All the Different Types of Drills and Their Use

This article discusses the different drills and selecting the appropriate drill for your task.
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Bella is a skilled copywriter who holds a degree in English studies. Her lifelong passion for decor and interior design is evident in her work, which is inspired by the beau read more
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Last updated: August 22, 2023
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It may be that you’ll need to drill a neat hole in the wall to store an item in your room. Or, you’ll need to drill a hole in the DIY project you are making. But, what makes this drilling activity messy is that many aren’t aware of the distinct types of drills. And as a result, they believe they can use whatever kind of drill they find available to carry out their tasks.

We all have some drilling needs at times. Maybe you’re a young student, a bachelor, a married man/woman, a tradesperson, or an avid DIYer; these drilling needs can surface anytime. Knowing the different types of drills and their usage will save you from making a mess of your projects. And it will also help to make your results more pleasing and satisfactory and prevent you from getting injured. And in this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about all types of drills.

What is a Drill and Why is it Important? 

Did you know that the primitive awl was the first name given to the first drill that was ever made in the history of human inventions? Well, if you didn’t, now you know. And with the fleeting time, there are now numerous kinds of drills you’ll find on the market.

Drilling is a required activity in industrial work, DIY projects, and household repairs. And a drill is a versatile device used to carry out this activity. If you have a garage tool kit, you’ll need to have drills too – if you want to make a hole, you do need a drill.

However, there are lots of different models of drills you’ll find on the market today. Even so, there are numerous unique drills only for specific projects. And with this, finding the exact drill best suitable for your project or task can be quite nauseating.

Accepted drill bits, working mechanism Trusted Source Interactive mechanism of working environments and construction behaviors with cognitive work analysis: an elevator installation case study: International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics: Vol 25, No 3 Unsafe behavior is a leading factor in accidents, and the working environment significantly affects behaviors. www.tandfonline.com , size, torque, power, and speed are some factors that differentiate drills from one another.

But worry less; you’ll get to know the commonly used kinds of drills in this article and their usage.

Types Of Drilling Machines

Before we proceed to the numerous kinds of drills, let us quickly take a look at drilling machines. These drilling machines are, at times, referred to as power drills. And they’re split into two major categories. These two types of power drills are portable drilling machines and sensitive drilling machines.

Portable Drilling Machines

All the Different Types of Drills and Their UseThey are usually utilized for small and medium drilling activities. These portable drilling machines are also called handheld power drills or hand drilling machines. You can use them for both your  outdoor and indoor spaces Trusted Source The informatics of indoor and outdoor space | Proceedings of the 2nd ACM SIGSPATIAL International Workshop on Indoor Spatial Awareness As indoor spaces become more complex, and information technology develops, there is a growing use of devices that help users with a variety of tasks in indoor space. Outdoor spatial informatics is well developed, with GIS at their core. dl.acm.org . And since they operate at high speeds, they’re extremely efficient.

Sensitive Drilling Machines

All the Different Types of Drills and Their UseBefore you use these machines, you have to mount them on a plane. And this is why they’re also called bench drilling machines. They feature a very sturdy base that makes them very convenient to use. And the driving mechanism is super efficient.

Different Drill Types

It can be pretty confusing to know how many types of drills are there in total. The distinct types of drill names do not help matters as well. However, there are certainly different kinds of drills you’ll always find on the market. And here are they:

Drill Driver 

All the Different Types of Drills and Their UseThis drill driver is very special among all other kinds of drills because it’s one of the favorite of homeowners. Most homeowners choose a drill driver as their preferred option because of its capacity to perform various tasks. These drill drivers can handle stubborn surfaces like metal and mood. And they’ll drive screws and drill holes into them neatly.

Drill drivers boast the capacity to directly tighten and loosen screws with varying levels of thickness and sizes. Their high-performing capacity and versatility are simply because they also function as drivers. Drill drivers are battery-powered. And they’re also regarded to be one of the best types of electric drills for home use. Speaking of installing a shelf in your home and other small-scale projects, a drill driver will always come to your rescue.

Impact Driver 

All the Different Types of Drills and Their UseYou’ll need this drill if you want to drive screws into stubborn surfaces and loosen bolts easily. Just like a power drill, it uses a similar rotational motion Trusted Source Rotational Motion This chapter explains the way in which rotational motion may be described analytically for bodies undergoing pure rotation. Rotational kinematics describes rotational motion. www.sciencedirect.com . Nevertheless, what makes it more special is that it offers a blend of rotational movement and hammering action.

While it can also be referred to as an impact drill, it’s usually advised to refrain from calling it an impact drill since it doesn’t function as a regular drill. It features an anvil mechanism and a rotating hammer. And, it doesn’t utilize a forward chipping gear as common with other customary drills. Regarding screw-driving in the construction industry, impact drivers are the top choice. And this is due to their incredible power to install, loosen, and tighten screws in split seconds.

Hammer Drill 

All the Different Types of Drills and Their UseThe hammer drill is a unique drill, among others. And this is simply because it’s a fine blend of a drill and a hammer. It shares a similarity with the drill driver. But, it’s boss because of its more advanced functionality. Due to this similarity, certain people refer to hammer drills as hammer drill drivers.

You’ll be spoiled with options like driving mechanically with the clutch, hammer drilling, and regular drilling when you go for the best types of hammer drills. A hammer drill will serve you very effectively if you need a multipurpose power tool. Switching to conventional drill settings will also help you carry out screw-driving tasks effortlessly.

Rotary Hammer Drill

All the Different Types of Drills and Their UseMasonry, bricks, concrete, and stones are some of the several dense solids that rotary hammer drills can easily pound. If you need to break up tough materials, you need a rotary drill. Even though it can be used for drilling, it’s no surprise that this rotary hammer drill is frequently used on construction sites. Construction workers find it very valuable to split rocks apart, smash stones, and pound bricks.

Asphalt and thick masonry cannot escape the fierce power of rotary hammer drills. The name ‘masonry hammer’ has also been given to these drills due to their incredible power to break up any stone. Besides breaking, it’s also excellent for chiseling and drilling tough materials. SDS hammer, roto hammer drill, and roto hammer are other names for rotary hammer drill.

Core Drills 

All the Different Types of Drills and Their UseCore drills are very special. While they have very pleasing aesthetics, their operation is also different. And these two factors separate them from other regular drills. These kinds of drills are easily identified by their stretched cylindrical assembly. They’re also very rich in history, as their first usage dates way back to about 3,000 BC.

Core drills have the remarkable capacity to drill very large holes. These holes can be as wide as five feet in diameter. And this is why professionals like  plumbers use it a lot Trusted Source Plumbing work competence instrument in the field of civil engineering - IOPscience Plumbers determine the quality of water installations, networks, and management so that the position of plumbers becomes important in maintaining the health of the environment and buildings. This research was conducted with the aim of measuring the validity of plumber’s competency instruments. iopscience.iop.org for construction purposes. Another thing that makes this core drills different from others is the way they make their holes. Not only are the holes incredibly large, but they’re also cylindrical — if properly used.

Cordless Drills 

All the Different Types of Drills and Their UseCordless drills are one of the most popular types of hand drills. And many people go for them because of the convenience they offer—especially professional workers and DIY lovers. The motor in the drill is driven by the rechargeable batteries they use. And, of course, they have no electric wires or cords. Although they’re driven by electricity, they also have their downsides.

Foremost, they’re not suitable for hard concrete. And unlike AC mains-powered drills, they have low torque. And this means that you can’t fully rely on an electricity-driven drill for some heavy-duty drilling tasks. Nevertheless, they’re excellent on fiberglass, plastic, metal, and wood. Plus, there are also some types of cordless drills that have a very high torque.

Corded Drill 

All the Different Types of Drills and Their UseThere are different types of dewalt drills on the market that are corded drills. But in essence, corded drills are a sharp contrast to cordless drills. You’ll find different kinds of corded drills on the market. And several of them have unique features and varied styles.

More so, they all have certain tasks they’re best used for. Aside from being the oldest form of drills, corded drills are more efficient to handle heavy-duty tasks compared to cordless drills.

Screwdriver Drill

All the Different Types of Drills and Their UseScrewdriver drills are not your regular average drills. Their capacity to generate more torque makes them different from other common drills. To enhance their ease and safety usage, they’re usually kept cordless.

These drills are way more effective than handheld manual screwdrivers due to their ability to drive screws in confined spaces. You can also use them to tighten your screws conveniently.

Ground Auger

All the Different Types of Drills and Their UseReferred to as augers or earth augers, ground drills are utilized in  ice fishing Trusted Source Injury Patterns and Outcomes of Ice-Fishing in the United States - PMC Fishing is a common pastime. In the developed world, it is commonly performed as a recreational activity. We aim to determine injury patterns and outcomes among patients injured while ice fishing. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov . This powerful tool is suitable for DIY landscaping projects, And it will also come to your rescue if you need to dig holes for a plantation.

Ground augers are must-haves for home gardeners. And, they’re also perfect for digging post holes. You can use them to drill deep foundation posts for construction purposes. And they can also be used to extract maple syrup from maple trees. Augurs can also serve the function of a shovel more efficiently and effectively. You can use them to dig holes and remove dirt.

Benchtop DrillAll the Different Types of Drills and Their Use

Benchtop drills are very different from the common types of twist drills. Just as the name sounds, they’re usually mounted on a table. And these drilling machines are also called bench drills. Use a benchtop drill if you don’t want your materials to keep slipping as you drill them. These drills will also do justice to your metal, plastic, and timber.

FAQ

What are the 2 main types of drills?

The two main types of drills are percussion and rotary. Percussion drills use a hammering action to create holes, while rotary drills use a spinning motion. Both types of drills can be used for a variety of applications, from drilling holes in walls to creating pilot holes for larger screws. When choosing a drill, it is important to consider the type of job that will be performed as well as the materials that will be drilled. For example, a rotary drill is better suited for drilling through metal than a percussion drill, which is better suited for drilling through wood.

What are the 4 categories for drill sizing?

The four categories for drill sizing are: letter, metric, number, and fractional. Letter sizes range from A to Z and are used in the United States. Metric sizes range from 0.5 mm to 100 mm and are used in most other countries. Number sizes range from 1 to 80 and are used for both U.S. and metric applications. Fractional sizes range from 1/16″ to 1″ and are also used for both U.S. and metric applications.

Final Thoughts

It’s amazing to see how far drills have gone. But even so, you would agree that the proliferation of different drills makes it difficult to know the best drill to go for. And, what’s most important is to select the right drill for the proper task. Drills come in different power, speed, function, and size.

And for you to create quality work, you must choose the drill that’s most appropriate for the job. You also need to do this for your safety and the safety of your materials. By educating yourself on the different types of drills and their uses, you can be certain that you’re making the right choice. And you can then enjoy the pleasure of seeing your projects or tasks well-executed.

References

1.
Interactive mechanism of working environments and construction behaviors with cognitive work analysis: an elevator installation case study: International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics: Vol 25, No 3
Unsafe behavior is a leading factor in accidents, and the working environment significantly affects behaviors.
2.
The informatics of indoor and outdoor space | Proceedings of the 2nd ACM SIGSPATIAL International Workshop on Indoor Spatial Awareness
As indoor spaces become more complex, and information technology develops, there is a growing use of devices that help users with a variety of tasks in indoor space. Outdoor spatial informatics is well developed, with GIS at their core.
3.
Rotational Motion
This chapter explains the way in which rotational motion may be described analytically for bodies undergoing pure rotation. Rotational kinematics describes rotational motion.
4.
Plumbing work competence instrument in the field of civil engineering - IOPscience
Plumbers determine the quality of water installations, networks, and management so that the position of plumbers becomes important in maintaining the health of the environment and buildings. This research was conducted with the aim of measuring the validity of plumber’s competency instruments.
5.
Injury Patterns and Outcomes of Ice-Fishing in the United States - PMC
Fishing is a common pastime. In the developed world, it is commonly performed as a recreational activity. We aim to determine injury patterns and outcomes among patients injured while ice fishing.

References

4.
ShieldSquare Captcha
5.
Injury Patterns and Outcomes of IceFishing in the United States PMC
Fishing is a common pastime. In the developed world, it is commonly performed as a recreational activity. We aim to determine injury patterns and outcomes among patients injured while ice fishing. Data on initial emergency department visits from the National ...

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