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How to use a Makita 12V drill

Updated: 2026-10-23

Knowing how to use a Makita 12V drill means charging the right pack on a UK plug, setting the clutch before you pull the trigger, and stopping if you cannot see where the cables run. This page is for an owner of a DF333, DF033, DF032 or HP332. It does not rank them. The [Makita cordless drill 12V comparison](/hub/drilling-and-accessories/makita-cordless-drill-12v) is the buying table, and the [Makita 12V cordless drill buying guide](/hub/drilling-and-accessories/makita-cordless-drill-12v/sub/makita-cordless-drill-12v-buying-guide) sorts the box contents. We used Makita UK, the shared manual for the DF333D and DF033D, and UK safety guidance.

Knowing how to use a Makita 12V drill means charging the right pack on a UK plug, setting the clutch before you pull the trigger, and stopping if you cannot see where the cables run.

Our top picks

Makita Makita DF333DWAE

Best overall

Makita Makita DF333DWAE
7.1/10about £112.69
View offer
Makita Makita DF032DZ

Best value

Makita Makita DF032DZ
6.7/10about £98
View offer
Makita Makita HP332DSAJ

Alternative

Makita Makita HP332DSAJ
6.0/10about £144.73
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.Charge the CXT pack
  2. 2.Bit, clutch and drill mode
  3. 3.Gears, and hammer only on the HP332
  4. 4.Before you drill a wall

Charge the CXT pack

These tools take Makita 12 V Max CXT slide packs, rated 10.8 V to 12 V max. The DF333D and DF033D manual lists the BL1021B and the BL1041B, and the DC10WD charger. Put the charger on a hard, clear surface, not on a bed, a sofa or a pile of dust sheets. Leave it until the charge indication says it is done, then unplug it. Do not leave it charging while you sleep, and do not try an 18 V LXT pack on this tool. The Makita 12V vs 18V drill page is that mismatch. Slide the charged pack on until it locks. If the tool does not run, reseat the pack before you assume the drill is faulty.

Bit, clutch and drill mode

The DF333 and the HP332 bullets describe a 10 mm keyless chuck. Open the jaws, seat a round-shank bit, and tighten by hand until it does not slip. The DF033 and the DF032 are 1/4 inch hex, so a round twist bit will not lock. The best Makita 12V cordless drill page is where that head was chosen. A low number on the clutch slips sooner, which suits a small screw in soft timber or plasterboard. Keep the bit square to the work. On the DF032, a United Kingdom reviewer said the collar releases the opposite way to a one-handed pull. Look at the arrow before you assume it is stuck.
Makita Makita DF333DWAE

Testsieger

Makita Makita DF333DWAE
7.1/10about £112.69
View offer

Gears, and hammer only on the HP332

On the DF333 and DF033, use the low gear for screws and for starting a hole. Do not change gear while the chuck is still turning. The HP332 is the only tool here with a hammer mode. Makita UK puts masonry at 8 mm, steel at 10 mm and wood at 28 mm. Turn the selector to hammer only for that masonry bit, and back to drill or drive for timber and screws. Makita UK publishes 82 dB(A) sound pressure, 93 dB(A) sound power, and 12.8 m/s² when impact drilling. United Kingdom reviews call the tool extremely noisy. If an employer issues the drill, the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 and PUWER are the employer's duties.

Before you drill a wall

Look at both sides of the wall before you mark the hole. A socket on the other side of a stud, or a cable dropped to a switch, is the usual surprise. Stop and ask a competent person if the route is unclear. Switch the circuit off at the consumer unit only if you already know which breaker it is. Do not open the consumer unit, and do not move cables. If you strike a cable, stop, leave the bit where it is, keep your hands off bare copper, and get a competent person in. The same stop applies when the HP332 is not making progress in masonry, or when the pack or the charger is damaged. A curtain rail, a hinge screw, and one checked 8 mm plug are the jobs these drills are described for. A qualifying purchase through our links can earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.

Common questions

How long does a 2.0 Ah CXT pack take to charge?
Makita UK's DC10WD page states about 70 minutes for a 2.0 Ah pack and about 130 minutes for a 4.0 Ah pack. The kits in our listings that include batteries name 2.0 Ah packs, so plan on the shorter time unless you bought a larger pack. Times vary if the pack is warm or the charger is not the DC10WD. The plug needs to be BS 1363.
What does the number ring do, and when do I use drill mode?
The ring is the clutch. A lower number slips sooner, which helps a small screw in soft wood or plasterboard. A higher number drives further before it ratchets. Drill mode locks the clutch out for a hole. The DF333 and DF033 bullets say 20 settings plus drill mode. There is no universal number. Drive one screw, then move one click if the clutch gave up early.
When do I use gear 1 and gear 2?
Use the low gear for screws and for starting a hole. Use the high gear for a light hole once the bit is cutting, within the wood and steel figures on your model. The DF333 and DF033 bullets say two speeds. Do not change gear while the chuck is still spinning.
How is the HP332 hammer mode different?
It is a third position the drill drivers do not have. Use it with a masonry bit, up to the 8 mm masonry figure in the bullets and on Makita UK. Turn it off again for timber and for screws. It is not an SDS rotary hammer, and a hole that stops progressing is the moment to put the tool down.
What should I do before drilling a wall?
Look on both sides and run a detector. The HSE says to ask a competent person when the route is unclear. Do not open the consumer unit or do the electrical work yourself.
When is this no longer a DIY job?
When you may have hit a cable, when the work is inside the consumer unit, when the HP332 is not progressing in masonry, or when an employer has not assessed vibration. Those jobs belong to a competent person.

Related pages

How to use a cordless drill

Makita cordless drill 12V

Best Makita 12V cordless drill for your stated job

Makita 12V cordless drill buying guide: head and kit

Makita DF033 hex driver or the 10 mm keyless chuck

Makita 12V vs 18V cordless drill: CXT packs do not fit

Sources

Public sources from the research digest, last checked on 22 October 2026. Shelf prices and star lines are the amazon.co.uk figures in the product display for this comparison.

  1. Makita UK: DF333D drill driver (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  2. Makita UK: DF033D drill driver (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  3. Makita UK: DF032D drill driver (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  4. Makita UK: HP332D combi drill (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  5. Makita: DF032D instruction manual (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  6. Makita UK: BL1021B 12V 2.0Ah battery (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  7. HSE: Control of Vibration at Work Regulations (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  8. Screwfix: Makita DF333DWAE 12V CXT drill driver (retrieved 22 October 2026)