Operation As A Drill; Side Handle; Drilling In Wood - DeWalt DC980 Instruction Manual

sleeve counterclockwise
enough to accept the desired
accessory.
3. Insert the accessory about 3/4"
into the chuck and tighten secure-
ly by rotating the chuck sleeve
clockwise with one hand while
holding the tool with the other.
Your tool is equipped with an
automatic spindle lock mecha-
nism. This allows you to open and
close the chuck with one hand.
To release the accessory, repeat step 2
above.
WARNING: Do not attempt to tighten drill bits (or any other acces-
sory) by gripping the front part of the chuck and turning the tool on.
Damage to the chuck and personal injury may result. Always lock off
trigger switch when changing accessories.
Be sure to tighten chuck with one hand on the chuck sleeve and one
hand holding the tool for maximum tightness.

Side Handle

CAUTION: Always hold drill with both hands
and use side handle if so equipped. Side handle
clamps to the front of the gear case as shown and
can be rotated 360˚ to permit right- or
left-hand use. Be sure side handle is installed
tightly. If model is not equipped with side handle,
grip drill with one hand on the handle and one
hand on the battery pack.
NOTE: Side handle comes equipped on models DC987, DC988,
DC989.

Operation as a Drill

Turn the collar to the drill bit symbol. Install and tighten the desired drill
bit in the chuck. Select the desired speed/torque range using the gear
far
FIG. 4
shifter to match the speed and torque to the planned operation. Follow
these instructions for best results when drilling.
DRILLING
1. Use sharp drill bits only. For WOOD, use twist drill bits, spade bits,
power auger bits, or hole saws. For METAL, use high speed steel
twist drill bits or hole saws. For MASONRY, such as brick, cement,
cinder block, etc., use carbide-tipped bits.
2. Be sure the material to be drilled is anchored or clamped firmly. If
drilling thin material, use a "back-up" block to prevent damage to
the material.
3. Always apply pressure in a straight line with the bit. Use enough
pressure to keep the drill bit biting, but do not push hard enough
to stall the motor or deflect the bit.
4. Hold tool firmly to control the twisting action of the drill.
5. IF DRILL STALLS, it is usually because it is being overloaded.
RELEASE TRIGGER IMMEDIATELY, remove drill bit from work,
and determine cause of stalling. DO NOT CLICK TRIGGER OFF
AND ON IN AN ATTEMPT TO START A STALLED DRILL – THIS
CAN DAMAGE THE DRILL.
6. To minimize stalling as you are breaking through the material,
reduce pressure on drill and ease the bit through the last fraction-
al part of the hole.
7. Keep the motor running when pulling the bit back out of a drilled
hole. This will help prevent jamming.
8. With variable speed drills there is no need to center punch the point
to be drilled. Use a slow speed to start the hole and accelerate by
squeezing the trigger harder when the hole is deep enough to drill
without the bit skipping out. Operate at full on after starting the bit.

Drilling in Wood

Start drilling with slow speed and increase to full power while apply-
ing firm pressure to the tool. Holes in wood can be made with the
same twist drills used for metal. These bits may overheat unless
pulled out frequently to clear chips from the flutes. For larger holes,
use low speed wood bits. Work that is likely to splinter should be
backed up with a block of wood.
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