Versatility is the basic criterion that the master will advise you to rely on when choosing a tool for repair or construction in the house or country house. A rotary hammer is one of these devices. You can’t do without it when you need to lay cables or pipes, hang something on the walls, or mount equipment on the floor or ceiling.
The design details, dimensions and ergonomics of the tool vary depending on the characteristics and depend on the engine power, supported types of work, driving and impact mechanisms.
What is a hammer drill and what work is it intended for?
A hammer drill is an electrical device that is used to drill holes in concrete and brick. It has more power and functionality than any impact drill and will help you cope with construction and repair tasks much easier and faster. With it you can:
- lay wires making grooves;
- drill walls for installation of sockets and switches;
- fix windows, doors, profiles;
- dismantle floors and tiles;
- install plinth;
- install a lock;
- mix solutions, putty, glue.
A modern hammer drill is a universal multifunctional device, thanks to which you can perform a large number of different jobs quickly and efficiently.
What modifications are there?
The shape of rotary hammers is straight, with a horizontal, as well as a lower, vertical, electric motor arrangement. They can be industrial or for home use, for medium-skilled use. They can be divided into the following types:
Festool cordless hammer drill
Rechargeable . This tool allows you to perform work where there is no access to the electrical network. It usually has low power and can work without recharging for a short time. This does not apply to a professional expensive instrument. It effectively carries out drilling and drilling and other work. There are compact 18 V models and high-performance 36 V models on sale. Thanks to high-capacity battery packs of 4.0-5.2 Ah, combined models combine the advantages of mobile tools and the power of network ones.
With chiselling mode . This function makes it possible to dismantle floors, tiles, and asphalt. Thanks to this mode, you can deliver powerful, fast, frequent blows to any surface. To do this, you need to insert a chisel, chisel, or peak into the chuck.
With reverse . This function allows you to switch from right to left rotation. If the drill gets stuck in the wall, you need to turn on the reverse mode, and it almost always easily comes out of the hole. Using a special adapter cartridge and a bit, you can screw in and unscrew the screws.
With vibration protection . Such a hammer drill allows you to avoid many troubles. Constant vibration has a harmful effect on humans. It can be extinguished by installing a special rubberized handle mounted through special gaskets, or by making design changes. With such a function, it is profitable to buy a tool if it will be used daily. It helps protect the internal mechanical and electrical filling from destruction.
Bosch rotary hammer with SDS-plusGBH chuck
With SDS-plus cartridge . This type of fastening allows you to securely hold the drill and use it effectively. It is used in most instruments weighing up to 4 kilograms. This chuck can accommodate a drill with a diameter of up to 30 millimeters. This must be taken into account when choosing. On its lower part there is a special type of groove, cutouts that allow you to firmly hold the drill or auger and transmit vibration as efficiently as possible. The shank of the equipment for this type of fastening is made with a diameter of 10 mm.
Hammer drill Caliber Master EP-1500/40M with SDS MAX chuck
With SDS-max cartridge . In such a hammer drill you can use a drill with a diameter of even 52 millimeters. A cartridge of this type is usually equipped with a professional tool weighing 8 kilograms or more. The shank diameter of the equipment is 14 mm.
What to look for when choosing
When choosing the most suitable hammer drill, you need to decide why and how often it will be used. By class this product is:
- domestic;
- semi-professional;
- professional.
A lot depends on the type of tool, characteristics, functionality and other indicators. A modern household hammer drill is inexpensive, performs few functions, and may not have reverse or vibration protection.
It usually has low power and cannot be used for more than 15 minutes without a break, especially in chiseling mode. If you work only a few times a year, for example, in order to make a hole for a picture or remove 3/5 squares of tiles, then it is ideal for such purposes.
Semi-professional models have a weight of 5-8 kilograms, greater power and impact force. They are made from higher quality materials and components and are able to withstand medium loads. It is beneficial to purchase such models when it is necessary to carry out construction and repair work several times a year.
Perforator device
A professional hammer drill of any power or size is made from the best and most reliable components and materials. With daily use, it can last for several years without requiring special attention or maintenance. Such a tool usually has the highest price, but it is worth it.
When choosing a hammer drill, you need to pay attention to its weight. Heavier home models are inconvenient and unjustifiable to use. To drill several holes, a 4 kilogram tool is enough. A powerful power tool weighing 11 kilograms is used by air conditioner installers to drill holes in load-bearing concrete walls.
It will be needed when repairing road surfaces, laying communications, sewerage, water, and for other professional purposes.
Which tool to choose based on shank type: SDS-plus or SDS-max
The equipment is fixed using special oval grooves. Each of these systems has two, but the shank diameter is different. It will be 10 mm for SDS-plus, and 18 mm for SDS-max. There is also a type of fastening SDS-top - 14 mm. To transmit torque, long slots are made. The SDS-plus system has two of them, both symmetrical, while the SDS-max already has three asymmetrical ones. Both of these types of drill mounts are reliable; they can be used to drill holes of different diameters, which must be taken into account when choosing. SDS-plus – 30 mm, SDS-max – 52 mm.
Power
The power of the hammer drill is another important indicator. It affects the speed of work, how much effort a person will expend. The size of the housing, motor, mechanical part, and the number of engine revolutions depend on it. With SDS Plus, power tools are produced with a rating of 400 to 800 W. A hammer drill with SDS Max produces 900-1500 W or more.
Maximum impact force
This indicator is measured in joules. This is an important characteristic, so it is important to take it into account when choosing. For home use, the hammer drill should produce 1-3 J. The modification with SDS Max has an impact force of 8-20 J.
This indicator depends on the power, weight of the striker, the distance of the working stroke, the amount of impacts and some other parameters and qualities. If you choose the wrong hammer drill according to this indicator, this will lead to rapid wear of its mechanisms and breakdown. If the impact force is small, drilling will be ineffective and productivity will be weak, you will have to strain, waste time and nerves.
Maximum drilling diameter with a crown and concrete drill
If you need to frequently install sockets, switches, or lay pipes, then these indicators are very important to take into account. These characteristics are affected by the power and type of cartridge. There are sets of diamond bits of different diameters and they can be used on almost any hammer drill, the main thing is that there is enough power. If it is not enough, then the drill or drill will simply stop. Crowns can be 68, 72 mm, drills - 30, 52 mm maximum. They perform dry cutting in just a few minutes.
Reverse
This function is performed in different ways. There are modifications in which this possibility is provided by rotating the brushes. A more innovative electronic version. Some power tools do not have this functionality, but this is rare. The reverse switch can be located on the body or on the power button, in which case it is made in the form of a small lever. It is convenient to turn on the reverse with a slight movement of your finger.
Length of cable
Of course, you can use an extension cord, but in this case an additional heating point, sparking, will appear at the connection point. It is best to choose a model with a long, protected, thick power cord. It can be 1.5-6 meters. It is recommended to choose rotary hammers equipped with a cable length of at least 3 meters.
Safety clutch
It is very necessary although many people do not use it. It allows you to protect the cartridge from debris getting inside it and breaking. It is installed when drilling holes in the ceiling. It collects fallen parts of concrete, brick, and dust. It is made of soft rubber and has a round shape. To use the coupling you need to put it on the drill. It will help protect your eyes from dust.
What is included
The power tool is packed in a suitcase for ease of storage and transportation. Some types of cases can be locked. The kit often includes:
- handle for comfortable operation;
- coupling;
- limiter;
- lubricant, brushes;
- drills, peaks, blades;
- quick-change cartridge;
- instructions, warranty card, list of service centers.
What equipment will be determined by the manufacturer, which affects the cost.
Purpose and principle of operation
The main purpose of a hammer drill is to make holes in fragile, but at the same time hard materials, which include, for example, brick.
The work itself consists of crushing them at the point of contact of the working element, and at the same time, thanks to rotation, the point of contact of the tool is cleaned and the resulting crumbs are removed.
This process is called drilling, and is carried out, accordingly, by a drill.
The hammer drill is distinguished by its effective work on hard materials, such as concrete, where an ordinary drill becomes useless, while when working with metal, wood or plastic workpieces the situation is completely opposite.
NOTE:
When working with a hammer drill, there is no need to talk about the accuracy of the holes made due to shock vibrations.
In addition to drilling, the hammer drill is capable of operating only in impact mode.
In this case, the working element is a special chisel designed for breaking off pieces of stone.
Wall grooves for new wiring, namely the removal of a strip of plaster between two grooves formed by a wall chaser, are performed with blows.
Drilling holes in the wall for socket boxes is also done with a hammer drill, but instead of a drill, a special crown is used.
By the way, in some situations this tool can replace a jackhammer, for example, when patching road surfaces, dismantling metal structures, buildings and cement layers.
What does quick-release chuck and quick-change chuck mean?
Main types of hammer drill chucks
A quick-change chuck can be installed in the SDS+ system. It will make it possible to use conventional drills designed for drills instead of drills. They are much cheaper and expand the range of applications of power tools. As a result of such a quick and simple modification, the hammer drill will practically no longer differ from the drill.
The quick-change chuck allows you to make high-quality holes in metal and wood, use feathers, and crowns for wood.
The quick-release chuck ensures quick replacement of accessories. To do this, just pull part of the rubber coupling back and insert a drill or pick or chisel. Fixation occurs instantly, the equipment holds tightly, but it is better to be on the safe side and do not forget to check how the drill sits and whether it falls out. There are two sleeve chucks; to insert the drill into them you need to use the force of two hands at the same time.
Drills and hammer drills, pros and cons
BATTERY OR NETWORK? Drills and rotary hammers can be powered by mains or battery. Rechargeable
Pros - wires do not interfere with work; — greater safety of use (lower voltage, no chance of cutting the wire); — independence from the power source (more mobile); — a standard charger fills the battery capacity in about an hour, a fast charger – in 15–20 minutes;
Cons - higher price; — it is unprofitable to use for a tool with high energy consumption: the battery quickly runs out.
Mains powered
Pros - lower price; — work longer at low temperatures;
Cons : less convenient to use; - less mobile; — impossibility of use without stationary power supply (electrical sockets).
The main difference between professional and household tools is that the first is designed for constant heavy loads, and the second is designed for periodic use.
DRILL
The main function is to drill holes.
Kinds
Unstressed
Highly specialized, rarely found on the market. Designed for working with plastic materials, the drilling of which produces chips, primarily metals (as well as plastic and wood).
Pros: - fewer moving parts, therefore higher drilling accuracy;
Cons: — quite high price; — narrow scope of application; - not suitable for working with hard materials.
Percussion
Power: from 400 to 1200 W. Possibility of adjusting the rotation speed up to 3500 rpm, works in the “drilling”/”chiselling” modes. Allows you to work with hard materials in impact mode, as well as with wood, brick, steel, plastic, glass, concrete (if the concrete grade is not higher than 300), etc. in drilling mode.
Pros : wide range of applications; — versatility; — the shock function can be disabled;
Cons: - higher level of noise and vibration; - not very high impact force (compared to a hammer drill).
Single speed
For drilling small holes (for example, 10 - 13 mm in metal).
Pros - compact;
Cons: - not suitable for drilling large holes in hard material; - high speed and low torque. Therefore, at low speeds there is not enough power, and at high speeds there is a risk of damaging the product.
Two-speed
Universal drill. Some models are capable of drilling large holes in metal (up to 32 mm in steel and up to 50 mm in aluminum) - these are models with high power, but with low speed (at high speeds the metal can melt).
Pros - in low gear you can drill holes of small diameter, in high gear you can drill larger ones;
Cons: - usually more bulky than single-speed; - higher price.
The following groups of drills can be distinguished by power: from 300 to 600 W, from 600 to 700 W and from 900 W to 1.5 kW. For example, a 350-watt drill drills a hole in aluminum up to 8 mm, in steel up to 6.5 mm, in wood up to 15 mm, and a 1150-watt drill drills a hole in aluminum up to 28 mm, in steel up to 23 mm, in wood up to 50 mm.
PERFORATOR
Mainly intended for drilling, slotting and chiseling of hard materials (stone, brick). Dual-mode hammer drills perform impact-free drilling and chiselling. The three-mode ones also have a combined mode – drilling with impact.
Functions
— drilling holes in various materials (wood, plastics, various metals, etc.);
– making holes in hard and especially hard materials;
– screwing in/unscrewing screws, screws and self-tapping screws;
- chiselling with various types of chisels.
Kinds
Electropneumatic
They make up the bulk of the hammer drill market. Maximum impact force – 60 J.
Pros - unlimited impact energy (the larger the tool, the greater the impact force); — the mechanism does not experience critical loads during operation; — less vibration and low noise level; — the impact force does not depend on pressing the tool; — easy to use;
Disadvantages - regular maintenance is required: replacing lubricant, seals, cleaning the impact mechanism; - higher price.
Electromechanical
There is a small variety on the market. The maximum impact force is 1.5 J. However, professional machines powered by batteries are also electromechanical, since they can work for a long time without recharging.
Pros - lower price; - higher efficiency; — no need to change the lubricant;
Cons : low impact force; — loud noise and high vibration; - less convenient to use.
Types of cartridges
Modern drills and hammer drills are equipped with two types of chucks: toothed or quick-release chucks. The drill is secured in a gear chuck using a special key. The downside is that this process takes time and the key may get lost. To secure the drill in the keyless chuck, only a small amount of hand effort is required. Keyless chucks come in single- and double-sleeve versions. The two-sleeve type has two rotating rings - for tightening and loosening. Single-case cartridges (press-lock and auto-lock) are more convenient to replace. Rotary hammers typically use the SDS-Plus (for light and medium-weight models) or SDS-Max (for heavy models) fastening mechanism. This mechanism allows the use of only special drills (drills) and does not require a key for fastening. To secure the drill to work in rotary hammer mode, you must use a special adapter. Recently, manufacturers have begun to offer rotary hammer models without an adapter - with a replaceable chuck. To install a drill, it is enough to replace one chuck with another, screwing it directly to the hammer drill shaft. This system significantly improves the performance of the tool.
Impact drill or hammer drill?
Hammer drill
Pros: - convenient to work on soft materials - brick, foam block, wood, etc.; — preferable for drilling holes with a small diameter;
Cons: - not recommended for drilling holes in hard materials (much lower productivity, quickly fails).
Hammer
Pros: — for hard materials (stone, concrete), the productivity of the hammer drill is higher;
Cons: - a hammer drill and its accessories are more expensive than an impact drill (with the same power of these tools); — conventional drills cannot be used in a hammer drill without an adapter, which lengthens the structure, complicates drilling and makes the hammer less durable (the exception is drills with a special system, where the adapter chuck can be screwed directly to the tool shaft).
Manufacturers
Makita (Japan)
Specializes in professional tools. A leader in the production of light rotary hammers and one of the leaders in the production of heavy ones. The company's requirements for the level of vibration of electric motors are twice as stringent as the standards accepted in the industry. They regularly release new products using the latest technologies. High quality products, regardless of the country where they are produced. The inscription on a Makita product “made in China” should not be intimidating. The relatively high prices fully justify the quality.
Bosch (Germany)
This is the first branded tool to appear in Russia: it has a good service network, which is especially true for rotary hammers. The model range is constantly updated taking into account technical innovations. A quality tool at a reasonable price (price range - medium to high).
Kress (Germany)
The range is regularly updated taking into account know-how. The strongest position of the brand is rotary hammers. The price range is closer to high.
DeWolt (USA)
Known primarily for professional-grade battery technology. Prices range from average to high.
STIHL (Germany)
In fact, every 2–3 years the model range is completely updated. Lower price with good quality. In particular, drills are quite comparable in cost to domestic ones.
Tips for working with a rotary hammer
1. Try not to overheat the instrument. If you feel that the tool is overheating, you need to turn it off and turn it on again no earlier than after 5 minutes.
2. If the tool stops working, it may be due to wear on the graphite brushes. They need to be replaced at a service center.
3. Do not change the lubricant inside the hammer drill (gearbox lubricant, etc.) yourself. This lubricant is replaced by specialists during service maintenance (for example, when replacing graphite brushes that have worn out).
4. In chiselling and rotary chiselling mode, it is not recommended to press the tool too hard. The force that must be maintained during operation should not exceed 3 - 4 kg - then the piston stroke will be most productive. If you press harder, the piston stroke decreases: the performance of the tool drops, and wear of the mechanism occurs faster.
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What is better to choose - a hammer drill or a drill?
Even an impact drill does not cope as well with the task of drilling concrete as a hammer drill. It can be used to work with brick, wood, and other soft materials. The hammer drill quickly and effortlessly uses a crown to cut a hole in strong reinforced concrete. Any of its models is more powerful and functional than the most expensive drill.
What is better to choose depends on the specifics of the work and the frequency of use of the power tool. One hole a year can be drilled with an impact drill, but it will still take much more effort, time, and nerves than using a hammer drill. A good multifunctional, high-quality, reliable power tool is always expensive.
Operating a rotary hammer
How to choose a hammer drill successfully
In order to understand how to choose a hammer drill for home purposes, you must follow the recommendations of the experts. If the hammer drill will be used for drilling materials such as wood or thin metal, you can use a device with one operating mode.
It is also necessary to carefully study the characteristics of the models and select the most suitable ones. Preference should be given to well-known brands with a large number of positive reviews.
Important! When ordering online, you should study how much consumables cost for the selected model.
Instructions for use and care
- When operating a rotary hammer, you need to monitor how hot the engine is. The chiselling mode cannot be turned on for more than 15 minutes without a break. It puts the most strain on the motor, armature, brushes, and cartridge, and they wear out quickly.
- You can drill holes in the wall and ceiling with a professional hammer drill throughout your entire work shift.
- Power tools need to be cleaned and lubricated. This especially often needs to be done with a cartridge. Periodically you have to change the brushes. Depending on the intensity of use, once a year or more often it may be necessary to disassemble the housing completely and lubricate the internal mechanism and piston.
- It is recommended to periodically diagnose the performance of all systems, mechanical and electrical, by sending it to a workshop.
A correctly selected and operated hammer drill is guaranteed to last for many years.
Popular brands and best-selling rotary hammer models
| Cordless rotary hammers | 1. Rotary hammer Ryobi ONE+ R18SDS-0; 2. Rotary hammer Caliber Master AP-14.4m+ 00000059169; 3. Rotary hammer Enkor AccuMaster AKM1815 49215; |
| With vibration protection | 1. Rotary hammer DeWALT D 25133 K; 2. Rotary hammer Einhell RT-RH 32; 3. Rotary hammer Fiolent P6-1200-E F0076; |
| With reverse | 1. Rotary hammer Makita HR 2470; 2. Hammer Elitech P 0826REM; 3. Rotary hammer Bosch GBH 2-26 DRE 0.611.253.708; |
| With SDS-max chuck | 1. Hammer drill Caliber Master EP-2000/50M 00000046095; 2. Rotary hammer DEWALT SDS-max D25481K; 3. Rotary hammer Makita HR 5001 C |
| With SDS-plus chuck | 1. Rotary hammer DeWALT D 25134 K; 2. Rotary hammer Makita HR 2470; 3. Rotary hammer Bosch GBH 2-28 F 0.611.267.600; |
Features of choice
What are the difficulties when choosing? The main thing is not to get confused in the characteristics.
- vertical or horizontal – power, type of work and convenience are important;
- power: less than 600 W for household work up to 2 kW for professional tasks;
- impact frequency: up to 5000 per minute, and the reliability of penetration is more indicated by the impact energy - up to 20 J/impact, which will create a hole in a concrete wall;
- weight: the lighter, the weaker, so the weight depends very much on the operating mode;
- speed: rotation is needed to remove dust, so the drill will be a variation of a rotary hammer (up to 1000 revolutions for industrial models);
- work in two or three modes (drill / drill with impact / impact);
- drilling diameter of the sds plus chuck and mains operation – the ability to work as a drill;
- chuck type - better sds max (for a larger nozzle diameter) or sds plus, mains operation and 3 modes will complement the functionality.
Choosing tools is never easy. There are models without a case, and the hammer drill will more than serve its purpose. A vertical hammer drill is more powerful, which is already enough for work such as long-term breaking of concrete. For home work, the location of the motor is not very important.
Among the best are bosch gbh 18v 26 professional, interskol p 18 450er, makita hr2470. These machines are enough both at home and at a construction site.
