How to unscrew a drill and change the drill without a key?

The ability to unscrew a drill without a key can save you in a difficult situation. If you have started repairs and discovered that the key to the chuck is lost, traditional methods will help you change the drill. Of course, dealing with the problem with a pair of screwdrivers or a vice is much more difficult. But this method will allow you to finish the job without running around the shops looking for a new key.

How to open a drill chuck?

The purpose of the drill chuck is to securely fasten the drill or other attachments (construction mixer, grinding wheel, etc.). Fixation is carried out by three mechanical “fingers”, which are brought together and apart using a threaded mechanism.

There are two main types of cartridge:

• Keyless variety. To open such a structure, it is enough to wrap your fingers around the body and, turning on the reverse rotation, briefly press the trigger of the tool. The drill itself will rotate the shaft, spreading the “fingers” that fix the drill. Such a chuck is easier to use, but the reliability of fixing the tool will be somewhat lower.
• A type equipped with a key. The key is a T-shaped device, at one end of which there is a bevel gear. The other two ends serve as a handle for rotation. To unscrew or tighten the cartridge, the key is inserted into the hole in the housing and rotated while holding the housing with the other hand.

Typically, a key is included with the power tool.It either lies in the box or is attached to the power cord with a special fastener.

What to do if the key is lost?

If the key is missing, removing the drill will be quite difficult. The easiest option is to deal with the problem with brute force. The parts of the clamping device are held by the right and left hands and rotated in opposite directions. However, if the chuck is tightened too tightly or the drill has been used for a long time, it is unlikely that you will be able to unscrew the thread.

During operation, parts of the power tool become hot and the metal expands. This leads to jamming. To make releasing the chuck easier, wait until the tool has cooled completely.

To enhance the applied impact, use various tools or homemade devices. Here are some ways:

• Experienced craftsmen loosen the cartridge with several tangential blows with the edge of the right palm. The drill is held with the left hand in a position with the drill facing away from you. The disadvantage of this method is that if you are not used to it, you can injure your palm. And even with a tightly tightened (and even more so misaligned or jammed) mechanism, this is not a way to deal with it.
• Select a metal shaft whose diameter allows it to be inserted into the hole on the chuck. For this purpose, you can use a nail, an old drill, or a hairpin. The main thing is that the metal is strong enough and does not bend from the applied force. The screwdriver is inserted into the slot of the cartridge and acts as a lever (the support goes to the shaft). It is enough to slightly loosen the thread, and you can pull out the drill by unscrewing the mechanism with your hands.



• The cartridge is clamped in a vice or held tightly with a gas wrench. The shaft is inserted into the hole, and then, applying muscular force, the mechanism is unscrewed or tightened.

The second method can help if the chuck is clogged with chips. Then its body is clamped in a vice, and the lever is lightly tapped with a hammer. Vibration causes parts to shift, and the mechanism becomes wedged.

The effectiveness of the described folk methods is significantly less than when using a factory turntable. But it is possible to tighten or loosen the locking mechanism once or twice in this way. After finishing the work, you need to purchase a new key from the store.

How to avoid losing your key?

To avoid being left empty-handed with unfinished work, it is important to properly organize your workspace. This organization will allow you not to lose sight of the key every time you change a tool.

It is better to provide the key with a large bright keychain. This way it won’t get lost in the clutter on the workbench or be forgotten in the pocket of your work clothes.

The easiest way to protect against loss is in your own workshop. Here you need to create a permanent place to store the turntable and always put it there. In this case, the storage location should be quite convenient and at hand:

• Many manufacturers provide their instruments with an eyelet for attaching a turntable. It is placed either under the handle or close to the fork. By inserting the key into this hole, you can rest assured that it will not get lost. The only drawback is that over time the fastening wears out and breaks.
• The eyelet for the key is made from insulating tape. It is attached to the power cord. The attachment point is usually located 50–60 cm from the handle. This way the turntable will not interfere with your work and will always remain at hand.
• Having attached a ring to the key, you can hang it on a hook next to the workbench.

If possible, you should stock up on another key. It is stored in a box in the workshop, away from the place of work.If the main key is lost, the backup key will be at hand and save the day.

If during the work it turns out that the pinwheel from the clamping mechanism has been lost, the main thing is not to panic. Using traditional methods, it is quite possible to release the chuck, remove or change the drill, and finish the job.