Choosing the Right Drill for DIY Use

Choosing the best drill for DIY can be confusing - especially if you are new to using power tools. While there are many things to consider when choosing a drill in general, you will need to think about other aspects when choosing one that you can use for work around the house. Most people will choose a versatile, easy-to-use cordless drill that has enough basic features to do tasks such as hanging pictures, making wooden shelves or doing other simple work. For those who don’t have a lot of experience using drills or other tools, knowing what to look for when getting a drill for DIY is essential to make sure that you don’t end up with a drill that is too heavy and difficult to work with or an expensive drill that has too many features you won’t ever need.  

Choosing a Drill for DIY Projects

To make it easier to choose the best drill for DIY projects, here are some questions to ask.

Do you have experience working with drills?

This is, by far, the most important factor. If you are getting your first drill, you want to get the most basic model that won’t be hard to use. Even with a basic cordless drill, there will still be a learning curve as you figure out how to use your drill, change chucks, learn your way around torque and speed, and do some practising on wood scraps. If you have used drills and other power tools before, you could look at more advanced drills. But for now, a good starter drill will see you through a huge variety of projects. You’ll soon get to know your drill, the more you use it, and you’ll soon wonder how you ever managed without your tool.

How often will you be using your drill?

Buying a top-of-the-range drill only to use it for a few projects here and there will be a waste of money. If you plan to use your drill often, you could look at spending more or getting one that has more features. You don’t want to go to the trouble of getting a drill only to have it sit on the shelf of your workshop, gathering dust.

How much do you plan to spend on the drill?

This brings us to our next point - your budget. How much you aim to spend will come down to how often you plan your drill, the features you want, the quality you want, and various other factors. When buying a drill, it is essential to do your research. Going into a hardware store, picking up drills to see how they feel in your hand, asking questions, and thinking about your budget will all help you in making your choice. Don’t rush this purchase. Choose brands known for their quality but remember that the main goal is to find a drill that you will enjoy using. There are many good entry-level drills that will be affordable and reliable.

What sort of projects will you be planning?

What projects are you planning? Are you doing to do simple tasks such as hanging up photos or mounting shelves? Are you a fixer-upper who wants to do some minor renovation that doesn’t require heavy-duty power tools? Are you a woodworker wanting to make simple furniture or other items? Do you enjoy all types of DIY? A simple cordless drill will do all of these tasks, but you may want to look at features that may be needed to get the best usage from your drill. 

What features and settings do you need?

That leaves us with our final point… the features and settings of your drill. Drill settings can be simple or more complicated depending on the type of drill you choose. The most important settings are speed and torque or force. Drills have two modes - drill (drilling holes) and drive (using screws). To use the drive mode, your drill has a clutch. This allows you to control the torque, preventing screws from being forced too deep into the hole you have drilled. The clutch is usually situated behind the chuck, which is the part that holds drill bits. This is why it helps to visit a store to view drills in person and get a demonstration of the features or settings you may need. 

Once you’ve found the perfect drill for DIY, you can view our wide range of quality drill bits available at Ruwag to start putting your drill to use.