Cordless Drill Driver Anatomy
Understanding the parts of an cordless drill helps us use the tool better. One example is the removal and insertion of the bit. A new user may actually be puzzled by how this basic operation is done, if no explanation is offered. This, and the proper handling of the tool, effective methods of drilling and driving, do involve a little learning.
The parts of a cordless drill are shown here, labeled from 1 to 9. Other cordless devices like impact driver or hammer drill share many analogous features. If you know the way to use this one, you won't have much trouble with the others.
Tips
To change bits: The bit is held in the jaw (1) controlled by the chuck (9). With a bit in the jaw, grasp the body of the tool and rotate the chuck clockwise to tighten the bit, or counterclockwise to loosen it.
To drill or drive: Press the direction switch (4) forward to screw/drill, or reverse to unscrew, and pull the trigger.
To unlock the drill: The trigger (8) can be locked because the direction switch (4) is accidently left at the spot between forward and reverse. Simply press the switch to either forward or reverse and the trigger will be unlocked.
Components
| Feature | Function |
|---|---|
| 1) Jaw Opening | The jaw grips the bits, be it round or hex in the shank. Bigger jaw openings accept bigger bits. Typical opening is 3/8" maximum. High-end mdoels can open up to 1/2". |
| 2) Clutch | The clutch controls the level of torque from the motor to the bit. The cordless drill can power up a gigantic amount of torque. We don't need that much energy to drive little fasteners, as it may damage the work such as stripping a screw head or driving it too deeply into wood. Adjusting the clutch setting to scale down the torque output will solve this problem. Usually the clutch setting goes from 1 to 10 or some large number. The higher the number, the higher the torque output. There's also a setting that's for drilling only. |
| 3) Speed Switch | Typically it is a high/low speed switch. High speed is for drilling (low torque). And low speed is for driving (high torque). |
| 4) Direction Switch | This is a forward/reverse direction switch, with a neutral position in the middle. Note that in the neutral position the trigger is locked and so the cordless drill won't function. If it's locked, then pushing the direction switch one way or another usually fixes it. The forward position is to drive a screw in or drill a hole. The reverse position is to drive a screw out. Here's a lovely trick. To set loose the bit, first put the direction switch to reverse, then grab hold of the chuck (9), and pull the trigger. The bit will be released promptly. To lock down the bit back in the jaw, set the direction switch set to forward. This time, pull the trigger unhurriedly until the jaw secures the bit in the center firmly. |
| 5) Handle | The handle grip is an important factor of a superior design. We should feel comfortable holding a tool in our hand. That's ergonomics, and it has to do with balance and bulk and shape of the handle. Be sure to test drive a tool by holding its handle in your hand. If it feels right, then it's likely the right tool for you. |
| 6) Power Rating Information | The battery usually shows its power rating information on the cover. Amp-hour (Ah) reflects the duration the battery can operate before needing recharge. Voltage (volt or v) relates directly to torque/power. Internal chemistry type (NiCd, nickel cadmium, NiMH, nickel metal hydride, or Li, lithium-ion) indicates the electric charge storage technology. |
| 7) Battery | The battery is the power source of the cordless drill driver. It is rechargeable and needs a companion charger suitable for its voltage level and physical packaging layout. As a general rule, the higher the battery's amp-hour capacity or voltage level, the heavier it weighs. Search for battery that's lithium or Li. It's the best technology to date. |
| 8) Trigger | Some triggers are better than the others. The better ones boast features like soft-start and variable-speed. Soft-start eliminates the sudden torque jolt at the beginning of pulling the trigger. Variable-speed gives you fine control of the spinning head: the harder you pull the trigger the quicker the bit spins. These are very desirable features. |
| 9) Chuck | The chuck controls the opening and closing of the jaw that holds the bit. Cordless drills have keyless chucks. To release the bit, grip the chuck and set the direction switch to 'reverse' and pull the trigger. To lock the bit, do the same except to set direction switch to 'forward'. This is a nice improvement over the earlier design where bit-changing requires a chuck key that needs elbow grease to operate. |
In addition to the features above, some cordless drill drivers have an LED light built on the tool itself. It's surprisingly useful to have a built-in LED light even if it's not very bright. Some models have a slide release mechanism to ease the chore of removing the battery. All in all, the new cordless drill tools are getting better and easier to use.
