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How to use a cordless combi drill

Updated: 22 October 2026

The box is open, the battery is on the bench, and the first job is a hinge screw or a small hole in a shelf. How to use a cordless combi drill comes down to three collars: mode, gear and the numbered clutch. Set the mode for the job, change gear only when the chuck is still, and take the battery off before you change the bit. Which model to buy stays on the [brushless cordless combi drill comparison](/hub/drilling-and-accessories/brushless-cordless-combi-drill). This was written on 20 October 2026 from Gtech's beginner notes, BuildWiz, a Bosch GSB 120-LI operation page, and the review complaints that repeat on these amazon.co.uk listings. We did not film a procedure. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

The box is open, the battery is on the bench, and the first job is a hinge screw or a small hole in a shelf. How to use a cordless combi drill comes down to three collars: mode, gear and the numbered clutch.

Our top picks

WORX WORX WX355.1 20V brushless combi, 55 Nm, 2.0Ah

Best overall

WORX WORX WX355.1 20V brushless combi, 55 Nm, 2.0Ah
9.2/10about £89.00
View offer
LEEIKOO LEEIKOO 21V brushless hammer drill, two 2.0Ah batteries

Best value

LEEIKOO LEEIKOO 21V brushless hammer drill, two 2.0Ah batteries
8.6/10about £32.20
View offer
DCA DCA 20V brushless hammer drill, two 2.0Ah, 13 mm chuck

Alternative

DCA DCA 20V brushless hammer drill, two 2.0Ah, 13 mm chuck
7.5/10about £53.54
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.Mode, gear and the numbered collar
  2. 2.Gear and the direction switch
  3. 3.A first hole in five checks
  4. 4.When the tool is telling you to stop

Mode, gear and the numbered collar

The numbers around the chuck are torque settings, not speeds. Gtech's guide says start low for screws, and raise the number if the clutch clicks before the screw is home. A low number keeps a chipboard hinge from stripping. A high number can pull a long screw too deep. If the screw sinks past the surface, drop two numbers. Drill mode bypasses the clutch. Use it for a hole in timber or metal, with a twist bit, not for a screw you want to stop at the surface. Hammer mode is for a carbide masonry bit in suitable masonry, not for timber, metal, or hard concrete. The brick stop is on combi drill for brick.

Gear and the direction switch

Gear is the sliding switch, usually marked 1 and 2. Low gear turns slower and suits screws and larger bits. High gear turns faster and suits small bits in timber. The Bosch GSB 120-LI notes, for a different 12 V combi, say to move the direction switch and the gear only when the chuck has stopped. Changing gear while the chuck is still spinning is how the selector gets forced. Reverse is for backing a screw out, not for drilling.
WORX WORX WX355.1 20V brushless combi, 55 Nm, 2.0Ah

Testsieger

WORX WORX WX355.1 20V brushless combi, 55 Nm, 2.0Ah
9.2/10about £89.00
View offer

A first hole in five checks

Take the battery off before the bit goes in. Open the keyless chuck by hand, seat the bit straight, and tighten until a tug does not pull it out. Do not use pliers on the sleeve. Fit the pack only if the rail matches. Low gear for a screw or a large bit, high gear for a small pilot. Numbered collar for a screw, the drill symbol for timber, hammer only with a masonry bit in ordinary brick. Start slowly so the tip does not skate. Wear eye protection, and clear dust so you can see whether the hole is moving.

When the tool is telling you to stop

A click on a numbered setting is the clutch. Raise the number if the screw is still proud. Do not use hammer to finish a screw. Stop and take the pack off if the motor smokes or the chuck will not turn. One DCA review describes a seized chuck. One INMOZATA review says the drill stopped after about 10 minutes. Several WORX Nitro reviews describe a blinking light after light use. The Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 22, gives 30 days to reject faulty goods, from the day after delivery. On the Durofix G12, reviews say the battery latch is stiff. Pliers can crack the rail. If the hole is a joist or a lintel, stop.

Common questions

What do the numbers on a combi drill mean?
They are clutch settings for screws, not speed settings. A low number clicks sooner, so a small screw in chipboard is less likely to strip. Start low and raise it if the screw stops short. The drill symbol, and hammer on these combis, usually bypass that clutch. There is no single number for every screw.
Which mode for a screw, a wood hole, and a brick plug?
Use a numbered clutch setting for the screw. Use the drill symbol and a twist bit for timber. Use hammer only with a carbide masonry bit, and only in ordinary brick or lightweight block. Do not use hammer on timber. Hard concrete is not this mode's job.
Which gear for large bits?
Use low gear for large bits and for driving screws. Use high gear for small pilots in timber. Move the gear switch only when the chuck has stopped. The Bosch GSB 120-LI notes say the same, on a different drill. Forcing the selector while the chuck spins can damage it.
How do I change a bit safely?
Take the battery off first. Open the keyless chuck by hand, seat the bit straight, and tighten until a tug does not pull it out. Keep your finger off the trigger while the jaws are open. If the chuck has seized, as one DCA review described, use the refund route rather than a hammer on the sleeve.
Why does the chuck click and stop?
On a numbered setting, the click is the clutch slipping at the torque you set. That is normal. If the screw is not home, raise the number slightly. If it clicks in drill mode, the collar is probably still on a number. Hammer mode is not the cure for a slipping screw.
What if the battery will not release?
Press the latch fully and slide the pack straight off the rail. On the Durofix G12, several reviews say that latch is stiff, and one person used pliers. Pliers can damage the lugs. If a normal press will not free a pack that clicked on, treat the body as faulty.
When do I stop and use the refund route?
Stop if the motor smokes, the chuck seizes, the tool dies after a few minutes, or the charger damages a socket. The Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 22, gives 30 days to reject faulty goods, counted from the day after delivery. A warranty sentence on the DCA or the Nitro does not replace those 30 days.

Related pages

Brushless cordless combi drill buying guide

Best brushless cordless combi drill

Brushless cordless combi drill

Combi drill for brick plugs and the point you stop

Brushless vs brushed cordless drill for occasional DIY

Sources

Public UK sources from the research digest, last checked on 19 October 2026. Shelf prices and star lines are the amazon.co.uk figures checked for this comparison.

  1. Which?: how to buy the best cordless drill (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  2. The Guardian: best drills, 20 February 2026 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  3. HSE: hand-arm vibration (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  4. Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005, regulation 4 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  5. HSE INDG271: buying new machinery (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  6. GOV.UK: UKCA and CE marking (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  7. BSI: BS EN 62841-2-1:2018+A12:2022 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  8. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 22 (retrieved 19 October 2026)