Rotary hammer pounds the drill to and fro while spinning hence delivering greater impact and powerful blow to the job. They have an oil-filled gearbox which allows them to operate well despite the shocks. They utilise piston mechanism over clutch and can be used for small chipping jobs.
The best rotary hammers are listed below.
10. Makita Rotary Hammer ($199.99)
This is Makita’s 3-mode, Variable speed rotary hammer with a 4.5 inches angle grinder. The unit features a powerful 8-ampere motor which delivers 2.1 ft.lbs of energy to the job being done. The anti-vibration technology reduces the vibrations during the work and the integrated damper spring at the base is engineered to absorb impact vibrations. The tool hook secures the tool when not in use. The unit is made to the level of using it professionally hence has a nice and sturdy feel to it.
Available here.
9. Chicago Electric Rotary Hammer ($94.00)
This is a variable speed SDS rotary hammer used to drill precise holes and can be utilised extensively for heavy duty drilling. It comes with a demolition hammer for cutting and breaking. The powerful 10-ampere motor along with the impact rate of 0-3900 BPM allows this device to do the heavy duty work. It works as advertised and comes with an instructions manual.
“God bless Chicago Electric Power Tools. I got this Rotary hammer as a gift two weeks ago. It is so durable and useful. It drills and breaks concrete as cheese! I am so happy with this tool.” – Amazon’s Customer Review.
Available here.
8. Ryobi Rotary Hammer ($104.88)
This is Ryobi’s 18V SDS rotary hammer. The unit allows the user to select three different modes, i.e., rotary hammer, rotational drilling and chisel-only mode. It does not come with a battery and has an integrated LED light which increases the visibility of the working area. The sturdy and compact design produce up to 5000 BPM to hammer. The innovative chisel adjusting mode can be used to set the bit to the most optimal position. A good buy!
“Bought the rotary hammer because I needed something to drill through concrete. And, out of nowhere, it seems a like a million other projects have popped up since then. This thing went through the concrete above like butter. I also used it to drill a couple of holes in a metal wall unit. It worked well on that too (be wary, it gets deafening with the metal on metal). Everything I’ve thrown at it, it’s done quickly. Try using a regular drill, regardless of the bit, for an hour or so. Then, try this rotary hammer for ten seconds. You will be amazed at the difference. The only caveat though is that the machine goes through battery rather quickly. Make sure you’ve got a couple charging if you’re doing a big job.” – Amazon’s Customer Review.
Available here.
7. Milwaukee Rotary Hammer ($583.69)
This is Milwaukee’s 18V Cordless Li-ion, 7/8 inches SDS rotary hammer kit. Easy to use, durable and delivers 1.8 ft.lbs of torque. It has a mechanical clutch which secures the tool when not in use and when the bit binds up. The anti-vibration system (AVS) allows minimum vibration to get through to the user. It has three modes of operation, and Variable position chisel stop allows steel to be adjusted for work in any orientation.
“We have two of these drills. They’re light weight, easy to use, and the battery lasts for a decent amount of time. Don’t expect to drill 1″ holes all day long, but for up to 3/4 it’s fantastic.” – Amazon’s Customer Review.
Available here.
6. Dewalt Rotary Hammer ($184.98)
This is Dewalt’s D-handle, SDS rotary hammer with shocks. This unit allows 3 Joules of impact energy on the job and lets the powerful 8.5-ampere motor do the job. The active vibration control reduces the vibrations felt by the user, and the Integral clutch reduces sudden and high torque reactions. The rotating brush ring delivers full torque in forward and reverse. You can also buy it in 1 as well as 1 1/8 inches.
“Great drill! The other half amp motor gives it just enough extra to beat the other drills of the same size. Has more rpm also. Excellent price too. I would highly recommend this unit to anyone looking for such a tool.” – Amazon’s Customer Review.
Available here.
5. Makita Rotary Hammer ($276.05)
This is Makita’s 1 9/16 inches SDS rotary hammer with a powerful 10-ampere motor which delivers up to 2500 BPM for the most demanding applications. The torque lining clutch is engineered to prevent gear damage by automatically disengaging gears if the bit binds. The sequential impact timing delivers timed hammering during rotation to minimise overlapping bit impacts resulting in faster drilling. The 12-bit angle settings allow the bit to be set at different positions for operating convenience, and the Automatic brush cut-off protects commutator from damage for longer tool life. It has a 2-mode operation for “Hammering Only” or “Hammering with Rotation”.
“I bought this model after spending $100 on a two-day rental of a larger 11 lb model (Makita) at the orange big box store. Realising I had at least 3-5 days more work to do, I figured it made sense to purchase. The job is stripping clay tile and thin-set mortar from my 500 square foot kitchen/dining area to make way for hardwood flooring to be installed next week. This unit, a 3″ chisel bit (to remove the clay tile) and then a floor stripping bit (another $200!) and I’m well on my way to completion. A very solid unit.” – Amazon’s Customer Review.
Available here.
4. Hitachi Rotary Hammer ($89.99)
This is Hitachi’s 7/8 inches SDS rotary hammer with a relatively powerful 5.4-ampere motor which provides fast drilling and has two modes for selection i.e., drill only and hammer-drilling. This is a compact, light in weight hammer which can be used extremely well for in nooks and crannies. It has slip clutches to prevent damaged gears. Great drill.
“I’ve been in construction for almost 30 years. Very nice drill for the money. Very powerful. I like that it came with a plastic case for storing additional bits. Also keeps it from getting beat up in the work truck. Depth gauge can be handy, but I don’t use it. Mostly drilling sizes up 3/8″ with this drill. I have a Bosch hammer drill for bigger stuff. Some other reviews say it’s loud. Come on guys; this is a power tool. Use it mostly for drilling 1/4″ holes for anchors in concrete. Had a previous drill by another manufacturer that used SDS bits. Pop in pop out easy. No Jacobs key to turn other drill types. I would recommend this drill to anyone.” – Amazon’s Customer Review.
Available here.
3. Hiltex Rotary Hammer ($70.98)
This is Hiltex’s 1 1/2 inches SDS rotary hammer drill with a high performance 1000Watts and 5 ft.lbs torque motor to deliver the heavy duty projects well. It has 3 functions: hammer only (chiseling-only), hammer drill (hammering and rotation), and drill only (rotation only). It has a capacity of 1-1/2″ for concrete and 1″ for steel and can swivel 360 degrees to provide maximum control and comfort.
“Item came well packaged and as fully described in it’s listing. I ordered this to remove some beautiful marble tile in my master bathroom, that unfortunately was damaged beyond salvage when a pipe burst (not to mention whoever installed it did it right on the subfloor)….I tried the old hammer and chisel method initially without much luck. Now to let you know, I don’t fancy myself one of those DIY experts, nor have I ever used hammer drill before, so take my opinion for what it’s worth. This tool is big, heavy, and doesn’t seem too cheaply made, but I went in with the rationale that if I spend $67 on a tool that gets through this job, then I’ll be satisfied. I actually went to Lowe’s and purchased a different chisel that was apparently made for tile, it fit, but didn’t work as well as the one that came with the hammer drill, so I’ll be taking that back. Plugged it in, and the stock flat chisel went through some dense marble like it was butter, so I am pretty pleased with it’s performance thus far.” – Amazon’s Customer Review.
Available here.
2. Bosch Rotary Hammer ($242.18)
This is Bosch’s 1 1/8 inches SDS rotary hammer with an exceptional power to weight ratio of 8.0 amps, 2.6 ft-lbs torque and weighs only 7.7 lbs. The vibration control controls the transfer of it to your hand for a firm grip and comfortable working. It has three modes of operation: Rotary Hammer, Hammer-Only mode, and Rotation only mode. The Integral clutch -helps minimise torque reactions and the variable speed 3-finger trigger allows a better operator control and accurate bit starting.
“Needed a hammer drill to bore a few holes in concrete, nothing super heavy duty, just a middle of the line hammer drill. This drill meets all these requirements and quite quickly got the job done. Rated 8 Amps there is little chance of tripping a 15 amp breaker. A medium duty extension can be used; the SDS-plus bits are not too expensive. The auxiliary handle can be adjusted with a twist, the depth gauge can be retracted, the variable speed is built into the on/off trigger. The reverse switch is a plus if/when bits get stuck and flips to either position verily quickly. The multi-function switch has three selections, rotation with hammer, hammer only or rotation only. With the purchase of an SDS-Plus shaft chuck, the drill will work as a regular drill with three teeth 1/2 inch chuck so standard wood boring drill bits can be used. The SDS-plus bits fit comfortably into the drill with just twist and push. A small tube of lubricant is included in the case to be applied to the slots on the SDS bit. A pull down on the chuck releases the bit. It has an integral clutch to minimise torque reaction. This high-quality hammer drill meets all requirements without breaking the bank.” – Amazon’s Customer Review.
Available here.
1. Bosch Rotary Hammer ($179.00)
This is also a Bosch’s 11255VSR 1 inches SDS Plus, D-handle rotary hammer. It also has three modes of operation and different lock positioning rotates and locks chisel into 36 different positions to optimise working angles. It has a powerful 7.5-ampere motor, and the Patented rotating brush plate provides equal power in forward and reverse. The clutching mechanism works well and for the power, the drill works well.
“I am in the construction business, and I can tell anyone who is looking at this product that it is truly an indispensable tool. It drills through brick and concrete with ease. It is relatively light for its power and size and is very easy and comfortable to use. At this price point, you cannot do any better. Highly recommended.” – Amazon’s Customer Review.
Available here.
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