A cordless drill gets much easier once you know what the numbered collar, two-speed switch, direction button and chuck are actually doing.
For a concrete example, this class uses the DEWALT DCD771 manual. It is a common two-speed drill/driver with a 1/2-inch ratcheting chuck, 15 clutch settings and a drill mode. The same basic controls appear on many other drill/drivers, but always check your own manual before treating a model-specific number as universal.
Lesson 1: Know the controls before diagnosing the tool
Trigger: controls speed within the selected mechanical range.
Forward/reverse button: changes rotation direction. On the DCD771, the center position also locks the trigger.
Numbered clutch collar: limits screwdriving torque. Higher numbers allow more torque before the clutch slips.
Speed selector: the DCD771 has 0-450 RPM in speed 1 and 0-1,500 RPM in speed 2. Speed 1 is the higher-torque range.
Drill symbol: use this for drilling. It bypasses the normal screwdriving clutch range.
Lesson 2: Diagnose the sound
If the drill is clicking while the motor still runs, start with the clutch. If the entire motor bogs down and the bit stops, think load, binding, gear selection, bit condition or battery condition.
Use the drill-stopping guide to separate those problems before buying anything.
Lesson 3: A bigger battery is not the answer to every problem
A larger amp-hour battery can be useful for longer runtime, especially if you already own several tools on the same battery platform. But a drill that is simply too small for a repeated heavy fastening job may be telling you to add an impact driver, not to hang the heaviest battery you can find under the handle.
Lesson 4: Bits matter more than people expect
A dull drill bit makes the motor work harder. A driver bit that does not fit the screw head well makes the screw look like the problem. A bit that is not centered in the chuck can wobble even when the drill is fine.
See the small set of drill and driver bits most homeowners actually need.
Work through the class by problem
- Why does my cordless drill keep stopping?
- What do the numbers on a cordless drill mean?
- Should the drill be on speed 1 or 2?
- Why does the bit keep slipping in the chuck?
- Is the battery actually bad?
- Does a higher-Ah battery make the drill stronger?
- Do I need an impact driver if I already have a drill?
- Which drill bits are actually useful around the house?
Sources used for this answer
More project guides: Tools & Workshop.