Stupid question about DRILLS

14 years ago

I'm clueless...

Can you use any brand bits on any brand drill?

I have a Makita 10.8V drill. The reviews of the Makita bits aren't so great. Everyone seems pleased with DeWalt bits, however.

Can I use DeWalt or any other brand bits with my Makita drill?

Thanks.

Featured Answer

sombreuil_mongrel

14 years ago

If your drill has a 3-jaw adjustable chuck, then your only limitation to bits is the capacity of the chuck itself, be it 1/4", 3/8" or 1/2".
I have had the experience where really cheap imported drills had 3/8" chucks that refused to tighten down on 1/16" drill bits.
You can always upgrade to a better chuck, which is what I did in that case.
Some drills come with a 1/4" hex-drive quick-change business end, which uses bits with the appropriately-sized hexagonal drive end. A choke retains the bits so they can't fall out; no more drill bits stuck in the bored hole.
Casey

Comments (11)

bbaird
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks.

I hope the Makita isn't a cheap imported drill. It cost $150.

I thought it was supposed to be good.
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formula1
14 years ago
Re: "I hope the Makita isn't a cheap imported drill. It cost $150."

No, you did fine. Makita, and others, make fine products. And, the old adage 'you get what you pay for' certainly has some merit; $150 isn't pocket change!
brickeyee
14 years ago
The best drill chucks are still made by Jacobs.

If the outer ring used to tighten the bit is NOT machined the chuck is not very high quality.

Less expensive chucks put a real premium on using each hole to tighten the bit in the chuck.
They really need it with the lower quality machining and ast parts they use.

$150 is a moderately priced drill.

The $30 drills are the ones with real problems, sometimes they do not even have bearings for the shafts, just molded in places in the plastic for the shaft ti fit.
sombreuil_mongrel
14 years ago
Brick,
we were taught in 8th grade metal shop to tighten the chuck on the drill presses from each of the three holes. Those 3/4" chucks probably weighed more than the drill we're discussing.
Casey
mike_kaiser_gw
14 years ago
I hope the Makita isn't a cheap imported drill. It cost $150.

Makita is a Japanese company although I believe they have made some tools in America. At this point, most of their tools will be made in China.

we were taught in 8th grade metal shop to tighten the chuck on the drill presses from each of the three holes.

Years ago in a forum far, far away this very question was asked. The consensus was that the quality of the chuck was inversely proportional to the benefits derived from using additional holes to tighten the chuck. In other words, cheap chucks need additional tightening while expensive ones do not.
bobismyuncle
14 years ago
OMG, Mike, are you an engineer or mathematician?
> inversely proportional to the benefits derived from using additional holes to tighten the chuck

I thought I might be the only one here that talks like that.
tim45z10
14 years ago
You paid 150 for a 10.8v drill? Seems pretty expensive to me. Or do you mean 18.0?
mike_kaiser_gw
14 years ago
You paid 150 for a 10.8v drill? Seems pretty expensive to me. Or do you mean 18.0?

Makita has a 10.8v LiON compact drill/impact driver kit that goes for about $150.
sheba5_talktalk_net
12 years ago
i opened the clutch of my drill to put a large bit into it and now the clutch wont close , why ? please help
kudzu9
12 years ago
Sheila-
Do you mean the chuck is stuck in an open position and won't rotate?

P.S.: In the future, when you have a new question, start a new thread rather than piggy-backing on an old, unrelated thread.