No DIY workshop and construction company can go without a hammer drill. Drilling holes in hard walls, wood or metal would be impossible without one. But which hammer drill is best? Read on and find out what to pay attention to when buying one.
No DIY workshop and construction company can go without a hammer drill. Drilling holes in hard walls, wood or metal would be impossible without one. But which hammer drill is best? Read on and find out what to pay attention to when buying one.
What is a hammer drill?
Let’s start by having a look at exactly what a hammer drill is. It is a power tool that resembles an ordinary drill, but additionally has an impact mechanism that generates a hammering motion. By impact, we mean the rhythmic beats of the drill bit during use. This enhances the force of the tool, making it easier to drill in hard materials such as brick or concrete.
Hammer drills usually use mechanical impact, also known as a mechanical rack-and-pinion system. It uses counter-rotating racks, which generate the impact. Some models also use a worm mechanism, which works in a reciprocating motion, letting the drill work with the hammer.
Using a hammer drill
If you are wondering which hammer drill to buy, then you probably already know what to use it for. However, you may not know it’s different uses.
Hammer drills are very versatile tools and can be used for various jobs. As you already know, they are mainly used for drilling holes in bricks, concrete and other similar materials, but also for drilling in wood, plastic and metal.
They can be used to make holes for dowels and screws for hanging pictures, mirrors or kitchen and bathroom furniture. Hammer drills can also be used for fitting skirting boards or a TV wall mount.
They usually come with a wide range of accessories that allow you to use them for tasks other than drilling, such as special bits for grinding various surfaces, mixing mortar or cutting holes with large diameters. Hammer drills are therefore a vital part of any home workshop and can come in very useful in the case of many hobbies.
Which hammer drill should you buy? What should you pay attention to?
Like all power tools, you should take into account the specific technical parameters. This way, you will be able to know which hammer drill will best suit your needs. Which parameters are most important?
Hammer drill wattage
The wattage is the most important parameter of a hammer drill. The higher the wattage, the bigger the hole you will be able to drill. Drills with a power of 400-650 watts should be able to make holes with a diameter of 6-15mm. If you intend to use a hole cutter, then choose a hammer drill with more than 800 watts.
The maximum diameter with a hammer drill
Manufacturers often provide the maximum hole diameter that a given model can make. However, you shouldn’t treat this as a precise indication. If you are looking for a hammer drill to make holes with a diameter of 10 mm, then it’s safer not to choose a drill with a maximum drilling size of exactly this amount. To be on the safe side you should choose a drill with a drilling diameter of, for example, up to 15 mm.
Type of drill chuck
Different drill models can have various drill chucks. The most popular type are key chucks. As the name suggests, a special key is required to tighten and loosen them. As a rule, key chucks have a tighter grip, but changing the bits is more time consuming. In addition, if you lose the key then using the drill will not be possible. This is not the case with keyless self-locking chucks.
Hammer drill adjustment range
Hammer drills with more than 600 watts are usually two-speed. This lets you set the rotation speed. More advanced models have a wider speed adjustment range, and some drills also let you set a specific impact rate. These functions will come in handy if you plan to use your drill on different materials.
Hammer drill power supply
The most common type are corded hammer drills. They work well if you don’t need to frequently change your working position. They can, however, prove tricky if you don’t have access to a plug socket or power extension. A more versatile alternative in this case are cordless drills, which are mobile, and therefore more convenient to use. A disadvantage can be the fact you will need to regularly charge the battery.
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Work comfort
Many people do not pay attention to this issue, which is a mistake. Hammer drills generate a lot of vibration and require more effort from the user during use. So when considering which hammer drill will be best, make sure you check that it has a comfortable anti-vibration handle. Also check the weight of the device to make sure it is not too heavy for you.
Additional functions of hammer drills
A very useful element of hammer drills is a drilling depth stop, which allows you to precisely determine how far you want to drill into the material. This option is very useful if you need to make a certain number of holes of the same depth. The depth stop ensures greater precision than manual control.
Which hammer drill is good for home use?
The exact choice of parameters depends on the intended user. DIY enthusiasts will have different needs than professional users. Let’s start with taking a look at tools for home use.
A lot depends on whether you will use it regularly or only from time to time. Most people only use a drill for doing odd jobs around the house, like hanging pictures or basic garden construction needs. For such use a drill with up to 650 watts should be sufficient. More powerful drills use more electricity, and paying more for something you will use once in a blue moon misses the point.
Which impact drill will be best for professional use?
Professionals will need more powerful hammer drills, with even 1000 watts. Such drills have to be able to withstand heavy loads and endless hours of drilling in hard materials. For such use it is also better to choose a model with a wider speed range and impact frequency regulation. This will let you use it on various materials you may come across during your work.
Hammer drill or rotary hammer – which one should you choose?
When looking for the right power tool, you will certainly come across rotary hammers. They are very similar to hammer drills, but differ in a few aspects. How exactly?
Rotary hammers are equipped with a different element responsible for the impact. They have an electropneumatic mechanism that provides great force during the impact. As a result, they provide greater drilling efficiency in hard materials. In addition, they can also be used for forging. The most important parameter of a rotary hammer is the impact energy, shown in joules. In this case, the wattage is less important.
Another difference is the type of drill chuck. SDS Plus quick-change chucks are predominantly used in rotary hammers. However, they are not as versatile as those used in hammer drills, as they require the use of specific types of drill bits and chisels compatible with the SDS Plus system. Rotary hammers are also equipped with special safety clutches to protect your wrist from the high torque force during use. They also protect the tool from overloading.
Which hammer drill is best? – summary
As you can see, the choice of hammer drill depends on many factors. First of all, compare models with different parameters and choose one that meets your expectations. Also bear in mind the predicted intensity of use and the scope of work.
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