What Is a Hammer Drill?
Hammer drills are tools designed for tasks like removing wall tiles and drilling holes in concrete. Being capable of destroying concrete, these drills are powerful devices frequently seen at construction sites.
A hammer drill operates by applying a vertical impact force, gradually breaking through hard concrete areas.
Uses of Hammer Drills
Primarily used for breaking concrete and other structures, hammer drills are essential for tasks like “patching.” They are also employed for drilling large holes in concrete where vibration drills are insufficient and preparing surfaces for plugs and anchors.
Available in both rechargeable and corded versions, rechargeable hammer drills have limited power durations and are suitable for smaller tasks like drilling in concrete walls. Corded types, utilizing 100 V voltage, are preferred for uninterrupted power supply and are more user-friendly.
Principle of Hammer Drills
The effectiveness of a hammer drill lies in its tip, the chisel, which directly contacts and destroys the concrete. The chisel’s tip must be sharp and made of very hard special steel material to ensure effective hammering.
When using a hammer drill for pre-drilled holes, it’s crucial to use drill bits specifically designed for hammer drills.
As drilling or pre-drilling generates dust and concrete fragments, safety measures like masks, safety glasses, work gloves, and earplugs are essential.
How to Use a Hammer Drill
Hammer drills can be operated in rotary-only mode, blow-only mode, or a combination of both. In rotary mode, it functions like a normal electric drill, suitable for hard materials like concrete and mortar, but not for metal or wood.
When equipped with an earth auger drill, it can drill holes in the ground. Hammer drills are preferred over pistol-type electric drills for drilling large holes due to their stability and dual-hand operation.
For hauling, attach a dedicated tip fitting to perform patching work on concrete and tiles. Various tip fittings are available for different applications.
With a shovel attachment, hammer drills can dig into hard soil that is challenging to shovel by hand, useful for large-area and deep digging tasks.
For surface roughing of concrete, an attached shovel can create an uneven surface to enhance bonding between concrete and coatings or waterproofing materials.
When equipped with a core drill, hammer drills are capable of core drilling to create circular holes in concrete.
Other Information on Hammer Drills
Hammer drill bits come in three mounting standards: Hexagonal Shaft, SDS Plus Shaft, and SDS-MAX Shaft, each with specific applications and not interchangeable. Hexagonal shafts are suitable for medium to large drilling and are often used in high-power models. SDS-MAX and SDS-Plus shafts, developed by Bosch, are used for small to large drilling, offering less power loss. SDS-MAX shafts are robust and suitable for medium to large drilling.
All shanks come in various diameter sizes, so it’s important to check the shank type and diameter before purchasing.