I tried using my Dewalt drill to create a hole in some thin metal on my truck's tailgate, and it seems like the motor burned out on me. I was using a regular drill bit instead of a metal bit, so I'm wondering if I really messed things up or if this was just bad luck with the drill. It's not heavily used—maybe once a month or so—and it's not a brushless model. Now that it's done for, I'm just trying to figure out if I made a user error or if something else went wrong.
3 Answers
It really could be that your drill was just a dud. It sounds like you were a bit cautious, but if you only made a divet before the motor died, it might not have been entirely your fault. Just look at the bright side: now you can find more projects to tackle, like your deck! Better it happened now than later when you'll need it for something more critical.
Also, don’t forget to use cutting oil when drilling into metals, as it helps keep things cool and might prevent damage. And if you’re drilling ferrous metals, try placing a magnet on the surface to catch the metal shavings!
When you drill metal, it’s best to use a sharp, cobalt-tipped bit and go slow to avoid overheating the bit. If you push too fast, it can dull the bit quickly and create extra friction which might stress the drill. Usually, my brushless drills handle drilling through thin metal without any issues, and you shouldn't have to worry too much about them dying from that type of load.