How To Put A Drill Bit In A Drill? [6 Steps + Video]

The concept of putting a drill bit in a drill is not new. It’s been around for decades, but the thought process behind it has changed over time.

For example, when drilling into concrete or wood, you need to take the proper size bit to fit into the hole you want to drill. Otherwise, you can damage your equipment and eventually yourself.

Putting a drill bit in a drill may seem simple. Let us dive deeper into the process behind how to put drill bits in drills.

What Are Drill Bits Used For?

Drill bits are versatile and specialized cutting tools mainly used to create holes in a wide variety of materials. These materials include wood, metal, composite, plastic, and masonry. These specialized cutting tools are more commonly used to create cylindrical holes, but special drill bits are designed to create non-cylindrical holes.

6 Steps On How To Put A Drill Bit Into A Drill

The process of inserting a drill bit into a drill varies depending on the kind of drill you will use. For cordless drill drivers, you can try to follow the simple steps listed below.

1. On your cordless drill, release the speed control trigger button to let the drill driver stop completely.
2. Push the forward or reverse button into the central position of your cordless drill. Doing this ensures that your tool is locked in the OFF position to prevent you from any injury while adjusting the chuck.
3. Firmly hold the base of the chuck using one hand while also steadying the drill. Then, turn the chuck’s collar counterclockwise with your other hand. The chuck jaws should open when you do this.
4. When the chuck jaws are widely opened, it’s time for you to insert either a drill bit or a screwdriver bit.
5. After inserting the bit inside the chuck jaws, turn the chuck’s collar clockwise until you feel the chuck jaws securely clamping around the bit.
6. Lastly, push the forward/reverse button into the forwarding position to begin operating with your drill driver.

How To Change A Drill Bit In A Drill

Changing a drill bit in a drill may seem challenging, especially for beginners. This comprehensive guide will show you how to change a drill bit, ensuring you get the job done with ease.

Step 1: Loosening of the Chuck

A drill chuck holds the drill bit securely in the drill. You need to loosen this when replacing drill bits. To loosen the chuck, turn it counterclockwise and unwind it with moderate finger pressure until you feel the bit moving.

As you loosen the chuck, remember to squeeze the trigger to open the chuck jaws holding the drill bit.

Step 2: Removing the Drill Bit

Once the chuck is loosened, you will fill the drill bit wobbling. Don’t forget to wear gloves to protect your fingers, especially when you have used the drill. Do not attempt to remove the drill bit from the chuck with bare hands, as it can be very hot.

Step 3: Inserting the New Drill Bit

When you have selected the right drill bit to put in the drill, place the smooth portion into the chuck jaws. Then, insert the entire bit into the chuck and pull it back for at most 1cm towards you.

Step 4: Pulling the Trigger

To ensure that the new drill bit is securely back inside the chuck, squeeze the trigger for 1 to 3 seconds while holding the chuck with your other hand. Holding the chuck ensures that the drill bit is in place and installed in a straight direction.

Step 5: Checking for Self-Locking Chuck Mechanism

If your drills have a self-locking chuck mechanism, you also have to adjust the ratchet mechanism to make the drill bit more resistant. The ratchet should be turned firmly on the bit’s shank.

You would know that the drill bit is in its place when you hear a clicking sound. Turn the ratchet firmly to engage the ratchet mechanism by twisting it clockwise.

Things To Consider In Selecting A Drill Bit For Your Drill

Choosing the right drill bit for your job is always a challenge. Little mistakes like choosing the wrong diameter and length of the drill bit can cause problems later on. With that being said, here are the important things to consider when selecting the right drill bit for your drills.

Drill Bits Materials For Specific Application

Drill bits come in different materials and applications. Each of these drill bits has different characteristics, which make them applicable in certain situations. Drill bits are not one-size-fits-all, which means you need to choose the right drill bit for efficient drilling.

Carbon Steels

Carbon steel materials can either be low or high carbon steel. Low carbon steel drill bits are ideal for softer materials like wood and plastic. They are cheaper compared to high carbon bits but may require more maintenance to monitor their durability.

On the other hand, high carbon steel drill bits are more suitable for harder materials like metals and stronger woods. They may be more expensive, but these drill bits have better tempers and are more durable than low-carbon steel bits.

High-Speed Steel 

High-speed steel bits are commonly the choice of many diamond-cutting companies, distributors, and suppliers. Their features, including structural integrity, heat resistance, and red-hardness, all contribute to the optimized performance of these drill bits.

Drill bits made of high-speed steel are suitable for different materials, including metal, steel, or wood.

Cobalt

A cobalt drill bit is a variation of high-speed steel bits with 5 to 8% more cobalt concentration. They are more brittle but offer more hardness than other high-speed steel drill bits.

Cobalt drill bits are suitable for harder metals and steels, including stainless steel. Although they can be high-end materials for drill bits, they offer better durability.

Carbide

Carbide drill bits are the hardest but most brittle drill bit materials. They are more suitable for industrial uses when drilling abrasive materials, hard st, iron, and nonferrous heavy metal.

The advantages of carbide drill bits over cobalt and high-speed steel bits are that their efficiency is even faster and they absorb more heat.

Diamond Drill Bits

Diamond drill bits are the drill bits of choice for non-wood materials such as stone, marble, tile, porcelain, or glass. They can be more expensive and serve different specific purposes. Diamond drill bits have better cutting power because of the integration of little diamond pieces.

Flute Design Features Of Preference

Flute designs refer to the grooves on the body of the drill. They are responsible for penetrating the material you are drilling, and there are various types of flute designs.

Standard Flute Design

The most common flute design in a circular cross-section of drill bits is the standard flute design.

Straight Flute Design

Straight flute designs are more suitable when the rigidity of drills is more important than the chip evacuation. This design is also ideal for short chipping materials.

Parabolic Flute Design

This flute design has many advanced features, including:

• Smooth cheap evacuation
• Short cycle times
• High feed rates
• Low peck cycles

Parabolic flute designs work well with relaxed geometry and fast spirals.

Coating Type To Use

Different types of coating will affect your drill bits’ protection and wear resistance during exposure to moisture and heat. The coating also reduces friction and lessens wear and tear.

Cobalt

Cobalt is a good coating material for drilling in high temperatures. This material is ideal when the material needs an intense heat level. The only disadvantage of using cobalt is its brittleness.

Titanium

Titanium coating improves the heat and corrosion resistance of drill bits. This coating material can also improve the durability of drill bits, and you can use it on metals, wood, plastic, iron, and steel.

Titanium Carbonitride

This coating material is one of the strongest and wear-resistant drill bit coatings available. The blue-gray-colored titanium carbonitride is ideal for cast iron, aluminum, and stainless steel.

Zirconium

This coating material works effectively on drill bits that will be working on brittle materials like steel. Although zirconium can be a less attractive drill bit coating, it helps improve the strength of drill bits for more precise drilling while reducing friction significantly.

Black Oxide

You can only use back oxide as a coating material for nonferrous materials. Black oxide coating can also effectively reduce corrosion and friction.

Identify The Drill Point Angles

Drill point angles can also contribute to the drilling efficiency of drill bits. There are several drill point angles, but angles 118 and 135 degrees have become popular over the years.

A drill point angle of 118 degrees is ideal for soft materials like plastic, aluminum, and wood. This angle has a sharper tip with a smaller chisel than a point angle of 135 degrees. The 135 degrees of drill point angle is more suitable for harder materials such as stainless steel. This angle has a flatter tip, more pitch with a longer chisel.

Right Drill Point Length

Drill points also come in different lengths, which include:

• Jobber
• Taper length
• Screw machine
• Mechanics
• Taper shank

Generally, shorter drill point lengths are better for operations requiring a high level of precision and accuracy. Shorter drills are more rigid and sturdier than longer ones.

Common Mistakes in Inserting a Drill Bit

Common mistakes in drill bit insertion can lead to potential injury to your fingers. Here are the common possible mistakes in inserting a drill bit.

Off-Centered

Inserting the drill bits accurately in the center of the chuck jaws is very important. When drill bits are not correctly inserted in the center, they can revolve in circular motions instead of rotating around their axis.

Blowing Off Drill

Inaccurately inserted drill bits can produce a big anti-torque force on your chuck. If you use the drill machine even when the drill bit is not inserted properly, the drill bit can blow up the entire drill machine.

Wrist Injuries

The anti-torque force created by the inaccurately inserted drill bit can also transfer to hands. Thus, your wrist can be subjected to a higher risk of injury.

FAQs

How to remove a drill bit from a damaged chuck

When the chuck of your drill driver is damaged and the drill bit is stuck inside, there are various ways you can remove the stuck drill bit.

Loosening the Chuck Using a Wrench

When the chuck is jammed, you can use a wrench or a vice grip to open it and remove the stuck drill bit. Attaching a wrench to the chuck provides you with extra leverage to grip when removing the drill bit inside the chuck.

When you have obtained a secure grip on the chuck, you can start twisting in clockwise and counterclockwise directions to loosen the chuck. Twisting the chuck can help remove the stuck drill bit inside.

If the drill bit is still stuck after twisting, you can apply a little lubricant along the drill bit to help loosen the chuck.

How to Change the Drill Bit Using a Chuck Key?

When your drills have a chuck key, you can follow these steps on changing drill bits using a chuck key.

Step 1: Get the chuck key.

You need the chuck key, particularly the head of the key, to tighten or loosen the drill chuck. The key head has a toothed wheel crown shape.

Insert the tip of the chuck key into one of the holes in the chuck. Make sure that its teeth are interlocked with the teeth of the chuck.

Step 2: Spread the chuck jaws.

Using a wrench, turn it counterclockwise to spread and open up the chuck jaws. The chuck jaws are those that protrude from the chuck and immobilize the bit.

Step 3: Remove the drill bit.

Carefully remove the drill bit using your thumb and forefinger. Retrieve the drill bit before it falls straight to the ground because it may get damaged after hitting the ground.

After removing the drill bit, check whether all its parts are still intact. If the cutting parts of the removed bit are cracked, frayed, or appear duller, do not attempt to reuse it and throw it away.

Step 4: Insert the new drill bit.

While the chuck jaws are still widely opened, insert the new drill bit. Place its smooth part between the chuck jaws and hold it in place with your thumb and forefinger.

Continue holding it until the chuck jaws are tightened enough.

Step 5: Retighten the chuck.

While holding the drill bit, turn it clockwise. Use the wrench and make one last turn to ensure that the bit is securely in place between the jaws. When you’re done, remove the chuck key.

How to change a drill bit in a keyless drill?

Keyless drills have a different mechanism with changing drill bits. Here is the step-by-step procedure for changing drill bits in keyless drills.

Step 1: Loosen the chuck.

When loosening the chuck, take the chuck with one hand and grab the handle with your other hand. Turn the chuck counterclockwise to loosen it completely.

Step 2: Use a screwdriver or a wrench.

In drills with no self-locking mechanism, use a screwdriver or a wrench to carefully unwind the chuck to open the chuck jaws holding the drill bit inside the drill.

Step 3: Remove the drill bit and place the new drill bit.

When the chuck jaws are opened, get the drill bit inside and insert the new bit you will use. Turn the chuck clockwise to secure the new drill bit inside the chuck jaws.

Step 4: Check if the new drill bit is inserted correctly.

Press the drill lightly to check if the new drill bit is inserted in the right place.

What type of Drill Bits to use for Wood?

Generally, there are four types of drill bits that are suitable for wood surfaces:

1. Twist Drill Bits: This type of drill bit is usually used with a manual drill. Twist drill bits drill holes at low tool revolutions.
2. Spade Drill Bits: Drill bits with a large drilling diameter and can cut clean wood edges
3. Three-point Drill bit or Auger Bit: Can be used for different kinds of wood such as plywood, chipboard, hard, and softwood
4. Forstner Drill Bits: Used to drill large blind holes for concealed hinges and knotholes

Why are Drill Bit Keeps Coming Loose?

Drill bits coming loose can cause serious finger injuries when you are drilling. There are generally 4 reasons why drill bits keep on coming loose.

Your chuck is worn out.

When your chuck is damaged or worn out, you will not hear a clicking sound that secures the drill bits in place. Chucks are commonly outsourced because they do not come with the drill when you purchase. Many people use cheap chucks with expensive drills, which is why the chucks often wear out faster.

The chuck is not tightened enough.

Knowing whether the chuck is tight enough or not commonly depends on the clicking sound you should hear. If you have not heard the sound, you can try tightening or turning the chuck a bit more to secure the bit inside.

Dirty Chuck

A clogged chuck cannot secure drill bits in place. Make sure that your chuck and chuck jaws are clean. You can use a microfiber cloth or compressed air to clean your chucks.

The drill bit is crooked.

A crooked bit is either because the bit itself is bent or you have inserted it crooked. Check the drill bit and if it’s already bent, replace it. To avoid inserting the bit crooked, make sure that you insert it straight into the chuck jaws.

Conclusion

Securing the drill bits in drills ensures efficient drilling and saves you the time to remove and reinsert the drill bit. There are different mechanisms for inserting drill bits in a keyed and keyless drill.

Ensure that you follow the tips presented above to accurately insert the drill bit into your drills to prevent injuries and maintain your drill bits in good condition!