Rotary Hammer Drill Recommendations

[Semper Fidelis]

I have a pretty big project coming up with my garage. I'm going to be demo'ing my existing barn and then getting a concrete foundation and slab poured.

Here's where the advice comes in:

Part of the project will be drilling 40 1/2" DIA, 6" deep holes into the concrete for the wedge anchors that I'll be using for my steel truss garage.

I'm all about saving time but I don't want to break the bank.

I've heard great things about Hilti and have found some TE-30-C AVR on EBay for $250 that appear to be in working order. It also seems like the TE-7 is pretty decent but that the TE-30 will go through the concrete like butter.

I suppose I'll end up using this tool in the future but, for now, that's my main concern with all the stuff I need to do.

TE-30-C seems ideal for a 1/2" hole as Hilti states that's in its optimum range.

Any thoughts? Sorry if I sound like the weekend guy that just does construction once in a blue moon but that's me. I'm a retired Marine and don't mind working hard but I just don't do projects like this very often.

 

[Hilltopmasonry]

I would recommend getting yourself either anSDS plus or anSDS max. They go through concrete like butter

The plus is smaller and the max is bigger/more powerful.

If this is the only project you were going to do with it I would just rent it




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[Semper Fidelis]

I would recommend getting yourself either anSDS plus or anSDS max. They go through concrete like butter

The plus is smaller and the max is bigger/more powerful.

If this is the only project you were going to do with it I would just rent it




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Where do you recommend renting it? Do you think the Hilti TE-30 is the right tool for the job?

 

[Fretters]

For the amount you're wanting to drill, better to just buy a fairly cheap SDS rather than rent owt. It'd have to be a really ****** one not to be able to do 40 1/2" holes without breaking a sweat, and you'll have it to keep incase you need it in future. Any decent brand name will be a good choice. I used a Bosch green SDS on Yorkshire brick for years, (and those bricks are tough), as well as others, drilling 10mm diameter holes around 4" to 6" deep, as well as 10mm holes through the walls, and that thing is still working like a champ and looking almost like new.

 

[Hilltopmasonry]

Where do you recommend renting it? Do you think the Hilti TE-30 is the right tool for the job?

Most rental places have them, sunbelt, rental max and most other local rental places. I know Home Depot rental has a whole bunch of them sitting on the shelf every time I go in there

An sds plus should be fine for up to 1/2 inch holes, Anything bigger and my preference would be to use an SDS Max

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[Oggy]

You could go with a TE-16C, or go Bosch, they're a lot less expensive. If you're buying used Hilti, you could probably get a new Bosch for around the same...

40 holes you could probably drill in 1/2 a day, but you'll probably need a couple bits. Here I would recommend Hilti, as they usually have a whole carbide tip, instead of just an insert.

 

[Bockscar]

My dad bought one from the Harbor and worked as well as the Bocsh Bulldog for less than half the price....he was only going to need it for one job

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[Jlbc212]

I bought a Makita SDS Plus hammer/drill a couple of years ago to replace an old Milwaukee that Milwaukee no longer supported with drill bits and replacement parts. I'm amazed how quickly the Makita drills through concrete and stone and how often I've used it.

 

[tarbellb]

Qty 40 , 1/2" holes is cake for a proper SDS/rotary drill. A used Hilti or new Bosch will be excellent, but honestly a HF SDS will do the job too.

I would consider how often you plan on using one vs price paid. Might get away with a cheaper option and put that money towards another tool that will help the project?

Good luck.

 

[Walter_TA]

Plus one for the Harbor freight sds drill. I got one to do the the same thing you are going to do. It was 74$ it drilled all the holes for my garage. Then the holes for the lift I put in.

 

[Lynden]

Bosch 1" SDS-Plus Bulldog. It has three modes of operation -- drilling, hammer drilling and chipping.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BB79Q6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

And if you need a good angle grinder, too....

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XP1NN91/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[bcradio]

Harbor Freight is all you will need here. No doubt about it.

 

[driftpin]

I've posted in other threads about the Harbor Freight Tools SDS-MAX rotary hammer drill/demo hammer I bought. Save your $, buy the current HFT SDS-MAX tool, you will be able to drill 60 5 inch holes in probably 2-3 hours, easily. I just used mine to drill 15 holes 5/8" X 5" and it was probably maybe 40 minutes. I bought the HFT 4-carbide inserts per drill bit assortment, and the last hole was as-easy as the first. Naysayers criticize the HFT bits, my experience was that they did fine for the holes I did. If you had hundreds of holes to drill, you should have a spare bit, that's when I might try a Bosch bit.

Buy a tub of general purpose grease from your local auto parts store. Remove the grease cap on the HFT SDS-MAX tool before you use it, and pack it full. Re-cap it. When you use whatever bit, grease the shaft and splines, and go to work. If I'm done w/a bit and I am removing it from the hammer drill, I use a plastic bag wrapped-around the splined end of the bit, where the grease is, to keep the grease on the bit and not all-over me, the work area, or other tools. It also keeps the bit splines from picking-up dirt on the splines and in the spline grease.

If the tool seems like the demo hammer or hammer drill function isn't cutting well, it's probably time to add some grease to the splines. That should restore the drilling/demo impact function. If it appears the grease has a lot of concrete dust or dirt in them, wipe-off the contaminated grease. I usually use just paper towels. In some really-contaminated cases, you may use some sort of solvent on the splines to remove the residue of dust/dirt, then re-grease.

I looked at the Bosch hammer drill, and came very close to buying one at the Big Orange Box store, HD. But I decided to see what HFT had to offer. I got an 8-1/2 amp SDS-MAX tool, the 4-bit set of demo impact tools, and the 3-bit set of long, impact drills for far-less than the cost of the Bosch, which was not an SDS-MAX tool! The new HFT SDS-MAX offerings have higher amp motors, so they should work even better. I think the one for about $135 is a 10-1/2 amp model, and don't forget your coupons.

Check out the posts by doing a search of my user name and 'hammer drill' for pics and descriptions of the tool use. Save your money! And, do a better job for less money than you would spend for a name-brand. i own a Milwaukee 1/2" hammer drill, which I bought new and I didn't think twice about leaving it in the cabinet while I went looking for a better tool to do the job.

From another post (link below):
The point about "let the tool do the work" is one an impact drill/demo impact hammer operator should take to heart. "Work smart, not hard."

Here's one post, I saved you the trouble: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=365243&highlight=impact+drill&page=2

 

[signcrafter]

Any SDS drill should be fine for you. You don't need a Hilti, although it is a great drill. The only thing I caution is most people using a Hilti are commercial contractors so they get used pretty hard. So if you buy a used one make sure it's good.

A Bosch bulldog is a great SDS for an average homeowner. But any SDS will do for you. I've never used the hf one but it seems others like it. I have a handful of SDS plus and SDS MAX drills from small to big. Any drill and a good bit and you will be good to go.

 

[KnurledNut]

Can you place J bolts in the slab instead of using wedge anchors?

 

[oldwino]

I was an inspector for a mega-million $$$ industrial project. Contractor showed up with a Harbor Freight SDS and I laughed my *** off. By the end of the job he had drilled nearly 900 holes 3/8 to 5/8 and that little drill was still going. The other plus was that no one was going to steal it

Buying a decent Bosch or equal bit will make a huge difference. Plus I think the bits that come with th HF drill are metric so your wedge anchors may not tighten

 

[Bockscar]

Can you place J bolts in the slab instead of using wedge anchors?

I was thinking the same thing..... where I live it was code to do so

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[ca90ss]

I would take the HF over the Hilti. The Hilti are nicer but the HF are more reliable.

 

[dogdog]

Hitachi DH45 series... I have split boulders with that drill and still kicking...mine was the older version I got back in 2006... still kicking and rocking. good for any holes, just get a good bit ( NOT HF bits) Dewalt bits are good, and good for chipping (jackhammering) small jobs I actually split (between drilling lots holes, feathers and wedges, and just chisel it out) about 2' feet deep by about 8' feet high of stones just this past summer. with it.... anything larger you'll be needed a real jackhammer)

You can go other brands, I don't have too high expectations of HF. I think Hilti is good, Hitachi is excellent, Bosche is good not as better as the Hitachi IMO.

Anyways SDS Max rotary drills because it is a little more common in most places... I think there was a discussion between the SDS Max vs the Spline bits last year here... I would stay away from proprietary bits in many of the Hilit machines.... it would cost you more using only their bits.....

 

[kctyphoon]

The bigger the drill, the easier the drilling.. any decent brand will be fine, and I'd even consider the hf one too.. 1/2" holes aren't anything that demanding.

 

[willf650]

I would take the HF over the Hilti. The Hilti are nicer but the HF are more reliable.

That is the first time I’ve ever heard someone say a Harbor Freight electric tool is reliable.

I assume you have to be joking saying it’s more reliable then a hilti.

What the original poster is talking about is nothing special and any sds rotary hammer will do. I would just got to the big box store and pick up a 1” one in what ever brand you wish. If you want a used hilti go for it but I would probably just go and buy a new one from any other major brand.


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[ca90ss]

That is the first time I’ve ever heard someone say a Harbor Freight electric tool is reliable.

I assume you have to be joking saying it’s more reliable then a hilti.

Not joking, haven't been able to kill one of the HF rotary hammers yet. The Hilti ones we used to have were constantly in for repair.

 

[Semper Fidelis]

Can you place J bolts in the slab instead of using wedge anchors?

I could but the idea makes me nervous. The bolts have to be placed perfectly because it's for a structure. I'm worried that, in spite of all best efforts, some measurement might be off or the bolts somehow placed in incorrectly. Once the concrete sets I'd be screwed.

I'm certain someone will tell me that a good concrete person would take care of this but I can't get over being nervous

 

[amolaver]

IMO, you're right to be nervous. I had a pro do my concrete, reviewed the building plans three times with the foreman, and still wound up with 4 bolts misplaced. I trust the J bolts more than the epoxy anchored ones and despite my frustration with the mistakes would do the same again. On the flip side, I work under my 8500lb truck on a lift bolted down with anchors like almost every other lift installed.. With today's liability, if the anchors didn't work, they wouldn't exist.

Re: the drill question, I've seen the HF on two different sites being used by pros. One looked nearly new but the other looked like it had been thrown into the concrete drum and plucked out of a pour.. Was still cranking out holes...totally anecdotal, but was impressive to see. as a homeowner, I can't justify buying a hilti/Bosch/Makita/etc - I don't have any regular need for sds-type drilling. In your situation I'd either buy the HF or rent one. With as big a project as you are starting, a couple hundred extra dollars in your pocket will find more important uses IMO.

ahm

 

[maxwage]

I would totally buy. It’s probably $60+ to rent for a day any you can own one for 2-3x that.

I work in commercial construction and we use SDS Plus and Max almost on a daily basis. We mainly use Bosch and Hilti, they have withstood years of abuse.

I also own a Hitachi that has performed well for anything I’ve thrown at it.


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[gregpack]

I've got a 20 year old Bosch bulldog 7/8" SDS that has drilled thousands of holes with no issues. My only suggestion would be to make sure the unit has hammer only. That is actually a pretty useful feature for chipping mortar and concrete with the right bits. I also have a conversion chuck so I can use standard twist drill bits, which makes it even more versatile.

 

[IndyGarage]

A few years ago, I had to drill about 50 3/8 holes to anchor pallet rack in my shop. I spent half a day drilling the first 5 of them with my old Milwaukee holeshooter with hammer function.

I went to Home Depot to rent an SDS and they had an almost brand new Hilti TE7c sitting there for sale for $175 so I bought it. With it, the remaining holes got drilled in about 10 seconds apiece - all in less than an hour.

That winter we had a terrible ice storm and my driveway was covered in 4 inches of solid ice. I used the Hilti with a tile lifter on hammer only to break the ice up - it was the only thing I had that could cut the ice. I ran it for about 16 hours straight no problem.

I've done everything from 1/4 to 1 inch holes with that drill. I finished most of my projects, and ended up buying a cordless SDS with my Panasonic set, so the Hilti was sitting. I sold it for $175 to a spanish guy who had his teenage son interpreting for him. I'm sure he's getting good use from it.

If you only have 40 holes, rent an SDS for half a day.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

I'd get a Bosch Bulldog SDS-plus. I've used mine for plenty of 1/2" anchors as well as many smaller holes and some small core drilling.

Depending on the model they're around $175-200 and you'll definitely find more uses for it in the future.

I wouldn't go to Harbor Freight for this. They have some decent stuff, but power tools are not one of them. You might get a good one on the first try, or you might end up returning 2 or 3 before you get a good one. Get the Bosch or rent a Hilti and have a good time doing it.

 

[blake101]

Get a Bosch and a decent drill bit and you will be fine, and will be able to use it for years to come.

 

[driftpin]

The tool guys who work all-day with tools like the rotary hammer drill will want to use their favorite 'better' brand. The homeowner who has some holes to drill, can rent a tool & bits they need, or for not much-more, they can buy the HFT. The cost of a Milwaukee, Bosch, DeWalt, or Hilti SDS-plus is more-than the cost of the HFT SDS-MAX. If you have any possibility of needing the capacity to effortlessly-drill holes, or to use the chipping demo function, after your one needed use, I say, "buy the HFT SDS-MAX." There are enough owners on here who have used them to provide qualitative/quantitative feedback. They work, they don't break, and they are less-expensive. If you need to be loyal to your favorite manufacturer and you "would never consider HFT's product," spend the extra $$.

 

[Frank Dukes]

+1 for Bosch. entry level bulldog is cheap enough to have around, should last you a lifetime of occasional use. at least im betting on mine doing so. you can buy the remanufactured version for 99 bucks on ebay. a steal to be sure.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bosch-Tool...202648&hash=item33ccf8980d:g:XCcAAOSwlv9aYms7

 

[Mr Ratchet]

I have a 1 1/8" Bosch SDS Plus that i have drilled a bunch of holes with. I've also used it quite a few times for light demolition with various chisels. I've also used a Hiliti and Milwaukee versions of these as well. They have all performed well drilling holes up to a inch in diameter. Any of these three brands plus Hitachi and Makita would do you well for the rest of your time here on earth.

 

[Fbmoose48]

I would take the HF over the Hilti. The Hilti are nicer but the HF are more reliable.

You're kidding, right?

Buy the biggest Hilti you can afford.

 

[ca90ss]

You're kidding, right?

Buy the biggest Hilti you can afford.

Nope.

 

[PoorOwner]

Can the SDS max use SDS plus bits?

Also my old bits are not SDS plus and I don’t think they work in the SDS plus chuck

 

[PoorOwner]

Also I was looking at HF and their drills are now called Bauer but the coupon says specifically cannot be used on Bauer. Prices are good but I keep reading reviews people got it with discount ? Is it a specific item coupon?

 

[achirdo]

X2 on the Bosch 1" SDS bulldog. I've drilled probably 1000s of holes with mine setting 3/8, 1/2, and 5/8 anchors. I've drilled a handful of 1" holes with it and 4 holes 3.5" diameter with a hole saw bit. It struggled hard with that and took a stupid amount of time. 40 1/2" holes is half a days work taking breaks.

It's a handy tool to have around, id buy the Bosch for $179 brand new before I rented one.

 

[signcrafter]

Can the SDS max use SDS plus bits?

Also my old bits are not SDS plus and I don’t think they work in the SDS plus chuck

SDS max and plus are not interchangeable. They do make an adapter but think it's like 50 bucks so not really worth it to me. Take a look at bit options out there before you decide on one system. They make things like shovel heads, ground rod pounders, 6" floor scrapers, etc that I believe only come in sds max. If you ever want to use any of these things then you should get the max chuck. If all you want is some 1/2" or so holes then the plus will be fine for you.

Post up a picture of the end of your bits and I can tell you if they are plus or max. https://www.google.com/search?q=sds..._-vYAhUCYK0KHSZ6DwcQ_AUICygC&biw=1500&bih=677

 

[driftpin]

Pretty-sure the SDS-plus is smaller dia shank than the SDS-MAX.

When I bought my Harbor Freight SDS-MAX 1-9/16 inch & 8-1/2 amps impact drill/demo hammer it was w/the coupon, it was before the Bauer line name was begun.

Can the SDS max use SDS plus bits?

Also my old bits are not SDS plus and I don’t think they work in the SDS plus chuck

 

[bcradio]

Also I was looking at HF and their drills are now called Bauer but the coupon says specifically cannot be used on Bauer. Prices are good but I keep reading reviews people got it with discount ? Is it a specific item coupon?

Good catch here. I always used the 20% off on these. Now without that option, this unit is much less of a bargain.