How to use a Worx combi drill: clutch, chuck, charge
Updated: October 2026
The first screw clicks out early, or the chuck lets the bit go, and the drill has only just come out of the box. How to use a Worx combi drill is three collar positions, a chuck that is actually tight, and a full charge before you judge the tool. This page covers the combis in this amazon.co.uk set: the WX370 family, the WX355.1, the WX352, and the WX354. The Products Compared editorial team used the listings and UK notes on 15 October 2026. We did not run a lab test. A qualifying purchase can earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Model choice sits on the [Worx cordless drill comparison](/hub/drilling-and-accessories/worx-cordless-drill).
The first screw clicks out early, or the chuck lets the bit go, and the drill has only just come out of the box.
The first screw clicks out early, or the chuck lets the bit go, and the drill has only just come out of the box. How to use a Worx combi drill is three collar positions, a chuck that is actually tight, and a full charge before you judge the tool. This page covers the combis in this amazon.co.uk set: the WX370 family, the WX355.1, the WX352, and the WX354. The Products Compared editorial team used the listings and UK notes on 15 October 2026. We did not run a lab test. A qualifying purchase can earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Model choice sits on the Worx cordless drill comparison.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Type | Chuck | Hammer or chisel | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  WORX WORX WX355.1 brushless combi | Brushless combi | 13 mm metal | Hammer mode | 8.2 | about £89.00 | View offer |
| Alternative |  WORX WORX WX352 brushless kit | Brushless combi | 13 mm | Hammer mode | 7.6 | about £110.98 | View offer |
 WORX WORX WX370.1 combi kit | Combi hammer | 13 mm keyless | Hammer mode | 8.4 | about £76.94 | View offer |
On this page
The three positions
The collar has a numbered clutch, a drill position, and a hammer position. Listings in this set say 20+1+1, 22+1+1, or 18+1+1. The numbers are the clutch. The two extras are drill and hammer, not two more clutch steps. On a number, the clutch clicks and stops driving. In the drill position the clutch is bypassed. Hammer adds blows for a masonry bit in brick or block.
Turn the collar only when the chuck has stopped. The Worx notes used here do not print that rule, so treat it as practice. Hammer is not extra power for screws. A screw in hammer mode chews the head. BuildWiz calls the combi hammer a piston. Worx's chooser calls it a cam. Wear eye protection. Chisel steps are on the Worx combi drill vs SDS page.
Driving a screw
Start on a low clutch number, with the right bit seated. On a small chipboard screw the clutch should click before the head pulls through. If it clicks while the screw is still proud, move up one or two numbers, and stop once the head sits flush. A pilot hole in hardwood lets you stay lower.
Low gear is the better place for driving. High gear is for holes. Do not change gear while the chuck is spinning. In reverse the tool will not drill. Reverse is for backing a screw out.
Drilling wood, metal, and brick
Wood and metal use the drill position. Several WX370-class listings state 40 mm in wood and 13 mm in metal. Those are stated capacities, not a first-hole target. Metal wants a slower speed, a drop of oil, and a punch mark. Reverse still will not cut.
Hammer mode is for a masonry bit in brick or block. A tile bit, no hammer, and light pressure keep the glaze intact. On the WX370.1 the bullets say masonry 10 mm, while a capacity line and the manual's 50 Nm column say 13 mm. A long hammer run also empties a 2.0 Ah pack. Concrete for hours, a lintel, or a chase is not a harder lean on this combi. The 10 mm and 13 mm sources are set out in the Worx cordless drill buying guide.
When the chuck, the pack, or the drill fails
Take the battery off before you fight a slipping chuck. Clear dust, seat the bit, and turn the sleeve until it clicks. Core Service, a UK repair desk, uses that order and treats a bit that still will not clamp as a worn chuck for support. A WX352.9 review says the chuck loosens if it rubs the work, so keep the sleeve clear.
Stop if a pack swells or the charger overheats, and do not open the cell. If the drill dies after a few normal jobs, ask Amazon for a repair or replacement. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have their own advice pages. This is not legal advice. A later model choice sits on the best Worx cordless drill page.
Common questions
Which collar position is for screws, holes, and brick?
Screws use the numbered clutch. Wood and metal use the drill position, which bypasses the clutch. Brick uses hammer mode with a masonry bit. The pattern on these listings is 20+1+1, 22+1+1, or 18+1+1. The two extras are drill and hammer. Move the collar only after the chuck has stopped.
What do the numbers on a 20+1+1 clutch do?
The numbers are rising clutch settings. A low number slips sooner and protects a small chipboard screw. A higher number drives further before it clicks. The +1+1 are the drill position and the hammer position, not extra clutch steps. Start low, and raise the number only if the clutch clicks too early.
Why does the clutch click before the screw is home?
The clutch is stopping at the number you set. Leave the chuck still and move up one or two numbers. If the head is about to pull through and it has not clicked, you are already too high. A pilot hole lets you stay lower. The click alone is not a failed gearbox.
Can you use hammer mode on wood or metal?
Use hammer mode for a masonry bit in brick or block. Wood, metal, and tiles stay in drill mode with the matching bit. Hammer on a wood screw damages the head. Hammer on a tile cracks the glaze. Hours of concrete are an SDS decision, not a reason to lean harder on this combi.
How do you stop a keyless chuck letting go?
Battery off, dust out of the jaws, bit fully in, sleeve turned until it ratchets. A WX352.9 review says the chuck loosens if the sleeve rubs the work, so keep it clear. A bit that still will not clamp is a worn chuck and a support issue. An intermittent chuck, as in one WX354 review, belongs with the seller.
The battery was flat out of the box. Is it broken?
Charge it fully before you decide. Reviewers found packs flat on arrival and tried the drill first. A finished charge and one short screw is the check. A pack that stays dead, as in one WX352 report, goes to the seller. If it swells, or the charger overheats, stop and do not open the cell.
The drill died after a few jobs. What can you ask for?
Ask the seller for a repair or a replacement under Amazon's faulty-goods route. After six months you may have to show the fault was there at delivery. Citizens Advice puts wear, accident, and misuse outside those rights. Register any extra warranty year while you are inside the window. This is not legal advice, and the outcome is not promised here.
Related pages
Sources
Public UK sources and amazon.co.uk listings, checked on 15 October 2026.
- Worx UK PowerShare (retrieved 15 October 2026)
- Worx UK WX370.9 bare 50 Nm combi (retrieved 15 October 2026)
- Worx UK WX354 Slammer (retrieved 15 October 2026)
- Worx UK WX381.9 rotary hammer (retrieved 15 October 2026)
- Worx UK WX391 rotary hammer (retrieved 15 October 2026)
- HSE hand-arm vibration responsibilities (retrieved 15 October 2026)
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 9 (retrieved 15 October 2026)
- amazon.co.uk WORX WX370.1 listing (retrieved 15 October 2026)