corded rotary hammers

Rotary Hammer Drill FAQ

What is a rotary hammer drill?

A rotary hammer drill is a powerful tool ideal for drilling holes in stone and concrete, and getting tough chiselling work done in no time. It can be used like a normal drill in rotating mode, for larger holes with rotational hammer mode, or in hammer-only mode for chiselling or those jobs where more power is needed. It makes it an ideal tool if you’ll be drilling or breaking up concrete, especially if it’s aged and therefore much harder than newer concrete. While rotary hammer drills have lower power consumption and impact frequency compared to other drills, they have a different concept of impact force, giving them a higher performance than many other drills. The standardised SDS system also means you can change drill bits and chisels from any manufacturer fast without tools.

How do you choose a rotary hammer drill?

The best rotary hammer drill for your needs depends on how often you’ll be using it and what you’ll be using it for. So, if you’ll only be using your hammer drill for the occasional, precise job, a smaller model with an impact energy of 3 joules, 300 blows per minute and 900w is ideal, such as an SDS plus drill. For more regular use, you’ll need more power, opting for 4 to 6 joules, 3400 RPM and 1500w, or up to 8 to 10 joules, 3000 RPM and 1200 watts for prolonged use. Tools like the Bosch rotary hammer drill will give you the options you need for any project or job.

What is the difference between SDS and rotary hammer drill?

An SDS drill, or slotted drive system drill, is a type of rotary hammer drill. They’re more powerful than a standard hammer drill, so are ideal for heavy-duty jobs, such as drilling into or chiselling aged concrete. If you have an SDS hammer drill, you can also drill through steel, brick and masonry, as well as concrete. It makes them a good multi-purpose drill for your tool box with specialist SDS drill bits.

Can you use a chisel on a rotary drill?

Yes, you can use a chisel on a rotary drill. By using the hammer function, you can stop the rotation of the drill, swapping your drill bit for a chisel, point or flat bit for breaking concrete, tile and other surfaces. The size of the drill will depend on the size of the masonry bit you need, such as an SDS max hammer drill, which has an 18mm shank. A standard SDS rotary hammer drill or SDS plus will need a smaller shank, so be sure to get the right size chisel bit for your drill.