I'm looking to upgrade my drill since I just moved into a new house and I have a variety of projects to tackle. My old DeWalt 18V drill is getting old, and I need something new. Most of the work will be regular drilling and driving into wood, like plywood and framing lumber. However, I also need to drill into concrete walls occasionally. Is a regular drill with a hammer setting sufficient for this, or should I go for a dedicated rotary hammer? Also, are there any downsides to using a drill with a hammer setting compared to one without, such as size, weight, or reliability?
3 Answers
I'd recommend a dedicated SDS rotary hammer if you plan on doing drills that involve chipping or breaking through concrete. For smaller tasks, you can consider something like the DCH614B, though it might be more than you actually need for simple projects like mounting plywood. There are also more affordable options like the DCH273B for lighter duty.
For your situation, I suggest getting a hammer drill for lighter tasks and renting a rotary hammer for bigger jobs. Hammer drills work like regular drills but add a light hammering action when needed, while rotary hammers apply more force and speed to get through tougher materials. Hammer drills do tend to be a bit bulkier, but the difference isn't significant. Just keep in mind that the key distinction is that rotary hammers typically use special SDS bits, which snap into place.
If you only need to drill into concrete occasionally, a regular drill with a hammer setting should do the trick for small fasteners like tapcons or anchors. However, if you plan to do this often or need to drill larger holes for cables or pipes, a dedicated rotary hammer would be more efficient. For serious concrete work or demolition, a rotary hammer is the way to go.