If you are planning on drilling some holes or inserting some fasteners, then your trusty power drill is the tool of choice. With that being said, power drills don’t always work perfectly, and they do sometimes suffer from various issues.
Today, we want to talk about the issue of your drill stopping while you are trying to use it. Specifically, we’re going to provide you with a list of reasons that your drill keeps stopping, as well as solutions to those problems.
1. The Battery Is Dying or Dead
If you have a battery-operated drill, one of the most obvious reasons that it might be stopping during use is because the battery is dying or dead. Maybe the issue is that you just haven’t charged the battery in a while. If this is the case, fully charge the battery and try again.
However, it could also be the case that the battery is just old and damaged, and no longer able to hold a charge. If this is the case, then you will need to replace the battery altogether. This is the most common cause of this issue, and the solution is, of course, quite simple.
2. The Power Cord Has Issues
If you have a corded power drill that keeps stopping during use, it might be that there are issues with the power cord. Therefore, you should inspect all parts of the power cord to make sure that it is still in good condition.
If there is any kind of damage to the power cord, especially to the wires inside of the casing, then you will most likely need to replace the cord. Generally speaking, replacing a power cord on a power tool is a job best left to professionals who know their electronics. It could also be that the power cord is just a bit loose.
3. The Chuck Is Loose Around the Bit
Another common reason why your drill might keep stopping during use is that the chuck around the bit is loose. The chuck is the part of the power drill that holds your drill bit in place. If this chuck is loose or damaged, then it will spin around your drill bit.
Yes, the chuck may still spin, but the drill bit will stand in place. If this is the case, it might just be that you haven’t tightened the chuck properly around the drill bit, so try tightening it more. If this is not possible, then your chuck may be damaged, in which case it will need to be repaired, and if repairs are not possible, then you will need to replace the drill altogether.
4. The Transmission or Gears Are Damaged
If your drill keeps stopping during use, it might be the case that the transmission or the gears on the inside are damaged. If the transmission, gears, or any of the other internal components are damaged, you might hear the drill making a bunch of noise, but your drill bit or the chuck aren’t spinning.
Therefore, you want to open the drill up and inspect all of the components to see that they are in good condition. If you notice that something is broken, you will likely need to bring it to a professional for repairs or replacement parts. If the damage is extensive, it makes more sense to actually replace the drill as a whole.
5. You Are Applying Too Much Pressure
Another common cause of a drill stopping during use is because you are applying too much pressure to it. Yes, you do need to apply a bit of pressure for forward motion, but if you apply too much pressure, you might actually cause the drill bit and the rest of the drill to stall.
Applying too much pressure will cause the drill bit to dig into the material being drilled into, while not allowing the motor enough space to produce that initial force it requires to start the rotation. Therefore, if you think that this might be the cause, the obvious solution is to not apply quite so much pressure.
6. Your Drill Doesn’t Have Enough Power
If you have an old power drill or you are trying to drill through extremely hard and dense materials, it could just be the case that your drill doesn’t have enough power.
Now, if you are using the right type of drill, this usually shouldn’t be an issue. That said, if you have a very old drill that has been put through a lot of use, it might just not have enough power left for the job. If this is the case, your only solution is going to be to replace the drill as a whole.
7. You Are Using the Wrong Drill Bit
Another very common cause of your drill stopping during use is that you are using the wrong kind of drill bit for the job. Remember, there are many different types of drill bits designed for various materials. For instance, if you are using a drill bit designed for wood on metal, the drill bit in question might not have the right qualities to drill through metal.
Sure, you might get a little way into the metal, but your drill bit will then stall. Therefore, the simplest solution to this problem is to ensure that you are using the right kind of drill bit for the material and job at hand. Using the wrong type of drill bit is one of the most common causes of many problems related to using power drills.
8. You Are Using the Wrong Type of Drill
Other than using the wrong type of drill bit for the job, you might also be using the wrong type of drill in general. In other words, you might be trying to use a drill designed for wood and plastic on materials such as concrete and stone. Remember folks, things like masonry require particular types of drills, either concrete drills, hammer drills, or other types of specialized tools. At the end of the day, different jobs require different tools.
9. A Loose Trigger
If your drill keeps stopping during use, it could also be that the trigger is a bit loose or damaged. Therefore, when you press on the trigger, it might not always activate the drill, or your drill might stop during use. Therefore, inspect the trigger to see if anything is damaged, and if it is damaged, make replacements or repairs as needed.
Summary
As you can see, there are some pretty obvious reasons as to why your drill might stop while you are using it, as well as some simple solutions. It could just be the case that you’re using the wrong kind of drill or drill bit for the job at hand. If your drill is just damaged, you’ll need to repair it, or you might just need to replace it altogether.