Recently took an interest in taking on DIY projects?
If you’re new to this, you probably don’t have all the right tools yet.
Installing lights and hanging shelves might have been easy, but drilling through a concrete wall requires a more powerful tool.
This might make you ask yourself, do I need a hammer drill?
If you’ve never heard of one and don’t have any idea what it can do for your projects, we’ve got your back.
Also called an impact or percussion drill, a hammer drill is a piece of power tool designed to drill through hard materials.
This device is more common than you think.
In fact, they are pretty popular among DIY enthusiasts because of what they can do.
So, how does a hammer drill work?
Basically, this rotary drill utilizes a hammering mechanism to drill through hard surfaces.
As the drill bit rotates, two gears work together to deliver a linear strike along its path.
Because of this drilling and chiseling mechanism, you can then use it to drill holes into concrete, brick, and even stone.
When drilling through concrete or other masonry, you will want a reliable hammer drill to give you a hand.
Regardless of what others tell you, a regular drill just won’t cut it.
You need a more powerful tool designed to drill through dense surfaces.
The problem is, hammer drills come in different types, so you’ll need to determine which one fits the task at hand.
Inside a hammer drill, you will find two gears that slide past each other so that the chuck slams forward and back.
A clutch mechanism then stops the pounding action when there’s no force on the chuck.
When you activate this setting, you can use your hammer drill as a regular drill.
Most drills use a unique clutch mechanism, but rotary hammers are different.
It features a crankshaft-driven piston, providing a lot more power than regular hammer drills.
For this reason, you can use rotary hammers for heavy-duty drilling and chiseling tasks.
What sets it apart from a hammer drill is it often has a hammer-only mode, which means the drill bit doesn’t rotate.
When you set the hammer drill side by side with a regular drill, you can’t tell the difference.
That is, except for the setting that lets you shift into “hammer” mode.
A regular drill is best used for fastening things, moving the bit in a rotational capacity.
Similar to a hammer and anvil action, the potential energy created by an impact drill or regular drill is what allows the downward force to drill through materials.
Contrarily, a hammer drill moves more in a forward motion.
This allows for more power so that you can pierce through harder materials like bricks, concrete, cinder blocks, and masonry.
Most people would say that you don’t need both a hammer drill and a regular drill.
After all, a hammer drill can be in “regular drill mode” to drive fasteners and other screws.
Still, it does have some limitations in terms of movement and power.
If you’re going to choose between a regular drill and a hammer drill, choose one you can use for concrete or masonry.
Even if you don’t need it now, you may do so for future projects.
Although designed to drill through harder stuff, hammer drills are not the best to work with wood, metal, or plastic.
With the incredible amount of force that a hammer drill will bring to wood, you would most likely break it.
Also, the holes created by the hammer drill on wood or plastic will most likely be jagged.
When you don’t have a regular drill, the hammer function needs to be disengaged so that you can drill through other materials like plastic, metal, or wood.
A hammer drill is worth investing in if you know you will be using it to its full potential.
In that case, your next step is to know which model to choose.
When it comes to finding a hammer drill, you’ll want to look at several factors to make sure you’re getting the right model.
After figuring out the type, you must check if it has the right set of features to match your project’s needs.
You will also want to determine if you need a cordless or corded model.
Here are other important considerations to keep in mind:
First and foremost, find a hammer drill that will give you enough control over its operation.
If you’ll be working on different materials, get one that has several modes for the speed trigger to allow you to work on concrete and wood.
A hammer drill with an adjustable side handle and depth gauge will also let you work on hard-to-reach spots.
A soft start will also enable you to handle and drill through delicate materials.
For safety, look for a hammer drill with an automatic shut-down feature.
This way, in case the bit gets stuck in the denser part of the material, you don’t lose your secure grip on the hammer drill.
Similar to any power tool, one common problem with hammer drills is overheating.
If you don’t pick the right model, you’ll have to wait for it to cool down, disrupting the flow of your work.
To address this, get a hammer drill with a brushless EC motor.
Because it runs cooler than the other types, it will allow you to continue your work uninterrupted.
It makes it possible to have certain smart features, too, like kickback control or a soft start.
The added electronics component reduces the risk of the motor and battery overloading or overheating.
You will also want to look for a hammer drill with a hammering switch, as it will help save energy or battery.
Also, this switch will let you use the hammer drill as an ordinary drill, which means you’d be able to work on a variety of materials.
A combination hammer function with a chisel function stops the bit from rotating, allowing you to choose which works best with the material.
Modes with forward and reverse rotation make it possible for you to go back out of deep holes easier.
An adjustable speed control lets you control the rotation speed, depending on how deep you press the trigger.
If you want to maintain the current rotation speed, watch out for hammer drills that contain a lock switch.
Lastly, to let you see what you are working on, get one with built-in LED lighting.
Hammer drills are powerful tools, which is why it’s very important that you’ll be able to use them safely and easily.
Find a hammer drill with a side assist handle, helping you grip the tool with both hands for controlled, accurate drilling.
The constant vibration of the drill may be very damaging to your limbs, but one with rubber mounting and foam padding can help ease the stress.
More often than not, a solid metal gear housing protects the hammer drill.
Even so, it would be convenient if it comes in a carrying case, especially if you have an assortment of bits.
You will also find that a dust extraction feature would lessen the risk for respiratory conditions.
With this function, dust and debris are pulled in via a port attachment for a built-in vacuum cleaner.
Branded hammer drills mostly have more power and tend to be durable.
Buy one that will last a long time and has all the useful features you need to make it a practical investment.
If you’re new to this, you probably don’t have any clue how to use a hammer drill.
You know it’s something useful and will make your projects easier, but you’re likely clueless about how to make the most out of it.
To give you an idea, here are the five steps to using a hammer drill:
Select the proper masonry drill bit.
More than others, tungsten-carbide bits can withstand the force of hammer drills and the density of concrete.
Measure the size of the drill bit you’d be using against the hole you’d be making.
If you’re piercing through concrete, use a small drill bit first to prevent cracking or breakage of the material.
If you don’t have a stopper, you can use tape as a marker for when you stop drilling.
Usually, hammer drills need both of your hands. Make sure that the other hand keeps the drill level.
Do not bear down on the bit with too much force, as doing so can cause the bit to shatter.
When you’ve formed a hole, increase the speed of the drill.
Remove the occasional concrete dust and run cold water over the bit to cool it down.
If you don’t have a hammer drill, you can use a regular drill instead for specific materials.
This type of drill cannot drill through cement or other hard materials.
However, with the right technique and enough patience, you can use it for drilling holes in brick or mortar.
Just make sure that you have compressed air and cool water on hand.
Remember that if you’re dealing with harder surfaces, you’re putting more stress on your regular drill or impact drill.
Again, this drill is not designed to pierce or pound through concrete or masonry.
When you do pierce through these items, excess dust or other small debris may fly around your workplace.
Be sure to wear respirators, masks, or other protective gear.
If you expect to deal with cement or masonry all the time, your regular drill just won’t cut it.
You need one that can really pierce through that thick and dense material.
The powerful force of a hammer drill can be a useful addition to your arsenal, allowing you to take on different DIY projects and home repairs.
In using one, just make sure you prepare your materials and protective equipment before drilling.
Then, with a steady hand, you’re good to go.
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