I’m a systems engineer and every once in awhile, I run into a situation where I need a hammer drill – out here in NYC, it’s always turns out to be concrete or plaster.
My main needs are lightweight yet durable. Weight is an issue if I drilling overhead when I need to add L brackets to install J hooks to support network wiring. Or I may be up 15 feet up in the air running cable. My other uses would be installing Tapcons for server racks or good drilling out holes for lag bolts, etc on those weekend projects.
What hammer drill would you recommend.
I considered the panasonic cordless Multi (impact/driver/hammer) as I’ve had good experiances with their 15V and their 3.6V driver. The hammer drill looked too clunky
– Hilti TE 6 Series Drill
– Bosch 14.4 Cordless Hammer
– Milwaukee Magnum Hammer (I know their drills are workhorses but I’ve head good/bad things about their line of hammer drill)
Any others…..
Replies
Alan: You may want to consider a rotary hammer also. I own two hammer drills and one rotary. The rotary beats all. It's faster easier to use. The rotary is a Bosch SDS, not sure what model but nice drill. Best Regards.
I'm probably obligated to comment under some old rule about having everything you mention, or almost. If you're really just weekending it and don't want to spend any money, Skil some years ago made a little, about $50, 3/8 drive hammer drill that for just doing little stuff actually worked fairly well. Perfect ting for the suit that needs to anchor his window wells into brick on the weekend. Almost cant believe I just said something nice about a cheap tool. I have one of the combos that PC makes, and it's done just fine for several years now, but the chuck is getting to the point that if the drill doesn't die pretty soon I'll have to either replace the chuck or back the truck over the drill. It's been a good performer. I had a Bosch before that and parted it off to a needy friend, something that sounded good at the time but less so in hindsight. Nearly identical bodied sawzall to that is still around and eating things. The bulldog was a good machine, comfortable grip, and the thing never let me down. Also own a TE-5 rather than a 6, but the difference isn't substantial. Its a heck of a lot of money for a little drill but I've never seen something so small chew holes so easily. They are really engineered to perform. Back to the "get what you pay for" cliche. SDS chuck on that makes life easy. If I don't have the Hilti bit I need, I can buy one off the shelf in some other brand, which doesn't work in all of their line. If you happen to be fashionably wealthy, I've been eyeballing the TE76 after using a 55 for a couple of months. It will run you close to a grand, but you can also bore 16" through holes in poured walls with a cruciform bit. While you're at it, send me one.
"There is always inequity in life. Some men are killed in war and some men are wounded, and some men never leave the country. Life is unfair" J.F.Kennedy
From the way you describe what you want. I would suggest the Bosch Bulldog I think that's what they call it. I have one at work and it will handle everything you describe. I also have a corless hammer drill at work and to tell you the truth the corded one is a lot faster then the cordless.
I just got a message from Amazon that the Bosch Bulldog that I was gonna buy for my Dad about 6 months ago is finally back in stock in their reconditioned bin.
It was too late for me...but actually saved me a few bucks at the time....I just let him use mine till I needed it back.....told him I was waiting for the same thing to be offered again..as mine as recond too.....but he got tired of waiting and found another deal they had on a new one that included bits.
The recond deal can't be beat..check out amazon/tool crib.
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
I demoed the Hilti TE-6S which is a really NICE tool. Balance and the layout of the tool was just right. At $370, it's a little pricey on the high side. It's uses SDS bits, and the form factor is more compact versus the Bosch bulldog.
I'm with harborman, get a rotary hammer. They drill faster, they're quieter and take less effort. Less effort on the ovehead stuff is a big advantage. Mine is a Hilti, been happy with it.
steve
If a hammer drill is all you need (not a rotary hammer) Look at the Metabo. They are made in germany, very high quality and made to last. I heard somewhere that they invented the hammerdrill mechanism.
Mr T
Do not try this at home!
I am a trained professional!
I don't like cordless workhorses. In my part of the world nothing beats Bosch. I've been using their hammer drills for over 10 years. They work day in and day out, I get good service, and they don't weigh a ton.
I've had no complaints with my Bosch Bulldog
Ditto on the Bulldog. One nice thing about it is the ability to get into tightspaces. Like in basements for bypass door floor tracks. I can set the track up with the doors hanging and use it as a drilling template without removing the doors.
ColeCole Dean
Dean Contracting
your needs for a hammerdrill are virtually identical to mine a few years back- i went with an older bosch bulldog because i could get a used one cheap.
my observations: they're excellent units but- for the occasional user i wouldn't recommend an sds system chuck. it is undeniably a superior system but the bits are a lot more expensive- also, if you're going to use the free (ok- no add'l charge) plain shank bits in boxes of tapcon screws you'll need an adaptor chuck ($35-40- which i now have- hence my inclination to buy another sds unit).
on the other hand, sds are more available in chisel points- which, btw, you will want a unit with a "chipping only" (no rotation) function for when you notice that the plumber who put the new shower drain in your basement floor didn't leave enough room around the stub-up for the shower base- a half hour before the custom made shower base is supposed to be installed (no, at the time my old bosch didn't have that mode, but my new one sure does!)
anyway- there's always a ton of them on ebay- i think a lot of guys buy one for one honeydo project then sell it in practically brand new condition. my new bosch bulldog 11224vsr was n.i.b. and cost me about $85 ($220 on Amazon)
have fun- a good hammerdrill will put a hole in concrete faster than a regular drill can put one in wood.
mitch
I have had good luck with the Milwaukee hammer & rotary drills for drilling masonry.
I second TOOLDOC's comments. Milwaukee has worked great for me. Mostly medium duty. Had it for 7-8 years. No problems whatsoever.
BB
Yesterday I used my Bosch adapter chuck. Works great. It really seems like they put a lot of thought into this tool. I've already forgot how much I paid for it.
Milawukee.
i'm on the bosch bulldog band wagon, i think for what it does proportionate to weight. best bang for the buck.. also check out the metabo line i've got that also....... a real decent tool.... bear
Same here. For the price, low weight, and great performance you can't beat the Bulldog. (Well, I supose you could try, but he might bite back.) Anyway, it just flat out blows away a hammer drill.
Last month I had a new electrician on site roughing in an ICF building, 6" concrete walls. He told me with a big grin if the Bosch Bulldog rotary hammer ever comes up missing, just go over to his house to get it back.
He'd never used anything that good, he said. I'd bet he'll have one with him next time I see him.
DRC
I think your needs are fairly moderate, like mine.....I have a Milwaukee,plain ole hammer drill, but I think that model is actually German dressed in red, suits me fine. Would have bought a Walter if I could have found one, or maybe a Metabo bought I only discovered one of the companies I buy from was a dealer after the fact (have another Metabo; nice drill). When I need bigger, I rent. I've used the Bulldog, and will probably end up with one one day, but it's overkill for what I do.cabinetmaker/college instructor. Cape Breton, N.SWAY too conservative to be merely right wing
I have the older Milwaukee Magnum 1/2" hammerdrill. It's OK, no problems, but it gets very hot in use and is extremely noisy. It's probably better than most hammerdrills because it is very sturdy and well designed. It will work as a regular drill, but it's front heavy and too long compared to a regular magnum drill. It's a great hammerdrill, but a rotary hammer does have a lot over a hammerdrill in certain applications. Drilling fairly small holes in plaster and mortar is no problem for the hammerdrill, but drilling a number of 5/8" holes into ancient concrete was about it's limit and mine too. That was a drag.
I picked up the Hilti TE-6C today with couple of bits. Those 18" SDS Plus bits sure are pricey. This will be the last tool buy for this year......There's always next year <g>. I've think the Douglas Hammer is next.
I checked out the bulldog also but the overall "feel" of the Hilti just felt better
Ditto on Bosch Bulldog sds! I had some old carbide bits I wanted to use up so I had a friend weld a old sds (chuck insert) on a old jacobs chuck. Ten seconds into the drilling that standard chuck was blown to pieces. I've had a 1/2 in Bulldog for ten years. I take it apart and grease it as I do all my tools. No trouble.
Check out this chuck adaptor:-
http://www.boschtools.com/Tools+and+Accessories/Accessories/acc_detail.htm?item_group_id=16931
the adaptor in the link given above by dennis is a very high quality unit- the chuck even has a ratcheting mechanism to keep it from coming loose during use. i think they run about $35- $40- check ebay- i've seen them go for $25 or so.
m
Thanks, guys. I didn't know this existed. My point was that the sds hits that much harder than a standard "racheting" type (the old Red Head for instance).
I bought a Porter Cable sds + 7/8" I like it it was made in Germany and looks a lot like a Boush . It works great.
Hey I just got my adaptor chuck! It really looks well designed. I wasn't expecting the index locking feature. Thanks.
TE-6
Hilti has a location in nyc and they even make house calls
Hello Alan --- in my opinion use any other cordless drill other than a `14.4 volt bosch I have had nothing but trouble with the clutches and Bosch just does not want to know about warranties that will cost them money to repair or replace the drills they made with plastic clucthe mechanisms.Get a Makita or any other model don't throw your money away.