Drills aren’t just designed to get through masonry or screw in specialist screws. You can also use most power drills as a replacement for a screwdriver.
If you never tried to use your power drill as a screwdriver alternative, then here is a detailed guide on everything you need to know.
We take a close look at power drill speed settings, the drill bits you need and also what type of power drill works best as a screwdriver.
Using Your Electric Drill As A Screwdriver
It’s surprisingly easy to use a standard cordless drill as a screwdriver, but there are a few things you need to look out for, such as using the right bit and the correct settings.
What Electric Drill Bit Do You Need For Screws?
The exact type of bit that you will need in your screws depends on the screw head. One of the most common screw heads is the Phillips head which is star-shaped.
This means you will need a number 2 Phillips head bit which matches with the size of the electric screwdriver.
But there are also other driver bits that you can use, depending on the type of screw head.
For example, some screws require a square drive bit (usually for decking screws), while others require internal hex drive bit (used for bugle head batten screws).
Start With A Low Speed
The best speed setting for driving a screw into wood or other material is a low speed setting, so set your drill at the lowest speed.
This is especially important when you haven’t done this before, or when you are using Philips head bits screws. They do not lock into the screw head and can be more difficult to screw in.
Once you start to be a bit more familiar with your drill as screwdriver alternative, you can then set a higher speed setting which will help you get the job done faster.
Select The Correct Action Setting
Most modern drills also have separate action settings which are indicated on the drill switch. These vary depending on the drill but there are options, such as a hammer, screw or a drill bit.
Pick the screw setting, and this should set up your drill for the screwdriver option.
The drill bit setting is just for standard drilling, while the hammer setting selects the hammer mode which you need when you are drilling into concrete or bricks.
Choose The Right Torque Setting
The torque setting is related to the adjustable collar on your power drill, and it has a range of numbers on.
The numbers indicate the turning power of the drill, and you can set how much force you want the tool to apply to drive the screw.
If you select the correct torque setting, then you can avoid overdriving the screw. There is no exact number here, as the torque depends on your screw and your drill.
As a rule of thumb, screws made of softer material need a lower setting than those made with a harder material.
Once you chose the right drill bit and applied all your settings correctly then you can start driving your first screws. Start out slowly, and try out a few screws to get a feeling for it.
Troubleshooting
One of the biggest problems when driving a screw with a drill driver or electric screwdriver instead of a screwdriver is that the bit does not lock into a Phillips head.
If you notice this happening, then you should stop immediately to avoid any damage to the screw and the bit.
Then, check that the head of the bit you are using is in good condition. Some worn bits make it more difficult to stay inside the head.
If you notice that the bit head is worn, then you should get a new bit of this size.
Next, it’s important to remember that you need to drill at a very slow speed to keep a firm grip on both the bit and the screw.
Also, make sure that you press down on the drill driver. This will keep the bit head inside the screw until you are done.
You can screw as far down until it is sunk into the material, and then the low torque setting will stop the drill.
Can All Cordless Drills Be Used As Screwdrivers?
One of the best drills to that can be used as screwdrivers are cordless drills. The majority of cordless drills on the market today have the right clutch and variable speed settings that allow you to drive as well as remove screws.
Also sometimes called drill drivers, cordless drills require the correct drill bit suitable for the screw. Typically, these are flathead bits or Philips bits.
However, the exact bit depends on the screw and depending on your settings. Sometimes when you buy screws, they come with free bits or advice what bit you should be using.
You can also ask someone at your local home improvement store what bit would be suitable for the type of screws you are buying.
It can also help to get a drill bit extender as they make quick work of driving them with a drill.
Can You Use Corded Drills As Screwdrivers?
The majority of corded drills aren’t suitable for the use as screwdrivers. You will need a couple of essential features, including a clutch and differing speed.
When you are planning to drive screws, then your drill will need to have a low speed setting which requires less power.
You may find that some corded drills have variable speed settings. However, they will also need a clutch.
With a clutch, your drill can sense any tension, and it will stop spinning when it senses resistance.
If your drill doesn’t have this resistance sensor, then you will end up stripping the screw and damaging your drill bit.
Saying this, some very few corded drills have both a cluck feature and variable speed. They usually have a torque adjusting mechanism, so check for this on your drill.
Can You Use Impact Drivers As Screwdrivers?
Impact drivers and drill driver have been specifically designed for driving screws.
Although you can also attach an adapter to your drill to turn it into a screwdriver, impact drivers are made for this specific purpose.
However, impact drivers can only be used with hex-shaped bits, so you generally cannot use them for drilling holes.
Thanks to their lightweight design and smaller shape, they are very effective at driving screws.
However, impact drivers are much costly than standard drill drivers, so if you want to do more than just driving screws, a standard drill is much more versatile and affordable.
Can You Use Hammer Drills To Drive Screws?
Hammer drills and drill drivers are designed to work with masonry, like concrete or brick. You can drive screws into masonry with a hammer drill.
You can usually turn the hammer feature of these drills off, and then turn them into a faster screwdriver which is ideal for driving screws into any type of material.
Final Thoughts
It’s relatively easy to use your standard cordless drill as a screwdriver but make sure that you work at low speed and set the power to the lowest level.
This will ensure that you drive the screw safely into the material without damage to the screw head or bit.