There’s no denying that power tools have made multiple parts of our lives easier and simpler. Makita impact drills, in particular, can take on a variety of tasks, from driving in bolts and screws to wood or walls to drilling holes. However, sometimes it may not work as expected or something happens that causes malfunctions to happen.
One such problem that commonly occurs is when the drill bit gets stuck in the drill. This can happen for a few reasons. You may have tightened the chuck so much that it causes your hand to slip when you are trying to grip it and you cannot gain enough traction to properly grip and remove the bit. Or maybe the bit has broken off into the drill. If you find yourself in this predicament, do not worry. Read on to find out how to remove it without damaging your drill.
How Do I Remove a Stuck Bit?
If your bit has not broken but is simply tightly stuck in the drill and you are having a hard time getting a good grip on the chuck, then take the following steps to get it out.
- Make sure the drill is fully charged. This is important because you want to make sure the drill does not die out in the middle of the extraction.
- Next, adjust the torque to the highest setting, then put the drill in reverse. The torque is what is used to produce the force which turns the bit.
- Using a pair of vise grips, a pair of pliers, or even a rubber lid opener, grip the chuck.
- Turn the drill on. The bit should pop out and you are good to go.
How Do I Remove a Broken Bit?
You may have used too much force for a particular job or awkwardly hit the drill bit, and as a result, the bit may have broken, with part of it still stuck in the drill. If this happens, you can remove it with the following tools: two picks or small screwdrivers, a magnet, and a tray to catch any pieces. Once you have the tools you need, take the following steps to remove the broken bit.
First, lay the Makita drill flat on its back, with the drill bit facing upwards and accessible. Locate, the snap ring. This is the small ring that surrounds the drill bit. Gently wedge your two small picks or screwdrivers under the snap ring, and gently unscrew it. If you are not used to taking apart a drill, use your finger to hold the snap ring in place, so it doesn’t go flying and get lost if you apply more pressure than you intended.
Once you have removed the snap ring, place it in the tray so it doesn’t get lost. Next, locate the two ball bearings, located at the bottom of the chuck. These bearings will look like small metal balls. Once you have removed the snap ring, the ball bearings may come out on their own. If they don’t, take your picks and gently pull them out, keeping the magnet and/or tray nearby to catch them so they do not get lost.
The ball bearings are the pieces that hold the bit in place. Once they are removed, tip the drill over and gently shake it and the bit should come out. However, if it does not you can take the picks, place them in the holes left by the bearings, and gently push the bit out. Reassemble the drill in the reverse order that you disassembled it, adding a new bit if needed.
Conclusion
Impact drills can be incredibly helpful in everyday chores, from driving in nails, screws, or mounts into a wall to drilling holes. Sometimes, the drill bit can get stuck. This can happen for a variety of reasons. The two most common ones are if you have tightened the chuck so much that you end up not being able to get a good grip on it to remove the bit. Another reason can be that the drill bit breaks while inside the drill.
If you are just having a hard time getting traction, then you can remove the drill bit by making sure the drill is fully charged, putting the torque at the highest setting, the drill in reverse, and using pliers, a vice grip, or a rubber lid opener to hold the chuck until the bit pops out. If the drill bit has broken off, use a couple of picks/screwdrivers, a magnet, and a tray to remove the snap ring, and the ball bearings and push the bit out, before reassembling.