How to keep drill bits from slipping – Easy steps!

Drilling a hole looks like the easiest task in the world – but only to a third person. The person doing the drilling will have a completely different idea about the process.

This is because it is much more than just picking up a drilling machine and getting started. You have to be careful at each step right from choosing the right drill bit to ensuring that the chuck is working well. 

Drilling is not devoid of problems and one of the most common problems we hear of is the drill bit slipping. It is surprising how many DIY enthusiasts struggle with this problem! Some end up changing the drill because they don’t know what to do!

You don’t have to follow their lead, thankfully, because we have the answers!

Identifying the reason

There could be multiple reasons why your drill bit is so loose that it is slipping. A few of them are:

• The chuck is dirty
• You are not using the right drill bit
• The chuck is worn out and smooth

How to keep drill bits from slipping

The easiest way to do this is to clean the chuck. You won’t believe how many times this has solved the problem, saving the users a lot of money! And, it won’t take you more than a few minutes.

If you generally make sure that your chuck is clean and it still slips, you may want to consider the following:

• You have the wrong drill bit – Always choose a standard drill bit that has 3 flats. These flats are responsible for the grip, which ensures that your drill bit does not slip.
• Your chuck is overused – With consistent usage, the chuck tends to wear out and become smooth. A smooth chuck will obviously cause the drill bit to slip rather easily. So, simply replace your chuck and you will be good to go!

Changing the chuck

Since we have established that changing the chuck can solve the problem, we shall speak about the process of doing so. 

There are 2 main types: key and keyless chuck.

The key chuck is for heavy users or professionals while the keyless one will work fine if you own a drill only for household needs. The removal and replacement technique is quite simple, to be honest. But the intricacies may vary based on the brand you choose. So remember to go through the user guide before starting the process.

Is it better to change the chuck or just replace the drill?

Chuck replacement is a straight forward process for DIY experts and professionals. If you have an old drill, though, this can be complicated. You may not be able to find a replacement and/or you won’t be able to remove the existing one. Either way, there are complications.

The price of a new chuck is less than $40. Most fall in the $10-20 range. A drill costs at least $30. So, if you have an old drill, it is best to replace it. Otherwise, you will pay for the chuck and for replacement by an expert. 

Chuck slipping is quite a common problem with an easy solution. You just have to be careful about choosing the best solution.