Scared of Your Drill? Here's Everything You Need to Know
A drill has a lot going on — chuck, clutch, speed switch, different bits. It can feel overwhelming if nobody's ever shown you what everything does. This guide breaks it all down simply so you can pick up a drill with confidence.
A few tips before you start
Always wear safety glasses when drilling — flying debris is no joke.
The parts of a cordless drill
Chuck — the clamp at the front that holds your drill or driver bit. Twist it to open and close. Make sure the bit is seated straight before tightening.
Clutch
the numbered ring behind the chuck. It controls how much torque or force the drill applies before it stops driving. Lower numbers for screws into soft materials, higher numbers for harder materials, use Driver bits.
The drill symbol bypasses the clutch entirely for drilling holes, use drill bits.
Speed switch — usually a sliding switch on top of the drill. Position 1 is slow with high torque, good for driving screws. Position 2 is fast with lower torque, good for drilling.
Forward/Reverse — the small button or slider above the trigger. Forward to drive screws in, reverse to take them out.
Battery — slides in and out of the base. Charge it fully before first use and keep a spare if you're doing a lot of work.
Drill bits vs driver bits — what's the difference?
Drill bits make holes. Use them for drilling into wood, masonry or metal depending on the type.
Driver bits drive screws. The most common are Phillips (cross-shaped) and flat head. Most screws in UK DIY are either Phillips or Pozi — they look similar but aren't interchangeable, so check before you start. Also you’ll need to use the Driver bit holder with the Driver bits. Fit the holder into the chuck and then add the driver bit into it.
Which drill bit for which material?
Wood — standard HSS or wood drill bits
Masonry — masonry bits with a toughened tip, usually grey. You need the hammer action switched on if your drill has it — check the selector on the side.
Metal — HSS (high speed steel) bits
Tiles — specialist tile bits with a spear-shaped tip
How to drill a hole
Choose the right drill bit for your material and fit it securely in the chuck.
Set the speed switch to position 2 (fast) and rotate the clutch ring to the drill symbol.
Mark where you want to drill with a pencil. For wood, a small indent with a nail stops the bit wandering when you start.
Hold the drill perpendicular to the surface — a wonky hole is hard to fix.
Start slowly with light pressure to get the bit located, then increase speed and push steadily. Let the drill do the work — you don't need to force it.
For deep holes, pull the bit out occasionally to clear the debris.
For masonry, switch on the hammer action if your drill has it.
How to drive in a screw
Fit the correct driver bit — most UK screws are Pozi or Phillips. They look similar but check before you start or you'll chew up the screw head.
Set the speed switch to position 1 (slow) and start with the clutch on a low setting.
If you're driving into wood, drill a pilot hole first — especially near the edge of a piece of timber where it might split.
Place the bit into the screw head, hold it steady, and press the trigger gently.
If the clutch clicks before the screw is fully home, increase the clutch setting and try again.
Stop as soon as the screw is flush or just below the surface — driving it too deep strips the thread or damages the material.
Final thoughts
A drill is probably the most useful tool you'll ever own — once you're comfortable with it, a huge range of DIY jobs open up. The clutch, the speed switch, the different bits — it all makes sense once you've had a go. Start with something simple like putting up a shelf or assembling flat-pack furniture and you'll have the basics nailed in no time.
I've put together a two-page visual guide covering every part, every bit, and exactly which setting to use for which job. Grab it for £4 on Buy Me a Coffee — and if Fix Make helped you get there, ☕ a coffee always goes down well.
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