The three pieces that grab the bit are stuck. I used this thing like 3 weeks ago so it can't be much but it is a cordless drill gun and I don't know what to put in there to get it cleaned out.

I decided to take apart my old hard drive after it crapped out on me just for the fun of it (don't worry, everything was backed up and is now on my new hard drive). Instead of using a torx screwdriver, I decided to use a cordless drill. I used the drill on every screw. There was shavings and dust everywhere, I also pried some stuff apart. The thing is, after telling my buddy about it, he told me that there is lead and mercury (and other harmful stuff in hard drives). Should I be worried? I did inhale a bit, and I think I got some shavings in my eyes but I figured it was no big deal (I used to take shop in high school and I inhaled and got stuff in my eyes all the time while I was grinding, cutting, etc).

This was also a Maxtor seagate from 2006.

Also, can anyone tell me what parts of a hard drive might have harmful substances?
Thanks everyone.

I think my buddy meant computers in general when it came to harmful substances also.

I am a first time home buyer.... actually haven't even closed on the house yet. I have a little bit of construcion experience and feel pretty confident doing most home improvement jobs. In my new home I am planning to completely remodel a bathroom, finish the basement and possibly add a deck in the future. What should I look for in a cordless drill that will allow me to do a wide variety of projects. I will be needing to drill into pressure-treated decking, drive screws into drywall and cement board, and would like to be able to drill into cement a little bit to fasten studs.
So far I was looking at possibly getting an 18 V drill such as the Ryobi P203 which I saw was rate very highly by Popular Mechanics:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/home_journal/tools/4292657.html?page=2

I also wouldn't mind a package with multiple power tools

http://www.homedepot.com/Tools-Hardware-Power-Tools/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xitZarfe/R-202025185/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

I am also wondering how effective a drill like that would be for drilling into cement (I won't require much drilling into cement). Do I really need a hammer drill?

Any advice would be appreciated... what would be good for my projects?

I didn't think we had storage of electricity down yet. If we did, why do most people need to buy a new cordless drill, cell phone, or car battery every 5 years? The chevy volt battery will cost around ,000 to replace. Shouldn't we invent a better way of storing electricity before we start inventing things that run on it? I know they are currently inventing new forms of batteries all the time. They still need lots of work and development though.

Okay, I cannot afford a good cordless drill, so now I am looking at electric (corded) drills. I'm sure that the same things apply to corded drills as to cordless drills. However, on corded drills it appears that the power is measured in amps rather than volts. How many amps do I need to drill through wood and seat crews without stripping them? I went to Lowe's and see that an 8 amp Dewalt corded drill is .00 dollars as compared to an 18 volt Dewalt which is approx. 0.00. I know corded is not as convenient as cordless, but my budget is .00, (so I also need to think about the cost of an indoor/outdoor extension cord.)
Okay, now I'm confused. Dan H says that his Ryobi and Black and Decker are used in daily construction, which I assume is pretty heavy and active use. However, other people are saying that Ryobi's and B&D's have plastic internal parts and won't hold up. Which info. is correct?

The batteries on my cordless drill are bad, replacement batteries cost as much as a whole new one, that seems so damn wasteful. Does anyone manufacture replacement batteries for cordless tools that are not so expensive?

I am not a contractor, but I do most all the work around the house from repairs to major work for the most part. I use my cordless drill quite a bit around the house when something needs done.

My Makita 14v cordless batteries finally gave out after 6+ years. I love the drill and got a gift card for HD and was going to purchase a new Makita since buying 2 batteries alone is rediculously priced.

I see that Ryobi has an 18v cordless tool kit out that includes a drill, circular saw, reciprcating saw, jig saw, flashlight and 2 batteries for the same price as the Makita drill alone.

Any thoughts good or bad concerning the Ryobi? I don't necessarily need all the extra tools that come with the Ryobi since I have those tools already, but they are not cordless so they seem pretty cool. I just don't want to buy it if the batteries are going to die after a year or two or if the tools themselves are cheap.

Also I am wondering if the 18v stuff is big and heavy compared to the 14v Makita?

Basically Ryobi tool set or Makita drill??

I have been looking to buy a new cordless drill.There are two drills that I am looking at.One has a self tightening chuck and the other has a ratcheting chuck.

What is a ratcheting chuck?

What exactly is the difference between the two?

I have a work van and want to be able to charge my cordless drill and maybe even use my electric weed eater and such. Is there something that I can use (inexpensively) that will allow me to do this and where would I find one? Could I have a separate battery going to that not my regular car battery? Would that be easy to intall an extra battery? What would I need?

I happen to have 3 ryobi 18v batteries for my cordless drill that I can charge on the charger to full power but if I leave them more than a day sitting around, they are completely dead. What is wrong with them and can I fix them.