Rotary Hammer Drills

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matt123

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I am in the market for a new hammer drill. Looking for opinions on what you find to work best. I want to purchase one that is gonna last a long time for both making holes, chipping and of course ground rods. I am between 4 as of now. Bosch 11264EVS , Bosch RH540M, Milwaukee 5317-21, and Makita HR4013C.
Any info or feedback appreciated and of course what you guys have experience with. Thanks
 
I always used Hilti, from 5/8" up to their big demo hammers. Around here the rental houses mostly use Hilti, so maybe check with what they rent. Hilti comes to you in a van...my experience is the sales rep will give you a good discount. Also our group hand many of the Hilti core drills
I also ordered anchors, adhesive, etc via phone, it was fast and easy. The warehouse was in Seattle so was next day for me. Hilti anchors are more expensive but I bent a lot of the 1/4" off shore SS expansion anchors and that never happened with Hilti.
I really liked their 5/8" M18 hammer drills, as I was an instrument tech and didn't need to set anything larger than 3/8"
 
Also, there's the chuck type. When I* bought my Bosch, I went with the SDS-Max.

If you'll rent bits, ask your local tool rental place what kind they have the most of.
 
Yes I looked at Hilti but a little pricey however it’s probably the best. These are all sds max that I am looking into. Larry which Bosch did you get? How was it or is it?
 
I worked for a rental company here in Philadelphia and all of the rotary hammers we rented were Bosch and I personally worked on every brand of tool and I can say Bosch is VERY well made. I will not knock Hilti but we felt that Bosch was a better fit because the initial investment was lower and parts are cheaper. SDS-MAX is definitely the platform you want if you'll be using dry core bits, ground rod driver attachment and long, larger diameter bits. The 11264 EVS is a great choice. I personally have an 11231EVS and an 11224 Bulldog and have never been let down.
 
It's quite a few years ago, when we did the power and grounding work at a cell site.

I don't remember the model number, but it has electronic control in it.

Still working well. And, it's blue. 😁
 
Bosch RH745 is tough to beat for the price, can find them new on ebay for around $500. Don't bother with the small sds-max roto hammers like the rh540m, especially if you already have an sds-plus. The 1-9/16" and 1-5/8" units are borderline anemic for driving rods in the soil I encounter.
 
Philly D. said:
I personally have an 11231EVS ...
Click to expand...
Mine is a model number like that. I've used it to bore a 6" hole through three courses of old, hard brick.

We originally got it to drive ground rods, and have 1/2, 5/8, and 3/4" rod drivers.
 
Another Hilti vote. TE 75 20 years old not one problem with the tool or the bits. High quality and price. Previously a Milwaukee drill and Bosch bits, they were both junk, that's why I made the investment, time is money.
 
Thanks for the replies guy. Philly D So I noticed the 11264evs is 1-5/8 and the rh745 is 1-3/4. Is this a big difference? 100$ price increase worth it?
 
I will add I do like Bosch tools. And the Milwaukee M18 line is awesome, but like I said I drill mostly small holes.
Again check with the rental shops.
 
Let your drill be a drill and get a separate 20lb SDS-max demo hammer for driving ground rods, you'll thank me later. I have a $279 harbor freight one that was dedicated to ground rods until I recently started using it to break up concrete to trench in a slab. The thing has held up surprisingly well.
 
No experience, never got a hammer drill but should have, all my tools are corded.
So count this as less credible than the other opinions.

But, numbers don't lie. . .

If you can find it, what is wattage draw vs. price for each?
More watts per dollar sounds good, other things being equal.

Should be that more strokes per minute at more wattage draw = faster at hole making.

I imagine all weigh pretty much the same so this may not be a factor in ease of use. Same with balance.

If one is way cheaper [an outlier] than the average price of all, I'd wonder what corner was cut.

With this many variables plus personal opinions, this is a pretty difficult decision problem.
 
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