How to Screw in Hard-to-Reach Places

You’ll want a right angle drill attachment in your toolbox the next time you need to drill in a tight spot or to drive screws in hard-to-reach places.

You’ll want a right angle drill attachment in your toolbox the next time you need to drill in a tight spot or to drive screws in hard-to-reach places.

Right Angle Drill Attachment

Have you ever needed to drill a hole in a tight spot? Or drive a screw in a hard-to-reach place? Sometimes the drill and bit are just too big to fit. What do we do now? The answer is an inexpensive right angle drill attachment. It’s a must-have tool every DIYer needs in their toolbox.

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Originally published September 19, 2017, updated February 26, 2020

Before we look at what we can do with a right angle drill attachment, be sure to click the subscribe button at the bottom of this page to sign up for my FREE weekly newsletter loaded with helpful pocket hole tricks, space-saving workshop ideas, clever DIY tips and more!

How Do You Drill in a Tight Spot?

How do you drill in a tight spot like between wall studs or floor joists when your drill and bit are just too big to fit? We can try to use a screwdriver, but even then sometimes it’s difficult to apply the right amount of pressure to drive the screw.

Related: Impact Driver vs Drill: What’s the Difference?

In that case, we need an inexpensive right angle drill attachment. The adapter simply chucks into our drill and allows us to drill holes or drive screws at an angle. 

A right angle adapter works with screwdriver bits, nut drivers, drill bits, countersink bits, Forstner bits, hole saws, spade bits, and more.


How Do You Use a DeWalt Right Angle Attachment?

The DeWalt right angle attachment works with just about any brand of corded or cordless drill or just about any brand of impact drill.

The adapter simply chucks into the drill. It accepts any ¼” hex shank drill bit or drill driver. The adapter is magnetized which holds the bit in place. To remove the bit just pull on the bit or push the release on the back of the adapter. 

Related: How to Put a Drill Bit in a Drill

It can be used both in the forward position and the reverse position. The adapter swivels to reach tight spots and confined spaces.

A right angle drill for hard-to-reach places is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand

How Do You Drill a Hole in a Right Angle?

Drilling a hole at a right angle is easy with a right angle attachment. Chuck the appropriate size drill bit in the adapter, position the bit, and drill the hole.


How Do You Drive a Screw at an Angle?

Driving a screw at an angle is easy with a right angle attachment. Chuck the appropriate size screwdriver bit in the adapter, position the bit on the screw, and drive the screw.

This DeWALT right angle drill for tight spaces accepts nearly all hex drive bits

I recently ran into some trouble when I was building the matching side tables for this DIY coffee table. The legs were designed to be joined with pocket holes. The cordless drill and bit driver was too big to fit inside of the table to drive the pocket screws.

I chucked the right angle driver attachment into my drill. The drill and adapter easily fit in the tight space of the side table.

Using a right angle drill attachment to drive pocket screws into a tight spot

The coffee table wasn’t the only project where I needed to use the right angle adapter. I also used to assemble this DIY Ladder Chair.

Using a DeWalt right angle attachment to reach a screw in a confined area

Where to Buy a Right Angle Drill Attachment

We can buy a right angle drill attachment at our local home improvement store or hardware store. We can also purchase a right angle adapter online. Here are a few popular options we can have sent to our home.


Final Thoughts

Have you ever needed to drill a hole in a tight spot? Or drive a screw in a hard-to-reach place? Sometimes the drill and bit are just too big to fit. What do we do now? The answer is an inexpensive right angle drill attachment.

A right angle adapter is one of those tools you’ll want to add to your toolbox before you actually need it. There’s nothing more annoying than having to stop in the middle of a project and run to home improvement store or hardware store. This is a must-have tool every DIYer needs in their toolbox.

Thank you for stopping by. If you found this information helpful, would you please pin it to Pinterest? Other DIYers would appreciate it and I would too! Thank you – Scott


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6 Comments

  1. Hi Scott, fairly newish woodworker here, but loooooong time tradesman. I’ve been using the right angle drill/driver attachment for a few years, long before I discovered pocket holes and I find it INVALUABLE. Being a ‘Milwaukee’ guy though (and sometimes also needing to use a nut driver/socket I find the Milwaukee one stronger and including a nice side handle! I’ve even had to add extensions on to BOTH ends of my right angle adapter to get me drill/driver in an accessible spot as well as getting the bit up/down to where it needs to go (wiring and plumbing on my boat!). Like your site and the way you present the info, keep it up! Wyrguy Rick.

    1. Thank you for the tip and the compliment! I’m definitely going to check out the Milwaukee right angle driver. Maybe I can do a side by side comparison of the right angle drivers. Thank you again for the suggestion!

      1. Also check out the Orbiter attachment from Lee Valley tool. It has a keyless chuck so you can drill holes using regular drill bits rather than having to use hex based drill bits. It also lets you drill at other than 90 degrees, has a handle and is well built. Slightly more expensive but Lee Valley’s ” unoficial” return policy is; ” If it doesn’t meet your expectations or fails – bring it back for an exchange or refund. Don’t worry about to 90 day limit shown on your receipt.”

      2. Hi Dan – Thank you for stopping by and the tip. I will have to check that out!

  2. Oh yes! As a luthier, I use the right-handle drill attachment of my Dremel to make the holes where the tremolo spring adjustment clamp is installed for on Fender Stratocaster guitars. Any other tool simply won’t do.

  3. I tend to be brand loyal with tools and have been using DeWalt for a lot of years. I needed to use the 90° angle attachment for a project once or twice. It worked, but felt like it needed a couple extra hands to operate the darned thing. Now it sits in my toolbox in case it’s needed, but I plan not to need it very often.

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