A good hammer drill - suggestions?

[The 52 Ford]

I've been looking at hammer drills and rotary hammers for a while. I - through a turn of events - am no longer in possession of my Makita corded drill, which was my favorite corded drill. Between that and the fact that my dad can't find his hammer drill makes me want to get a new corded drill. Well, corded hammer drill. I would consider something up to $250, but the cheaper the better... hopefully closer to $150, as I'm probably not going to use it at work, so it makes it a bit harder to justify the added cost. I'm going to use it with big auger bits and twist drills more than masonry bits, so I want something with a lot of torque and multiple gear ranges. It's also why I don't want a rotary hammer, it just isn't as versatile and I don't do enough concrete work to justify it. I don't have any brand bias - well, not much of one - basically any brand with a good reputation and a good warranty. From Makita I was looking at the HP2070F, from DeWalt the DWD525K, from Bosch the HD21-2, and there are a couple others, but these are the main three I'm looking at. I think I'm leaning towards the Bosch because it has more reduction in low gear than the DeWalt or Makita. What do y'all think?

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

I like the Bosch line. I have had no experience with the HD21 but do have the Bulldog SDS. The only problem is that it will only accept up to a 1 1/8" SDS stock bit. All my battery tools are also Bosch and have no inclination to change manufacturer. So I'll stick with what I know works.

 

[sam.coll]

If you can swing it I would be looking at the Makita HP2010N tried and tested, good powerful low range drilling (900rpm) with the convenience of impact when you need it, its what all the electricians and plumbers I know use for augers and hole saws.

 

[toolchaser]

+1 on the Bosch, I picked up a SDS max from my favorite local pawn. The bits cost more than the drill!

 

[bcradio]

any of those will be great drills for you. I would look at two key points as the main pieces for deciding. Speeds (rpm) and power (amps). Choose what speeds work best for you and get the most power you can.

 

[dnschmidt]

Hammer drills to me are a waste of time unless you only drill holes into concrete block or bricks. They are useless on concrete. If you need to drill holes into concrete you need an SDS hammer and the leader in that category for the last 1000 years has been BOSCH. Sort of like Milwaukee with Sawsalls.

 

[ilovevocs]

^^ This... In the trades when you ask for a hammer drill its always an SDS. I don't consider anything else a hammer drill.

For me its also Bosch.

Bosch is sold at Menards.

 

[Thumper68]

Another vote for the Bosch Bulldog great drill and in your price range, you can get a sds to drill chuck adaptor to run regular bits and you should come in under your $250.

 

[bcradio]

Hammer drills to me are a waste of time unless you only drill holes into concrete block or bricks. They are useless on concrete. If you need to drill holes into concrete you need an SDS hammer and the leader in that category for the last 1000 years has been BOSCH. Sort of like Milwaukee with Sawsalls.

Yet SDS drills are just about useless in brick and block because they chip and damage these more than they drill.

All in all it depends on what you are drilling.

 

[Finky198]

That's Exactly why I have both. And the one that hasn't been mention yet is hilti most likely way overkill for the OPs needs anyways.

 

[hefnerconstructionlc]

Bosch bulldog rotary hammer. Easy.

 

[Thumper68]

Figured I would help you out a bit more, here is a whole page of the sds to drill chuck adapters.

BTW I have the Bosch one at the top, have been using it for 20+ years in many different drills and has worked great.

https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=sds+plus+drill+chuck&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=181990515059&hvpos=1t3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=823717723058464355&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9019786&hvtargid=kwd-26519105273&ref=pd_sl_7b3nr1zqz9_b_p20

 

[sam.coll]

OP clearly states he does not want a rotary hammer, a rotary hammer is going to be n good for auger bits.

 

[Tummler]

I recently picked up a Metabo SBE 760, and it is my new favorite power tool.

 

[brownbagg]

I got Milwaukee but the best one you ever get is the bosch bulldog. my company has them and they are so much better than my milwaukee

 

[fras_auto]

Bosch is very good

 

[dr_clyde]

I have a bosch bulldog SDS. It works great for everything I do with it. I don't do a lot of large holes. Mostly 1/2" or so for wedge anchors. Occasionally I'll use it for chipping/chiseling.

For anything bigger, my dad has some larger Hilti hammers.

I don't care for a drill with "hammer mode". They're not much use over 1/4" holes in brick. A true rotary hammer is worth having if you need to drill concrete more than once or twice a year.

 

[rnscustom]

Bosch bulldog , you'll get your money back first time you pull the trigger , drilling masonry and stone was a task with a hammer drill

 

[tab2]

Love my Boschhammer. You can buy a regular Jacobs chuck (about $50 I think) to use non SDS-plus bits.

 

[gnxtc2]

The best hammer drill is Hilti which I classify as a "tool truck" type tool.

Then the Bosch Bulldog.

I have both and the Hilti is night/day compared to the Bosch. You can't go wrong with either.

I still use my TE17 to this day.

Billy T.
[email protected]

 

[Monte]

 

[Coach James]

I have hammer drills from B&D and Ryobi. I know both brands are junk, trash, garbage, etc. but both have drilled more holes than I can count and work fine.

I have an SDS plus branded "Northern Tool" and SDS max rotary hammer from HF and both have worked fine for quite a few holes in concrete.

I always use Bosch bits and have had good results.

Coach

 

[sam.coll]

this

 

[Thumpin305]

I have a Ryobi cordless hammer drill. 99% of the time it's used as a regular drill but that 1% that I need to install bolts into the foundation for my safe it has worked flawlessly.

 

[Cope]

I've been looking at hammer drills and rotary hammers for a while. I - through a turn of events - am no longer in possession of my Makita corded drill, which was my favorite corded drill. Between that and the fact that my dad can't find his hammer drill makes me want to get a new corded drill. Well, corded hammer drill. I would consider something up to $250, but the cheaper the better... hopefully closer to $150, as I'm probably not going to use it at work, so it makes it a bit harder to justify the added cost. I'm going to use it with big auger bits and twist drills more than masonry bits, so I want something with a lot of torque and multiple gear ranges. It's also why I don't want a rotary hammer, it just isn't as versatile and I don't do enough concrete work to justify it. I don't have any brand bias - well, not much of one - basically any brand with a good reputation and a good warranty. From Makita I was looking at the HP2070F, from DeWalt the DWD525K, from Bosch the HD21-2, and there are a couple others, but these are the main three I'm looking at. I think I'm leaning towards the Bosch because it has more reduction in low gear than the DeWalt or Makita. What do y'all think?

I had that Bosch, and it's a great drill. I acquired a DeWalt SDS drill and sold the Bosch. The Bosch will operate in drill or hammer mode, so it should do a good job for you.