What are Drills?
Drills are common tools, often found in the professional toolkits of builders, engineers, woodworkers, and even in domestic environments. These versatile and essential tools are primarily employed to create holes of varying sizes in a plethora of materials – from softwood to rigid metals and even concrete.
Interestingly, the concept of drills dates back to the era of early humans, who utilized bow drills circa 10,000 years ago. With the advent of modern technology, there’s been an astronomical evolution in the design, mechanics, and efficiency of drills. Modern-day drills are either manually operated (like hand drills) or powered by electricity (such as power drills).
How do Drills Work?
Despite their varied applications and designs, the basic working principle of all drills remains constant. This revolves around the concept of rotation. The heart of a drill lies in its drill bit- a sharp, rotating component that bores through materials to create holes. The drill applies a rotational force to this bit, which in turn chips away at the material at the point of contact. The spiral ridges along the bit remove the chipped material from the hole, ensuring a clean and precise hole.
Electrical drills harness the power supplied to them to spin their motor. This rotational energy is then transferred to the chuck, the component that firmly secures the drill bit. The user can control the speed of rotation, thereby determining the drilling speed. On the other hand, manual drills require the user to provide the rotational force.
Components of a Drill
A standard drill contains three primary parts: the body (housing the motor in the case of electrical drills), the chuck, and the drill bit. In an electrical drill, the body is typically equipped with a handle for a firm grip, a power trigger to control the motor’s operation, and a reverse switch to change the rotation direction. The chuck secures the drill bit in place. It can be tightened or loosened using a chuck key, though many modern drills now boast a keyless design.
Drill bits themselves deserve special mention. They come in different shapes and sizes, fabricated from various materials, each tailored for a specific kind of job. Among these, ‘tungsten carbide‘ tipped bits are particularly renowned for their durability and toughness. Tungsten carbide is an incredibly hard material, second only to diamond, making it ideal for drilling through harder materials. It stays sharp for longer durations, reducing the need for frequent replacement or re-sharpening.
Types of Drills
From corded to cordless, from hammer drills to rotary drills, there’s an astonishing variety available today to cater to different types of work. Corded drills are powerful and offer consistent performance, but their mobility is restricted by the length of the power cord. Conversely, cordless drills are extremely portable, but their operation is limited by battery life.
Hammer drills, equipped with a hammering action, are perfect for drilling through concrete or masonry. Rotary drills, on the other hand, are more versatile and can perform tasks like sanding and polishing, in addition to drilling.
Each drill differs in terms of its power, speed, size, and type of bit it uses, rendering some more suitable for specific applications than others. The key lies in knowing which drill to use for what job- the hallmark of a true professional.