How To Insert a Drill Bit Into a Cordless Drill

Cordless drills will make a drilling job faster.

Tools have evolved substantially over the years, and one of the greatest advancements in the industry was the cordless drill. Cordless drills are powered by low-voltage battery packs and add more versatility at the work site than their corded counterparts. While not all drills are designed the same, properly inserting a drill bit into a cordless drill is easy. Wear protective safety glasses or goggles when using your cordless drill.

Instructions

1. Insert the supplied chuck key into to one of the key-way holes on the end of the chuck and turn the key counterclockwise to loosen the chuck. The chuck is on the top end of the drill and features gear teeth. The chuck key is a small L-shaped tool that also has gear teeth on the end.

2. Open the jaws of the chuck when it is loose enough, using your hands. Insert the drill bit with the pointed tip exposed from the drill and begin rotating the chuck clockwise until the jaws clamp down evenly around the drill bit. Make sure the drill bit does not get caught between the jaws of the chuck when tightening.

3. Tighten the chuck further with the supplied chuck key in a clockwise fashion. If you do not use the chuck key to secure the drill bit in the chuck, you risk the drill bit coming loose from the chuck jaws during use.

4. Install drill bits into "keyless" cordless drills by inserting the drill bit the same way as you would a conventional model but using your hand to rotate the second collar of the chuck to clamp the jaws evenly over the bit. Complete the tightening process by switching the drill to the "Forward" operation position, holding the collar of the chuck and then pressing the trigger button. The "Forward" and "Reverse" operation switch is by the drill's trigger button.

5. Remove a drill bit from a "keyless" drill by grasping the collar of the chuck, switching the operation switch to the "reverse" position and then briefly hitting the trigger button. The jaws of the chuck will separate from the drill bit and release it.

Tips & Warnings

• Insert at least half of the total length of the drill bit into the drill before tightening the chuck.

References

• Efunda: Bits and Chucks
• YouTube: How to Insert a Drill Bit Into a Cordless Drill