Hi,
My husband asked for a hammerdrill for Christmas. I had never even heard of one before he mentioned the word(s?). I've tried to do some research but as usual, there are way too many suspects even within one single brand.
I think I'm looking for a cordless 18 volt hammerdrill. Certainly no larger. The three names that keep popping up are DeWalt, Bosch, and Milwaukee.
I welcome any suggestions for specific models and where to buy them (online if necessary).
TIA, Jeanne
Hilti should pop up on that list as well since they are pretty much the best of the best. Rather overkill for home use though. Makita also has a decent hammer drill.
I'd tend to avoid cordless for several good reasons:
1) A hammer drill is an infrequently used tool for home use. Batteries tend to die if they aren't used regularly.2) Cordless costs a lot more and provides little benefit unless you are a contractor doing a big commercial job.
3) Corded models are lighter and generally more powerful.Pete C.
(Yes, I have a Hilti hammer drill (TM7SVSR) for home use, but I'm nuts)
Pick one, you won't go wrong.
SFWIW, I had a standard 1/2", 18VDC, DeWalt Drill that saw a lot of service in the 10 years before it was stolen.
Had to replace the batteries, but that was it.
Lew
I never had Milwaukee, but very familiar with Porter Cable and Dewalt, got a bosch hammer dril a few years ago, corded heavy duty Bull Dog for about $200 which is good for heavy use and not for shop at all. If he is using for Shop, I would get a 18V Bosch, I have two 14V not hummer and love them, quick recharch and lots of power. 18V HD would be the best I would buy. But you do not go wrong with Porter-Cable and or Makita (I say makita because I like it more than other names like Milwaukee and DeWalt). Good Lock MaxEN
I've owned the Milwaukee 18 volt hammer drill for about two and a half years or so. So far, no problems with the batteries.... it recharges FAST and seems to hold a charge for a very long time.
I have no doubt your husband would be very pleased to find one of these under his tree at Christmas:
I have the MIlwaukee version and recently upgraded to the V18 LiOn batteries and love it. Plenty of power for home use. If it is for work, I would recommend the Hilti.
I've got one of the first deWalt 18v hammerdrills and it's lovely. It's one of the few tools that I can recommend to someone completely without reservation. The newer ones with the 3 speed gearboxes (mine has 2) should be even better.
Big question--does he have other 18v cordless tools--if so then if there's no reason to do otherwise it's best to buy into the same system so that the batteries are interchangeable.
Among the dewalts the 925KA is the current model that I'd go for but if you find a good deal on a 988KA which is last year's model it should be fine.
As far as places to buy go, is a very reliable source for portable power tools (they're a brick and mortar store that also runs an internet business).
Second the recommendation for Coastal Tool, an excellent place. I used to work fairly close to their store (both the old one with no parking and the new one) and it was a frequent stop when I went out to lunch (I'm now 1,700 miles away). In fact I just got a couple gift certificates from them for holiday presents to send to friends.
Pete C.
For Jeannie's edification; A hammer drill is one that can be switched from a normal drill that rotates the drill bit to one that in addition to rotating the drill bit also moves the bit in and out a bit. This is helpful when drilling through concrete and the like.
Don Dando
Thanks. I knew Porter Cable was overkill (and pricey) for what my husband does (home shop) - that's why I didn't mention PC (or Makita).
Jeanne
Ah. Good point. I'll check.
If I can assume that what he wants is a fairly heavy duty cordless drill with the hammer feature (as opposed to a dedicated hammerdrill), then I can recommend the DeWalt 18V RXP unit for home shop use. I am also sure that the others mentioned would be great for this use. Just so you know, what I am talking about is a cordless drill with a setting that turns the hammer feature on or off as needed and would mostly be used for regular drilling and screw driving and periodically used for heavy work in masonry, etc. with the hammer feature. If he already owns a cordless drill or two and really wants a dedicated hammerdrill that will be heavily used, then I can't give you any advice other than the maintenance guys at work "demand" Hilti drills for that kind of stuff and for core drilling - big $$$$$.
Dave Hall
I have a corded Bosch hammer drill that I got for about $160 a few years ago at Sears. It is perfect for home shop work - not too big, plenty of power, inexpensive. I agree with the earlier post saying that a hammer drill is not the best candidate for cordless. A Hammer Drill usually isn't used all that often, and when it is used, you want all the power you can get.
On the other hand, if your husband already has a few cordless tools with batteries bigger than 14 volts, then it would make sense to get the same brand/battery size as the existing tools so that the batteries and charger can be shared. This would make for an even better gift, because he'd have a new tool, AND extra batteries for tools he already has.
Mike
Dave Hall wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:
Impact driver is what I think you were trying to describe, Dave. I started to respond when Jeanne first posted, then backed off. All I know about is the impact driver.
I have a 12v Bosch, and like it al lot. Used it quite a bit in assembling the kitchen I'm building for my daugher-in-law, as well as a lot of other places. Drives screws reliably and fast, without serious wear and tear on the shoulder and elbows. Not too heavy, and not too hard on the Visa card, either.
Patriarch
Tue, Dec 5, 2006, 5:22pm snipped-for-privacy@comcast.net (Jeanne) doth posteth: Hi, My husband asked for a hammerdrill for Christmas.
Then I'd buy him a gift card, or give him cash. Or, if you want to buy it for him, I'd say ask exactly what he wants, so he'll get exactly what he wants.
I'll be 66 soon, and my mother still buys me things for my birthday, Christmas, etc., that I wouldn't buy for myself at a discount at a yard sale. She never bothers to ask first. The only way Iget anything I actually can use and want, besides new underwear, is if I tell her specifically what I want. She even buys me the wrong aftershave. I give my sons money, green goes with anything, and that way I know damn well they'll be getting something they can use.
JOAT I am, therefore I think.
I'd also like to throw the name Metabo into the discussion. Metabo make
*excellent* drills and hammerdrills, corded and cordless. I've had Metabo corded (hammer)drills for 32 years now and they've all been top notch. Wouldn't buy anything else. (Considering that a Hilti would be over the top for my needs, that is).-Peter
Not meaning to hijack this thread, but last year I switched all my drilling operations to cordless impact drills. I have a Dewalt and a Ryobi, and I love them equally. They get used every day. My question is: has anybody tried hammerdrilling with them? The chucks of impact drills only hold 1/4 inch hex drills or bits, but I haven't seen any cement bits other than round, making it impossible to chuck in impact drills. Anybody have any experience with trying to drill in cement with an impact drill?
On topic, I have a very old Skil hammerdrill that I just happened to need to use last week. It's 20+ years old and has been used lightly, but it still works very well. I inherited it from my Dad.
gw
What in the name of God is an "impact drill"? Are you talking about one of these things? ? If so, that's not a drill and is not sold as a drill and the manufacturer makes no assertion that it is usable as a drill.
I suppose if you put a hex-shank drill bit in it it will drill holes but I can't imagine tossing a purpose-made drill to use one of those to drill holes.
As to using it on concrete, Sears has some hex-shank masonry bits that should fit, but I'd be very surprised if it worked very well--a hammer drill hammers on the end of the bit--torque is not the issue.
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