Do you want to learn how to drive screws perfectly? Follow this guide on how to use a drill to drive screws so you can learn all the necessary techniques.
A power drill is a great tool for setting screws. This tool saves a ton of time and muscle by making the job of setting screws a breeze. But driving a screw properly isn’t always as effortless as it might look.
One of the worst sounds on a job site or in your garage is the thuda-thuda-thuda or a driver bit camming out of a screw head. It means there’s an adjustment that needs to be made, and it also means someone is likely getting frustrated.
So what’s the secret of how to use a drill to drive screws? Keep reading to find out.
Table of Contents
Everything You Need to Know on How to Use a Drill to Drive Screws
Do you want to learn how to drive screws perfectly? Follow this guide so you can learn all the necessary driving screws techniques.
Keep a Straight Line
The main thing to consider when wanting to drive a screw properly is to think about a straight line. This means maintaining a straight line through the shaft of the screw, to the bit holder, through the body of the tool, and right up through your arm.
Aligning the Drill Correctly
The challenge with drilling a screw straight is the hinge point where the screw fits onto the driver bit. When applying downward pressure from the drill onto the screw, it’s all too easy for the screw to come out of alignment with the tool. This is why maintaining a straight line from the drill to the screw is so important.
Jab the Screw to Start It
This is the best way to get the screw started in straight. Simply place the screw on the bit, then take the screw and the tool, and jab the tip of the screw into the wood. Creating a pilot hole is the best option for starting a screw.
By doing this you’ve gotten a tiny bit of the thread started so that when you pull the trigger on the drill, the screw will already have a little bite into the wood fiber so that you’re ready to go.
Another option is to use a metal tap to get the threads started.
Avoid Stripping a Screw
The last thing you want to happen when drilling in a screw is to strip the screw head. This happens for a number of reasons, like when you are using the wrong size driver bit or when applying too little pressure on the screw.
Stripping the screw head will ruin the screw, and will make the job of removing a screw that’s already been set a much bigger challenge.
Take the Time to Do the Job Right
The key to how to use a drill to drive screws properly is to focus on alignment. When setting screws with a power drill, make sure to maintain a straight line from the tip of the screw all the way up through your arm. Remember, when you start straight, it will finish straight.
Believe it or not, following these simple guidelines will make setting screws with a drill bit a piece of cake.
