So you got (or are getting) a new workout this holiday season. Maybe it's your first cordless drill, or a higher-grade drill than your dad's old Black & Decker drill that's been around for 30 years. When you carefully remove it from its packaging and silently promise that you will take good care of it, you start to see its capabilities. Many will have multiple speed settings. It's easy to understand. Most high-end drills also have this puzzling collar, which has 20 or more settings for you to screw in. These are your drill clutch settings. Let's take a look at what this feature means and how to use it better.
Table of contents
- How to Use Your Rig's Clutch Settings: What Does the Clutch Do?
- Why do I need a rig clutch?
- How to adjust the clutch driving the fastener?
- Can I just keep one setting?
- Photos of various rig clutch settings and results
How to Use Your Rig's Clutch Settings: What Does the Clutch Do?
Most of us are familiar with how clutches work in our cars. It engages or disengages the drivetrain. Your rig's clutch settings work in a very similar fashion. When you pull the trigger, the drill typically applies all of its available torque (drive force) to the screw. You are telling the drill how much torque to apply before disconnecting the motor.
Confused about torque? There are two basic ways to evaluate the power of a power drill: speed and torque. Most people understand velocity to be the speed at which the drill spins the drill. Torque is how much muscle it can exert for that speed. A drive screw needs speed, but while it needs braking force against friction, torque is what keeps it going.
Why do I need a rig clutch?
Using a drill's clutch setting allows you to control the depth of the fastener you drill. This will work great for indoor work. You'll want to use a low clutch setting when driving the screw into the drywall so you don't go all the way through it. Decorative or delicate hardware can be installed so that they are not damaged by overloading.
Woodworkers who need to drive small screws will find clutches very attractive, if they are not hand-tightened. I used a medium-high setting when helping to install the deck. I want the screws to be slightly below the surface of the wood. Once I dialed in the clutch settings to get the results I wanted, it was easy to consistently drive to the correct depth.
Clutches serve a different purpose when driving screws into really hard materials like pressure-treated lumber and hardwood. In this setup, it helps prevent damage to the screw heads called camouts. Camout is when the drill rotates on the head and rounds the drill or screw head, making it very difficult to drive the screw further or to remove it.
Sometimes you don't need to adjust the drill clutch setting from full. Anytime you are drilling with a drill, Forstner bit, or hole saw, the clutch setting should be on the highest setting. Some drills will use the drill icon, while others will use the maximum number on the high torque end.
How to adjust the clutch driving the fastener?
The adjustment itself is very easy. Twist the collar towards the lower number to reduce torque. Go to higher numbers for more. If you're not used to working with the materials you need to work with, it's best to start small and work your way up.
Drywall and small diameter screws can be started on the lowest setting. To drill holes in wood with larger diameter/length screws, you start in the middle. If you drive lag bolts, you probably want to start with the high end. It may be necessary to adjust up or down one setting at a time before you actually dial it in.
The question you really need to start with is "Will I damage the material/hardware if I drive too far?" If the answer is "yes", then start with a lower clutch setting than you think you need and work your way up. You may have to drive the first few screws more than once to get it right, but you can avoid some frustration and the end result will still look great!
Can I just keep one setting?
Most people who don't need or understand how a power drill clutch works just leave it on the highest torque setting. If you're not worried about damage to the material you're fastening or the fastener itself, go for it. If you need to make sure your finished product is neat and clean, you'll find the drill clutch setting very useful!
On the other hand, some people don't realize their clutch isn't fully up and mistakenly think the drill doesn't have enough power or is broken when they hear the click indicating the drive is disengaging.
It is important to note that drill clutch settings are not standardized. Setting 6 on a Ridgid 12V is not the same as the other 12V, setting 10 on the Milwaukee 18V is not the same as the other 18V. In addition to readjusting the clutch when changing materials and screws, you'll also need to make adjustments when changing bits.
Photos of various rig clutch settings and results
With the clutch set to 1, the 2-1/2" #8 screw has little access to pressure-treated wood.
A setting of 6 makes it a little darker.
13 allowed me to drive it flush.
14 gave me the torque needed to sink the screw into the water. If I wanted to always drive the screw flush in this material, I'd set the clutch at 13.
Hope this helps explain drill clutch settings and how to set them for best results. For the latest news, reviews, and previews, be sure to follow Pro Tool Reviews on Twitter and Instagram!