Most home owners own a drill. And if you are a woodworker, you probably have one or more cordless drill in your garage. Why not? They are versatile, need little care and affordable.
But unlike certain obviously dangerous tools like a chainsaw, many people thought that a drill is safe enough to be used without reading the manuals or taking extra precautions.
Do not take this power tool lightly. They can be very dangerous if not used properly. Follow these tips to make sure your drills work for you and not on you.
1. Read Your Manual
Sure, when unwrapping your new drill, the manual is the last thing you would look at. After all, who needs a manual for a drill right? Actually, if you fall under this category, you’re wrong.
A drill manual will let you know the specific uses of your bits, the limitations of your tool as well as other important details – like how long a dead battery needs to be recharged and what temperature or conditions that your drill is safe for use.
2. Use Common Sense
How common do you see a handyman leaving a drill unattended in areas where there are children and pets? Or use a drill with damaged parts?
Yes, you know that you should not do them as they are common sense, but few people actually follow them. Just like many peoples burn their fingers for touching the end of their bits after a long, tough drilling work. They know it is not a good idea to touch it, but they do it anyway.
3. Wear Proper Outfit
Always wear goggles or safety glasses when using a drill. There’s no excuse for not wearing goggles since they are inexpensive and the only things that could provide covers for your eyes.
Secondly, try not to wear loose clothing when using a drill. It could get tangled or snagged on the bits and causing injury to your bodies.
If you don’t mind being taken for a John Wayne impersonator, get a drill holster. Not only it helps keep your drill at your side at all times, it also helps free your hands when you need to work on high grounds.
4. Check Your Drill Occasionally
If you are still using a corded drill, make sure you inspect your cord. Look for cuts, splits or cracks in the cord. The least harm such damage could do is stop your drill from working. But touch wood, such damage could also give you quite a shock.
Occasionally, check on your switch. They are the one part of a drill that will show enough wear that you need to consider a replacement. But replacing it is simple. Just disconnect your battery leads and reconnect your new switch.
5. Watch Where You Drill
It does not matter if you use goggles if you do not watch where you drill.
For example, you should not drill directly above or below electrical sockets because chances are, there are wires hidden in the wall. You should also put extra care when boring holes in walls that are shared with your bathroom. You do not want to hit the pipes in the wall.
6. Keep informed
Once in a while, when connected to the internet, browse for news of cordless drill recalls and see if your model or the model that you are thinking of buying are recalled due to manufacturer defects.
Like cars, phones and other man-made gadgets and tools, drills get recalled too. The famous drill manufacturer, Dewalt has recalled their tool before. So do the company called Harbor Freight which recalled its drill because the switch could get heated, posing a fire and burn hazard.
These are simple, yet important safety tips when using a drill. Sure, skip them if you want, but you’re doing so at your own peril. A cordless drill is an amazing power tools, but not only can it help you in your work, it could also be dangerous if taken lightly.