Convenient World of Power Tools

Whether you like them, hate them, or just be indifferent to them, power tools are here to stay, and when all is said and done, they really do any DIY job so much easier and quicker to complete.

The electric drill is probably the most common and popular electric tool. But with power tools comes an obligation, and that obligation is twofold.

• First comes the obligation to use it; Venture into the world of DIY enthusiasts and make use of your power tool.
• Second, comes the obligation to learn what to do and the best way to do it.

To the uninitiated, it may seem like you simply plug your Power Tool Centre into the power grid and drill a hole. But oh no; It is infinitely more complicated than that.

In the first instance, it may be that your electric drill is, in fact, battery-powered. If the battery is charged, you're in business, and you can start the serious business of drilling that hole. However, if the battery is discharged, you will have to charge it and wait the necessary time for it to be charged enough to complete the operation or simply postpone work until tomorrow; And we all know what we say about tomorrow!

Okay, now we have our drill fully loaded, it's time to drill the well. But wait. There are many things that still need to be considered and resolved before we can move on to the next stage.

Meanwhile, the power drill simply sits there patiently waiting for its proper use. It is fit for purpose, ready to go, but you are?

Several considerations must now be made before actual drilling can begin.

What type of surface are we going to drill? Wood, plaster, brick, tile, or metal?

What is the correct bit for that particular surface?

What size of the hole will we need to drill?

Do we have a bit of the right size for the right surface?

What color plug will we need to use to plug the hole?

Where exactly should the hole be drilled?

Do you see it? A million and one questions; well several anyway; and everything that needs to be resolved before drilling can begin.

Ok, so the moment of truth is near. X marks where the hole should go, we have the correct bit in the chuck, we have a plug of the appropriate color ready to plug the hole ... here it goes.

We push the bit into position against the wall and hook. The bit travels. So the hole is slightly misaligned. Now, if it is a single hole operation that will have no consequence, but if you are drilling more holes in a pattern, each time the bit deviates from the center, the more difficult it will be to fit whatever we are adjusting.

But let's make it easy for us; This is just a one-hole operation, so that short run is not important. Next thing, the drill doesn't seem to be making much progress, so we activated the hammer. That does it; we're done. (Always hoping not to puncture a water pipe or an electrical cable hidden in the wall).