Broken chuck on SDS drill

If I decide to replace the Ferm I'll go for another budget model, probably from Screwfix again. For my (mainly demolition-based) purposes I really don't need anything more high-end than that.

that would make no sense

NT

Yup if all you are doing is knocking stuff down, it will be less of an issue. I tend to use mine for things were a bit of refinement and control make the difference between a job done well enough, and a big ugly hole in a wall ;-)

Aren't pneumatic chisels somewhat easier to use when doing back boxes, etc. if you have one?

You can get a lot more power into one than a hand held electric tool without them overheating.

They are dirt cheap if you already have a decent compressor.

Not tried to be fair... but lack of power is not typically a problem with doing a back box - control and accuracy matter more.

Air tools are a bit of a mixed bag IME. Can be very good in the workshop when a decent compressor is to hand, but not usually worth the hassle for job site work.

How long does it take you to chase out a back box?

But a decent compressor would need lugging around. And one with enough power for air tools is going to be large and heavy.

My SDS is a truly ancient DeWalt one - one of the first affordable lightweight types with roto stop. Cheaper ones came along, but it's still a good combination of power and manageability.

As I realised immediately I posted.

Serious question, though, I havn't needed to do any chasing for some time, are the modern better quality SDS drills good for that? I tend to use an angle grinder for cable chasing, and just a cold chisel for removing tiles. I'd find my Ferm (which I think is about 4kg, it's the type with the motor axis parallel to the handle rather than the drill axis) a bit heavy for removing tiles, at least from walls.

For chisel work I find my 2kg class machine gets by far the lions share of the work.

I have a 8kg SDS Max machine that I managed to pick up from Wicks for a ridiculous price[1], plus a full on 15kg hex shank breaker they I needed to buy for a one off job. They probably get used once every two years at most.

That's mainly what I bought my 2gk one for, although the hole drilling was very useful too. Both of which is does very well while weighing very little more than a decent mains drill.

I tend to avoid an angle grinder if possible indoors due to the mess.

That I found the problem with a powerful SDS. I've not found my small one lacking in power for drilling holes, and I don't do much path breaking up.

on 06/08/2018, Bert Coules supposed :

It will not work for two reasons...

1. Any rigid glue will rapidly break up with the vibration.
2. The chuck has to allow the bit to move inside the chuck, to hammer it. Rigid= no hammer action.