I don't mean to sound lame but can someone explain to me what the difference is with Hammer drills and rotary drills? I bought some Vermont American Masonry Drills and in small print on the back it says "Do not use in Hammer Drills". Another one says "Do not use in percussion type drills and For Rotary Drills only" I'm confused, I thought masonry drill bits were for hammer drills?
Rotary Drills-Hammer Drills-whats the diff?
- Thread starter jfls41
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jimwalker
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- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: Rotary Drills-Hammer Drills-whats the diff?
Cheaper bits won't hold up to the pounding of a hammer drill.Life without hammer drill would be awfull down here.Ever try to drill an old tilt wall with a regular drill ?
Cheaper bits won't hold up to the pounding of a hammer drill.Life without hammer drill would be awfull down here.Ever try to drill an old tilt wall with a regular drill ?
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- Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
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Re: Rotary Drills-Hammer Drills-whats the diff?
I'd imagine the difference is that poor slobs who don't have a hammer drill would like to drill through brick once too, so this bit is designed a little sharper (or something) for use in a normal drill. If that the case, chucking it up in a hammer drill would damage it. Just a guess.
I'd imagine the difference is that poor slobs who don't have a hammer drill would like to drill through brick once too, so this bit is designed a little sharper (or something) for use in a normal drill. If that the case, chucking it up in a hammer drill would damage it. Just a guess.
al hildenbrand
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- Minnesota
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- Electrical Contractor, Electrical Consultant, Electrical Engineer
Re: Rotary Drills-Hammer Drills-whats the diff?
Heh!
I never read the packaging. . .thanks for the question, jfls41.
I have had new carbide masonry bits, when chucked into my hammerdrill, come out of the first hole drilled looking like a stone arrowhead. . .you know, like the square edged carbide tooth has been "sharpened" by popping off shards of carbide.
I never stopped to think that there are different grades of carbide. This explains a lot.
It also makes perfect sense that a manufacturer would have a line of carbide masonry bits that would be marketed to the home-defense-warriors that won't invest in a drill with hammer capabilities. Lesson to self: Read the Label.
Heh!
I never read the packaging. . .thanks for the question, jfls41.
I have had new carbide masonry bits, when chucked into my hammerdrill, come out of the first hole drilled looking like a stone arrowhead. . .you know, like the square edged carbide tooth has been "sharpened" by popping off shards of carbide.
I never stopped to think that there are different grades of carbide. This explains a lot.
It also makes perfect sense that a manufacturer would have a line of carbide masonry bits that would be marketed to the home-defense-warriors that won't invest in a drill with hammer capabilities. Lesson to self: Read the Label.
charlie k.
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- Baltimore, Md.
Re: Rotary Drills-Hammer Drills-whats the diff?
Guys most supply houses carry Rawl and Powers brands. After 30 years in the trade I have come to the conclusion they make the best bits for use in those screaming hammer drills. You might pay a little more but you save it in your labor costs.
Charlie
Guys most supply houses carry Rawl and Powers brands. After 30 years in the trade I have come to the conclusion they make the best bits for use in those screaming hammer drills. You might pay a little more but you save it in your labor costs.
Charlie
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oliver100
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Re: Rotary Drills-Hammer Drills-whats the diff?
Guys most supply houses carry Rawl and Powers brands
Can you drill concrete?
Guys most supply houses carry Rawl and Powers brands
Can you drill concrete?
jimwalker
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- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: Rotary Drills-Hammer Drills-whats the diff?
The bits that come with tapcons seem to hold up to hammerdrills
The bits that come with tapcons seem to hold up to hammerdrills
al hildenbrand
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- Minnesota
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- Electrical Contractor, Electrical Consultant, Electrical Engineer
Re: Rotary Drills-Hammer Drills-whats the diff?
Yes, that is exactly what "rotary" is. Plain old twist drill.
Yes, that is exactly what "rotary" is. Plain old twist drill.
Re: Rotary Drills-Hammer Drills-whats the diff?
No one has really answered this question, so here goes.
The plain old drill motor merely turns the bit. It will drill in most metals including mild steel. You would normally use drill bits made from high speed steel. There are also carbon steel drill bits which won't last long when used in steel. Or, you can use spade bits, or any number of special gizmos made to be chucked.
The hammer drill, replaces the hammer and star drill. Betcha the old timers remember those! It was sort of a chisel for hammering out round holes in concrete. The hammer drill is a combination of rotary drill and jackhammer. It hammers as it turns. This requires a special drill bit, usually made with a carbide insert and plenty of clearance to get the concrete dust out of the hole. The high speed steel bits won't stand up to the hammering and to the abrasive action of the concete dust.
Anyone got any star drills?
[ March 06, 2005, 11:44 AM: Message edited by: rattus ]
No one has really answered this question, so here goes.
The plain old drill motor merely turns the bit. It will drill in most metals including mild steel. You would normally use drill bits made from high speed steel. There are also carbon steel drill bits which won't last long when used in steel. Or, you can use spade bits, or any number of special gizmos made to be chucked.
The hammer drill, replaces the hammer and star drill. Betcha the old timers remember those! It was sort of a chisel for hammering out round holes in concrete. The hammer drill is a combination of rotary drill and jackhammer. It hammers as it turns. This requires a special drill bit, usually made with a carbide insert and plenty of clearance to get the concrete dust out of the hole. The high speed steel bits won't stand up to the hammering and to the abrasive action of the concete dust.
Anyone got any star drills?
[ March 06, 2005, 11:44 AM: Message edited by: rattus ]
al hildenbrand
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- Minnesota
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- Electrical Contractor, Electrical Consultant, Electrical Engineer
Re: Rotary Drills-Hammer Drills-whats the diff?
I've still got my 3/4, 5/8 & 3/8! You betcha!
Never know when this new fangled electricity will run out.
I've still got my 3/4, 5/8 & 3/8! You betcha!
Never know when this new fangled electricity will run out.
hurk27
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- Portage, Indiana NEC: 2008
Re: Rotary Drills-Hammer Drills-whats the diff?
I still have my set but havent used them since I got my DeWalt kit which has a hammer drill.
I also have a Millwalkee ?" and a Millwalkee spline drive. But the star bits worked great for small holes in block. (at least until the DeWalt came along)
I still have my set but havent used them since I got my DeWalt kit which has a hammer drill.
I also have a Millwalkee ?" and a Millwalkee spline drive. But the star bits worked great for small holes in block. (at least until the DeWalt came along)
Re: Rotary Drills-Hammer Drills-whats the diff?
And to go on to the next step...
The rotary hammer drill such as the Bosch Bulldog and various Hiltis. These have spline drives [such as SDS or -Max] abd are actually designed to drill holes in concrete. The advantage of a rotary hammer over a hammer drill is about three times the speed.
Concrete is brittle. Those chrome plated "masonry drills" by VermontAmerican and China work by grinding away at the hard,brittle surface of the hole. The hammer drill is somewhat better in that it adds some pounding action. But the rotary drill is so much better that no electrical contractor [who ever needs to penetrate concrete] should be without one. The Bosch is about $219 and the Hiltis somewhat more. As far as I know, cordless drills are LIMITED to the hammer drill level.
~Peter
And to go on to the next step...
The rotary hammer drill such as the Bosch Bulldog and various Hiltis. These have spline drives [such as SDS or -Max] abd are actually designed to drill holes in concrete. The advantage of a rotary hammer over a hammer drill is about three times the speed.
Concrete is brittle. Those chrome plated "masonry drills" by VermontAmerican and China work by grinding away at the hard,brittle surface of the hole. The hammer drill is somewhat better in that it adds some pounding action. But the rotary drill is so much better that no electrical contractor [who ever needs to penetrate concrete] should be without one. The Bosch is about $219 and the Hiltis somewhat more. As far as I know, cordless drills are LIMITED to the hammer drill level.
~Peter
hurk27
Senior Member
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- Portage, Indiana NEC: 2008
Re: Rotary Drills-Hammer Drills-whats the diff?
I do not like the newer Milwaukee SDS, you can't turn off the rotary drive. The old version allowed you to turn off the rotary drive and it would drive a 5/8" ground rod with no problem. Also there is a control board that is mounted on the back or the armature shaft and spins with it. It has shattered twice. if it does the motor will not run and it also has the brush set on it. Other than that it drills like out of this world.
I do not like the newer Milwaukee SDS, you can't turn off the rotary drive. The old version allowed you to turn off the rotary drive and it would drive a 5/8" ground rod with no problem. Also there is a control board that is mounted on the back or the armature shaft and spins with it. It has shattered twice.
if it does the motor will not run and it also has the brush set on it. Other than that it drills like out of this world.jrdsg
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- Vancouver, Canada
Re: Rotary Drills-Hammer Drills-whats the diff?
I have two Bosch rotary hammers, a smaller SDS chuck unit that is nice for extension ladder work [light but powerful] and a huge one that is really heavy but cuts big holes through concrete like it was butter. The big one has the older spline chuck, but I found a Milwaukee adapter that lets me chuck SDS bits in the spline chuck [basically a second chuck that fits into the big chuck]. The big drill was expensive but has lasted for years and really does what it was intended for.
Most cordless hammer drills are ok for light work but don't have the reciprocating mass to be efficient in thicker or harder material.
I have two Bosch rotary hammers, a smaller SDS chuck unit that is nice for extension ladder work [light but powerful] and a huge one that is really heavy but cuts big holes through concrete like it was butter. The big one has the older spline chuck, but I found a Milwaukee adapter that lets me chuck SDS bits in the spline chuck [basically a second chuck that fits into the big chuck]. The big drill was expensive but has lasted for years and really does what it was intended for.
Most cordless hammer drills are ok for light work but don't have the reciprocating mass to be efficient in thicker or harder material.
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