Independent comparisons. We may earn from shop links. More info

How to use a mini cordless drill

Updated: October 2026

The battery icon is empty, and the first flat-pack screw is a cam you would rather not round off. This is how to use a mini cordless drill without stripping the head, stalling the motor, or charging a lithium pack on the bed. The steps cover a 12 V pistol with a keyless chuck and, where it differs, a pen with a collet. Buying checks sit on the [mini cordless drill comparison](/hub/screws-and-accessories/mini-cordless-drill). Prices are the 16 October 2026 capture. Peter F. did not test these in a workshop. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

The battery icon is empty, and the first flat-pack screw is a cam you would rather not round off.

Our top picks

FADAKWALT FADAKWALT 12V drill

Best overall

FADAKWALT FADAKWALT 12V drill
8.8/10about £24.99
View offer
FAHEFANA FAHEFANA 12V mini combi

Best value

FAHEFANA FAHEFANA 12V mini combi
8.8/10about £20.99
View offer
Uolor Uolor 3-speed drill pen

Rank 3

Uolor Uolor 3-speed drill pen
8.0/10about £26.99
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.Charge it where you can see it
  2. 2.Lock the bit before the trigger
  3. 3.Clutch for screws, drill mode for holes
  4. 4.When to stop

Charge it where you can see it

Charge the pack before you open the furniture. Electrical Safety First says to use the original charger, not overnight, and to stop if the pack swells or smells. Scottish Fire and Rescue says to charge while you are awake, off a bed and off an escape route. The FADAKWALT includes a charger. The FAHEFANA includes a fast charger. The others name a USB or Type-C lead. A DEKOPRO that will not charge is a return, not a harder press on the trigger.

Lock the bit before the trigger

Open the keyless chuck, seat the bit, and close it until a tug will not pull the bit out. Core Service describes that as anti-clockwise to open and clockwise to clamp. A pen uses a collet and often an Allen key, for bits of about 0.6 mm to 2.2 mm. Draymora reviews say the collet would not hold. On the DongCheng hex, push the bit flush. Pozidriv is on the cordless drill for flat-pack furniture page.
FADAKWALT FADAKWALT 12V drill

Testsieger

FADAKWALT FADAKWALT 12V drill
8.8/10about £24.99
View offer

Clutch for screws, drill mode for holes

Start on a low clutch number, not the drill symbol. The click stops the screw. The drill symbol keeps turning and splits chipboard on a cam. There is no universal number: the DEKOPRO lists 12 Nm and the MQFORU about 3 to 3.5 Nm. If the trigger is dead, the direction switch may be in the middle. FAHEFANA describes that centre lock. On a pen, start at the slowest speed.

When to stop

Stop when the motor stalls, the bit smokes, or the screw head shines. A 12 V pistol that labours in brick is the wrong category. A tool that will not charge is a fault. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives 30 days to reject it. If a battery is on fire, get out and call 999. Pistol versus pen is the mini cordless drill buying guide and the mini drill pen vs cordless drill page.

Common questions

How do I fit a bit in a keyless chuck?
Turn the chuck body so the jaws open, push the bit in until it seats, then turn the chuck body the other way until the bit will not pull out. Core Service describes that as anti-clockwise to open and clockwise to clamp. Twist the chuck, not the handle behind it. Tug the bit by hand before you pull the trigger. If it slips, open the jaws and reseat it. Tape is not a substitute for a closed chuck.
Why will the drill not start?
The usual cause on these pistols is the direction switch sitting in the middle, which locks the trigger. Slide it fully to forward or reverse. FAHEFANA describes that centre lock, and the same control appears on ordinary cordless drills. If the switch is fully forward and nothing happens, check that the pack is clicked in and that it has actually charged. A tool that never charges is a return, not a flat battery you can coax.
What number should the clutch be on for a screw?
Start at the lowest number and raise it one step after a test screw in scrap, or in a hidden hole. The click is the clutch doing its job. There is no single correct number across this set, because a DEKOPRO lists 12 Nm and an MQFORU lists about 3 to 3.5 Nm. DongCheng's lowest step still snapped a terminal screw, so very small electrical screws are safer finished by hand even on the lowest mark.
When do I switch to drill mode?
Switch to the drill symbol only when you are boring a hole, not when you are driving a screw. Drill mode disables the clutch, so the motor keeps turning after the screw is home and the head strips or the chipboard splits. A pilot hole in timber is drill mode with light pressure. A cam lock, a hinge screw and a flat-pack confirmat stay on a numbered clutch setting.
How should I charge a USB or Type-C drill?
Plug the lead into a proper UK mains source, charge while you are in the room, keep the pack on a hard surface away from bedding and escape routes, and unplug it when it is full. Scottish Fire and Rescue and Electrical Safety First both reject overnight charging and swollen packs. A USB lead is not a reason to use a damaged anonymous adaptor. If the pack smells, swells or will not charge, stop using it.
What if the pen bit will not lock?
Stop and reseat it with the Allen key or grub screw provided. The bits are about 0.6 mm to 2.2 mm on the pens that state a size, and a bit that spins in the collet will snap. UK reviews on the Draymora describe a collet that would not hold. If a fresh bit still will not lock, treat that as a fault and reject the tool rather than forcing the hole. Do not drill pearls or wood on a pen that cannot grip.

Related pages

When to stop on a stripped screw

Mini cordless drill

Best mini cordless drill for small household holes

Mini cordless drill buying guide for type and chuck

Cordless drill for flat-pack furniture and Pozidriv

Mini drill pen vs cordless drill for the hole size

Sources

Public UK sources on drill safety, product safety, the 30-day right to reject, work equipment and lithium-ion charging. Listing prices and star counts are from the amazon.co.uk extracts kept for this comparison on 16 October 2026. Prices move.

  1. Electrical Safety First, drills (retrieved 16 October 2026)
  2. BSI, BS EN 62841-2-1:2018+A12:2022 (retrieved 16 October 2026)
  3. GOV.UK, General Product Safety Regulations 2005 (retrieved 16 October 2026)
  4. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 22 (retrieved 16 October 2026)
  5. HSE, Providing and using work equipment safely (INDG291) (retrieved 16 October 2026)
  6. HSE, Electrical systems on construction sites (retrieved 16 October 2026)
  7. Scottish Fire and Rescue, lithium-ion batteries (retrieved 16 October 2026)
  8. amazon.co.uk listings for the ASINs in this set (retrieved 16 October 2026)