Drilling for Dummies - The Unrefined Housewife
There’s a long list of hack-like learnings I have accumulated now that I’ve assumed the role of a handyman in the house. Being an engineer was never my calling, but my Dad has taught me a lot of simple tricks for doing things around the house that make me feel like I’m a badass Bob the Builder.
As an Unrefined Housewife, I want to share with you some fun home hacks that could or totally could not apply to your life. But maybe down the road?
If you’re a handyman, construction worker or engineer. Please skip this post because it will save me the embarrassment.
FUN!
Drilling, screwing and making ‘holes’ in walls and various materials seems to be a very common activity… One day it’s for hanging art, the next day it’s for mounting a shelf, the next it’s for hanging a light fixture and then building a desk. It’s literally the nuts and bolts of every handyman project. See what I did there?
Seems straight forward enough, ya? Sorry team, it’s really not. Here are a few things I have learned that can maybe help you.
There’s always the comments section in case you want to say:
For starters- let’s begin with ways to make your life easier. When it’s thick wood and hard to get the screw to initially penetrate the wall with just using your strength and a screwdriver, it’s better to start by creating a pilot hole with a twisted drill bit. Sorry did I lose you already?
Visual learners see below:
This is a power drill:
This is a drill bit:
If you don’t have a power drill. Get one. It’s essential. I received one as a housewarming gift from my Dad and I thought to myself I would never touch it, but I use it almost every day. The options with a power drill are endless. I’ve seen drills used as power cleaners, can openers, you name it.
Look at this MADNESS:
OK, sorry we’re getting off-topic.
So you basically drill a smaller hole with a twisted drill bit that’s smaller/thinner than the screw. THE HOLE YOU MAKE MUST BE SMALLER THAN THE SCREW. Then you are able to screw into the wall/ wood easily in the pre-made hole using your own strength! The screw will be able to twist into the smaller hole easier than if it was going into a flat surface on its own. Catch my drift? This process is applicable for screws that are unable to connect to a drill themselves (think hooks, etc), but also for ease of any difficult hole drilling.
If you are screwing in a hook such as a screw eye by just twisting with your hand (hopefully into a premade pilot hole), you can leverage a strong/basic screwdriver to twist the hook into the wall by placing the screwdriver (or any straight metal tool) through the hole of the hook and turn it. You can do this with any metal rod and using it as leverage to turn the screw. This sneaky guy uses an alan wrench in his drill to do the same thing! Shit is wild.
I can’t believe I can actually relate to the man in this video.
When you are using a power drill to drill in the screw itself, make sure you have the right drill bit so that its head is the same shape as the top of your screw. The last thing you want is to strip the screw head when using the wrong drill bit.
BEWARE. Not all screws are right for every kind of material. Have you ever tried to use a power drill to insert a random screw into thick plastic or metal? Ya don’t. I’ve had some scary experiences and I have made dumb decisions. Always check the material before you decide what tools to use.
When in doubt, check the packaging for recommendations and restrictions. Generally, a good starter set of drill bits should include at least a small index of twist drills and a set of spade bits, which may get you through most wood and even some metal projects. But if you’re planning to drill into brick or plaster… that’s a new journey I'm not ready to take you on. Next time.
My “favorite” are self-tapping screws- they drill their own little tunnels by cutting precise threads when they are screwed into wood, plastic or metal. Self-tapping screws come with a sharp, piercing tip or a flat, blunt tip. The sharp-tipped screws are designed for drilling their own hole into softer materials such as wood and plastic so they don't need a pilot hole.
I found this lovely Australian bloke who can break it down for you.
Some other general tips for drilling:
Always mark the spot of where you want to screw or drill first. Don’t just wing it. The drill is not a wing-it kind of tool.
Mind your speed when drilling. Don’t ever force anything.
When in doubt go on YouTube! There are tutorial videos for everything.
Be safe out there kids!
Here are some honorable mentions for you to try this week!
-Need to lift a heavy piece of furniture? Lift it for a second (or push it, kick it, drop it) onto a thick towel and then drag the damn thing.
-Need to fix a squeaky hinge? Oil it with WD-40. My fiancé didn’t know this so I think it’s important to mention.
-Need to remove a label or sticker on something? Use rubbing alcohol.
-Dog or cat hair stuck on your clothes or furniture and you don’t have a lint roller? Use a rubber glove to wipe it off easily.
-Want to repel spiders? Use peppermint oil. Want to repel fruit flies? Pour vinegar into a little bit of dish soap in a shallow bowl. Want to get a bug out of your room? Turn off all the lights and close the door. Turn on a light outside the room and they will go to the new light source. This is great for mosquitos!
-Want to clean the disgusting narrow gap between your stove and counter? Wrap a paper towel around a long knife and spritz it with cleaning product. Then run the knife down in the gap and vacuum what falls down. EW.
Have tips you want to share? Or scary drill stories? Feel free to comment below!
Have a great rest of your week!
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