Rotary Hammer Drills

If you have a tough material to drill into or through, the rotating action of a regular power drill may sometimes need a little extra help to get the job done — concrete, masonry, and other dense products that need to be drilled may mean that it’s time to break out the rotary hammer.

Rotary hammers are also called hammer drills, but there’s actually a difference between the two tools. Both are different from regular drills in that they provide a back and forth hammering action along with the normal rotation associated with standard drills. However, the hammer drill provides many small hammering actions at high speeds that may require some effort by the user to get through the material whereas the rotary hammer produces more power behind the hammering action and less input from the operator. Some basic rotary hammers only operate with the combined actions, but as you get into the higher end models they can often be set to rotate only, hammer only, or provide the combined action.

Many DIYers might never have a need for a rotary hammer, but if your home has a concrete or masonry foundation or you anticipate working on any projects that might have these conditions, the tool might save a lot of time and frustration. Drill bits have a tough time getting the sort of bite into concrete and masonry as they do into wood — the bits just spin and dull. However, a rotary hammer constantly drives the bit into the material while you’re making the hole.

Rotary hammers aren’t just for drilling holes – when set in the hammering only mode; they can be used with attachments to remove old flooring, ceramic tile, or even thin woods. You can use regular drill bits in rotary hammers, but it’s not recommended. The tools are normally used for drilling through materials that require specialty bits and due to the intense hammering action that can loosen a standard bit, there are special bit shafts designed for rotary hammers. The most common is the SDS design, but there are also others available – always make sure the bit design shaft is compatible with your rotary hammer before making an expensive bit purchase.

Types of Rotary Hammers

The primary differences between most rotary hammer models are their size, the size of their chuck, and whether they’re electric or battery powered. Since drilling through concrete and masonry isn’t a quick job – even with a rotary hammer – choosing a model that fits your grip and doesn’t cause fatigue can be an important consideration. Some models are also designed to reduce the amount of vibration that is transferred back to the operator. Larger chuck sizes offer more options when choosing bits and attachments for your rotary hammer.

Models that allow operation in all three modes – hammering, rotating, and combination – are desirable and variable speed control can also be an asset when drilling through a variety of materials.

Battery powered rotary hammers can be very convenient, but always choose a model with as much voltage as possible. Rotary hammers are normally used for big jobs and smaller battery powered models may not always have the oomph needed for your project.

Rotary Hammer Safety

Using a rotary hammer can be a very dirty and messy job with grit and debris flying everywhere so eye protection is mandatory and full coverage for your face and arms may be desirable. Depending on the material being drilled, a dust mask may also be recommended and ear protection is always necessary.