best to go ahead and choose the brand of tools you plan to collect – most batteries and chargers are interchangeable only within their brand. So go ahead and choose if you want to be a Ryobi guy or a DeWalt girl, and try to stick with it.

What are Speed and Torque?

Most parts of a power drill make total sense. Nothing crazy, nothing fancy. But then we have numbers. And I’ve noticed that a lot of people have no idea what they mean, or why/when you would adjust them. Generally, that’s okay, but knowing about them will help your drill work better for you.

Torque

The spinning dial is called torque adjustment, and it controls your torque. Torque is the power and strength in your drill. The torque on your drill may go from 1-11, or 1-15, etc.

Low number = low torque
High number = strong torque

Torque controls how much power and turn your drill can use. If you use too little torque, your drill will stop and won’t move anymore = it’s too weak for your application. Easy fix: just adjust your torque slightly higher and try again!

If you use too much torque, you could over-drive your screw = going too deeply into the material. It can twist your wrist… especially if it’s on the drill setting.

Speed

The top button (gear selector) is your speed. Some have 2 options, and some have 3.

Speed 1 = maximum power, slightly less speed
Speed 2/3 = maximum speed, slightly less power

I generally leave my drill on speed 1. The only time I’ll use speed 2 (or 3) is when I’m stirring paint.

Speed and torque are inverse to each other.
If you use more speed, you lose torque and won’t have as much power.

Drill Bits & Driver Bits

If the top of your screw looks like a plus sign, that’s called a Phillips-head. If the top of the screw looks like a negative sign, that’s a flat head. There are many other types of screws out there (both the head type and what they’re used for) – a quick Google search will help you identify them.

Pro Tip:
Drill a hole just a tad bit smaller than your screw to prevent your wood from cracking.
This is called a pilot hole. This leads me to drill bits.

A drill bit is meant for drilling holes. Some are meant for masonry, while others are meant for wood, metal, etc. So how do you know what type of material it’s for? Check the packaging!

Drill Attachments

You have two mandatory items you’ll need besides your power drill, battery, and charger. And that’s a set of drill bits and driver bits. They’ll last forever if you’re careful, and your drill is useless without them.

Later, you might want spade bits and even hole saw bits.

You can get an attachment that stirs paint. You can also get a larger attachment for mixing grout, mortar, and concrete (I’d use a corded drill for this if you have one).

I’ve even used attachments to clean my floor (where you here for the bathroom tile saga?), and to distress wood (with a wire brush) when making furniture.

Want to add can lights? You could cut a circle with a drywall saw if you’re only doing one or two. If you have a whole house, use a drill attachment to cut the perfect circle every time!

You Got a Drill! Now What?

How to Use a Power Drill

First, hold the power drill in your dominant hand. Then grab your bits, screws, and some scrap pieces of wood, and start practicing! If you’re finding that you need more power on the drill, use your other hand on the back of the drill to exert more pressure. If your scrap piece of wood is spinning around, clamp it to a workspace (don’t make a hole in anything important that might be below your surface).

What to do with a Drill

Now that you know how to use your drill, what are you going to do with it? If you’re like me, you already have a long list of ideas every time you buy a new tool. If you need me to spark some ideas, here goes!

• Install shelves
• Fasten legs onto a tabletop
• Make pocket holes
• Install curtain rods
• Cut the perfect hole in beadboard for pipes
• Install can lights
• Hang pictures
• Put together Ikea furniture

Get comfortable with the basics, and afterward, you can do bigger things – like build basic furniture or a pergola!

Safety First:
If you’re drilling holes above your head, please wear safety glasses.
Sawdust and drywall dust in your eye isn’t fun.

You did it! You’re officially one step more confident and self-reliant than before! Doesn’t it feel good?

The End

Knowledge is power, and power sometimes feels like… a power drill. If you’re finding your new knowledge addictive, don’t worry! I’ll write more beginner tool tutorials, and you can keep the high going!