Impact Drill vs Rotary Hammer: A Heavyweight Comparison
When it comes to the really tough DIY jobs, an impact drill and a rotary hammer are your go-to tools. Which power tool is right for the job and what do you need to know about using them? Our head-to-head guide has the answers!
Rotary Hammer: Key Features
Name: Rotary Hammer
Speciality: Heavy-duty demolition and renovation work on concrete, natural stone, and masonry
Suitable for: Hard masonry, all materials from stone and wood to metal
Functions: Drilling, hammer drilling, chiselling (with a suitable interchangeable chuck)
Hammer Drill Profile
Name: Hammer Drill
Ideal for: Precise work on a range of DIY projects (e.g. putting up a shelf)
Suitable for: Soft masonry, natural stone, lightweight concrete, wood, metal, plastic
Functions: Drilling, hammer drilling, chiselling, grooving
Similarities & Differences
In terms of their basic functions, impact drills and hammer drills are identical: both can drill into a range of materials and increase their power with a hammer action. You can get both types of tool as a handy cordless tool or as a corded power tool.
A hammer drill comes with either a 2-speed gearbox or variable speed control. With the 2-speed gearbox, the first gear is ideal for drilling large holes into tougher materials like sand-lime brick. It provides low speed with high torque. The second gear operates with low torque and higher speed, allowing you to drill precise holes in wood or plastic.
A rotary hammer can not only drill but also chisel: the drill bit has room to move in its SDS chuck and can vibrate axially. There is also a key difference between an impact drill and a rotary hammer in how power is transferred:
A rotary hammer has an automatic striking mechanism. Its power depends on the motor and its performance – in other words, on the tool itself.
With an impact drill, you control the impact force with the pressure you apply to the material – in other words, with your own strength.
If you're trying to work on very hard materials, you'll quickly find an impact drill isn't up to the task. On the other hand, a hammer drill is too powerful for safely working with soft materials or drilling precise holes.
The most important factor is the combination of impact force, rotational speed and impact rate.
Bohrhammer | Schlagbohrer |
|
|---|---|---|
Wirkung | Kraftübertragung | Geschwindigkeit |
Schlagfrequenz | niedrig; ca. 4.000 pro Minute | hoch; ca. 40.000 pro Minute |
Schlagkraft | hoch; bis zu 30 Joule | niedrig; meist unter 1 Joule |
A rotary hammer gets its power from a high impact force, so it only needs a low impact frequency. It's the other way around for an impact drill, which works its way quickly but carefully into more delicate materials.
So, which tool is right for the job?
A rotary hammer is ideal for heavy-duty jobs that require a lot of power. It's often essential for renovations, breaking through a wall, or for masonry work in the garden. For precision and a delicate touch, a hammer drill is the better choice. It's used much more frequently for everyday tasks and in the workshop.
Bohrhammer | Schlagbohrer |
|---|---|
Hartes Mauerwerk stemmen + aufbrechen | Weiches Mauerwerk aufbrechen |
Materialien wie Naturstein, Beton, Granit, Vollziegel | Materialien wie Kalksandstein, Leichtbeton, Metall, Holz, Kunststoff |
Bohren großer Durchmesser (Dosensenken) | Bohren kleiner Durchmesser |
Fliesenarbeiten und Meißeln |
