The owner’s manual is the best place to get advice on the proper use of your tool.  These folks designed and built your drill.  Who would know better how to safely use it?  Make sure to keep the manual -- so don’t throw it away!

Drill parts are moving and have a tendency to ‘kick up’ material when in use.  Safety glasses/goggles will protect your eyes.  Wear them.

Avoid loose clothing that can accidentally get caught in the bit.  Sleeves, buttons, and gloves can be ‘bit bait’.  Use caution.

A bit gets HOT during use!  If you need to change bits, let it cool for a moment before swapping it out.  (Yes, we’ve all touched a hot bit once or twice!)   And don’t leave that hot bit where pets or little ones may brush up against it.

Know where you’re drilling.   Don’t add to the project by cutting into plumbing or electrical wiring.  Know what’s on the other side of your drilling site.

Clamp your project down to keep it from moving or so you don’t have to use your hands close to the bit to keep it secure.

Inspect your drill before using it for broken or damaged parts.  Make sure to register it upon purchase in case there is a factory recall for defective units.

We’ve all heard stories of gun-totting folks shooting themselves in the leg or foot.  While it seems humorous, the same thing can happen with a drill!

Don’t walk around with your finger on the trigger.   It won’t be so funny if you should hurt yourself, a co-worker or a family member or pet with an accidental start.

Cordless drills are great tools and are a staple to your tool kit.  But they do demand caution while using them to avoid injuries or unnecessary damage to property.

Stay out of harms way!  Use your drill wisely – and safely.

Good luck with your project.  Be safe - and Happy Drilling!

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First you need power and that comes from the battery.  So a properly charged battery is the first step.

Some models have a ‘quick charge’ and within 15 minutes you’re up to full power.  Others have charging speeds that will vary from 30 minutes to an hour.  You will have to charge-up your battery for the initial use.

Take the charged battery and insert it into the drill.  Most batteries are made to only fit in just one way.

Next, open the chuck.  For keyless models (which most drills sold nowadays are), just spin the chuck in the desired direction for opening or closing the chuck.

The chuck is the ‘collar’ part of the drill that holds the drill bit secure.  The chuck needs to be fairly tight so that the bit won’t spin in the drill and cause damage to the bit -- or the chuck – or you!

Once the chuck is open insert the appropriate sized drill bit for the task at hand.

If you’re not sure what size bit to use, you can always drill an inconspicuous hole and see if it’s big enough for the screw you intend to use.  You may even have installation instructions with recommended bit sizes to use for the project.

You can also simply compare the ‘business end’ of the screw to the drill bit.  You want a bit that’s slightly smaller.  If the hole is too big, the screw won’t be able to ‘bite’ the material and gain a good grip.

With the proper sized bit in the chuck, close it tight and depress the trigger on the drill.  You’re checking to see that bit spins and doesn’t wobble.  If there is a wobble, the bit is not centered so loosen the chuck and try again.

Make sure the drill is spinning in the proper direction since drills do have forward and reverse.  For drilling into something, the bit should be spinning in the clockwise direction.    Counterclockwise will ‘back the bit out’ of the hole (reverse.)

Your drill most likely has a speed selector.  It may be marked “H” for high speed and ‘L” for low speed.

Select the proper speed in accordance to the project you are working on.   You might have a little icon on the drill to help you select the proper torque setting based on the material you’re working with.   A lower setting is for less torque and the higher the setting for more.

If you set it too low, the screw may only go so far and then stop.   If this happens, just increase the torque a notch or two.

You don’t need a lot of power, especially when driving screws.  A lower setting will help from stripping the threading or the screw head.

Safety Note:  Never change direction while the drill is still moving.  Likewise, don’t change the gear speed or torque until the drill is completely stopped.

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With plenty of Li-Ion power, this 'beast' just flat-out performs!

Read many more positive reviews for the Milwaukee 2601-22 Cordless Drill.

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Our Assessment of the Milwaukee 2601-22 18-Volt Li-ion Compact Drill

If you clicked the 'more reviews' link above, you were treated with many positive comments for this Milwaukee drill.

For those who DIDN'T follow the link, here's the condensed version for some of what was said:

• The battery power indicator is a nice feature.
• The charger charges the batteries quickly.
• The drill is compact and well balanced.
• Batteries are awesome
• compact for getting into tight spots
• torque of an 18 v with the weight of a 12 volt.
• The price for this product is a good value. I would purchase it again.

Many professionals chimed in with comments too.  These are the folks who've 'field tested' this drill day in and day out.

... And they are impressed with the Milwaukee 2601-22!  You can't go wrong choosing this drill for your tool kit.

Related posts:

1. Milwaukee M18 Compact Drill and Impact Driver Combo Review

They agree that 18 Volts get you serious power for doing the 'hardier' jobs! For a true workhorse of a drill, the Skil 2887-05 is a good choice for the discriminating do-it-yourselfer.

Read more customer reviews for this Skil cordless drill here.

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Our Assessment Of Skil's 2887-05 Cordless Drill

Our review team came across loads of satisfied owners of this drill.  With the majority of voting in, the Skil 2887-05 18volt cordless drill is a sure winner!

The power behind this drill is what many users loved.  It had no problem penetrating cement blocks to redwood planking. This unit completed the task with ease.

Common reviewer comments include:  It 's comfortable in my hand, has good balance, works great, the two batteries keep you going.  Others appreciated the convenient built-in laser level and the bit-measuring device.

Several times this drill was compared to other big brand name drills users had owned or used -- and the Skil kept pace with the best of them.

In true fairness, there were some complaints about the Ni-Cad batteries.  NiMH and LiIon batteries have proven to be longer-lasting and a few reviewers would have preferred that this Skil drill offered battery options.

But professional tradesmen who have used the Skil 2887-05 18-Volt 2-Speed Drill have generally been impressed with its performance and recommend it.  Who are we to argue?

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The Right Tool for the Right Job

Most cordless drills usage falls into three major categories:

• Repair and Light Duty Maintenance
• Repair and Remodeling
• Heavy Duty – Construction

Choosing the right drill comes down to what projects are you planning to use it for.

Repair and Light Duty Maintenance

Are you typically looking to accomplish these kind of tasks?

• Installing curtain brackets
• Affixing anchors in drywall
• Assembling yard equipment and do-it-yourself furniture
• Attaching new handles on cabinet doors and drawers
• Replacing door hinges.

For lightweight chores that are completed fairly quickly, a single-battery tool will do just fine.

If your project requires drilling holes and driving screws, select a drill that has two fixed speeds or a variable speed option. An adjustable clutch is also a nice feature to prevent stripping out the screw head.

And you don’t need top-of-the-line equipment to tackle these projects so save some money.  You can get a good dependable drill for under $50.

REPAIR AND REMODELING

This category is for users who will be tackling these kinds of projects:

• Making furniture
• Drilling pilot holes and driving screws in hardwood or plywood
• Hanging drywall.
• Building or repairing deck railings

These projects need more power and ‘stamina’ from a cordless drill and require at least a 9.6V tool.  Of course, a 12V drill will work for projects in this category, but a 12v will also add weight and a larger drill adding to user fatigue.

A variable speed drill is what’s needed with two speed ranges and a clutch.  Since these projects take more time to complete, you’ll need longer run-time of your drill .  Get a second battery so you don't run out of power and have to wait until the unit is recharged.

These drills run in the $50 - $150 range.  Hitachi and Makita are good choices.

HEAVY-DUTY CONSTRUCTION JOBS

Cordless Drills for these projects need power and reliability.  Heavy duty performance is a necessity.  Construction jobs include:

• Drilling into steel
• Home construction
• Working with pressure-treated wood and landscape timbers
• Drilling into masonry walls
• Installing decking

In the pro-use category, a high-voltage tool is mandatory.  Drilling into denser materials and the usage of larger bits require more penetrating punch.  The power of a 12V drill or even 14.4V model is  need.

Drills in this class are typically larger and heavier.  Their cost is in the $150 and up range.

If you only occasionally need a drill in this class, you might be better off with less expensive corded drill (if you have power available) or even considering renting a heavy-duty cordless drills for one-time-use projects.

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The Hitachi DB3DL Cordless Driver is extremely lightweight, very portable, and fun to use. You may never go back to using a manual screwdriver again!

Would you like to read more reviews for the Hitachi DB3DL?  Just click here!

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Overall Assessment of the Hitachi DB3DL 3.6-Volt Li-Ion Cordless Driver Drill

Our review team kept hearing the same thing: "This is a great little cordless screwdriver."  The reasons cited for it's 'greatness' include:

• Incredibly long Lithium Ion battery life
• Removable Battery - never slow down!
• Swivel Head makes it easy to get into tight spaces
• Comfortable ergonomics
• Almost weightless (less than a pound)
• Powerful - no need for pilot holes
• Nifty LED light

We found that users are genuinely pleased with the Hitachi DB3DL Cordless Driver.  You'll be thinking of reasons to put this little number to work.  More than once, we read where the owner proudly stated the Hitachi DB3DL : "is the best tool in my tool bag!"

Be sure to check out eBay to ensure you're getting the best price on the Hitachi DB3DL.

Related posts:

1. Hitachi DS12DVF3 Cordless Drill/Driver Review

This ergonomically designed Panasonic drill is comfortable to work with and a top-rated cordless drill choice for those who take their power tools seriously.

Many, many more positive reviews for the Panasonic EY6432GQKW

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Overall Assessment of  the Panasonic EY6432GQKW Cordless Drill/Driver Kit

Wow, where to begin!

Our product review team discovered that the vast majority of Panasonic owners rated the EY6432GQKW with 5 Stars.

This drill simply performs all day long.  The lightweight design and long run time was often cited. A very l-o-n-g run time!  Quite impressive.

We couldn't say it any better than this reviewer who has spend 20 years in the trade and has used all the major brand name tools.  "I am convinced that this is the best cordless on the market."

Chances are good you'll think so too!

But if you're not convinced, click here to see other best-selling cordless drills

Click Here To See More Cordless Drill Deals Available Now On eBay. You may find a better deal!

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Maybe you could use a powerful flashlight in case of a power outage, or camping, or when you're out looking for that wayward dog late at night?

Well then, the Hitachi DS12DVF3 just might be the combo kit you need!

Read many more owner reviews for the Hitachi DS12DVF3

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Our Review Of Hitachi's DS12DVF3 12-Volt Ni-Cad Cordless Drill/Driver Kit

Hitachi is a Japanese company who produces tools in the U.S.   Hitachi Koki U.S.A has built its reputation for quality - and it shows in the DS12DVF3.

What impressed our review team the most as we scoured over reviews was that time and again, we found where owners of this drill bought a second - or third unit!  That alone speaks volumes for the quality and utility of Hitachi's DS12DVF3.

It's not often you read that owners "love" their product.  Seems these Hitachi drill owners do.

Cited most often are qualities of ease of use, super lightweight which definitely comes into play when tackling overhead projects like installing ceiling fans.  Unless your built like "Arnold", (the old Arnold, not the Govenator!), traditional drill/drivers get downright heavy - real quick!

Owners even stacked it up against their 18v drills and were happy with the performance of this little number when completing household projects.

This is an easy one to recommend -  the Hitachi DS12DVF3 12-Volt Ni-Cad 3/8-Inch Cordless Drill/Driver Kit

Is this drill cheaper someplace else? Click Here To See More Cordless Drill Deals Available Now On eBay

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1. Hitachi DB3DL Cordless Driver Review
2. Black & Decker XD1200K Cordless Drill/Driver Review

You know, under the sink, working around pipes - the places you almost have to be a contortionist just to maneuver around?

If you have a problem 'getting in there', chances are your drill/driver will too.  With a pivoting head, the Black & Decker XD1200k helps you 'contort' to get at the job at hand!

Too see lots more actual owner reviews, click here.

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Assessment of the Black & Decker XD1200K Cordless Drill/Driver

Our review team found plenty of Black & Decker owners/users who were pretty happy with their XD1200k purchase.  We routinely came across reviews with adjectives like:

• Versatile
• Lightweight
• Easy to Use
• Performs Great
• Perfect drill for around the house!

The pivoting head on this unit is a huge plus.  Besides being easy to hold, this innovative design allows access to many places that are just difficult to work in with traditional drills and drivers.

Many owners mentioned 'having the right tool for the job'.  The XD1200k is perfect for light duty projects like putting together toys, hanging curtain rods, hobby projects, etc.

Of course, you can use it for other things but it's not going to provide the torque needed for tough jobs.  But then again, you don't need all that torque for the types of uses this little number is designed for.

Based on the feedback from many satisfied customers, we feel you'll be quite pleased with the Black & Decker SC1200k Cordless drill.  (And it looks cool too. Like a little robot!)

Want To See Other Popular Drills Available? Click Here. Plenty of Reviews too!

Click Here To See More Cordless Drill Deals Available On eBay. You may find a better price!

Related posts:

1. Black & Decker BD12PSK Smart Select Drill Review
2. Black & Decker CDC180ASB Compact Drill Review
3. Hitachi DS12DVF3 Cordless Drill/Driver Review

This compact drill is lightweight and easy to handle.  Plus the small design lets you get into those tight spaces.  (Isn't that often the case?)  Well, it's not much of a problem with this compact drill.

And the 18 volts of power give it enough 'umph' to handle day-to-day projects.  Beats the heck out of messing with an extension cord!

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Overall Assessment of the Black & Decker CDC180ASB

Okay, this drill is not a true work horse.  But if you're interested in a drill in this price range I guess you're not going to be building houses or other large projects with it.  (Although you could be!)

The reviews we uncovered pretty much said this is a light duty drill.   It holds a charge "okay" and has proven to be dependable.  And it's easy to use.

A few commenters did not like the recharging system.  The drill has to be in the charger when plugged in the wall.  There's no changing out batteries so work comes to a halt while the drill is juicing up.  This may be a major hassle for you.  Or not.

For an inexpensive drill, this one is okay.   And if you only occasionally use it, this little number may be all you need!

Want To See Other Popular Drills Available? Click Here!

Click Here To See More Cordless Drill Deals Available On eBay

Related posts:

1. Black & Decker BD12PSK Smart Select Drill Review
2. Black & Decker XD1200K Cordless Drill/Driver Review