What Is a Hammer Drill?

what is a hammer drill

photo: amazon

With a hammer drill, you can drill into concrete, brick, and stone, among other things. It works the same way as a jackhammer but can use more force. Any item can be drilled with ease with a hammer drill. Don't forget that this isn't good for driving screws. Hammer drills can be rotary or coded, for example. You can even find a cordless drill. It is a valuable tool that can be used for many different things. A hammer drill is also powerful and can have speeds that can be changed.

When to use hammer drills

A hammer drill can be used to drill into hard materials. It makes anchor bolts, concrete screws, and wall plugs well. A hammer drill is perfect for electricians and other professionals who need to make holes in different surfaces quickly. Because it is easy to use, it can be used for heavy-duty and occasional drilling like our Dewalt hammer drill.

Benefits of hammer drills

photo: amazon

Drilling holes

The best way to use a hammer drill is to make holes in different materials and surfaces. You can use it to drill holes in things like concrete or brick. By doing this, you will save yourself time and work.

Uses rotational force

A hammer drill uses rotational force when it drills or drives screws. This rotational force gives it a powerful pounding effect that makes it work just like a jackhammer.

Drawbacks of hammer drills

Heavy and bulk

A hammer drill is heavy and more extensive than an impact driver. This will let you take breaks while working with a great tool.

Strong vibration

Another problem with a hammer drill is that it vibrates a lot. When you work, the vibration will make you feel uncomfortable.

Slow

A hammer drill moves at a pretty slow speed. Because it is powerful and significant, it usually works slowly. Even so, compared to an impact driver, it saves you time.

Costs and things to expect from a hammer drill

$50 to $100. In this price range, hammer drill motors have between 6 and 8 amps. Suitable for making holes up to 1/2 inch in block, mortar, brick, and other light masonry. These drills can also make holes in concrete, but they do it slowly.
$100 to $150. In this price range, hammer drills have motors that range from 7 to 10 amps. Suitable for making holes up to 5/8 in. deep in concrete and light masonry.
$150 to $225. In this price range, rotary hammers have motors that range from 7 to 10 amps and can deliver 1.5 to 3 ft-lbs of impact energy. Suitable for making holes in concrete and light masonry up to 1 in. It can also be used as a hammer to break up small pieces of concrete, remove mortar, and chisel tile.
Over $225. In this price range, rotary hammers have an impact energy of more than ten ft-lbs and can drill 1-3/4 in. Holes all day long. They cost between $400 and $800, but you can rent one for about $60 daily.

Tips for drilling into concrete

photo: amazon

Drill a smaller hole first

Start with a smaller hole if you need to drill a few spots bigger than your drill can handle. This will significantly affect how hard the training has to work. Also, smaller bits don't move around as much as bigger ones, which is helpful when drilling a hole in a specific spot.

Clear the debris

The flutes on a drill bit are designed to pull up the debris from the hole as you drill, but the best way to clear the gap is to occasionally pull the bit out of the hole as you're shooting. Less debris in the pit reduces friction, which means smoother drilling, less chance of binding, and longer-lasting drill bits.

Don't try too hard

There's a "sweet spot" where the proper rpm combined with the correct pressure drills fastest. But you won't find that sweet spot if you push down as hard as you can. Putting too much pressure on the training will slow it down and cause the motor gears to wear out faster than they need to. Plus, you'll break bits.

Avoid over drilling

Most hammer drills and rotary hammers are sold with a side handle and depth stop. Use them to help yourself out. It's okay to burn up time and bits by drilling deeper holes than you need to. And you don't always want to dig through a concrete block to its hollow core—some plastic anchors need a back to stop them, or they will get pushed right through the hole.

FAQs

What makes a hammer drill different from a regular drill?

A hammer drill adds a mechanism that makes the drill chip as it drills, but it doesn't add much weight or length. Based on our tests, you can drill through concrete about 25% faster for an extra $10–$20.

Can I use a hammer drill as a regular drill?

Can you use a hammer drill like a normal drill? Most can, but you have to make sure to turn off the hammer action. This feature is made for drilling holes in concrete, brick, masonry, etc., and it pushes a certain type of drill bit into the surface.

What can you do with a hammer drill?

A hammer drill has a hammering action that gives it more power. The hammer drill's force is directly put on the bit. Most of the time, they are used to drill holes in concrete and brick. You can turn off the hammering part of this motion, which makes the tool work more like a regular drill.

Conclusion

So, do you know what a hammer drill is and how to use it? We hope that this article will help you to choose the right tool. When you have the right tool, you can save time and effort.

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