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You’re going to find yourself drilling a hole at some point in life, whether on the wall, a block of wood, or because of a home improvement project. Drilling is easy, but drilling something correctly needs DIY knowledge. Therefore, you should keep in mind some tricks, techniques, and details regarding drilling.
A drill is a great tool, but when used improperly, it can cause disastrous mistakes. Due to these drilling mistakes, you might end up spending more money on repairs than you would have otherwise. For that reason, you should read in this article the top seven drilling mistakes you should avoid.
1. Not Tightening The Chunk
Before drilling, ensure your chunks are tightened to prevent them from spinning when drilling. A chunk is one of the parts in the drill where you place the bits. Loosen the chunk when inserting the bits, then tighten it to keep the bits from slipping away from the marked point.
Some drills come with a key to tighten the chunk, but today most drills allow you to tighten it with your hand. A simple twist will do just fine when you need to drill. But before using it, just make sure it’s secure enough.
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2. Not Protecting Your Eyes
Before you start drilling, you should ensure you put on your safety gear first, which includes your eye glasses. When drilling, you run the risk of getting concrete, wood, or metal chips in your eyes. These particles can cause severe damage to your eyesight, potentially affecting your vision. So, be sure to wear your glasses when drilling because this is one of the common mistakes people tend to overlook. One bad habit that could weaken your eyes is not wearing eye protection.
3. Using The Wrong Bit
A bit in a drill comes in various designs, and every bit has a different purpose. Bits used in woodworking aren’t the same as those used in drilling metals and concrete. Picking out the right bit for the work is essential in order to ensure a successful outcome and a clean, perfect hole.
If you use the wrong bits, not only will your final product be terrible, but you’ll also end up ruining the bits themselves. If you have trouble distinguishing between your bits, it’s best to consult an expert who can advise you on which one to use when working with wood, metals, concrete, etc.
4. Not Drilling Straight
It might sound absurd but not drilling straight is one of the mistakes to avoid when drilling a hole. If you don’t have a drill press, there are simple alternatives that you can try. For instance, you can create a jig using two pieces of scrap wood at a 90-degree angle. Then, use a clamp or wood glue to join them together while you insert the drill bit into the joint. Use it to direct the drill once you feel that they are sufficiently held together. Although this technique might be a little difficult, it’s generally dependable.
If drilling straight holes is still difficult for you, especially when drilling into a concrete block, you can ask a professional for assistance. Alternatively, you can search how to drill into concrete online
5. Not Creating A Dimple
If you don’t create a dimple before drilling, it might damage the surface of what you’re working on, making your work look untidy. To do this, you need to mark the precise location where you want to drill a hole before creating a dimple. In addition to making your hole look neater, this will lessen the likelihood that your drill will veer off course, possibly causing you injuries.
6. Drilling Quickly
Drilling too quickly is one of the drilling mistakes to avoid. Doing this will cause the bits to become too hot and dull. Keep in mind that the drill bit should rotate slowly to prevent creating an uneven hole. Even if you’re drilling through heavy metal or a block of concrete, ensure you drill at the appropriate pace. Do not, at any point, rush the process just to finish your work faster.
7. Creating A Crooked Hole
If the drill slips and the hole become off-center, simply stop drilling. Once you’ve drilled a hole, it cannot be undone. This is why, as mentioned before, it’s important to precisely mark the location where you want to drill before beginning any work. It’s also advised that you begin your drilling project by taking the time to select the proper bit and drilling techniques.
Conclusion
You can prevent drilling mistakes that could cost you repairs by taking into account the information mentioned in this article. Make sure you know how to use a drill before beginning any DIY home improvement projects that call for it. This will make your work more manageable and easier.
