If you are considering the idea of purchasing a hammer drill, it’s good to know what’s included. That’s why I’m putting together this guide of the features you need to look for before buying one.
A hammer drill may be an excellent tool to have. Especially if you love doing DIY projects around the house.
I’ll talk about what a hammer drill is and the purpose that it serves shortly. I’ll also put together a buyer’s guide as a complementary addition to this guide.
Hammer drills are not like any ordinary drill on the market. But they are one of the most popular tools on the market (not to mention, one of the most powerful).
There are different types of hammer drills on the market. I’ll discuss what they are here briefly. Once you understand what a hammer drill is and what purpose it serves, you might be thinking about grabbing one for yourself.
Since I like doing home improvement projects, I’m always on the lookout for the best quality tools. There will be a time when I will put it to good use.
However, it will depend on the project I’m working on. Keep reading and let’s talk more about the hammer drill.
Contents
What is a hammer drill?
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A hammer drill is used when you want to break away hard materials such as rocks. For example, a hammer drill will prove itself useful if you are looking to break pieces of concrete apart.
Hammer drills are powerful and consistent, thus making them one of the more popular choices in terms of power tools. Hammer drills are used by those who are masons and are also in heavy duty construction as well.
However, they can be used for almost any home improvement project you can think of. What makes hammer drills even more useful is that they can be multi-functional.
Some hammer drills (almost not all of them) may have a function where you can use it as a regular drill. If you purchase a hammer drill with that feature, you are basically killing two birds with one stone.
So, you really don’t need to buy a separate drill if you don’t have to. It’s also the best choice if you are looking to stick within a certain budget range and don’t want to spend more on power tools.
What are the types of hammer drills that are available?
There are three different types of hammer drills on the market: corded, cordless, and compact. Let’s break down each of the three and how they are useful:
Corded
Obviously, this will require you to plug it into the wall. Thus, it requires electricity and not batteries. If you are looking for something that will give you better durability and little to no maintenance, you’d be hard-pressed to find a hammer drill like this.
Cordless
Of course, this drill will operate on a battery. One of the biggest issues with this is you’ll need to charge it and possibly replace it at some point. However, the biggest positives for cordless drills is that it gives you more freedom and portability.
Compact
Compared to regular hammer drills, a compact is smaller and lighter. They have less power as well. However, they can get the job done if you are working with tight spaces.
Buyer’s Guide – What To Consider When Purchasing A Hammer Drill
Before we unveil the specific features, I want to go over some of the other factors that you should consider when purchasing. This should help you make an easier decision so you don’t have to spend a lot of time choosing between one or the other.
Sure, your personal needs and preferences may play a role. But at the end of the day, other factors may play a role. Let’s take a look at what you should consider:
Price
Of course, the price can be something that you’ll be looking at. Especially if you are looking to stay within a budget.
It’s no secret that better quality is usually associated with a higher price. Likewise, a low price will usually equate to lesser quality. That’s why I highly suggest that you never go for the cheapest option to save money.
To do this will lead to disappointment. Don’t sacrifice quality to save a few dollars. The best quality you can afford should be enough.
Brand
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There are plenty of brand names out there you may have heard of. So it would probably make sense to grab a hammer drill because of the name alone.
That may not be a good idea. That’s why it’s a good idea to do research on the brand names and whether or not they are consistent with providing you with good quality power tools.
Also, go a bit more in-depth about how well they perform. What kind of warranties do they usually offer?
Hammer drill type
As mentioned before, you have three types to choose from: corded, cordless, and compact. Find a type that will work for your personal needs and preferences.
You may prefer consistency and constant power. For that reason, you could settle for a corded hammer drill. If you want portability and less power to work with, a cordless can do just fine.
Choose the drill type that will work in your favor based on the projects you are doing and whether or not you need enough power to get it done.
Features To Look For Before Getting A Hammer Drill
Now that you have an understanding of what a hammer drill is and what you’ll need to consider when buying, let’s take a look at the features.
I’m going to show you ten different features that you need to look for. Not all hammer drills will have the same level of performance. Some may perform better than others.
Other than that, paying close attention to these features will help you make the best decision possible when the time comes to make a choice. Let’s take a look at the following:
Speed
One of the things that you really want to pay attention to are the speed settings. I like hammer drills that will give me variable speeds. That’s because it will allow me more control.
Furthermore, variable speeds will also give me the confidence in digging into the hard stuff like concrete. I can go a little deeper if I want to without having to overdo it.
What you’ll notice is that there are some hammer drills that will operate at one single speed. For this reason, I highly recommend choosing variable speeds over the single speed hammer drills almost every time.
LED Guide Light
An LED guide light will help make drilling more precise. I think these are an excellent feature as it does away with the common mistake of miscalculating.
I have miscalculated before to the point where a project that was going well went south quickly. Thanks to these guide lights, that’s a thing of the past.
Motor
One of the best features that you really want to pay attention to is the motor. When it comes to strength and efficiency, the motor really makes the difference.
Keep in mind that the drill is more powerful when it has higher amps. Pay attention to how many amps a drill has when comparing one to another.
Higher power hammer drills will be sufficient if you are dealing with a project that is heavy duty. Also, the size of the drill will also be an indicator that it contains a larger, more powerful motor.
Likewise, smaller drills will have less powerful motors. Sometimes, you may make the mistake of choosing a hammer drill that is a little too powerful. So choose wisely and consider the scope of the project and whether it needs a powerful enough drill.
Durability
Of course, you want a hammer drill that is durable. Every heavy duty tool has to be durable. Because it will be doing a lot of hard work whenever it’s being used.
So it would make sense to look for a drill that will stay strong and last long. Durability and longevity do go hand in hand. You want the drill to last you years and nothing shorter than that.
Anti-Vibration
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One of the things I hate about some power tools is the excessive vibration. The reason for this is that it can be uncomfortable on the wrist and can lead to some pain afterwards.
That’s why you want to look for hammer drills that will provide that anti-vibration feature. Not only will you have more comfort, but you will have better control over the drill while you are working.
Design
The design of the drill might be something worth looking at. Because you could be looking at one that will give you excellent maneuverability and control. Others may have a design that will make it more versatile.
Look for drills that will give you a comfortable handle, excellent control, and a large trigger (among other features) to help you make it easier to use from start to finish.
Additional Safety Features
If you are looking for a hammer drill, it might make sense to consider additional safety features. These include but are not limited to protection from overheating, automatic bit locking, and even anti-theft technology to track where your drill is if it ever gets lost or stolen.
I don’t know about you, but these drills have come a long way from ages past in terms of safety features. So, I would highly suggest taking a look at the ones that provide you with auto stoppage if the drill starts to overheat.
Also, these drills can also save you the pain that can happen from torque reactions that happen out of nowhere. It’s amazing what these drills can do compared to the ones from ages past.
Bits
Depending on the drill, you may have one that comes with a few additional bits. These bits can come in handy depending on the project that you are doing. Also, find out how often you are planning on using the drill so you don’t have to go through so many different bits and wear them down.
Weight
The weight of the drill can affect the overall control. Especially when it comes to getting the job done in a high-speed setting. One thing to look for is the weight-power ratio.
A good ratio will help make every project successful while making you comfortable. The last thing you want to deal with are sore hands and wrists whenever the project is finished.
I want to make sure I am as comfortable as possible when using a drill. Too much weight and power might be asking for trouble. So it’s important to go with something light, but may be just as powerful to get most jobs done.
Conclusion
I hope this guide on what features to look for in hammer drills has helped you out. I know that choosing one can be a challenge. Use the buyer’s guide if needed for any additional factors to consider.
In the meantime, I highly suggest that you check out the number of hammer drills that are available. Pay close attention to the list of features I’ve mentioned so you can find a hammer drill that can perform well for almost any project you have planned for yourself.
You can find a hammer drill with plenty of power while light in weight. Don’t skip on the most important features such as the motor power, durability, and the speed. These are the three best features that you really don’t want to compromise on.
You don’t want to perform a heavy duty job if the speed of the drill is too slow. Nor do you want to work on a heavy duty project if the durability of the drill itself is less than ideal.
Whatever job you have planned, find a hammer drill that is the best possible match. Good luck and have fun.
CHECK OUT THE BEST SELLING HAMMER DRILLS ON AMAZON
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