How to Pick Electric Hand Drill Torque

Electric hand drills have a multitude of benefits over manual methods of completing tasks. One of these advantages is the ability to accurately pick the torque that is used by the electric hand drill, which can range from a gentle turn to full speed power drilling. The only question left is how much torque to use. Here is how to pick electric hand drill torque.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Electric Drill With Adjustable Torque

How to Pick Electric Hand Drill Torque

1. Select an electric hand drill that has an adjustable torque setting. Corded drills typically do not have this setting and always run full power. Most cordless drills do have the adjustable torque setting as a power-conserving feature.

2. Familiarize yourself with the adjustment dial on the electric hand drill. The settings are usually 1 to 22 (or so), with the maximum setting being full power drilling. The lower the number, the smaller the amount of torque that will be used and the lighter the drill will turn.

3. Consider what you are working on. If you are doing something delicate such as removing a partially stripped screw then you will want to choose a low amount of torque. If you are drilling a hole in a hard oak board you will require full power. Choosing the setting is more a matter of feel, and not so much using number X for job Y.

Tips & Warnings

• Check the documentation that came with your electric hand drill. The manufacturer may have included suggested torque settings for various common jobs.