My adult son, the amateur handyman, told me he would like a hammer drill for Xmas. I asked him what brand/size/model/style/color/etc and he said he didn't know enough to make an intelligent choice. So, I'm asking you guys to see if there is any consensus on what to get.
All serious comments and recommendations appreciated.
Thanks.
HILTI
I love my Milwaukee hammer drill and can reccomend it. I also have a cordless Bosch 24V hammer drill, it is OK. I advise buying a corded hammer drill before considering the numerous cordless options. Many companies make a well built drill but Milwaukee has been the standard bearer for many years.
I have seem the Hilti mentioned on this forum before but I don't see it anywhere else. Who stocks and sells them ????
Dewalt is worth looking at, also. (I'm not disagreeing with the other posters.)
I've had Hilti's that I liked a lot, but to expensive. I use a Bosch now that works well and wasn't to expensive
Saw a Hilti sales area at a home depot. Call ahead before going.
later,
tom @
I think it was "CWLee" who stated:
I have a Bosch. I've NEVER been disappointed with any Bosch power tool.
know
So far everyone has mentioned a brand (with no apparent concensus) but nothing has been said about size/type/style. (Other than to suggest avoiding a battery pack model.) Maybe those aren't significant variables? I'd be surprised if there is not at least a size variation - either in the size of the bit that it will accept, or the HP of the motor.
Keep those informative suggestions flowing! :-)
Yes! Go one step better, and buy a small rotohammer with the SDS bits. Fergeddabout HILTI, as those bits will cost waaaaaaaaaaay more than they are worth. SDS are available everywhere, and at a fraction of the cost. Fraction as in 1/3, 1/4, 1/5.
A small rotohammer, like a Milwaukee with a decent capacity should run you around $200, IIRC. Maybe even more like $150. Tons of difference when push comes to shove and you have to drill 50 half inch holes in 5 sack mix. Everything less cuts like warm butter.
DO NOT get the cordless. You want a workhorse, and batteries won't cut it, and they are very spendy to replace.
Overbuy on this one for the times when a rotohammer outdistances a hammer drill like a dragster leaves a Volkswagen. It has to do with the hammering/rotating pattern/sequence of a rotohammer versus a hammer drill.
Hilti is a quality product, but why go spend $50 on a bit you can buy in SDS for $15 at the Borg?
Take it from me. I was a steel erection contractor, and burned many a hole in the hard hard concrete of government projects before I ever became aware of the difference between a rotohammer and a hammer drill. I had a Makita hammer drill, and thought it was hot stuff. Yes, it was a good hammer drill, but not against hard concrete or aggregate. A contractor lent me his Milwaukee Blackhawk (?) or something like that, and what took five minutes of sweating with the Makita took thirty seconds with the rotohammer. A hammer drill will eventually go through hard aggregate, or burn up the bit. A rotohammer will fracture hard aggregate and concrete easily, using percussion instead of high speed carbide cutting. I have pulled red hot bits out of concrete with a hammer drill.
Let us know how it goes.
You asked for advice, and that's what I'd buy and why.
Steve
Hilti rapes you on the bits.
Steve
Unless, of course, you are actually going to use the thing. In which case, the cheapo variety will burn out/wear out instantly.
Steve
I've owed the Harbor Freight hammer drill for nearly two years. I use it every week or so and am very happy with it. I even use it for driving screws. Can't beat the price -- even if it dies tomorrow.
Well I don't know what he is going to be doing with it so I can only suggest what I know. I use it for 3/32 adn 3/16 inch bits and I bought the cheapo from Menards for $29.99 with a three year replacement gaurantee. I did have to take the first one back after 6 months the switch didn't turn off any more I had to plug unplug until I could get to the store and exchange it. I took it back to Menards and left the drill and reciept at the exchange counter went to the tool department and brought the same one back to the exchange desk and they looked at the model number and said OK and handed me my reciept and the box and off I went. The new unit has been flawless for what I do with it. I just use small Tap-Con screws in concrete to hold shelves and when I was doing my basement the sill plates. The unit is 1/3 hp and has a keyed chuck and can be used as a normal drill by sliding a lever over to non impact, that is handy as well as this is my only corded drill so I can use it for other things as well. So that might be a feature to look for as well???
Good luck, Rich
My chicago cheapo broke after one year and no longer hammers, but it still drills just fine. It sound like the cheapest one you find at home depot will work for him just fine.
shelf or something like that, a little hammer drill is fine. if he is drilling in lots of 5/8" expansion bolts into concrete (like hanging a deck ledger) , then he might like a bigger rotohammer with a sds shank. up a step and you can get a rotohammer that both drills concrete and hammers for light demo. finally, if he needs to drill holes 1" plus through foundation walls, you better get the hilti. so we don't really know what he needs it for.
I have used a number of brands...Hilti, Bosch, Hitachi, Milwaukee. other than the Hilti, which is a cut above, but expensive, none of the others really stand out. they all work. I don't think you should get a really cheap one though--that's just an insult.
I have to agree. If his son is an amateur handyman he should already have a hammer drill. A roto hammer is the way to go and the 1" SDS roto hammer at Harborfreight is cheaper than most name brand hammer drills. I bought one as a throw away toy for couple of projects but it lasted over two years and still going strong. The Harborfreight drill through 7" 40 year old very hard concrete to sink in a fence post. Only thing I could not do was bust out the concrete (don't think the Hilti could do either), had to bring in my jack hammer.
If money is no object than a Hilti or a Milwaukee. If he wants top-of-the-line cordless hammer drill, check out Panasonic:
I was going to skip this thread based on the number of replies until I saw your second post.
It really depends on what he wants to do with it. I have a 3/8" chuck Makita that I bought 10 years ago for way too much money. It does a wonderful job for 1/4" or smaller holes. I keep it on the truck for use as needed in commercial jobs or basements when I need to make a small hole in concrete or block. Excellent for tapcon screws or anchors.
Last year I bought a Harbor Freight roto-hammer for making larger holes when I needed to make some bigger holes. I paid about 1/2 what I paid for the Makita. Excellent for 3/8-1" holes in brick, concrete or block.
Both tools are designed to do different jobs. They both do their "proper" job well.
Stay away from battery power. They just won't do the job. I use a battery model all day every day for drilling and screwing. I would never use one for hammer drilling.
Corded and small any name brand variable speed should be fine for normal anchoring in concrete, brick or block.
Holes for rebar or water lines through brick, block or concrete you need a roto-hammer spline type bit with the low rpm motor. For occasional use a $60, on sale, model will work just fine. For everyday use you are looking at several hundred dollars.
Colbyt
HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.