Electricity
ALWAYS check for any electricity cables running through the wall before you start drilling. Hitting a live cable could be fatal, so spare a few minutes to check the area that you want to drill.
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 in the wall.
Clothing
Never wear loose clothing or dangling jewellery which could catch in the drill as you lean over it. Always wear goggles to protect your eyes from flying dust and debris.
Drill safety
- Don't forget that the drill bit will become hot with use, so keep you hands off it!
- Unplug the drill before changing bits.
- Don't forget to remove the chuck key before switching on the drill.
Wall
Make sure you use the correct drill bit for the type of wall you are drilling into, e.g. a masonry drill bit for solid brick walls, a wood bit for timber or a high-speed steel bit for metal.
- Drilling into tiles
If you are drilling into tiles, use a specialist tile drill bit and stick a piece of masking tape over the area to stop the drill from wandering.
- Drilling into plasterboard
If you are drilling into plasterboard, tap the wall to find out where the wooden joist is (where it is not hollow) – aim to drill only into this. To be completely accurate, use a joist detector.
Cords
Always use a proper purpose made extension cord if you need a longer wire for your drill. And don't ever pick the drill up by its flex.
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