Electric Tools: Rotary Hammer or Hammer Drill? Which masonry tool is better?

Commonly, it is confused on what tool to use when drilling masonry. Both the Rotary Hammer and the Hammer Drill can be one's best option. Each having a different set of purposes.

The Rotary Hammer and the Hammer Drill.

Hammer drills are small and shaped like your household hand drill and made for light work. It is essentially a drill with a ratchet mechanism that vibrates the bit at a high speed chipping away at the masonry substrate.

Much the same way, a Rotary hammer, is a hammer with a larger motor than a drill which beats on the end of the bit in a hammering motion. This hammering action transfers energy from the bit to the hard carbide chipping away at the concrete or stone.

The rotary hammer also has what used to be called a tool bit driver, which rotates the bit while the piston is beating on it. The rotation of the fluted bit pulls the debris out of the hole that the hammer is making.

So which tool is the best option? The Rotary Hammer or the Hammer Drill?

It all revolves around the purposes.

A Hammer Drill is used:

* When making small holes, such as 3/8 or smaller

* For mortar, concrete blocks or bricks and NOT for reinforced concrete or stone

* When small holes are needed for anchors or for any necessary injections

Rotary Hammers are best for:

* With dense materials such has reinforced concrete or stone

* extensive work

* With holes in masonry up to three inches in diameter (however, even larger holes can be made with hollow core bits)

Hammer drills are smaller in size and usually more affordable.

So, unless you want to spend the extra money use the Hammer Drills on the small jobs and save the Rotary hammers for the big jobs.