A drill bit extension is an attachment for a drill to lengthen the drill bit, extending the reach of the drill. This attachment can allow people to drill in hard-to-reach places, and it will also improve safety for workers. Hardware and home improvement stores often carry drill bit extensions, and they can also be ordered directly from manufacturers. People can fabricate their own if they have access to a facility where metalworking can be performed, and fabricated extensions can be useful for custom applications.
One very common reason to need a drill bit extension is when people are engaged in overhead drilling. People drilling overhead usually need to use ladders to reach, and they may have to extend their arms, destabilizing themselves and also creating strain on the arms, shoulders, and back while they work. Using a drill bit extension, the drill can be held in a more natural position close to the body, allowing the worker more control and stability. This can also cut down on the number of times ladders have to be repositioned, as a worker can reach further from one position with the use of the extension.
Drill bit extensions can also be useful for getting into hard-to-reach places. Sometimes, the length of a drill bit makes it impossible to get into tight spaces and corners, as the bulk of the drill is too large to fit. Using a drill bit extension, people can work comfortably from outside the space to perform drilling tasks. This can be useful for making things like hidden seams and joins, in addition to reaching into confined spaces without having to dismantle part of something like a wall or a car to get where someone needs to work.
The drill bit extension consists of a length of metal with a section designed to lock into the drill and an opening on the other end to accommodate the drill bit. The extension can vary in length and thickness. Longer extensions can be harder to control due to the distance and people may keep extensions of several lengths so they can choose the most appropriate one for a given task. When the task is complete, the extension can be removed to allow people to attach bits directly to the drill again.
It is sometimes possible to obtain low-cost drill bit extension kits with an assortment of lengths. When selecting a kit, people should evaluate the quality of the metal and the available lengths to see if it will meet their needs. Sometimes, it may be more cost effective to purchase individual extensions as needed.