Whether you are a carpenter, woodworker, plumber, or simply, a DIYer, power drills constitute an integral part of your arsenal. However, to get the best use out of a power drill, you need to fix it with the right type of drill bit. if your existing drill bit is not right for the job at hand, you can easily change it by following a few simple steps.
First off, you will need to loosen the chuck on your hand, by your hands, a screwdriver, or a chuck key – depending upon the type of drill you own. Next, you’ll need to remove the existing drill bit and replace it with the desired one.
Each of the steps stated above features a lot more details and those details are exactly what we will be aiming for in this guide. So, without further ado, let’s get started!
How to Change a Drill Bit on a Keyless Drill
You can either have a keyless drill or a keyed chuck drill at your disposal. If your drill doesn’t feature a chuck key, here is how you can change its drill bit:
Step 1: Slacken the Chuck
A chuck is basically a component of a drill that serves to loosen or tighten the tool’s hold on the drill bit. You will need to loosen it.
Accordingly, to do so, rotate the chuck anticlockwise or hold the chuck as you pull the trigger gently.
If your drill does not have a self-locking mechanism, you can use a Philips screwdriver or a nail of an appropriate diameter. Insert either of them on any of the available holes on the chuck and then turn in anticlockwise.
Step 2: Remove the Undesired Drill Bit
With the chuck slackened, the jaws holding the drill bit will loosen as well. So, you can easily pull out the drill bit with your hands.
Once the drill bit is removed, inspect it for cracks, dullness, or worn-out areas. If you do happen to find any sort of damage, throw out the drill bit so that you don’t accidentally use it again.
Step 3: Equip the Right Bit
Next, hold the desired drill bit with your index finger and thumb, such that the smooth part of the drill bit, called the shank, is facing towards the jaws of the chuck. Insert the drill bit into the chuck and instantly pull it back around a centimeter.
Be sure to keep a hold on the drill bit and the chuck throughout the whole process because the drill bit isn’t secured yet.
Furthermore, make sure that the drill bit is placed at the center and that, it is well-attached.
Step 4: Tighten into Place
With a loose grip on the drill bit with the fingers of one hand, use your other hand to squeeze the trigger numerous times so that the drill bit is taut in place.
Keeping a light hold on the drill bit is also important to ensure that it is installed straight into the drill.
Your drill may have a ratcheting mechanism for exerting additional pressure to the shank of the drill bit. If so, you will need to set it into place.
To do that, firmly rotate the ratcheting mechanism, next to the chuck, in a clockwise direction, until it clicks into place.
Note that the steps, mentioned above, can be implemented when you are dealing with any type of keyless drills, including Makita drills.
How to Change a Drill Bit on a Keyed Chuck Drill
For drills that come with a chuck key, this is the recommended procedure for changing their drill bits:
Step 1: Loosen the Chuck with its Key
The chuck resembles a wheel crown, containing teeth. Align the teeth on the chuck key with those on the chuck and insert the tip of the key into one of the holes on the chuck’s side.
Note that if you are unable to find the chuck key for your drill, look around the drill as the key is commonly secured on the tool itself. Also, keep in mind that you are far more likely to find a chuck key on a corded electric drill as compared to its cordless counterpart.
Step 2: Remove the Drill Bit
With the tip of the chuck key in place, turn it anticlockwise. Keep turning until the chuck is loose enough for you to easily pull out the drill bit.
Now, using your index finger and thumb, pull out the drill bit.
Step 3: Insert the Desired Drill Bit
Now, similar to the case of a keyless drill, hold the desired drill bit with your forefinger and thumb, such that the shank is facing the chuck, and insert it inside the drill.
Having done that, hold the drill bit in place with one hand and use the other hand to turn the chuck key clockwise so that the chuck’s jaws are tightened firmly.
Finally, with the drill bit in place, remove your hands from over it and power on the drill for testing.
How to Change a Drill Bit on Black & Decker Drills
Black & Decker manufactures keyless chuck drills, in which changing a drill bit is quite straightforward.
- First off, you need to set the button, above the trigger, to the locked position.
- Hold the bottom of the chuck with one hand and rotate the front of the chuck with the other in a counterclockwise direction.
- Remove the existing drill bit, employing the method mentioned before.
- Insert the desired bit inside, again, by employing the method mentioned above, and rotate the chuck clockwise until it is taut.
Safety Considerations
Now that you are familiar with how you can remove a drill bit from a variety of drills, here are a few handy safety considerations that you can make to make sure that the process goes on in a hassle-free manner:
- Wear appropriate safety gear when handling drills. It includes rubber boots, gloves, goggles, and a face shield.
- When not in use, always keep a drill turned off.
- Do not touch a drill bit without gloves after the drill is just being turned off.
Frequently Asked Questions
My Chuck Key Won’t Turn. How Should I Fix This?
Use a lubricating agent, such as WD-40.
Conclusion
We sincerely hope that our guide above has addressed whatever was boggling your mind regarding the topic under discussion. Before signing off, let’s reiterate this guide.
So, basically, depending upon the type of drill that you possess, you’ll need to employ a certain method to slacken the chuck of your drill so that the existing drill bit (if there’s one) can be pulled out. Only then, you can make the required effort to slide in the desired drilled bit.
