Replies

1. 
   alias | Jun 21, 2003 02:05am | #1

   for the more bang for your buck category- the bosch bulldog-,7/8" ,#11224vsrk . for the money i've yet to find one for 219.00. just today i bang 13 holes 3/4" around 10" deep was setting 3/4" foundation pins. took around 1/2 hour with a couple of breaks. just my 2¢.... bear

1. 
   NCLaquer | Jun 22, 2003 05:41am | #8

   What's the difference... between a rotory hammer and a hammer drill?  I've never used a rotory hammer.

   Thanks

1. 
   MisterT | Jun 22, 2003 01:38pm | #9

   A rotary hammer is bigger and badder, and more expensive, but will last forever.

   RH's only take splined bits unless I'm mistaken.

   HD is a lighter duty all purpose tool, can be used for drilling wood or metal as well & has a standard chuck.

   Hd's will run 175-250$

   RH's will be 250$+

   A HD will drill or hammer-drill

   A RH will hammer drill or hammer, no drill only mode.

   OK Boys did I miss any thing??Mr T

   Do not try this at home!

   I am an Experienced Professional!

1. 
   mitch | Jun 22, 2003 05:22pm | #10

   it seems the bosch catalog draws the line between hammer drills and rotary hammers by the type of chuck.  the former have standard keyed (never keyless) jacobs type drill chucks while the latter have sds, sds+, sds max, or spline drive chucks which are designed for use with specialized bit shanks that won't walk out of the chuck or come loose under vibration.  these tend to be (much) more heavy duty units as well.

   i use a bosch bulldog w/ sds+ chuck but also have their adaptor chuck which has an sds+ shank with a heavy duty keyed chuck for using regular straight shank bits like the ones that come in boxes of tapcon screws.  the adaptors run about $40 new, less on ebay.  sometimes you find one up for auction included with the drill.

   one more suggestion- get a 3-mode model- drilling only, drilling w/ impact, and impact only.  with some chisel points, the impact only function can come in mighty handy for light chipping operations like opening up a too small stub up hole in a basement bathroom floor.

   m

2. 
   alias | Jun 22, 2003 06:38pm | #11

   NC- mr t. gave you the basic low-down, also a hammer-drill bit is secured in a traditional chuck, the rotary hammer has a sds chuck with a bits specifically dedicated for that bit. sds bits dont slip at all and can handle heavy duty tasks. hammer drills bit are traditional bits and are more affordable .the chucks dont usually over a 1/2". which limits the bit herego the task.i have both i've already told you about the bosch, my hammer drill is a metabo which is got all the bells and whistles on it .honestly the more on it the more can go wrong with it. keep it simple variable speed is important perhaps actuated by the trigger. good luck....b

   p.s. just saw the above response, it's all there.......

   Edited 6/22/2003 11:41:07 AM ET by the bear

1. 
   NCLaquer | Jun 22, 2003 07:14pm | #12

   T/Mitch/Bear -- Thanks for outlining the distinctions between the HD and the RH.  It sound like if I already have a quality drill (I have the 1/2" Magnum Hole Shooter), and I want to minimize tool duplication, I should skip the HD, spend a few extra $, and buy a Bosch Bulldog.  The Bulldog is only $20 more than I was planning to spend on the Magnum HD and it sounds like it will do all and want and them some.  It sounds like the only negative is more expensive bits?

   I mentioned that my need is for home remodeling... there was a time that I thought a $20 HD would suffice for my limited concrete drilling needs... burned that thing up pretty quick (and wasted lots of time.)  I'd hate to spend $199 now and find that a RH would come in handy on the next job.  ... Of course, one can never have too many tools.

1. 
   alias | Jun 22, 2003 07:41pm | #13

   you wont be sorry......b

2. 
   dieselpig | Jun 22, 2003 07:46pm | #14

   Nice going guys,  you'll have to answer to my fiance now.  Cuz I never fully realized until now that I NEED a Bosch Bulldog!  Oh the tortured life of a tool addict.....will I ever find peace?

3. 
   CAGIV | Jun 22, 2003 07:51pm | #15

   A real tool addict would get one of these

   http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000695HH/qid=1056300607/sr=1-9/ref=sr_1_9/002-2338204-2033601?v=glance&s=hi

   and some truly beyond help would

   http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000022460/qid=1056300665/sr=1-24/ref=sr_1_24/002-2338204-2033601?v=glance&s=hiNever be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, Professionals built the Titanic.

4. 
   IMERC | Jun 22, 2003 07:59pm | #18

   WHIMP!

   http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000022462.01.LZZZZZZZ.gif

5. 
   NCLaquer | Jun 22, 2003 08:16pm | #19

   What?!  No cart?

   http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000022461/qid=1056302106/br=1-1/ref=br_lf_hi_1//104-7647382-6786348?v=glance&s=hi&n=228261

6. 
   IMERC | Jun 22, 2003 08:26pm | #20

   Already had one... Besides it's a piece of cake to move that little ole thing around.

7. 
   IMERC | Jun 22, 2003 07:56pm | #16

   I feel your pain... Started with a simple HD. Then it was a SDSHD. Then it was a RH. Then it was a DH. Then it was a The geand daddy BH.

   Bosch loves me just the same.

8. 
   alias | Jun 22, 2003 11:34pm | #21

   hello my name is bear i'm a toolaholic.......

9. 
   NCLaquer | Jun 23, 2003 12:14am | #22

   OK, back to my tool purchasing dilemma... Now that I am going to buy a RH, and willing to spend $219 for the Bulldog, why not also consider the DeWalt DW567KK 1" SDS Plus for $199:

   http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00002233L/qid=1056302300/br=1-2/ref=br_lf_hi_2//104-7647382-6786348?v=glance&s=hi&n=552860

   or the Hitachi DH24PE 15/16" Variable Speed SDS for $199:

   http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000223JT/qid=1056302300/br=1-3/ref=br_lf_hi_3//104-7647382-6786348?v=glance&s=hi&n=552860

   or the Porter-Cable 97765 7/8" SDS  for $209:

   http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000222X4/qid=1056302300/br=1-6/ref=br_lf_hi_6//104-7647382-6786348?v=glance&s=hi&n=552860

   Is any one of the above better than the others?

10. 
    MisterT | Jun 23, 2003 01:03am | #23

    other than advice your get here, ask a local repair shop which ones he get most or least work from.Mr T

    Do not try this at home!

    I am an Experienced Professional!

11. 
    alias | Jun 23, 2003 01:04am | #24

    other than the bosch i might consider the hitachi

12. 
    CAGIV | Jun 23, 2003 02:33am | #25

    Go with the tried and true.

    But this is just personal opinion, I've never used any of the others.Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, Professionals built the Titanic.

2. 
   dieselpig | Jun 21, 2003 02:34am | #2

   I've got the 1/2" Magnum and that thing kicks azz!  Eats concrete, spits wood.  If you're drilling wood make sure you've got that second handle on...she'll snap your wrist.  I can't comment on the Pistol Grip....gotta be a catch somewhere with the price difference, no?  Previous poster's description of the Bosch Bulldog makes it sound like it's worth looking into if you're just gonna be hogging out bigger concrete holes.

   Happy choosing!

3. 
   Rarebreed | Jun 21, 2003 02:44am | #3

   DW bought me the Grizzley SDS drive for about $100.00. Comes with two or three bits and a chisel and a point for light breaking or demo work. I don't need it every day or drill anything over 3/4".

   For the price and my uses I feel like it is a pretty good value, though I don't think it would stand up to daily use and abuse.

   TCW Specialists in Custom Remodeling.
4. 
   Miles717 | Jun 21, 2003 04:09am | #4

   I'm a BIG fan of the Milwaukee 3/8" Hammer Drill (5397-6).  It's been great.  Taken absolutely everything I've thrown at it and then some.  I've had mixed experience with the Magnum Hammer Drill.  Had two different factory chucks installed on one and had problems with both.  That's the only one where I've ever had that problem.  Every other Milwaukee drill I've owned or used has been fine in that dept. 

   I really can't give a ringing endorsement for the 5378-20, though.  My company bought a dozen and we couldn't keep them out of the repair shop.  I think my then boss got taken for a ride on the deal.  The distributor worked a really nice price for him but in the end, I think we paid substantially more than what we saved. 

   We burned up three of them within a month and the others were constantly being repaired.  These weren't used but once or twice a week for what was fairly light duty use and within a year we only had four that were still functional.  In all fairness to the engineers at Milwaukee, the tool repair techs explained that they really weren't Milwaukee tools.  It's a repackaged AEG, if I remember correctly.  There are a few items in the Milwaukee line that have a European pedigree and that's one of them.   We ultimately replaced all of them with the Milwaukee 3/8" or the 1/2" magnum hammer drill.   I've not touched one of the repackaged ones since.

   Also have had really good experiences with the Bosch rotohammers.  If you have lots of holes to drill and need something heavy duty, I'd give them a look.

5. 
   joeh | Jun 21, 2003 07:17am | #5

   That Bosch Bulldog is slicker than snot on a door knob. SDS chucks don't slip, 12" to 18" bits are available and they go through concrete like butter.

   It's one tool that every time I use it I'm pleased with it. If I lost it I'd buy another tomorrow.

   What's the point of a hammer drill? I have one, but I'll be damned if I see any real use for it.

   Joe H

1. 
   mitch | Jun 21, 2003 04:29pm | #6

   ebay is positively lousy with hammer drills and rotary hammers- i picked up a brand new bosch bulldog for about $90.

   m

1. 
   NCLaquer | Jun 28, 2003 03:26am | #26

   Thanks for the tip.  I just made my first e-bay purchase.  A used Bulldog 11224 for $84.56.

1. 
   alias | Jun 28, 2003 03:56am | #27

   you done good -i can see it now the backyard looking like swiss cheese.....buy good bits happy hole punching.

2. 
   junkhound | Jun 28, 2003 07:05am | #28

   Good find, did a lot better than me.  This post came up just as I was needing to drill 20ea  5/8 holes in an abandoned observatory concrete pad on Haleakala peak on Maui next month--somebody has to go do the job.  Just forked over $249 for the same drill at Grainger, of course, that was corporate cash, not my own.  

   Think of the thrill of drilling holes in a 20 foot thick concrete slab at 10,020 ft elevation at 73F, and <groan> may even have to stay at the Nat park nearby for a week with pay.  Got to avoid the aggresive divorced babes there too, what misfortune.

   We wanted to put up a fence to protect the $500K solar array being tested, but can't cause a night flying endangerd plover might hit the fence.  Concrete pad is an 'old' grandfather clause item, nowadays can't even leave a generator with a gasoline tank unattended (closed and gated site) overnight.  

6. 
   MisterT | Jun 21, 2003 06:09pm | #7

   Metabo!!!

    all others are also rans!

   JMHO

   Mr T

   Do not try this at home!

   I am an Experienced Professional!

7. 
   fdampier5 | Jun 22, 2003 07:59pm | #17

   I've used both the Bosch and the Hilti

     there is no contest Hilti won out by a mile..

     My test was to drill 1/2 holes in 4 inch thick granite.  The Hilti took a little over a minute 30 seconds on the softest setting while no matter what I did the Bosch took over 5 minutes..

     I don't know about Bosch, but when I cut the cord on my Hilti they offered to replace the cord free.. Evan though it wasn't in any way their fault..