Your manual wins. These are general practices. When your tool's manual says something different, follow the manual.
The drill family
| Tool | Built for | Not for |
|---|---|---|
| Drill/driver | Drilling holes; driving screws with a clutch | Masonry |
| Hammer drill | Drill/driver plus a hammer mode for small holes in brick and block | Frequent or large holes in concrete |
| Impact driver | Driving long screws and lag bolts fast; hex-shank bits only | Precise small screws, large holes |
| Impact wrench | Lug nuts, bolts, anchors | Drilling |
| Rotary hammer (SDS-plus, SDS-max) | Concrete holes, chiseling | Wood finish work |
| Right-angle drill | Drilling between studs and joists in tight spaces | |
| Stud-and-joist drill (Milwaukee calls theirs the Hole-Hawg) | Big holes through framing with self-feed and auger bits; very high torque | Small, light work |
| Mixing drill (paddle mixer) | Thinset, mud, paint, small batches of mortar | Bulk concrete |
| Cement mixer (drum) | Batches of concrete and mortar | Thinset, paint |
Drill bits
| Bit | Use |
|---|---|
| Twist bit (HSS, black oxide, titanium coated) | General metal, wood, plastic |
| Cobalt bit | Stainless and hard metals |
| Brad-point bit | Clean holes in wood |
| Spade (paddle) bit | Fast rough holes in wood |
| Auger and ship auger | Deep holes in framing |
| Self-feed bit | Large holes through studs and joists (use with high-torque drills) |
| Forstner bit | Flat-bottom, clean holes in wood |
| Hole saw | Large round holes in wood, metal, drywall |
| Step bit | Sheet metal, electrical boxes |
| Masonry bit (carbide tip) | Brick and block with a hammer drill |
| SDS-plus / SDS-max bit | Concrete with a rotary hammer |
| Impact-rated hex bits | Driving with an impact driver |
Why the wrong tool costs more
- Big bits in a small drill stall the motor, overheat it and shorten its life.
- Self-feed bits and hole saws in a stud-and-joist drill can bind and twist hard enough to injure wrists. Use the side handle and the clutch if the drill has one.
- Standard bits in an impact driver snap. Use impact-rated bits.
- A hammer drill on daily concrete work wears out where a rotary hammer would finish the job in a third of the time.
- A drill on a paddle mixer overheats; mixing drills are geared for it. The right tool is faster, safer, and cheaper over the life of the job.
Manufacturer instructions
Your tool manual is the final word. Find yours by model number:
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