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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think that they should design some power tools for women?

17 replies

BrianButterfield · 10/05/2012 14:19

I don't mean pink sparkly ones btw! I am trying to drill some holes in the wall to hang a cupboard. I KNOW exactly how to do this. I am not some weak little women - however, I am quite small and have small hands. This is important. In the first place, drilling the hole was difficult as the drill is quite heavy and awkward for me to hold. OK, though, whatever. But then I have to change the drill bit and I can't get the fucking old one out! I know how to do it - turn one part one way and the other in the opposite direction. But it's really tight and I can't get my whole hand around the damn thing to get a grip on it. I've tried everything and it won't budge. I could cry. So now I have to wait for DH to come home when the point was that I could do it myself, get the cupboards sorted and he wouldn't have to spend a third evening doing DIY. Note - I go to the gym, I work out, it's not that I'm not strong enough, it's that I'm just too small to do it. Fucking pisses me right off.

Black and Decker, I'm looking at you - your stupid drill is physically impossible for me to use properly. Not impressed.

OP posts:
boredandrestless · 10/05/2012 14:24

I was all ready to pounce on you for wanting pink sparkly power tools! Grin

Are you very petite? I'm only 5ft6 and have fairly small hands and haven't noticed this issue myself but I can see your point.

AllYoursBabooshka · 10/05/2012 14:27

You need one of these :)

fuzzypicklehead · 10/05/2012 14:29

Is it worth making a complaint directly to Black & Decker about that particular model? If you do lots of DIY, it may be worth checking out some reviews and picking up a different model that will work better for you. In the meantime, maybe flag down the next big, burly person who walks by?

AllYoursBabooshka · 10/05/2012 14:30

Hang on that's the screwdriver one. You can get a drill version!

redexpat · 10/05/2012 16:39

I can never hold them steady because they are so heavy. DH bought me a mini drill for birthday. It's green. I wouldn't have minded a pink one. I do have a pink tool kit but that's so that I know that they are mine and dont disappear into the black hole known as the shed. More often than not DH uses tehm because he can't find his own.

AKMD · 10/05/2012 16:43

Another one wondering why you would need a pink sparkly drill :o

You have a fair point.

TheUnMember · 10/05/2012 16:45

I have a Bosch one which I can handle with my tiny hands. I wish I had a pink sparkly one. I also wish I had one that didn't make any noise. The noise scares me :(

Indith · 10/05/2012 16:45

I know what you mean, it might not be you though, the drill bit got stuck in our drill once and we had to take it for repair!

mistlethrush · 10/05/2012 16:46

All the power tools in the house are MINE. DH is not allowed near them. He has an electric screwdriver to use (but isn't very efficient even with that). Drills do come in various sizes, so I suggest you go and get one that you can handle more easily. Although my drill has a chuck key for helping to get the bit out, so hand size doesn't come into it.

MuddyDogs · 10/05/2012 16:49

Some ideas here from this blog.

GiveTheAnarchistACigarette · 10/05/2012 16:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ragged · 10/05/2012 17:01

The problem is that OP's DH chose the drill, I presume OP didn't.
I had to buy a drill once for my work & chose about the lightest one available, precisely because I know I have weak hands. & I practised changing the drill bit in shop to make sure it was easy, too.

You try changing the tyre on a deep rim bike wheel. Definitely a job only for people with strong hands. And it was designed that way by people who never thought there would be an issue. I have to sheepishly hand that task to males. not that I don't know how, just that I do not have the strength in my hands, sigh.

boxyfoxy · 10/05/2012 17:02

yes, what the anarchist says, shop around for a power tool that suits, as they have different ranges, even within each make there will be a lower spec and higher spec, generally the higher the spec the more ergonomic, and go for the lightest you can get.

I always go with makita combi drills, even though dewalt have a great reputation I think are a clunky nightmare, good for big blokes perhaps. I work with power tools in both my jobs, makita, and blue bosch are what I swear by, and metabo grinders. In my day job I work in a school so have to get tools in that the students can use and handle, if students can use them so can the little ladies!! (and little guys, cause lets face it, not all blokes are big burly things)

you should be able to undo the chuck with your hands, if it's a hand chuck, if you can't undo it put it in a vice and turn it, or clamp it and use the clamp as extra leverage, might mar the chuck, though.

I love that chainsaw!!

bubby64 · 10/05/2012 17:06

You need to look at some of the Bosch drills, I have the ixo. A wonder tool!

Richtwotwotwo · 06/02/2021 18:52

Many thanks, any recent thoughts for small and not strong hands wanting to buy for drilling holes and tightening screws.

TaraR2020 · 06/02/2021 21:56

Tweet them and get a twitter campaign going

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