A Handprint Guide to Drilling + Driving

Best Practices for Drilling 

Prep

Drilling pilot holes and countersinking holes are two of the most common uses for your drill. Start by creating an indent where you want the center of your hole to be using a punch or nail, then tape an "X" over the indent with painter's tape. The tape helps reinforce the fibers at the hole's edge and offers added protection against splits and frays.  

Never force it 

Counterintuitively, you'll slow yourself down if you break the #1 rule of drilling: Never force your drill. You'll know you are if it slows down and noisily complains. And while you may think you'll quicken your process, you'll likely just break lots of bits. Too much pressure also dulls bits more quickly, increasing the chances you'll apply even more pressure to compensate. 

You don't need to put the drill driver in reverse to back it out  

This is really one of the most helpful things anyone could tell a beginner, and it often comes as a revelation. Without releasing pressure on the trigger, simply switch from a forward motion to gently pulling backwards. Your bit will come right out while simultaneously smoothing the inside and outer edges of the hole you made. 

Use tape as a depth marker 

Sometimes you need to stop yourself from drilling all the way through a piece of wood. When this happens, wrap a piece of painter's tape around the bit to mark where you want to stop. 

As you get closer to the other side, slow down 

The faster your bit is spinning when it breaks through the other side, the more ragged or chipped the exit hole can be. So while you want to drill quickly for the cleanest holes, slow up and reverse out just as the point of your bit barely pierces through. Turn your piece over and place the point of your bit on the pierced spot and finish drilling your hole. This method will produce the smoothest results on both sides. It's also an excellent application for the tape-on-the-bit trick, helping you stop before going all the way through. 

Use scrap to practice drilling at a right angle or use a drill guide 

It's important -- but sometimes challenging -- to drill holes at the ideal right angle. However, many drill drivers now have a level cleverly integrated into their design. Or, guides are available for purchase. When a bit is inserted through a guide, it's properly aligned at a 90-degree angle, helping prevent broken bits. 

Gradually step-up bit sizes when drilling a large hole into hardwood 

Sometimes when trying to drill a pilot hole into hardwood, creating the size you need on the first try is too much to ask. Instead, drill a series of holes that expand the diameter until you achieve the size you need. 

If your pilot hole is too small, reverse out + choose a bigger bit 

Simply redrill the same hole with the next bigger bit. And don't look at it as a bad thing. If you're unsure which bit to choose, a hole that's too small is far easier to fix than a hole that's too big. 

If your pilot hole is too big, repair it + start over in a new location 

Spackle is your friend, but experience is your teacher. Err on the side of drilling a too-small pilot hole before you create a problem that needs to be fixed before you can go on.  

Final Thoughts

While this is only a partial list of all the drill driver DOs and DON'Ts, we hope you learned a few things or picked up a new tip to try the next time you reach for your fabulous new drill driver.