How to choose a hammer drill for home work? Selection by characteristics
There are several ways to choose a hammer drill for household purposes. First of all, you need to take into account the power of the tool, which is directly related to its weight. Also pay attention to the impact force and the number of spindle revolutions. Basic recommendations for selection are described in the article.
The content of the article
Types of rotary hammers
There are several types of devices, and classification is carried out according to several parameters. The main criterion is the weight of the tool:
- The lightweight ones weigh less than 4 kg and develop power in the range of 400-800 watts. If you are considering which hammer drill to choose for your home, then you can stop at these models. They are used for drilling holes in concrete for mounting dowels, socket boxes, and junction boxes. You can also hang the ceiling, install a profile for mounting a plasterboard wall.
- Medium - weight within 8 kg, with a power of up to 1000 W. Such devices are used for installation of communication systems and electrical installation work. They are indispensable for finishing, gating walls, making through holes for pipes and removing old floor coverings.
- If you are considering which hammer drill to choose for professional purposes, you can pay attention to the “heavy” group. It combines devices weighing 8-10 kg or more with a power of about 1500-2000 W.With their help, they remove materials, lay communications, and carry out major repairs.
Another classification is related to the location of the engine. It can be positioned vertically and horizontally. In the first case, the design is compact, which makes it possible to work even in hard-to-reach places. Horizontal arrangement is more common in household appliances. This is the type of hammer drill most often purchased for home use.
Another way to choose a rotary hammer for home work is related to the type of impact mechanism. Previously, electromechanical models were common, which required the application of large forces. But today they are practically not produced.
Therefore, electro-pneumatic tools are chosen for both home and professional purposes. They provide a powerful blow, even if the power is low.
Main technical parameters
If you think about how to choose a rotary hammer for your home, you need to take into account several technical parameters. The most important is power, although there are other indicators that are also worth paying attention to.
Power
The devices develop different powers, the range is quite wide - from 400 to 2000 W. At the same time, in the domestic sphere, 400-600 W is quite sufficient. Sometimes such models are used by professional workers. For example, they are suitable for mounting a suspended structure. The tools are convenient because they are quite light in weight and you can work with them for a long time.
Impact energy and frequency
The choice of a hammer drill should also be based on impact energy. It can be 1-20 J, sometimes more. This criterion affects which materials can be penetrated. For example, to work with concrete, stone, and reinforced concrete surfaces, powerful devices are needed.But they are dangerous when making holes in foam concrete and brick. It is important to understand that the impact force cannot be adjusted; it is related only to such a parameter as the power of the hammer drill.
Frequency represents the number of movements made by the striker per unit of time. The parameter can be in a wide range up to 5000 beats per minute. At the same time, the frequency of a drill is even higher, but a hammer drill has a greater impact force.
Spindle speed
Another important parameter by which you can choose a hammer drill for your home. If you use the device only to drill holes, a rotation speed of 2000 rpm is sufficient. If you use it for drilling, high speed is not required. For most devices for professional use, the spindle rotates up to 1000 per minute, which is quite enough.
Operating modes
The choice of a rotary hammer for the home is also related to the number of operating modes. There are models with 2 and 3 modes. In the first case, they can work for drilling, as well as drilling with impacts. The second adds a “blow” mode. Such models are used more widely, since they can also be used for dismantling and removing coatings. It’s better to buy them “with a reserve”.
Maximum drilling diameter
The diameter can also be in a wide range - from 10-160 mm. Moreover, if drilling is done with a crown, then the figure does not exceed 80 mm. If the tool is used only for holes for anchors and dowels, it is enough to purchase just such a model. If it is needed to make holes for different types of communications, distribution boxes, the diameter must exceed 100 mm.
Chuck type
Regardless of the characteristics of the device (vertical or horizontal hammer drill), 2 types of cartridges are used:
- SDS-plus - they are installed in light devices up to 4 kg. The shank has a diameter of 10 mm.
- SDS-max – installed in medium and heavy class models. They weigh from 4 kg, and the diameter of the shank in this case is 10 mm.
Weight
On the one hand, you want to choose a hammer drill with less weight, so that your hands don’t get so tired while working. But don’t think that this is the right model. In fact, mass is directly related to power. If the tool is required only for drilling small holes for dowels, it will weigh no more than 4 kg. But middle-class models with a weight in the range of 4-8 kg are more versatile.
There are different types of hammer drills, they differ in technical characteristics. For home purposes, light and medium models with a power of around 1000 W are quite suitable. If you choose a device for professional work, it is better to consider more powerful devices up to 2000 W and weighing more than 8 kg.
