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How to use a combi drill

Updated: 2026-10-23

The DHP482 or the HP457 is on the bench, a screw is in the chuck, and the collar still shows a number from the last job. This is how to use a combi drill for a first hole or a first screw: set the collar for the job, set the gear only when the chuck has stopped, and fit the bit that matches the screw. Most first-evening damage is a wrong mode, not a weak battery. We used Makita UK sheets for the DHP482 and the HP457D, and Makita's speed-lever caution on the DHP453 manual, as read on 22 October 2026. A qualifying purchase through our links can earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Which listing is which sits on the [Makita cordless combi drill comparison](/hub/drilling-and-accessories/makita-cordless-combi-drill).

The DHP482 or the HP457 is on the bench, a screw is in the chuck, and the collar still shows a number from the last job.

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On this page
  1. 1.Three positions, not one dial
  2. 2.A test screw
  3. 3.A hole is not a screw
  4. 4.The lever on top

Three positions, not one dial

The collar in front of the chuck has three kinds of mark. The numbers are the clutch. They limit how hard the tool will twist a screw, then they click and the chuck stops. The drill symbol locks that clutch out, so the chuck keeps turning for a hole in wood or metal. The hammer symbol is for masonry bits in brick and block. A click in the middle of a hole usually means the collar is still on a number. Hammer is a separate position, not a high number. Keep hammer off for timber, metal, tile and plasterboard. A 5 on the collar is not 5 Nm, and the sheet's newton-metre rating is not the number you dial for a hinge.

A test screw

Screws belong on the low gear. Low gear is the slower speed and the higher twisting force. High gear is for holes once the clutch is on the drill symbol. A PZ2 bit suits most UK wood screws and a PH2 bit suits many plasterboard screws. A Pozidriv screw with a Phillips bit cams out. Slide the collar to a low number, drive one screw into scrap of the same timber, and watch the head. If it sits proud, move one or two clicks higher. If it sinks too far, come back down. Start low enough that the clutch clicks before the screw disappears. The 21 and 16 counts are on the buying guide.
Makita DK18015X2 hammer drill and driver

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A hole is not a screw

A hole in wood or metal uses the drill symbol, so the clutch cannot click and stop the bit halfway. Tighten the keyless chuck on the plain shank, not on the flutes. High gear is the usual choice for a small hole. Ease off as the bit breaks through. Masonry is the hammer symbol and a carbide-tipped masonry bit. If the hole is a plug in brick, read the combi drill into brick page before you stay on the trigger. A stalled bit in a lintel is not a cue to select a higher clutch number.

The lever on top

Makita's caution on the DHP453 manual is to set the speed-change lever fully into one position and not to move it while the tool is running. The chuck has to be stopped. If the lever will not move, run the chuck unloaded for a moment, release the trigger, and then slide the lever home. Take the battery off to change a bit. If the tool smells of burning, stop. One review of the DHP482 bundle reported that smell on a tool that also looked used. If you are about to drill an unscanned wall or a lintel that sparks on what feels like steel, stop and get a professional.

Common questions

What are the three positions on the collar?
The numbers are the clutch for screws. The drill symbol is for holes in wood and metal, with the clutch locked out. The hammer symbol is for a masonry bit in brick or block. On Makita UK the DHP482 has 21 numbers and the HP457D has 16. A number is only an order on that collar. It is not a torque in newton-metres you can copy from another drill.
Should screws be on gear 1 or gear 2?
Use the low gear, the slower of the two, for screws. It gives you the twist to drive the screw and the control to stop when the clutch clicks. High gear is for drilling once the collar is on the drill symbol. Set the lever fully, and only when the chuck has stopped. Makita's family manuals warn against moving that lever while the tool is running.
Why does the chuck click and stop?
The collar is still on a numbered clutch setting. The clutch is slipping on purpose so the screw does not keep turning. In a hole, that click means you have not moved the collar to the drill symbol. Turn it to the drill mark, with the battery off if your hand is near the chuck, and the bit will turn continuously. In hammer mode the numbered clutch is not the control you are using.
PZ2 or PH2 for a UK wood screw?
Most UK wood screws are Pozidriv, so a PZ2 bit is the usual match. Many plasterboard screws are Phillips, so a PH2 bit is the usual match. The gold bits named with the DK18015X2 are PH2. A bit that almost fits will cam out and round the head. Match the stamp on the screw, drive one test screw in scrap, and then raise or lower the clutch by a click or two.
Can I change gear while the trigger is pulled?
No. Slide the speed lever only when the chuck has stopped, and push it fully into low or high. If it sits between the two, run the chuck unloaded for a moment, release the trigger, and seat the lever. Doing this while the bit is in the work is how the gearbox gets damaged. The caution comes from Makita's own manuals for this family, including the DHP453 sheet.

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Makita cordless combi drill buying guide, battery first

Makita cordless combi drill into brick, when to stop

Sources

Makita UK sheets, the 2025 consumer warranty terms, and UK vibration, noise, and dust sources used for this comparison. Last reviewed on 22 October 2026.

  1. Makita UK, DHP482 (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  2. Makita UK, HP457D (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  3. Makita UK, DHP484 (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  4. Makita UK 2025 warranty terms (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  5. Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005, regulation 4 (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  6. HSE, hand-arm vibration responsibilities (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  7. Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, regulation 4 (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  8. HSE CN3, silica dust when drilling masonry (retrieved 22 October 2026)