How To Change A Drill Bit In Your Makita Drill (And What To Do If It’s Stuck)

Before actively changing out drill bits, you’ll need to have a general understanding of what the drill’s components are, like what the icons and numbers mean on your drill. If you purchase a hammer drill, the icons just tell you which mode you’re in — drill, screw, or hammer. The numbers are your torque settings. If you’re working with an impact driver, you won’t see these settings. Additionally, when you’re changing drill bits out, you’ll need to be comfortable with the forward/reverse lever, the trigger to start the drill, and the chuck. An impact drill works with a pull-out collar — we’ll explain the different ways to remove and place a bit in these devices further down.

It’s also important to note that there are different kinds of shanks for bits. There are hex, smooth, and triangular just to name a few. When handling a standard drill, the shank shape doesn’t matter as much — just make sure there’s enough grip on it to keep it secure. Impact drills require a different approach for different shank shapes, though.