What is a Cordless Drill Used For? (More Than Just Holes!)

Many homeowners are keen to do home repairs and some DIY in the United Kingdom. Cordless drills have been around now for a long time and they really help with tackling projects both big and small.

They are versatile, portable and easy to use. Cordless drills are used for simple jobs such as assembling flat pack furniture, hanging shelves, or something more ambitious, then the cordless drill can be used to make your life easier.

In this article I will explain what types of cordless drills are available in the UK, what they are used for and what applications and benefits they bring to DIY projects.

Expert Verdict: “Most people think a drill is just for putting up shelves. In reality, it’s the most versatile motor in your house. In my 50 years, I’ve used mine for everything from building houses to whisking paint and even scrubbing the garden furniture. If it spins, your drill can probably help.”

“For light household tasks, a standard drill is fine. But if you’re planning on building a deck or a fence, you’ll want to understand the [Difference Between a Drill and an Impact Driver] before you start.”

1. The “Big Three” Traditional Uses

Before we get to the fun stuff, let’s cover the essentials. 90% of your drill’s life will be spent doing these:

Drilling Pilot Holes: Essential for UK woods like oak or pine. Drilling a small “starter hole” stops the wood from splitting when the screw goes in.
Driving Screws: From fixing a loose floorboard to building a flat-pack wardrobe from IKEA, your drill does in 2 seconds what a manual screwdriver takes 2 minutes to do.
Masonry Work: If you have a Combi Drill, you’ll use the “Hammer” setting to drill into the brick walls of your home to hang TVs, mirrors, and curtain poles.

2. The “Home Maintenance” Hero

A drill is often the secret to fixing things you didn’t know were fixable:

Removing Stripped Screws: If a screw head is ruined, you can use a “Screw Extractor” bit in your drill to bite into the metal and back it out.
Clearing Clogs: You can buy small “drain auger” attachments that fit into your drill chuck to help snake out a stubborn kitchen sink clog.
Sanding Tight Corners: For old wooden bannisters or chairs, a small “sanding drum” attachment on your drill saves your fingers from hours of manual rubbing.

3. Creative & Surprising Uses

This is where the drill becomes the ultimate household gadget. You can buy attachments for under £10 that transform the tool:

The Power Scrubber: Buy a “Drill Brush” set. It’s a stiff-bristled brush that clicks into your drill. It will make your shower grout or car alloys look brand new in minutes.
The Paint & Grout Mixer: If you’re decorating, don’t stir that 5L tin of paint with a stick. Use a mixing paddle attachment for a perfectly smooth finish.
Garden Auger: In the spring, I use a bulb-planting auger. It’s a long spiral bit that digs perfect holes for your tulips or daffodils in seconds.

4. Enda’s “Is it for Me?” Check

If you are wondering if you really need one, ask yourself if you plan on doing any of these this year:

Assembling more than two pieces of flat-pack furniture.
Hanging anything heavier than a small picture frame.
Fixing a fence panel after a UK winter storm.
Installing a new set of door handles or a “Ring” doorbell.

Enda’s Veteran Tip: If you only use it for ‘light’ tasks like the ones above, you don’t need a £200 professional kit. A solid homeowner model like the Bosch PSB 1800 is more than enough. It’s better to have a mid-range drill and a good set of bits than an expensive drill with cheap, blunt bits!

Most Common Uses

As mentioned the cordless drill has many uses. I have listed some common uses below in a table.

Use	Description
Drilling holes in various materials	Cordless drills are commonly used to drill holes in a variety of materials, including wood, metal, and masonry.The type of drill bit used will depend on the material being drilled.You can buy drill bits for wood, for metal, for plastic and for concrete. Concrete drill bits are better known as masonry drill bits.
Driving screws of different sizes and types	Cordless drills are also commonly used to drive screws of different sizes and types.The chuck on the drill can take various sizes of screwdriver bits or you can use a universal driver bit holder.You can then set the torque on the drill which adjusts the control and the amount of force applied to the screw.
Mixing paint and other DIY materials	Cordless drills can also be used to mix paint and other DIY materials.This is where you can buy a paddle bit which can then be attached to the drill chuck and that to creates a mixer.The drill can be used to mix the paint until it is smooth and even. Some users will also mix wallpaper paste with these.Some people will also use another paddle type to mix plaster.
Cutting materials with hole saw attachments	Cordless drills can also be used to drill holes in materials with hole saw attachments.These attachments are available in a variety of sizes, and they can be used to cut holes in wood, metal, and plastic.You can buy these as a single size, but they are more commonly bought in sets. They are useful for making holes for cables, pipes, conduit and recessed lighting and ceiling rose lighting.
Drilling pilot holes	Cordless drills are ideal for drilling pilot holes.These are small holes which can then be used to drill larger holes, or as guiding holes for larger screws or nails.Their main purpose is to prevent splitting the wood and ensures that screws or nails are driven straight.These can be bought separately or as a set of drill bits.
Attaching furniture hardware and assembling flat pack furniture	They can be used for attaching furniture hardware, such as hinges, knobs, and drawer pulls.The versatility of cordless drills allows for precise drilling and driving of screws into various furniture pieces.They are particularly useful for assembling flat pack furniture such as IKEA furniture, where longer screws are commonly used.
Installing shelving	Cordless drills are indispensable for installing shelves, as they allow for accurate drilling of mounting holes and driving of screws or bolts. The portability of cordless drills makes them convenient for this task, especially when working in tight spaces.
Hanging pictures and mirrors	Cordless drills are the best tool to use for hanging pictures and mirrors securely on walls.This is where the ability to control the torque and speed of the drill ensures that the wall anchors are not damaged, and that the picture or mirror is level.They can be used on stud walls but you will need a masonry drill bit for solid walls.
Putting up blinds and curtain rails	Cordless drills are a handy tool for installing blinds and putting up curtain poles.They allow for precise drilling of mounting holes and driving of screws or brackets.That helps ensure they are securely attached to the wall or ceiling.In most cases they will be used with a masonry drill bit and then a wall plug where the screw gets attached.
Removing stripped screws	Cordless drills can be used to remove stripped screws. Stripped screws are screws that lost their grip due to damage or wear.Usually these are older screws that have been over driven when first used, or have simply rusted over time.The impact feature of some cordless drills can help to break loose the screw, allowing for easy removal.You can also buy stripped screw removers which can then be used with your cordless drill.
Drilling holes for plumbing and electrical work	Cordless drills are often used in plumbing and electrical workThey are used for a variety of tasks such as to drill holes for pipes, wires, and cables.The compact size and manoeuvrability of cordless drills make them well-suited for these tasks.

My Final Thoughts

Cordless drills are pretty much an essential tool for both DIY enthusiasts and professional contractors in the UK. They are versatile, portable and easy to use. From drilling holes in various materials to driving screws of different sizes and types, cordless drills can quickly adapt to a wide range of tasks.

Whether you’re assembling furniture, tackling a bigger renovation, cordless drills allow you to work efficiently, safely, and with tremendous convenience.