Get some fantastic deals on drills at Trago, as well as some top tips on how to use them

Spring is here and this is the time when many of us are either moving into a new home or have been inspired to give our current home a bit of a facelift.

Trago has more DIY and Home Improvement products than B&Q and Screwfix so you’ll find everything needed for the task in hand, and at the best prices locally - guaranteed!

A drill is one of the essentials that any DIY-er will need, so here are some fantastic deals on drills from Trago, as well as some top tips on how to use them. 

A new home is the most expensive purchase you're ever likely to make, so drilling holes into your pride and joy can seem a daunting prospect. Even the odd DIY job around your current home can be a bit nerve-racking.

A recent survey showed nearly one in 10 home owners has experienced a DIY disaster, with botched jobs typically costing more than £2,000 to put right*.

A hammer drill will set you back anywhere from £20 to £200, while you can pick up a decent cordless one from around £25. If you buy a mains-powered drill, you'll probably need an extension cable (approximately £10) and certainly a surge protector (from £5) which will plug into the mains and automatically cut the power if you experience a surge. You’ll also need drill bits.

Other items that may come in handy include a stud finder, a spirit level pencils, dust masks and dust sheets, all of which are available in store at Trago. Here's some of the drills on offer now at Trago to suit all budgets, along with a selection of other vital equipment.

Hilka 600w Hammer Drill - £19.99

This versatile, keyless Hilka 600w impact drill is suitable for most tasks and is ideal for DIY enthusiasts. It has a soft-grip handle, adjustable front handle and depth guide, variable speed and reversible, 13mm heavy keyless chuck, two-function drill-and-hammer action, and a copper-coiled motor for lasting performance. Supplied with spare carbon brush set.

Hilka Pro-Craft 18v Li-Ion Cordless Hammer Drill with Case + 2 Batteries - £44.99

The Hilka Pro-Craft 18v Li-Ion Cordless Hammer Drill is a three function (Hammer, percussion and screwdriver modes) cordless drill supplied with an extra battery. It is powered by Lithium ion battery technology for more power and longer battery life. Ergonomic soft grip handle with a variable two speed all metal gearbox for precision work. Equipped with an LED work light and battery indicator. Charging time is 3-5 hours, (AC/DC adaptor, 230V - 50Hz, BS plug).

Bosch Universal Impact 700 Mains Hammer Drill - £59.99

The Bosch Universal Impact 700's very low weight and compact design make this tool exceptionally easy to handle. Its powerful 700 watt motor makes this the right tool to have for every job – for all materials, even concrete. It has Bosch Speed-Preselection: electronic speed preselection and control using setting wheel and trigger switch – for gearing the tool towards the material with fingertip control of the power.

GMC 18v Combi Drill & Impact Driver Twin Pack - £114.99 (RRP £174.99)

This easy-to-use twin pack consists of an 18v Combi Drill and Impact Driver Twin Pack with 1.5Ah li-ion batteries and intelligent 1hr charger. All-metal gearing and vibration-reducing soft-grip handles. Combi drill features 16 torque settings and the Impact driver features 1/4" drive with 120Nm maximum torque. Both tools have a vibration-reducing soft grip handles and include a built-in LED work light.

Bosch Compact Rotary Hammer Drill & 6pc Drill Bit Set - £79.99 (RRP £99.99)

This drill from Bosch is a handy and powerful tool for all hammering, drilling or chiselling jobs. It can drill through the hardest material, regardless of pressure applied. It's lightweight (only 2.2kg) with a slim design incorporating softgrip coverings and comes with a 6pc Drill Bit Set.

Hilka 5pc Masonry Drill Bit Set - £1.89

This Hilka 5pc Masonry drill bit set is ideal for drilling into stone, brick, concrete and other masonry materials.

Builders Brand 110-Piece Drill & Bit Set - £19.99

This is a huge drill bit set - complete with almost every tip you will need to complete any DIY project. A must-have for the avid DIY enthusiast.

Rolson 5M x 19mm Rubberised Tape Measure - £1.35

A five-metre professional tape measure with a 19mm width blade and metal foil tape. Impact resistant plastic housing with rubber outer cover, a thumb-operated lock and a carry strap and belt clip on reverse.

Rolson 51-Piece Screwdriver & Bit Set - £5.69

The Rolson 51-piece screwdriver and bit set has been manufactured using extra-strong high-grade chrome vanadium to give you the strength and durability needed to turn those tight stubborn screws. Supplied with a soft rubber screwdriver handle and 50 pieces x 25mm screwdriver bits manufactured from chrome vanadium.

* Screws and wall plugs are available in store

It's important to make sure the surface into which you're drilling is safe. Hitting a pipe or cable could be disastrous, and probably means unwanted extra expense later on.

If you’re uncertain of what's behind the wall cavity (particularly in a new-build home where the walls perhaps aren't as thick as in an older property), you can use a stud-finder which will flash red if it detects metal, yellow if you are in close proximity to a pipe or cable, or green if you're good to go. This should set you back around £30.

Use a tape measure and pencil to mark out the spot you're planning to drill. Remember the age-old carpenter's rule: measure twice and cut once. What this means is you should double-check your measurements for accuracy before cutting or drilling into anything.

However, you shouldn't worry too much about making a mistake – any unwanted marks or holes can be easily covered up or filled in later on.

You've probably seen these strange-looking things before, but might not know their purpose. These are wall plugs (also known as Rawlplugs) and are designed to anchor screws to a surface. Once pushed into a wall, they will expand when the screw is in place.

Wall plugs come in all shapes, and you'll need to do a bit of research to find which ones are suitable for the surfaces into which you're drilling. Many items, such as picture frames or wall units, will have fixtures and fittings included. Even if that isn't the case with the item you want to put up, the packaging on most screw and wall plugs will help you match one to the other.

Most hammer drills will feature a depth stop handle, which allows you to measure the depth to which you are drilling into a wall. Use the wall plug you've chosen as a guide and make sure the metal bar matches its length. That way, when the end of the bar hits the wall, you'll know you've drilled a deep enough hole. You should also be able to match up the drill bit to the width of the wall plug, ensuring it sits snugly in the hole once drilled.

Top tip: If you're unsure, use a smaller drill bit and test the wall plug afterwards. It's easy to drill the hole slightly larger than it is to reduce its size!

So, you've done all the preparation… now you’re ready to make some holes in your home! Line up the end of the drill bit with the point you’ve marked and make sure the drill is level – you don't want any wonky holes...

Next, squeeze the trigger and apply light pressure. If you're drilling into a cavity wall (found in most new-build homes) you shouldn't need to push too hard. If you have an older property, where the walls are thicker, you may need to put a bit more weight behind the drill.

Once you've made the hole, keep holding the trigger and slowly pull the drill out, being careful not to widen the cavity any further. Next, take your wall plug and push it firmly into the hole – it should fit flush into the wall with no overhang.

Use a screwdriver to attach the screw to the wall plug. Again, you shouldn't need to put too much pressure. Once you start turning, the screw should catch the wall plug.

If you're planning to hang a picture or mirror, leave part of the screw visible so you've got somewhere for the fitting to sit. Ease the mirror into place one fitting at a time, being careful not to scratch the wall in the process.

Now, stand back and admire your handy work!

There are hundreds more items in store and online from which to choose. For more information visit the Trago website at www.trago.co.uk or call the Newton Abbot store on 01626 821111, Liskeard on 01579 348877 or Falmouth on 01326 315738.

* A survey of 1,000 people by Co-op Insurance found the average cost of correcting a DIY mistake was £2,271.