Introduction: 10 Cool Things to Do With Your Drill

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About: I am a domestic engineer, aka. a stay at home Mom. A former science geek, scenic carpenter, and quilter.

I love my drill, and I find that I use it everyday.

Here are 10 cool things you can do with it other than screw screws and drill holes.

Step 1: Electric Mixer

With some recipes, mixing by hand just won't cut it. (Like my yummy Mile High Chocolate Cream Pie.)If you don't have an electric mixer, here is a easy, and fun alternative.

Open the chuck, put the end of a fork in, tighten the chuck, and mix mix mix.


Step 2: Spin Art

This one is lots of fun. I love doing spin art. I recently had my kids make some spin art with an old turntable, but it just wasn't fast enough. The drill is the answer.

you need:
paper plates
markers, crayons, etc.
A bolt and washer

Take a few plates (3 or so) and make a stack. Poke a hold through the stack, and put your bolt through. Put the nut on the other end and hand tighten. Put the bolt into the chuck, and spin.


Step 3: Make Magic Wands

There is a great Magic Wand Instructable

And for step six, you apply glue to decorate. This can be done by hand, but I find it way easier if you use the drill.

Jam one end of the wand onto your screw bit. Poke a screw through a box at the same height, to support the other end of the wand.

Step 4: Plant Spring Bulbs

I love crocuses. I planted them scattered in my front lawn. As long as the squirrels don't get them all, they should be very pretty this spring. My front yard is very compacted.It's almost impossible to dig a hole.

I attached an auger bit to my drill. (We have one that came with our termite poison kit, about 1.5" in diameter)
In less than an hour, I planted 1000 bulbs. Super easy!


Just drill a hole in the ground. I found it best to pull up, while drilling down, gets all the dirt out of the hole. Drill down a few inches, repeat, put the bulbs in all the holes, and cover them up. Done!

Step 5: Build Ikea Furniture

The Hex Wrench...How you're supposed to furnish a house with this one tool, I don't know, but Ikea thinks it's possible.
It can be so frustrating to use this tiny little wrench. Here's a trick. Turn your standard screw bit around, and put it in the chuck backwards. Look familiar? It's the size of the Ikea Hex Wrench. Hooray!!!

Step 6: Install the X-mas Tree

I love x-mas trees, but i HATE crawling under the tree to tighten all the bolts in the stand. Getting all covered with pine needles and sap, while your hands cramp up. It always seems to take forever.
Here's a trick. Put an eye hook in your drill. Hook the hook onto the bolt of the tree stand, and turn. Easy, and much, much faster.

Step 7: Spin Some Yarn.

Okay MacGyver,

You need some string, all you have is a screwgun, a hook, and a stuffed animal. What do you do?

Put the hook into the chuck. Take the stuffing out of the stuffed animal, and twist it in your hand to form some string. Tie it to the hook. Now, gently pull the fibers away, while turning the screw gun.

And ta da, you have yarn. It takes some practice, but it's fun, and the yarn is pretty strong. This is a lot more fun than using a drop spindle, and a nice way to show kids how yarn/string is made from fibers.


Step 8: Make Rope.

There is this really neat tool you attatch to your drill to make rope. It's called the Bradshaw Cord Winder. You can see it in action here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOpomKQe5Oc
But holly cow, is it expensive! (over 100 bucks)

Here is a easy way to make some rope with some grocery bags. First cut the bags into strips. Tie one end to a hook on the drill. Then, twist! Tie a knot on the end when finished.


Step 9: Entertain the Cats

This was sort of a no brainer, after I attempted to make rope, and the cats kept attacking me.
Just tie some rope/string/yarn to a hook on the drill.
The cats go crazy for it!



Step 10: Clean Up the Yarn

Now that your cats have developed a taste for yarn, you'll need to clean up the mess.
Insert a pencil into the drill. Tie on one end of the yarn, and twist. All of you scattered yarn will be wound up on a nice neat spool, and fast.


Well, that's all. I hope you find this useful, and have some fun. Post any other ideas in the comments. I'm excited to see them!

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