10 Mistakes You’re Probably Making With Your Cordless Drill, According to Contractors

A cordless drill is great to have around the home, even if you’re not an avid DIYer. But if you find yourself splitting wood, dulling bits, or drilling incomplete holes, you might be making common cordless drill mistakes.

We consulted home contractors and deck builders to learn the top cordless drill mistakes you might be making—and how to use the drill correctly.

Not Using Chuck Lockout

Does the bit sometimes loosen when using the cordless drill? Contractor John Kirton points out a little-known feature: chuck lockout.

“Ensure the chuck is tightened securely by turning it clockwise until you feel resistance, then click it counterclockwise once to lock it in place,” Kirton says.

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Using an Underpowered Battery

Using an underpowered battery is a typical cordless drill mistake, says contractor and deck-builder Drew Barquist.

“Larger cordless tool batteries can deliver more power to the tool, so the tool will actually be slightly more powerful on a 4-amp-hour battery than a 2-amp-hour one,” he says.

Drilling Metal Too Fast

Use a low speed setting and a cutting lubricant to prevent overheating and damage when drilling metal, Kirton suggests. For timber, a faster drilling speed and the appropriate drill bit will minimize splintering and ensure a clean hole. 

Heat kills drill bits, agrees Barquist. “Heating the drill bit enough can cause it to lose its temper and soften.”

Using the Wrong Bit for Tiles

Drilling into tiles is necessary when installing towel bars or soap dishes in bathrooms. But it’s a big mistake to drill tile the same way you drill wood.

When drilling into tiles, Kirton says that it’s crucial to use the right type of drill bit: a quality masonry drill bit.

“Keep both the drill bit and the tile cool by spraying them with water while drilling to prevent damage,” he adds.

Using a Drill for Screws

A common cordless drill mistake is using a drill for driving screws, Barquist says. Instead, as a professional deck-builder, he recommends using an impact driver.

“An impact driver is more efficient at this task and doesn’t have the tendency to torque your wrist if it suddenly encounters resistance,” he says.

Impact drivers can drive more screws on a charge than a drill, too. Still, when it comes to drilling holes, a cordless drill is the right tool to use.

Not Drilling Pilot Holes

If wood splits or is hard to drill, one mistake you might be making is not drilling pilot holes.

“To prevent burning out your drill bits, start with a pilot drill bit to create the initial hole,” Kirton says. “Gradually increase the drill bit size until you reach your required hole diameter.”

This helps you establish the drilling point and prolongs the life of your drill bits. 

Neglecting Torque

Most drills now have a simple feature that gives you better control when drilling and prevents wrist injuries. It’s called torque.

“Most cordless drills have torque settings ranging from one to 12, with one being the lowest torque,” Kirton says.

The torque feature is typically a numbered ring near the chuck. Rotating the torque ring increases or decreases the drill’s torque.

Drilling Metal With a Wood Bit

If your drill bit dulls quickly when drilling into metal—or refuses to bore a hole—you might be using the wrong type of drill bit.

“For steel, use cobalt-alloy bits since they’re designed for drilling into harder metals,” Barquist says. “They won’t dull as fast as a standard high-speed steel drill bit.”

Barquist also recommends using cutting oil, as it will preserve the bits and speed up the drilling process.

Forgetting to Reverse

Most cordless drill users know about flipping the cordless drill to REVERSE when removing screws. But it’s easy to forget that you can use the reverse function for other things.

Reverse function is also useful for loosening the chuck or releasing a stuck drill bit, Kirton says.

To loosen the chuck, flip the drill to REVERSE. Grasp the chuck with one hand and the drill’s handle with the other hand. Press the trigger, and the chuck will open.

Not Knowing About Hammer Function

When drilling into brick or concrete, it helps to use a dedicated hammer drill. Many cordless drill users may not know that their tool already has a hammer function.

“The hammer drill mode on some models allows drilling through lighter masonry materials like brick and small holes in concrete with a light percussive action,” Barquist says.

Look for the hammer-shaped icon next to a switch on the drill.