In order to determine which hammer drill will be best in your case, you should first get to know the differences between various models. Once you know the basic technical specifications of such tools, it should be easy to specify what type of hammer drill you need, and therefore narrow the scope of your search.
In order to determine which hammer drill will be best in your case, you should first get to know the differences between various models. Once you know the basic technical specifications of such tools, it should be easy to specify what type of hammer drill you need, and therefore narrow the scope of your search.
- Specifications of hammer drills
- Uses of a hammer drill
- Drills vs hammer drills
- What should you pay attention to when choosing a hammer drill?
- Which hammer drill will be good for use at home?
- Which hammer drill should you choose for a construction company or a car garage?
- Which hammer drill should you buy – summary
Specifications of hammer drills
Hammer drills usually have a few modes of use. These include the hammer and non-hammer mode. The third mode is hammer only, using the hammer function without rotation. However, not all models offer this solution. So if you might need all three of these functions, its best to look for a models with this option.
Uses of a hammer drill
Thanks to the above mentioned modes, you can use this tool for a range of different jobs. Drilling without impact is good for drilling holes in metal and wood. The hammer function is used to drill in harder building materials, such as stone, bricks or concrete.
When it comes to the hammer-only function, this mode will come in handy when making holes in concrete, for example for electrical sockets or switches. It is also good for making grooves for electric cables, as well as chipping off plaster or tiles, as well as light demolition work.
Drills vs hammer drills
The main difference between a drill and a hammer drill is the hammer-only function that the second type has. So if we only intend to drill holes in standard materials then a basic drill will be enough. Both of them have an impact function, letting you use them without pressing them to the surface being drilled. The impact function makes it easier to start drilling holes without the need to use force. If you want to know more on this topic, read our article on different types of drill bits.
What should you pay attention to when choosing a hammer drill?
In order to determine which hammer drill will be the most useful for you, take a look at the technical specifications. Based on this you should quickly be able to analyse the performance of the tool, as well as its intended use. So let’s take a closer look.
The power of a hammer drill
The first parameter that you should pay attention to when considering which hammer drill to buy is its power, which will give you a rough idea of how efficient it is. The greater the power, the longer you will be able to work with it without having to take a break. The power is shown in watts (W) and directly affects the most important aspect of a hammer drill, i.e. the impact energy.
A drill with around 1000 W should be more than enough for doing odd jobs around the home or hobby use, but if you intend to use the hammer drill for professional purposes, then you should definitely look for something with more power.
The impact energy of a hammer drill
The impact energy is the most important parameter of a hammer drill. It is shown in joules (J) and the higher the value, the harder the materials you will be able to drill in. The most powerful drills of this type have an impact energy of up to 65 J, so this value will help you determine whether the device will be sufficient for a specific purpose.
Hammer drill chuck types
When analysing which hammer drill will be suitable for your needs, you should also pay attention to the types of chuck, in which drills, chisels, pointers and other accessories can be mounted. Basically there are hammer drills with two types of chucks, SDS-Plus and SDS-Max. The second type is designed for heavy-duty work and applies mainly to professional equipment.
Both types are intended only for SDS accessories. However, traditional accessories can also be attached using special adapters.
What are hammer drills used for?
As already mentioned, the impact energy is responsible for the main advantages of hammer drills, and is also an indicator of how effective a given drill is. Models intended for occasional home use will have an impact energy of up to 5 J. Devices with a specification of 6 to 10 J will be sufficient for use on concrete or light demolition works.
For extreme tasks, such as crushing very hard materials, hammer drills with an impact energy above 10 J are recommended.
The power source of hammer drills
It is also worth paying attention to the power source. In this regard, there are two basic types. One is powered by electricity and requires access to a plug socket. The other is powered by a rechargeable battery. The second option will come in very handy if you need to use it in a place without access to electricity.
Additional functions of hammer drills
Further analysing which hammer drill to buy, it is worth considering if there are any additional functions that could influence your work comfort. These could be rotation control, brush wear indicator or motor overload indicator. Active vibration reduction (AVR) can also be of great importance, as it will ensure a higher level of work comfort during intensive or lengthy use. Prolonged vibrations can even negatively affect your health.
Prices of hammer drills
Having considered all these aspects, you should also compare various models in terms of their prices. Of course, the more powerful, more efficient and more functions the power tool has, the more expensive it will be, but in the case of demanding and lengthy work investing in cheap equipment will not be a good idea. It will simply be a waste of money, as too weak a hammer drill will quickly break down during intensive use.
The price will also depend on the brand. However, choosing more expensive and well-known brands, you can usually gain access to professional and reliable after-sales service. We can also take advantage of an attractive warranty period.
Which hammer drill will be good for use at home?
With the basic parameters, functions and applications in mind, you can easily determine which hammer drill will be best for home use. A good option would be a model with power of about 1000 W and an impact energy of up to 5 J. Of course, you can choose something slightly better, but in the case of the odd light job around the house, it makes no sense to invest large amounts of money in a device that will not be used much. However, there are only our suggestions, the final decision is up to you.
Which hammer drill should you choose for a construction company or a car garage?
When it comes to models for professional use, you should take into account that various uses have a different intensity level. For this reason, you should look for a drill with high power, impact energy and a rotation control function, allowing for effective and efficient use. Your hammer drill should also be equipped with active vibration reduction.
This is important, because even with long-term use the user will appreciate work comfort.
Which hammer drill should you buy – summary
Choosing the right hammer drill for your needs is not as difficult as it may seem. All you need to do is specify the scope of the work you will perform with it and the expected frequency, and then confront this information it with the technical specifications of the drill. You can easily determine whether the equipment is suitable for lengthy use, whether it can be used on hard materials, and whether it is intended for DIY enthusiasts or professionals.
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