How To Drill Safely
Drills are very powerful and potentially dangerous tools. They can just as easily put holes in your walls, or holes in you, so follow our safety tips to keep yourself intact.
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Step 1:
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Electrics
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Always always, always check for any electricity cables running through the wall before you start drilling. Catching a live cable when drilling is potentially fatal so it's worth taking the extra time to check. You can buy an AC detector from most DIY stores and depending on the make it will buzz or flash when it locates a cable on in the wall.
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Step 2:
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Clothing
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Never wear loose clothing or dangly jewelry which could catch in the drill as you lean over it. And always wear eye googles to protect yourself from flying dust and debris as the drill goes into the wall.
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Step 3:
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Drill
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The drill bit will become hot with use so keep you hands off it. Unplug the drill before changing bits. And don't forget to remove the chuck key before switching on the drill .
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Step 4:
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Wall
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Make sure you use the correct drill bit for the type of wall you are drilling into. For example use a masonry drill bit for solid brick walls, a wood bit for timber and a high-speed steel bit for metal.
If you are drilling into tiles use a specialist tile drill bit and stick a little piece of masking tape over the area to stop the drill from wandering.
If you are drilling into plasterboard, tap the wall to find where it is not hollow as this will be where the wooden joist is - aim to drill only into this. Or to be completely accurate just use a joist detector.
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Step 5:
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Cords
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Finally, always use a proper purpose made extension cord if you need a longer wire for your drill and never pick the drill up by its flex.