Buying a used demolition hammer vs jackhammer

[makemenuconfig]

I have a project involving bushing concrete. This is the sixth time in two years I've had to rent a larger tool because my rotohammer just isn't big enough. Seems like time to buy one. I have several more projects in mind I would use it for.

• There are a few name brand SDS-Max ~28lb demo hammers on facebook/offerup in the $400 range lightly used. But somehow nobody has written be back in days for some reason.
• HF has the Hercules 28lb for around $400. Some are selling them for around $200 on offerup, but nobody close to me. Could have one mailed.
• I found a Dewalt D25980 (68lb breaker / jackhammer) with 1-1/8 chuck on Craigslist for $400. Cart included. Seems to be in quite good shape.

The big Dewalt is tempting. Would make easy work out of demoing concrete. But it is bigger to store, and overkill for the immediate project I've got on hand. The sds-max ones are definitely a good size for my current project, and could probably make it through my future projects, but may be more difficult. The point of getting one is to step up the size. And I don't want to buy another tool and still be undersized for projects. But no need to go overboard.

Future projects include: Removing concrete porch / stoop, remove fence post concrete, remove tile for bathroom remodel, potential cleanup work for new concrete retaining wall, bushing lip in slab. And I'm sure more.

Thoughts?

 

[mogandave]

Looks like a great price on the DeWalt, I'd jump on it.

That said, can you easily handle a 68lb tool? You'll figure out where to store it.

 

[kyrbz]

I'm slowly picking away at a renovation and didn't want to mess around renting a demo hammer every time I need one. It's also a tool I didn't want to spend a lot of money on. Once this renovation is done, I seriously doubt I would use it much. I looked at the Harbor Freight Bauer one which is currently $449, but I ultimately cheaped out and bought a Vevor on Amazon for $150 free shipping. I'm not advocating buying cheap tools but I figured I could go through 3 of them for the price of the HF. I don't want to jinx things, but so far so good with the "Vevor". I've done a fair amount of thick concrete and asphalt demo with no problems other than a few screws vibrating out. You mentioned removing tile, IMO these size hammers are way too aggressive for tile work. I have a $100 pneumatic scraper from HF that works great on tile or I also use my Bosch Bulldog on tile or detailed concrete chipping.

 

[Retroman]

Had a Bosch demo hammer used it over 20 + years in a cutting & demo business.
It was a bit heavy but worked great for tearing out a bit of concrete not cut all the way thru or when a blade got hung up.
Chipping back into a wall for a vent pipe. Keep an eye out for one of these don't think you could wear one out.

 

[mike93lx]

I'd buy the Dewalt and sell it when done with projects if you don't have the room for storage.

Sure a sdsmax demo hammer will break up some concrete, but the speed difference will be significant

 

[KnurledNut]

@makemenuconfig
Which rotary hammer do you currently have?

 

[hefnerconstructionlc]

Buy a 35 lb demo Hammer you won't regret it. The 70 lb are great if you're only doing flat work but the 35 lb is much easier to move around get in tight spaces and can still do some pretty big work. Plus they're easier to store and mostly just manage. The 70 lb is essentially only for up and down work where a 35 lb can be used in a wall if needed. Also you can get different types of bits for either. In fact we just used ours and added a tamper bit to pack Pier holes and around foundations. Which makes it really nice. Works almost as good as jumping jack for small jobs. I would say with the jobs you have coming up a 35 lb would be ideal. By the cheap harbor freight one or like the vevor above. I bought the cheap harbor freight one for 200 bucks years ago figuring if I used it three times that was the cost of a rental. Turns out we use it all the time it's been a great tool. It's such a crude work that they don't have to be a very refined tool. So unless you're a concrete contractor using it everyday. I think buying a harbor freight style one makes the most sense. I'll send some pictures later of all the work we've done with it. It's pretty impressive.

 

[makemenuconfig]

Thanks for the advice! I found this guy on offerup last night after I posted, the guy is going to sell it to me for $125 which is hard to beat. It's like a mini jackhammer, and at 42lb not quite as monstrous as the big Dewalt.

15 Amp 42 lb. 1-1/8 in. Hex Lower Wall Breaker Hammer with Maximum Vibration Control

Amazing deals on this 15Amp 42Lb Hex Lower Wall Breaker Hammer at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

It takes 1-1/8 hex shanked tools. I'm trying to figure out where to buy a bushing hammer bit for it. This seems like the proper one, but ebay has this guy which I believe is a "pavement breaker" which is for pneumatic tools. I believe the HF tool can physically hold either. I can't tell if that's a bad idea to get the cheaper ebay one. Do you know anything about that?

 

[zendriver]

I have a bauer demo hammer I use to remove steel framing out of hard mortar in basement windows.

It did a great job. I haven’t tried it on anything big, but I don’t know if I would want something much too heavier to use in tight confined areas.

The jobs you were thinking about looks like it be better just to have a regular jackhammer

 

[rlitman]

Thanks for the advice! I found this guy on offerup last night after I posted, the guy is going to sell it to me for $125 which is hard to beat. It's like a mini jackhammer, and at 42lb not quite as monstrous as the big Dewalt.

15 Amp 42 lb. 1-1/8 in. Hex Lower Wall Breaker Hammer with Maximum Vibration Control

Amazing deals on this 15Amp 42Lb Hex Lower Wall Breaker Hammer at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

It takes 1-1/8 hex shanked tools. I'm trying to figure out where to buy a bushing hammer bit for it. This seems like the proper one, but ebay has this guy which I believe is a "pavement breaker" which is for pneumatic tools. I believe the HF tool can physically hold either. I can't tell if that's a bad idea to get the cheaper ebay one. Do you know anything about that?

I've got a Makita HM1301, which is what all of the Asian clones seem to be based on. They're FANTASTIC machines that make SDS-Max feel like a toy, but there are a few different sizes in the 1-1/8" range, and they're not all that interchangeable.

My Makita for example requires a round turned end on the side that goes in the machine, and a retention groove. While a Bosch brute uses ring retention (like pneumatic tools) and is hex for it's full length. Oddly, the round part of the Bauer clone seems to be bigger than what my machine takes, so I cannot use HF's tooling on mine.

 

[hefnerconstructionlc]

Yeah I don't know that looks like a harbor freight one just take it to harbor freight and stick one of their bits in it and see if it works. I would do that over eBay

 

[pcmeiners]

"Buy a 35 lb demo Hammer you won't regret it."

Agree, will drill through anything, break up old concrete with ease, new concrete takes work. Have a Bosch 35 lb.

Use to use 125lb hammers, a real treat breaking down 1800's walls. Had one hard brick wall, 30" thick, took 8 hours to get 1 hole through it with a 125#

If you need to break up very thick new crete then use this....., Chinese dynamite, this stuff is amazing. I have broken up 12" thick concrete >5000 PSI strength with rebar

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BRQ9A2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Video of how it works.....

How to break concrete or crack, split rocks easily? Dexpan Instruction

3 easy steps to break concrete or crack split rocks easily: drill, mix and pour. No noise, vibration or dust. Dexpan Instruction Non-Explosive Demolition Agent.

www.dexpan.com