One day you’re drilling for your DIY projects and you notice the drill bit isn’t holding tightly. If it falls out then, don’t be surprised. It is not uncommon for drillers to experience their drill bit suddenly falling out while drilling or before it.
There are various reasons of your drill bit keep falling out and there are also ways with which you can prevent it. In this article, we’ll discuss both of these topics to make sure your drilling goes unhindered while working and also that you remain safe.
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Why Does the Drill Bit Fall Out?
Drill bits keep falling out mostly if they aren’t locked properly. Cordless drills are particularly prone to this problem. They are bothersome when it comes to tightening the bits into the chucks.
While operating the drill, if the bit isn’t locked tight to the chuck it will become loose easily and come out. Ensuring the bit is properly locked before using the drill is the way to go.
Another most likely reason your drill chuck won’t stay tight is that it has worn out. if that happens, you need to replace the chuck. You could also buy an entirely new drill, but that would cost much more.
We’ll discuss the reasons why drill chuck won’t hold bit below:
Reason 1: The Chuck is Worn Out
The black piece in the drill that needs turning while you lock the bit in place is called the chuck. After being used several times, it could wear out. When it does, it ceases to lock properly.
It doesn’t matter even if you buy the most expensive drill from a good manufacturer, the chuck isn’t built by them. Usually, the production of chucks is outsourced to a couple of companies and their production quality is what affects the longevity of the chucks.
This is the reason why cheap chucks end up with expensive drills and wear out after a dozen or so uses.
Read More: Ways To Keep Drill Bits from Rusting
Reason 2: The Chuck is Not Tight Enough
This is the most common reason everyone faces. It is so obvious from the title itself. You must check whether the chuck was tightened enough before drilling.
How to ensure the chuck is tight?
Most of the drill machines make a sort of clicking noise to let you know the chuck has been locked. If you don’t hear the clicking noise, you need to tighten it a bit more. You want to hear multiple clicks to know the chuck has been tightened fully.
Reason 3: The Chuck is Dirty
Another reason your drill bit is coming off is because there may be something clogging up the chuck making it dirty. If there is too much sawdust in it, the chuck will have a hard time gripping the drill bit tight enough. You need to take some time off to clean the drill and the chuck.
You can also open the chuck jaws all the way and clean them with a microfiber cloth. Twist and turn the cloth inside the chuck to clean it properly. Using a damp rag instead could work as well. If you used a damp rag, make sure to dry the chuck fully before turning the machine on.
Reason 4: The Drill Bit is Crooked
If you’re a novice user of drills, you might have inserted the drill bit bent. If not, check if the bit has been crooked. Sometimes, while working with a normal twist bit there might be a possibility of the shank getting bent. This makes it hard for the drill to hold on to the bit.
So, you need to take out the bit and look at whether there is a curve on it. If you find the bit bend, there is no more use to it. Toss it into the bin.
On the other hand, if you’ve inserted the bit bent, it might get crooked. Makes sure to do it straight in the jaws. It is really easy to accidentally insert the bit in an angle with twist bits.
Why does a screwdriver bit keep falling out?
Screwdriver bits keep falling out due to the sides of the top being angled. This causes it to climb out of the screw and slip. Besides this, some other reasons are:
- Use of wrong screwdriver bit or drill tip
- Worn out tip or bit
- Maybe the tip isn’t in line with the screw
- If enough pressure is applied to drive the screw
- If the screw is overtightened
How to keep drill bit from falling out?
There are many videos on YouTube telling you how to tightly lock the drill bit in the place to keep it from falling out. But we’ll let you know a secret. Most of the videos aren’t showing you the right way of doing that.
Here we’ll tell you how to lock the drill bit into place safely.
Method 1
If you have a cordless drill, insert the drill bit into the drill chuck and tighten the bit into it until you hear several clicks. Now, oppositely rotate the chuck till you hear one final click.
With this final click, you’re now certain that the bit has been locked securely in its place with no chance of falling out.
Method 2
Another method is to insert the bit into the chuck using the index finger and the thumb and then squeeze the trigger a few times. Now, spot the ratcheting mechanism that is located next to the chuck and twist it clockwise. This secures the bit firmly.
Tips for keeping the drill bit clean and lubricated
If you keep the drill bit clean it will not fall out easily and probably serve you for a longer time. Cleaning it is essential if you want to lock it into the chuck. Clean chuck secures the bit into place.
Cleaning the chuck is simple and only takes a couple of minutes. First, remove the bit completely from the chuck and pour a few drops of lubricant into it. Now, open and close the jaws of the chuck a few times. This ensures the lubricant is evenly spread.
Don’t pour too much oil into the chuck. If you did pour too much oil, then take a soft cloth and dab it. Not removing the excess oil sticks the debris inside the chuck. This causes blockage.
Now replace the drill bit into place and tighten it with the process mentioned earlier. Operate the drill for about half a minute.
The process of cleaning the drill bit might not be the same for all drill types. Most manufacturers provide cleaning instructions with the machine which you can follow as well.
On the other hand, lubricated machinery ensures smooth performance since when the metal comes in contact with other surfaces, oil prevents most of the damaging effects.
Drilling Techniques to Prevent Falling
When you notice the drill bit slipping in the chuck despite keeping it clean and locking it securely in place, you might wonder if you’ve been drilling in the right way. You need to drill with caution and with the proper method so that the drill bit doesn’t slip. Since incorrect drilling way is also another reason for bit slipping.
Choose the right material for the drill bit
You need to double-check on the bit material you’re using. Since the drill bit is doing the heavy work, its metal has to be tough.
Carbon steel combined with chromium or vanadium makes high-speed-steel pieces. This enables faster rates and is suitable for drilling even iron or steel and other metals like brass, copper, aluminum, etc.
Start gently
You need to start the drilling process slowly at the beginning so that the bit doesn’t stray from the center point. After that, you may progressively raise the speed.
Don’t force
Excessive force on the drill dulls the bit and result in inefficient drilling. Dulling the bit also results in more stress which might break it or cause slippage.
Final Words
We’ve discussed the many reasons of your drill bit keep falling out. To help you with the trouble we also mentioned how to keep the drill bit in place and stop it from falling out.
This knowledge will help you if you’ve been experiencing constant slippage. The good thing is that you don’t have to run to the repair shop or buy a new bit every time your bit slips.