How do I care for my cordless drill?

Keep your cordless drill in good condition. Cordless drills don’t last forever. If yours is looking a little worn out, start shopping for a new one.

Make sure you insert the drill bits correctly.

Use the right drill bits for the job. Not doing so can needlessly wear out your drill bits, or possibly even damage your cordless drill.

If you use a cordless drill with a chuck that requires a key, don’t lose it. Or, buy a cordless drill that has a keyless chuck.

If your drill has a keyed chuck, be sure to tighten all three holes so the shank pressure is equalised.

Sharpen your drill bits as they become dull.

How can I keep my cordless drill clean?

Whatever you do, don’t ever immerse your cordless drill in water (to clean it, or for any other reason).

Use a damp cloth or towel to periodically wipe down your drill.

For a more thorough cleaning, use a vacuum or compressor. This will get the fixtures and vents nicely clean.

Where and how should I store my cordless drill?

Store your cordless drill in the storage case provided with the drill. This will protect it from dust and other damage.

Store the drill away from dusty areas (even when contained in its storage case) and out of extreme temperatures. Very hot and very cold temperatures can damage your cordless drill while it’s being store.

Your cordless drill batteries will do the best when they are stored at temperatures between 4 and 40 degrees C. Very high temperatures can damage the battery, while very low ones can slow the battery considerably.

Any general tips for me?

Buy the right cordless drill for your needs. You can easily damage a drill by requiring it to do work that it’s not strong enough to do.

Look for a drill that just meets your needs. In other words, don’t buy much more drill than you need. Since drills are not long-lasting tools, there’s no point in wasting money.

When in doubt, pick a 12-volt cordless drill. This is a good voltage for most people’s needs.

Choose a cordless drill that has variable speeds. This will allow you to successfully perform any job you need it to do with the right amount of power.

Have fun with your drill! They are multipurpose tools that can be quite helpful to most homeowners.