Drill bit coming loose on a basic rotary/impact/hammer drill

Question

I just received this 21V 350 in-lb impact drill https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B088JYH44C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The 350 in-lb torque rating seemed kinda decent so honestly I expected better results than I am getting. I am wondering is it

• "user error" (my first impact drill here)
• expected limitations of this modest tool?
• different bit extender needed

The tests I did:

With a two inch thick oak board:

• drive a screw as deep as I can
• drill out a 3/8 inch hole with a spade bit

In both cases they just gave up at one inch depth. Bits would come loose and wobble, and no further progress could be made.

As far as tightening/locking the bit: I watched a few youtube's and they talked about higher end dewalt/milwaukee etc that have locking mechanisms. This tool does not have a similar mechanism. Even so the instructions mention

The bit is secure when the chuck makes a ratcheting sound and the sleeve can not be rotated any further".

I did not hear any ratcheting sound even though the fit is tight (before drilling).

Based on a comment I will make the implicit goals here explicit:

"What needs to be done (if possible at all) to achieve"

* two inches of screw fastening in oak
* two inches of 3/8 inch spade boring in oak

The answers may be some combination of:

• drilling type settings: classic vs impact vs hammer (latter not likely..)
• speed settings: 1 (low speed higher torque) 2 (high speed lower torque)
• ratcheting settings: 1 to 25

Answer 1

I would think that if you've cranked the chuck down as tight as it goes and the bits still slip, especially hex-shank bits with the chuck jaws on the flats of the shanks, then either there's a problem with the drill, or it's just simply not up to the task of drilling through oak.

Oak is a reasonably hard, dense wood (about 1290-1360 on the Janka scale).It is not, by any means, the hardest stuff out there, though, but it's around twice as hard as SPF (about 650-700 on the Janka), so an off-brand, more entry level tool may not be exactly the right one for that job.

Janka scale and definition. No affiliation, just the first place with a nice listing & definition.

Answer 2

You bought inexpensive equipment and you are getting inexpensive performance .

Answer 3

If the drill bits are slipping and are the round type, maybe use the type made for 'quick attach' which kind of have a bolt looking type end...thats all I could think of...you are saying the drill bit is not holding?

Answer 4

I was just now able to get a 1/2 inch hole down two inches+ with the spade bit. It was the classic drill setting on highest speed. It required a number of iterations: go down a piece then come back out to let the shavings out and give the bit a chance to cool a moment. Rinse cleanse repeat.

For driving the screw - which the impact driver is better suited - I presently lack the correct bit. A couple of good candidates are arriving by tomorrow and I will update here.

Update The six inch Makita magnetic bit holder arrived and there is no more issues with slippage/bits coming out when fastening the screw. It is still not able to go more than about an inch but trying to screw into Oak without predrilling is probably a tall order in any case.