The drill bit that snapped in a ceiling joist taught me to check the speed setting

I was at the tool library last Saturday borrowing their big hammer drill to hang some shelving in my garage, and halfway through the third hole the bit just sheared off inside the wood. Had to spend 20 minutes digging it out with pliers and a magnet, now I always double check I'm not running on max torque for regular drilling jobs. Has anyone else had bits break on them from the library tools?

2 comments

2 Comments

leo_lopez14d ago

Left handed drill bit is the right call but most tool libraries don't carry specialty stuff like that. The real issue is those libraries get donated a lot of junk that should have been thrown out years ago, not passed on to strangers. Worn out bits snap way easier than people realize, especially if the previous user ran them too hot. Next time bring your own fresh bit even if you rent the drill itself, because that one part is cheap and saves you the headache. Learned that the hard way myself after pulling a broken bit out of a stud with vise grips and a lot of swearing.

anthony_jackson14d ago

Makes total sense about the library tools being a bit unpredictable. The speed setting thing is huge, but I've also noticed that bits from a tool library can be pretty worn down already from other people using them. So even if you get the speed right, a dull or slightly bent bit is just waiting to snap on you. The pliers and magnet trick is smart, but next time you could try a left-handed drill bit if the library has one. Those things can actually back the broken piece out on their own without all the digging. Plus you avoid looking like you're performing emergency dental surgery on your ceiling joist (which is a bonus).