What Is A Hammer Drill Used For? Our List Of The Top Uses!

Last Updated On April 2, 2021 By Elliot

What Is a Hammer Drill & How Are They Used?

Hammer drills are essential tools for DIY enthusiasts thanks to their high level of power which can help you drill through any heavy-duty material that a typical drill can't.

Although small, these powerful drills can be used for drilling through concrete, masonry and other kinds of brick or stone with ease. They do this by using their rotary motion which is combined with a hammering action.

To understand more about hammer drills, the pros and cons of them and how we can use them, we have listed out a special guide below that will give you everything you need to know about hammer drills so as you can see if you need one for your DIY.

Let's get into it!

What Are Hammer Drills?

Let's start our guide by understanding what a hammer drill is. Hammer drills, as we mentioned above are a power tool, and are one of the best DIY construction tools out there if you ever find yourself needing to drill through materials like concrete.

The way this hammer drill works is by using hammer pulses from the back end of the device to help the rotating head move forwards, their power is measured in joules, and you can find lightweight to heavyweight models on the market, with the latter coming in use for heavy-duty construction projects.

Hammer drills additionally come with two power options; percussion or pneumatic. Percussion power on a hammer drill works with gears and discs to make a hammering and rotating action, pneumatic power on the other hand use electricity and compressed air to make this movement.

Why Should I Buy a Hammer Drill?

You should only get a hammer drill if you need it, for example, if you are a serious DIY, professional or construction worker who is often faced with tasks that require you to drill into rock and concrete, a hammer drill will massively benefit you, as normal drills with a masonry bit will still struggle with this job.

They also help you make large holes quickly, speeding up your workflow and improving accuracy.

Main Uses For a Hammer Drill

We mentioned a few uses for hammer drills above, but hammer drills can also be beneficial in other situations which you might not have considered, we have listed out the best uses for a hammer drill below.

  • Drilling in hard materials such as; masonry, concrete, stone or metal.
  • Chiselling - When set on the hammer only mode, hammer drills can assist in chiselling, not only drilling due to them being able to handle hard materials.
  • Demolition - Whether you are looking to tear down old structures or remove solid materials, a hammer drill can assist in demolition purposes.
  • Removing mortar - Hammer drills can be used to take out the mortar in between bricks quickly.
  • Useful for plumbing purposes when it comes to drilling pipes.

Types Of Hammer Drills On The Market

There is more than one type of hammer drill on the market to choose from, and depending on what power you need, you might prefer using one to the other for your work.

We have noted the different types of hammer drills below for you to look at.

Cordless Hammer Drills

These types of hammer drills have no power source needed as they get their drilling power from their batteries, they are best suited to people who are doing home DIY, don't need too much power and want to be able to move around with their drill. We would say cordless hammer drills are great for making a hole or two, but not for doing heavy-duty multiple hole drilling.

Corded Hammer Drills

Corded models are best for professional use as they have a more consistent speed of power and get the job done fast. These hammer drills will hold up to drilling multiple holes, you just need to ensure you are by a power source.

Dedicated Hammer Drills

This type of hammer drill is also called a rotary hammer and is the best one of all for drilling through hard materials such as stone, it has a handle on the side too and is often used by contractors for construction work.

What Is an SDS Rotary Hammer?

SDS rotary hammer drills are the more powerful version of the average hammer drill and come with a specialised drive system that makes the chuck of the drill hold on to the drill bits without losing in it in boreholes.

Choosing which features you need in a hammer drill can be a little overwhelming if it's your first time buying one, from different RPMs to drill bits, it's important to ensure that you get everything you need in your drill so as it can be of the best use to you and your work.

This SDS feature will also allow you to attach specialised bits for better hammering and drilling.

What To Look For In The Best Hammer Drill

We have put together some of the essential features to consider in your hammer drill below.

  • Drilling speed - One of the most important specs to consider in your hammer drill is speed, if you are after a heavy-duty hammer drill, make sure it has over 2000 RPM, for an average hammer drill you can look for 1200-1500 RPM. This speed should also be variable so as you can pick and choose when you want more or less power during drilling.
  • Modes - You should always check what operating modes come with your hammer drill, most have; chisel, drilling, hammer drilling, demolition and screw driving.
  • Type - Whether you choose a rotary hammer for extra power or a cordless hammer drill, ensure you go for the type that suits your work best.
  • Motor - The motor of your hammer drill will determine how well it can drill, this will be displayed in amps, so the higher the amps/torque the better the action.
  • SDS chuck - If you choose a rotary hammer, you need to ensure it comes with the right shank bits; SDS max, spline shank and SDS+.
  • Design - From side handles to large triggers, make sure your hammer is ergonomic and consider its weight if you will be using it for long periods with multiple drilling.
  • Self-tightening - Some of the best hammer drills have a self-tightening system that will make sure the drill bit of your hammer drill stays secure and tight despite any impact, saving you from having to re-tighten the bit constantly.
  • Drill bits - You should ensure you have the right drill bits for your hammer drill depending on what you are going to use it for, in terms of a rotary hammer drill you will have a choice between; core bits, chisel bits and twisted bits.
  • LED light - LED lighting on your hammer drill is a very important feature that can help you drill holes more accurately in low-light situations.
  • Impact - The impact of your drill will be measured in joules, you can also look at the BPM rating to see how powerful your drill is.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hammer Drill Uses

How does a hammer drill differ from a regular drill? 

Hammer drills allow you to deliver blows and drill simultaneously, regular drills only have a standard rotatory motion without a hammer function included.

What are some safety tips for using a hammer drill? 

Add lubrication to your drill to stop it from overheating, wear safety equipment such as goggles and hold on to the side handles for extra stability.

How much does a hammer drill cost?

This is variable to the model and brand that you buy but hammer drills will cost around £100-£300, the higher the motor, speed and impact, then the higher the price too!

Last Words

Overall, hammer drills are a must-have for any serious DIY user or contractor who is faced with drilling through hard materials often and wants a heavy-duty tool that can speed up their work, have good accuracy and get the job done. Always ensure you get a hammer drill with enough RPM and BPM for your work, for more professional uses, consider getting a rotary hammer due to its added power, ensure you wear safety equipment when using this power tool too.

Elliot

I'm Elliot Higgins the Founder of multiple hardware stores around the UK. I love wood and wood working. Watching a fine piece of pine or cedar turn into a work of art is extremely satisfying. The one thing I love more than woodworking is the toys that we use! On HandyToolsHome.com; we bring you information and reviews on all kinds of tools.

Post Information

Guide Views 946 Views
Last Updated On April 2, 2021

Author Information

Elliot

Related Posts

August 28, 2021

Can A Hammer Drill Be Used As A Regular Drill? Here's What You Need To Know..

Is It Possible To Use a Hammer Drill For Regular Drilling? Buying a hammer drill is a great investment if […]
No Comments
August 28, 2021

What Is A Circular Saw Used For? Our Guide On The Top Uses in 2021!

What Materials Can You Cut With A Circular Saw - are Some Easier To Cut? Circular saws are a common […]
No Comments
August 28, 2021

How to Change A Circular Saw Blade? Our Step-By-Step Guide 2021

How Do You Change A Blade On A Circular Saw Without A Lock? All you need to do is to […]
No Comments
August 28, 2021

How To Cut Laminate Shelving With A Circular Saw? Our Guide!

Can You Cut Laminate Shelving With a Circular Saw? (Our Step By Step Guide) Cutting laminate veneer particle boards with […]
No Comments
August 28, 2021

How To Clean Circular Saw Blades Effectively (& Safely!)

Over time, cutting different materials with your circular saw can cause material build-up from wood and plastic, this leftover debris […]
No Comments
August 28, 2021

Can You Cut Tile With A Circular Saw? (Without Chipping)

Our Top Guide To Cutting Tile With a Circular Saw Tile material is not the easiest type of material to […]
No Comments
August 28, 2021

Why Does My Circular Saw Keep Stopping? Some Possible Reasons..

Our Troubleshooting Guide To Why Your Circular Saw Keeps Stopping Even though a circular saw is one of the toughest […]
No Comments
August 28, 2021

How To Rip Narrow Boards With A Circular Saw.. Find Out Here!

Our Guide To Ripping Narrow Boards With a Circular Saw Ripping narrow bits of wood boards with a circular saw […]
No Comments
August 28, 2021

Will A Mitre Saw Cut Metal? Here's Some Things To Know..

Can I Use a Mitre Saw To Cut Metal? (Our Best Guide!) Mitre saws are an excellent tool for woodworking, […]
No Comments
August 28, 2021

How To Cut Coving Corners With A Mitre Saw? Our Guide!

Our Best Guide To Cutting Coving Corners With a Mitre Saw The idea of cutting pieces of coving with a […]
No Comments
1 2 3 7

One comment on “What Is A Hammer Drill Used For? Our List Of The Top Uses!”

  1. Great article! I’m reading up on hammer drill and their used and this is the easiest and most informative I've come across so far.

    Keep up the good posting.. Elliot

    Thanks

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

HandyToolsHome.com

HandyToolsHome.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk & Amazon.com.
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram