Choosing the Right Tools

Avoid buying a cheap drill with a 1/4-inch chuck. It will not have the power you need and will soon burn out. One tipoff to a better-quality electric tool is the cord. Look for a long cord that flexes more like rubber than plastic. For cordless drills, price is a good indicator of quality. Battery voltage is an indicator of a cordless drill's power.

A hammer drill, or a drill with a hammer option, bangs away at the material as it drills. It's useful when boring holes in concrete.

A cordless drill can make your work go more easily, but only if it is powerful enough to do most things that a corded drill can do. Look for models rated at 18 volts or higher.

Some drills are designed specifically for driving in drywall screws. These set the head of the screw at the required depth -- deep enough to make an indentation, but not so deep that it damages the drywall.

Specialized tasks often require a high-speed drill (one with high revolutions per minute). For example, self-tapping steel stud screws (see Working with Metal Studs, Related Projects) require a drill rated to at least 2,500 rpm.

For heavy-duty work, choose a drill with a 1/2-inch chuck. This will run at fewer revolutions per minute, but will be more powerful than a standard 3/8-inch drill. For additional information on choosing a drill, see Selecting Basic Power Tools, Related Projects.

drill bits

Shown here are some of the more common drill bits. Auger bits, either solid-center or expandable, are designed to be used with a hand brace, as is a screwdriver bit. For holes 1/2 inch or smaller in diameter, use twist bits. A brad-point bit makes a cleaner hole than a twist bit. For holes from 1/2 to 1-1/4 inches in diameter, use a spade bit. For making holes in masonry or concrete, use a carbide-tipped masonry bit or a star drill, which you drive with a hammer. A countersink bit bores a shallow hole so you can set screw heads flush with or below the surface. A combination bit drills both a pilot hole and a countersink hole in one step. Use a simple awl to prepare the way for a small screw. For holes larger than 1-1/4 inches, and/or for drilling precise holes through tough materials, use a holesaw.