Torque is the rotational force that drive a screw into a surface, and torque is the force that determines how deeply a screw enter a piece of wood. Many peoples experience problems when a screw is driven too deep into the wood or when a screw head becomes stripped because the torque wasnt managed correct. If a screw is driven too deep, the wood may become crushed, and if the torque is too high for the material, the screw head may strip.
Therefore, you must understand how to manage torque to avoid damaging the wood or the screw. The clutch is the most important mechanism for manage torque in a cordless drill, and the clutch is the part of the drill that allows the drill to slip when the drill meets a certain level of resistance. When you set the clutch to a specific level, the clutch will cause the drill to stop turning the screw once the resistance reaches that set level.
How to Set the Drill Clutch for Screws
If you set the clutch to a low setting, the clutch will slip easy, and a low clutch setting is useful for soft materials. If you set the clutch to a high setting, the clutch will slip less often, and a high clutch setting is necessary for hard materials. The amount of torque required depends on the density of the wood, and the density of the wood change how much torque you must apply.
Softwoods like pine and cedar has low density, so softwoods like pine and cedar require less torque to drive a screw. Hardwoods like oak and maple have high density, so hardwoods like oak and maple require more torque to drive a screw. Additionally, engineered materials like MDF or plywood has different resistance levels, and these engineered materials may be brittle, so you must adjust the clutch setting to prevent the wood from splitting.
You must consider the density of the wood before you begin driving a screw, because the density of the wood determine the correct clutch setting. Speed is another factor that affects how you drive a screw, and speed is the rate at which the drill rotates. High speed can cause the drill bit to cam out of the screw head, and when the drill bit cams out of the screw head, the screw head becomes stripped.
High speed can also create friction that burn the wood, so you should use a lower speed when you are working with hardwoods. Using a lower speed allow the clutch to function correctly, and using a lower speed gives you more control over the screw. The type of tool you use will also determine how you manage torque.
An impact driver use rapid rotational strikes to deliver large amounts of torque, and an impact driver is useful for heavy structural framing. However, an impact driver does not have an adjustable clutch, so an impact driver is difficult to use for fine woodworking where you need precise control. A drill driver has an adjustable clutch, and a drill driver is better for cabinetry because a drill driver allow you to set the exact point when the tool will slip.
You should of test your clutch settings on scrap wood before you begin your actual project. You can test the clutch setting by driving a screw into a piece of scrap wood and observing the result. If the screw head remains above the surface of the wood, you have used too little torque, so you should increase the clutch setting.
If the screw head sinks too deep into the wood or the screw head strips, you have used too much torque, so you should decrease the clutch setting. Testing the clutch setting on scrap wood ensures that you use the correct torque, and using the correct torque ensures that the screw is seated proper without damaging the wood.
