10 drilling tips to help you drill like a pro

If you’re like most homeowners, you probably have a cordless drill stacked somewhere in your garage or tool shed, and sooner or later, you do encounter a few DIY projects that will require you to make use of it.

Even though you’re a beginner user, you don’t need the highest level of skill to operate it, but with the professional drilling tips in this article, you’ll surely get better results the next time you have to drill a hole during a project.

1. Choose the right drill bits

use the right drill bit

For you to drill through any material you need to choose the right type of drill bits for that material. There are different bits for drilling through wood, metal and concrete.

If you have any doubts pertaining the type of bits to use, check the packaging of your cordless drill to learn about the type of bits recommended by the manufacturer.

2. Clamp the material to keep it steady

clamp the material you're drilling

It is better and safer to clamp your work piece to keep it steady before attempting to drill through it, especially if it’s a small work piece. Even the most skilled craftsman will look like an amateur if he/she tries to drill through a small work piece that has not been clamped.

Clamping it prevents the piece from moving while you drill through it and allows you to use both of your hands to handle the power drill safely and do a better job. The clamp is like an extra pair of hands helping you handle the material safely.

3. Make use of sharp bits

use a sharp drill bit

You want to keep your drill bits sharp to make your job easier and safer. If your bits are blunt, you can either sharpen them using a bench grinder or buy a new set of bits.

4. Find your center and indent or create a pilot hole

Don’t just start drilling on your workpiece. If you want to drill a hole first find the center of the hole then, then use a punch or nail to make a tiny hole in the center.

This will help guide your bit into the material once you start drilling.

If you’re trying to make a large hole, first make a pilot hole with a small bit, before using a hole saw or larger bit to make your large hole.

5. Reinforce your drilling point with tape

If you’re drilling through wood or a board that may possibly crack once you start drilling, use painters tape to make an X on the spot before you drill your pilot hole.

The painters tape will reinforce the wood and prevent any possible cracking.

6. Start slow

If you’re too aggressive when you start drill, you might end up missing your mark. The drill bit may wander from the spot you’re drilling and mark or damage your work piece.

You need to start slow to ensure you drill into the right spot first before increasing your speed.

7. Never force the bit through the material

It’s very important to not try to force the bit through the material you’re working on. Forcing it will not make it go faster through the wood.

Rather, it will just get the bit blunt which will cause you to apply even more pressure that may end up breaking the bit.

8. Vary your speed according to the material you’re drilling

If you’re drilling through wood, you can use fast speeds, but if you’re drilling through metal, slow to medium speed is better to avoid breaking the bit.

9. Blow off chips of the material from the drill bit as you drill

blow off chips

If you’re drilling a deep hole, it’s advisable to pull out the bit every inch or so that you can blow off the wood chips or flakes from the bit.

This prevents the bit from getting too hot and getting blunt. Drilling with so much chips on the bit will also make it harder to continue drill through the hole.

10. Keep two or more sets of drill bits

keep extra set of drill bits

Using only one set of drill bits will make them get dull quickly. But with two or more sets of bits available, you can switch between bits even between a single task.

You can start with your newer set of sharp bits to start, then switch over midway through to the older bits to finish drilling the board or material you’re working on. Doing that will keep your new bit set sharp, and prevent your older ones from getting too blunt.

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