Rotary hammers

Rotary hammers are power tools for drilling and chiselling whose pneumatic hammer mechanism makes holes in concrete, brick and stone. Cordless rotary hammers with SDS+ fitting work without a mains cable. Rotary hammers are used in construction and renovation work, electrical and plumbing installations and fixing work.

Selection criteria

• Impact energy: stated in joules (J); 2.5 J is enough for fixing holes, while 2.8–3.8 J speeds up drilling and larger holes in concrete.
• Fitting: SDS+ drill bits and chisels lock into the chuck without a key.
• Operating modes: depending on the model, drilling only for wood and metal, hammer drilling for masonry and chiselling for removing tiles and mortar.
• Motor: a brushless (BL) motor gives more working time per battery charge.

Frequently asked questions about rotary hammers

What is the difference between a rotary hammer and a hammer drill? The pneumatic hammer mechanism of a rotary hammer produces clearly more impact energy than the mechanical impact of a hammer drill, so drilling in concrete is faster and easier. Do ordinary drill bits fit an SDS+ rotary hammer? Not directly. A rotary hammer uses SDS+ shank bits or a separate chuck for straight shank bits.