You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Best cordless rotary hammer?
- Thread starter Rickkyyr8
- Start date
sparky 1971
Well-known member
I can't say who makes the best, but I have the Milwaukee 1-1/8 SDS+ and have no complaints whatsoever.
yyc_ranger_4x4
Well-known member
I've got a DeWalt 775 60V Cordless SDS Max. It's definitely a beast....supposedly it's the hardest hitting hammer drill on the market. It goes through anything I've pointed it at. 2" bits through 10" concrete without issue. If you're holding it horizontally, it bounces a bit....vertical pushing down it pulverizes concrete. Usually I have it turned down a bit.
dr_clyde
Well-known member
Absolutley LOVE my Metabo cordless rotary. Has a built in HEPA vac, and will do regular drilling, hammer drill, or non rotating chisel.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
Any of the big four will be fine. Since you're in Milwaukee's system this is a no brainer. Milwaukee, Bosch, Makita, DeWalt will all get the job done. In corded I've always preferred Bosch but in cordless I think there is little difference between all the above.
Renegade1LI
Well-known member
I agree, they are all good, go with your platform or be daring & go for a new one, it's good to mix up the colors.
finn
Well-known member
Best isn’t a definitive term. Most powerful? Lightest? Best ergonomics? Most compact? Best value? Prettiest color?
You have Milwaukee batteries, so that would be an advantage with sticking with them, but all the majors make good products, in my experience.
Mine happens to be yellow.
You have Milwaukee batteries, so that would be an advantage with sticking with them, but all the majors make good products, in my experience.
Mine happens to be yellow.
tyyost
Well-known member
I have the Milwaukee Fuel 1 1/8. It’s not their largest, but it does rotary, rotary hammer, and hammer only. It works well drilling holes, and for basic chipping. It’s not a jackhammer but it dies a great job with a 6.0 battery.
danski0224
Well-known member
I have used Milwaukee, DeWalt and Makita. Used- as in on a job for more than a few holes at a time.Looking to upgrade from my old corded SDS Plus Bosch. I’m already on the Milwaukee platform so that’s probably what I’ll end up with but who do you guys think makes the best cordless brushless SDS Plus rotary hammers?
I wasn't impressed with the Makita setup, but it was light. The button to disengage the vacuum from the drill became difficult to operate. The vac worked well and the collector box was clear. Depth adjustment was easy.
Milwaukee recently redesigned their dedicated dust vacuum, and it is much easier to empty (and you can see the collector box). Depth adjustment is better too.
That said, if I was buying one now, I liked the DeWalt vacuum attachment better than Milwaukee. Sure seemed lighter, too.
The vacuum makes a huge difference. I wouldn't drill holes in concrete overhead without one anymore, unless the attachment physically will not fit into the spot to be drilled.
I haven't been able to use a HILTI setup yet.
If I was using one frequently, the vacuum attachment would be a significant part of the decision.
timgunn1962
Well-known member
What do you want to do with it? It makes a big difference. As does the local geology in some cases.
For bigger holes, up to about an inch in diameter and usually vertically down into concrete, I have an older brushed 36V Makita (2 x 18V). It often gets used before there is mains power on site and it gets the job done ok, but I'll run out a cable and use a corded tool for big holes if the option is there.
For little holes, up to about 17mm and often into brick, the 18V brushless DHR171 is pretty close to ideal (I think it's the XRH06B in the USA). It's lightweight and easy to handle overhead or up a ladder.
With brick-built houses, using a too-powerful SDS drill just smashes the backs out of bricks once you get half way through. It seems to be more of a problem with harder bricks, which is where the local geology comes in, even if you are not drilling into the local stone.
They are very different machines for very different jobs. All of the big names offer a similar range of SDS drills and I've not used enough of them to regard any one as "the best". None of the real tool manufacturers seems to make bad ones.
It's a case of choosing the one that best suits your needs. Usually, the battery platform will be your first factor, then look at the range to see which of the drills that use the battery is best suited to your use. Narrow it down to 2 or 3 and look for reviews. Read the reviews, rather than just looking for the highest star rating. See what folk *with similar requirements to you* think of them: in my case, someone with the 36V Makita and fitting curtains for a living would probably post a lousy review: it's not that there's anything wrong with the drill, just that it's not the right choice for their job. Likewise, someone installing crash-barriers would probably post a lousy review of the DHR171.
I don't need to worry about dust, etc, but for those who do, the vacuum system can be the most important part.
For bigger holes, up to about an inch in diameter and usually vertically down into concrete, I have an older brushed 36V Makita (2 x 18V). It often gets used before there is mains power on site and it gets the job done ok, but I'll run out a cable and use a corded tool for big holes if the option is there.
For little holes, up to about 17mm and often into brick, the 18V brushless DHR171 is pretty close to ideal (I think it's the XRH06B in the USA). It's lightweight and easy to handle overhead or up a ladder.
With brick-built houses, using a too-powerful SDS drill just smashes the backs out of bricks once you get half way through. It seems to be more of a problem with harder bricks, which is where the local geology comes in, even if you are not drilling into the local stone.
They are very different machines for very different jobs. All of the big names offer a similar range of SDS drills and I've not used enough of them to regard any one as "the best". None of the real tool manufacturers seems to make bad ones.
It's a case of choosing the one that best suits your needs. Usually, the battery platform will be your first factor, then look at the range to see which of the drills that use the battery is best suited to your use. Narrow it down to 2 or 3 and look for reviews. Read the reviews, rather than just looking for the highest star rating. See what folk *with similar requirements to you* think of them: in my case, someone with the 36V Makita and fitting curtains for a living would probably post a lousy review: it's not that there's anything wrong with the drill, just that it's not the right choice for their job. Likewise, someone installing crash-barriers would probably post a lousy review of the DHR171.
I don't need to worry about dust, etc, but for those who do, the vacuum system can be the most important part.