To not want to use a drill!!

[Dollygirl2008]

Just that really but I'm getting fed up with paying handymen to do relatively simple tasks such as putting up blinds and curtain poles when I'm fairly sure I could do it if I overcame my fear of drills!!!

It stems from my dad always putting the fear of god into me saying that you need to check for water or electric pipes!

So come on - give me some encouragement and tell me to pull my big girl pants on!!! Oh and I might need earplugs as I hate the noise.... and any girly drill recommendations?!

You can get a pipe and wire detector for around £20 - Black and Decker BDS200 (may have spelt it wrong) is a known one, and you hold it up to the wall to check.

I don't use earplugs which may be a bit silly, but I do use masks when I'm generating a lot of wall dust etc.

Girly drill?
You need a hammer drill not a girly one.

Yep, put on Ur big girl pants and go for it.
I was exactly the same until last year, got fed up of waiting months, sometimes years, for DIY jobs to get done by DP, so I took the plunge and bought my own drill and tool set from Amazon and threw myself in head first. It's really not that bad once you've done it a couple of times. I started with a really simple 2 hook coat rack (which is wonky 😂) but I've now put up straight shelves and started renovating my kitchen!! You can do it, and it feels amazingly good once you've accomplished the task.

Yes to the pipe and write detector and the hammer drill. It's actually really really easy to use a drill and the sound isn't bad either (I'm sensitive to loud noises too). If you feel the need to, watch done YouTube tutorials and even office on a lump of wood or something until you're confident

What is a girly drill? Is it like a screwdriver that is pink for those with vaginas?

Yes find you big girl pants, go and buy a hammer drill and a pipe/wire detector thing

Or maybe one that doubles up as a vibrator

Seriously thanks tho - that's just the kind of stuff I wanted to hear. I will definitely invest in a pipe/power detector and am going to do some research into a decent drill for a reasonable price

And then.... god help the neighbours!!!

I have a nice lightweight Bosch. It's not perfect if you've got really hard walls but it does most of what I need. I have a really hefty hammer drill for where necessary but honestly I struggle to hold it steady.

I think it's the Bosch 1200 easy impact that I have. It has a screwdriver setting, normal drill and hammer drill, adjustable torque, all the normal things you would expect from a drill. Just not hideously heavy.

Don’t fuck around with a cheap drill, they’re shite. Get a good quality mains powered one.

I love drilling holes in walls . I had to step in when ex dp made a right pigs ear of drilling a hole in dd’s wall. I did a perfect hole first time within seconds, and he said “my balls just shrunk back into my body”

brilliant!!!!!!!

I just used one to erect 2 flat pack beds for my kids. Makes screwing things in quick and easy.

Generally speaking you can guess where pipes and wires are anyway. I've drilled holes many times without a detector and am still alive to tell the tale! But of course if you feel safer using one then get one. Once you do it a few times, you'll be fine.

I’m the same tbf, hate using a drill.

Get a proper drill, not a girly one. Honestly you CAN do it.

Years and years ago I was divorced and had no idea about sorting out the home. I was also afraid to use a drill.

A friend came round with her partner, he helped to put a shelf up. I watched him measure, mark the wall, try to drill, make a pig's ear of it, drill again....and again. It took him about 2 hours to finally put up one shelving piece.

I was so gobsmacked watching, I realised I would have done a better job myself. I went out and bought a big drill from Homebase and played about with it, plucked up courage and went for it. I have never looked back and can now use a drill and many other electric tools these days. I am proud of myself that I overcame my fears. You will be too....go and take a trip around a local DIY store and really look at the stuff before you buy. Also remember that a lightweight drill can be worse than useless.....

When my ex husband used to use the drill, there was so much huffing and puffing and jeffing and effing and that was enough to get me running in the opposite direction!! I just know I'm going to feel liberated when that first curtain pole goes up (and possibly falls down...!)

Dollygirl2008

When my ex husband used to use the drill, there was so much huffing and puffing and jeffing and effing

And thats why he’s an ex,

I have an impact driver as well which is the best piece power tool I’ve owned so far

You can do it. As others have said get a decent one. I work on a farm so use a drill (as a screwdriver) a huge amount and they're nothing to be nervous of. Just get a good grip in case it tries to spin and you'll be fine.

Yeah, take a deep breath, think of all the money you'll end up saving and the satisfaction of a job well done- and go for it. Buy decent quality tools - you'll regret cheap. I think everyone should have basic life skills: shopping, cooking, cleaning, budgeting, simple house maintenance, etc. It seems weird that parents & schools don't ensure all kids learn them.

Agree, good quality drill and bits. Don't frustrate yourself with cheap junk.

A wire/pipe detector is a good idea. But unless your house was cabled by idiots the wires will be in predictable places - there are electric regs about how they're run.

And don't feel bad if you end up drilling in the wrong place, at an angle, etc. Everyone's done it.

Thanks so much for all your advice and it's clear that I should invest. Off to do my research!

Buy some Polyfilla to fill in any "mistake" holes!
I don't mind the drilling but I hate sticking the wee plastic things in, they never seem to fit easily.

I had drill phobia and I'm going to totally disagree with everyone else!

I got a friend to teach supervise me how to use a drill. I practiced on bits of wood first. He lent me a small, lightweight, cordless drill and it was so much easier than the big, corded ones I had used before. I used it for putting up shelves, blinds, pictures etc (drilling into wood, plasterboard and brick) and it was fine. You don't need something heavy duty if you aren't doing heavy duty jobs. Make sure you know what type of fixings you need for the job though!

I have a couple of drills but would recommend a decent cordless drill as a starter one.
I also have a wire detector just for peace of mind.
After many years DH is now using my power tools a little but it isn't something he is particularly inclined to do.

I've got a smaller rechargeable drill, really good make (it's yellow and black). Much easier for my daily little hands to use. . I've never drilled through anything. Electric wires run up and down in straight lines, so an electric light switch has one either above or below. Pipes are under floorboards and I've never drilled near one.

And look on you tube to see how things are done.

DH thinks I should understand drills He bought me a Ryobi which is very well behaved and manageable and not too noisy However, DH also says that many of the pipe/wiring detectors are crap so do your research carefully. If you live in a flat, I suggest not having concrete exterior walls, which (and I quote) ' Nothing on fucking earth is gonna drill through'