Hammer Drill vs Rotary Hammer: A Heavy-Duty Showdown
When it comes to the really tough DIY jobs, a hammer drill or a rotary hammer is your first choice. Which power tool is right for the job and what do you need to know about using them? This tool duel has the answers!
Hammer Drill Profile
Name: Hammer Drill
Speciality: Heavy-duty demolition and renovation work on concrete, natural stone and masonry
Suitable for: Hard masonry, all materials from stone and wood to metal
Functions: Drilling, impact drilling, chiselling, hammer drilling, carving (with suitable interchangeable chucks)
Hammer Drill Profile
Name: Hammer Drill
Speciality: Precise work for a wide range of DIY projects (e.g. putting up shelves)
Suitable for: Soft masonry, natural stone, lightweight concrete, wood, metal, plastic
Functions: Drilling, hammer drilling, chiselling, chasing
Similarities & differences
In terms of their basic functions, impact drills and rotary hammers are identical: both can drill into various materials and increase their power with a hammer action. Both types of tool are available as a handy cordless tool or as a corded electric tool.
A hammer drill is equipped with either a 2-speed gearbox or variable speed control. With the 2-speed gearbox, the first gear is suitable for drilling large holes in more robust materials such as sand-lime brick. It features a low speed with high torque. The second gear operates with low torque and a higher speed, allowing you to drill precise holes in wood or plastic.
A rotary hammer can not only drill but also chisel: the drill bit has room to move in its SDS chuck, allowing it to vibrate axially. There is also a key difference between an impact drill and a rotary hammer in how power is transferred:
A rotary hammer has an automated striking mechanism. Its power depends on the motor and its performance – in other words, on the tool itself.
With an impact drill, you control the impact force via the pressure you apply to the material – in other words, with your own strength.
If you want to work on very hard materials, you'll quickly find the limits of an impact drill. On the other hand, a hammer drill has too much power to work safely on soft materials or to drill precise holes.
The most important factor is the combination of impact force, rotational speed and impact rate.
Bohrhammer | Schlagbohrer |
|
|---|---|---|
Wirkung | Kraftübertragung | Geschwindigkeit |
Schlagfrequenz | niedrig; ca. 4.000 pro Minute | hoch; ca. 40.000 pro Minute |
Schlagkraft | hoch; bis zu 30 Joule | niedrig; meist unter 1 Joule |
A rotary hammer gets its power from high impact force, meaning it only needs a low impact rate. The opposite is true for an impact drill, which works its way quickly but carefully into more delicate materials.
Conclusion: Which tool for which task?
The rotary hammer is suitable for heavy-duty jobs that require a lot of power. It's often essential for renovating, making a wall breakthrough, or for masonry work in the garden. The impact drill is the better choice for precision and delicate tasks. It is used far more frequently for everyday jobs and in the workshop.
Bohrhammer | Schlagbohrer |
|---|---|
Hartes Mauerwerk stemmen + aufbrechen | Weiches Mauerwerk aufbrechen |
Materialien wie Naturstein, Beton, Granit, Vollziegel | Materialien wie Kalksandstein, Leichtbeton, Metall, Holz, Kunststoff |
Bohren großer Durchmesser (Dosensenken) | Bohren kleiner Durchmesser |
Fliesenarbeiten und Meißeln |
