# Are keyless chuck drills piece of junk **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 13, 2013, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-keyless-chuck-drills-piece-of-junk/655606 "2013-04-13T14:54:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mdcastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-keyless-chuck-drills-piece-of-junk/655606/1 "2013-04-13T14:54:22Z")
I used to use my father’s drill from probably the 1970s. It had a chuck key that was always getting lost, but it would hold onto a drill bit. I bought a more modern drill at an estate sale that had a keyless chuck, for anything that requires the least bit of effort the bit will loosen up and get stuck while the drill and chuck keeps spinning. Are all modern drills like this, or is the one I bought just worn out or something and I need a new one. It’s a 5 amp Black & Decker. ---
**Author:** ![Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emtar_KronJonDerSohn)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-keyless-chuck-drills-piece-of-junk/655606/2 "2013-04-13T15:10:04Z")
I have a ~$200 makita keyless chuck drill. When you turn the keyless chuck it engages a spindle lock which allows you to sufficiently tighten the chuck on the bit. It also has a pretty generous mechanical advantage. Prior to purchasing this drill I had a ~$75 black and decker and it was a piece of trash. To tighten the chuck sufficiently I had to hold it tight and squeeze the trigger. it would either stall in my hands or tear a blister into my palm and it was never sufficiently tight. ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-keyless-chuck-drills-piece-of-junk/655606/3 "2013-04-13T15:13:29Z")
So it is your _humble opinion_ that cheap keyless chuck drills can be junk? 😉 Reported for forum change. ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-keyless-chuck-drills-piece-of-junk/655606/4 "2013-04-13T15:14:46Z")
I never had a problem with keyless chucks and even profesional grade drills have them nowadays. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-keyless-chuck-drills-piece-of-junk/655606/5 "2013-04-13T15:16:27Z")
I can’t get my new drill to tighten enough on small bits. like a 1/8 or smaller. darn bit just spins in the chuck. NEVER had that problem with my old keyed chuck drill. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-keyless-chuck-drills-piece-of-junk/655606/6 "2013-04-13T15:18:10Z")
Good quality keyless chucks work fine for all but the toughest situations. I’d say choose a top brand and make sure your hands can get a good solid grip on it. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-keyless-chuck-drills-piece-of-junk/655606/7 "2013-04-13T15:20:14Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I can’t get my new drill to tighten enough on small bits. like a 1/8 or smaller. darn bit just spins in the chuck. > > NEVER had that problem with my old keyed chuck drill. I don’t have that problem with my keyless chuck. Some are just designed/made better than others. ---
**Author:** ![Qwakkeddup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/90ced4/32.png) [@Qwakkeddup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwakkeddup)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-keyless-chuck-drills-piece-of-junk/655606/8 "2013-04-13T15:47:15Z")
Some surely are, some surely aren’t. The worst key less chuck drill I ever had was a corded B & D. No mater how tight you twisted or how soft the material the bit would spin the moment it met any real resistance. (This was the first key less chuck drill I had ever seen.) Now I mostly see battery powered drills, almost all of them key less, and the biggest problem is when you are drilling near enough to something that can rub against the chuck. Loosening your bit and causing other problems that a regular keyed chuck may not have. I may still own at least one drill that has a keyed chuck, but I don’t know where it is and I am not looking for it. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-keyless-chuck-drills-piece-of-junk/655606/9 "2013-04-13T15:49:34Z")
> [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](#): > > it would either stall in my hands or tear a blister into my palm and it was never sufficiently tight. basic Work gloves…$2.99 ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-keyless-chuck-drills-piece-of-junk/655606/10 "2013-04-13T15:53:08Z")
I have never had that problem with a keyless chuck. My Makitas always do fine. It’s a bad drill if it does not hang on to the bit. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-keyless-chuck-drills-piece-of-junk/655606/11 "2013-04-13T15:58:25Z")
if the shaft can lock then you can tighten real hard, newer quality ones have a manual button or a mechanism that locks when turning. very handy is a free spinning nose. it keeps a spinning chuck from catching the work at its nose and allows you to steady the bit at the start. ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-keyless-chuck-drills-piece-of-junk/655606/12 "2013-04-13T19:37:20Z")
I can vouch for the 1/2" keyless chuck on my Milwaukee 18V lithium hammer drill. Great tool with a fantastic chuck. When I bought it a few years ago, I expected that I would at some point want to upgrade to a keyed Jacobs chuck based on prior experience with keyless chucks. No need. These new keyless chucks are the way to go. ---
**Author:** ![Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emtar_KronJonDerSohn)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-keyless-chuck-drills-piece-of-junk/655606/13 "2013-04-13T19:50:52Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > basic Work gloves…$2.99 With your unsolicited $.02 I only have $2.97 to go! Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Lazlo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lazlo/32/9678_2.png) [@Lazlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lazlo)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-keyless-chuck-drills-piece-of-junk/655606/14 "2013-04-13T22:14:38Z")
> [@Qwakkeddup](#): > > the biggest problem is when you are drilling near enough to something that can rub against the chuck. Loosening your bit and causing other problems that a regular keyed chuck may not have. Only if you’re drilling in reverse. It may be a valid concern if you’re using it to remove screws, although I’ve never experienced it. Whenever my chuck has rubbed against something, there isn’t enough friction to actually loosen it. ETA: I have the older version of [this Skil](http://www.skiltools.com/Tools/Pages/ProductDetail.aspx?model=2898LI-02) and it holds bits better than any keyed chuck I’ve used. As a bonus, the little silver collar near the tip spins freely. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-keyless-chuck-drills-piece-of-junk/655606/15 "2013-04-13T22:20:45Z")
If one has a keyless chuck drill that doesn’t chuck too well, drill bits with hex shanks really help. ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-keyless-chuck-drills-piece-of-junk/655606/16 "2013-04-13T22:57:18Z")
Would a keyless chuck chuck wood if a keyed chuck chucks wood? ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-keyless-chuck-drills-piece-of-junk/655606/17 "2013-04-13T23:05:45Z")
> [@toofs](#): > > Would a keyless chuck chuck wood if a keyed chuck chucks wood? how boring. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-keyless-chuck-drills-piece-of-junk/655606/18 "2013-04-13T23:10:37Z")
I’ve had a couple of DeWalt cordless drills. They keyless chucks were…OK, not great. At work we have a Bosch cordless drill with a fantastic keyless chuck. If at all possible, try before you buy. Home Depot and Lowe’s have a lot of drills on display. ---
**Author:** ![Phnord\_Prephect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@Phnord\_Prephect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phnord_Prephect)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-keyless-chuck-drills-piece-of-junk/655606/19 "2013-04-13T23:59:27Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > how boring. Oh come on, it was knot that bad. On the whole. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2013, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-keyless-chuck-drills-piece-of-junk/655606/20 "2013-04-14T00:17:09Z")
It’s not the keyless chuck, it’s the quality of the drill. Cheap drills with cheap keyless chucks are useless. A quality drill, Makita, the better DeWalts, Milwaukee, Bosch, etc. are fine with the keyless chucks. The cheap drills of the past had a decent Jacobs chuck that was such an old design that they didn’t really add much to the cost of manufacturing of the drill. The problems weren’t in the chuck, they were in the cheapness of the drill. A cheap drill with a cheap keyless chuck is nothing but double trouble. For the average person a quality drill will serve you well through a lifetime. Splurge a little for a necessary tool that is good and reliable. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-keyless-chuck-drills-piece-of-junk/655606.md?page=2)