Hammer Drill Vs. Rotary Hammer Drill (How To Choose The Best)
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Don’t panic. Just because you’re seeing a similar term doesn’t mean these two tools are hard to tell apart. If you’re not sure whether you need a hammer drill or a rotary hammer drill for your task, then you’ve come to the right post.
Not only did we differentiate one from the other; we also featured one great example for each type for you to consider.
Let’s Compare A Hammer Drill And A Rotary Hammer Drill
DEWALT DCD985B 20-Volt MAX Lithium Ion 1/2-Inch Hammer Drill
What Will You Get?
DeWalt DCD985B is a 20V hammer drill designed with a heavy-duty ½” metal ratcheting chuck with carbide inserts. It is a heavy-duty tool that can deliver up to 450 unit watts out of power. Its speed is equally impressive as it is designed with a 3-speed all-metal transmission that can deliver 600, 1250 and 2000RPM, respectively.
It is designed to be compact and lightweight, and with the right balance for you to work efficiently and comfortably. It is also durable and built for longer tool life. In addition, it is equipped with LED work light located just above the trigger and has a 20-second delay after the trigger has been released.
Top FAQs
Q: Is this tool good for beginners?
A: Certainly, yes! It’s easy to use and it performs as you would expect it to.
Q: Can the hammer function be turned off?
A: Yes! That’s why it’s a versatile tool that may also be used for drilling and fastening.
Q: Is its motor brushed or brushless?
A: This tool comes with a brushed motor.
Our Take On The DEWALT DCD985B Hammer Drill
DeWalt DCD985B is a durable, reliable and efficient hammer drill. This 20V cordless tool is built for your drilling, hammering and fastening tasks.
This tool can surely get the job done with its 450 unit watts out of power output. You may also set the speed to match the requirement of your task. It is designed with a patented 3-speed all-metal transmission that delivers the max speed of 600RPM, 1250RPM, and 2000RPM, respectively.
Also, it has a ½-inch metal ratcheting chuck with carbide inserts that tightly grips bits thereby reducing slippage during high-torque applications. In the long run, it contributes to prolonging the tool’s life.
DeWalt DCD985B is also designed to help you work efficiently and comfortably. Its built-in LED work light features 20-second delay after you release the trigger. Also, its handle is slim to provide comfort and ease as you grip the tool. It is also well-balanced and sturdy.
Overall, it’s a premium-quality tool; and to make the product better, it also comes with a 90-day money back guarantee, 1-year free service contract, and 3-year limited warranty.
See more information on DeWalt DCD985B
DEWALT D25263K D-Handle SDS Rotary Hammer With Shocks, 1-1/8″
What Will You Get?
DeWalt D25263K comes with a rotary hammer, a 360-degree side handle, a depth rod, and a kit box.
It is a 17.5-inch tool that weighs 6.8lbs. It is noticeably longer and heavier as you would expect any rotary hammer to be.
DeWalt D25263K packs 3.0 joules of impact energy that allows fast drilling and chipping. It is powered by an 8.5amp high-performance motor and can deliver the max speed of 1450RPM. It has the capability to drill through ¼ – ¾-inch concrete.
More so, the tool comes with an integral clutch and the patented SHOCKS Active Vibration Control. For better grip, its back handle is rubber-coated and comes with a large 2-finger variable-speed trigger.
It is also covered by a 3-year limited warranty, 2-year free service, and 90-day money back guarantee.
Top FAQs
Q: Does it also include bits and accessories?
A: No, it doesn’t include anything else other than those mentioned.
Q: What are the modes available in this rotary hammer?
A: This tool provides 3 options: drill, drill with hammer, and hammer only.
Q: Where was this tool manufactured?
A: It was made in China.
Our Take On DeWalt D25263K Rotary Hammer
D25263K is one of DeWalt’s best rotary hammers on the market. Although it’s quite lengthier and heavier compared to other types of tools, it is designed to provide as much comfort, support and control to its users – with the 360-degree side handle, rubber-coated handle, and 2-finger trigger. Even more, it is equipped with the SHOCKS Active Vibration Control to lessen the vibration that you have to feel when you use this tool.
Its motor is designed for heavy-duty tasks. It packs an 8.5amp engine that can deliver up to 3 joules of impact energy. It also has a variable speed trigger so you can easily and accurately adjust the tool according to the task you want to accomplish.
More so, DeWalt offers this product with a great warranty package: 3-year limited warranty, 2-year free service contract, and 90-day money back guarantee.
See more information on DeWalt D25263K
What’s The Difference Between A Hammer Drill And A Rotary Hammer Drill
From the terms themselves, it’s pretty understandable why people tend to be confused about these two tools. In one aspect, yes, they are the same – both are great tools for drilling masonry because they can produce a pounding force.
Yet, with their design and build, it’s actually pretty easy to identify one from the other. Hammer drills are more compact and lightweight; they look very similar to drill drivers. Rotary hammers, on the other hand, are typically longer and heavier that’s why they usually come with a 360-degree side handle for better control.
Moreover, when it comes to performance, rotary hammers are also more powerful. They offer a hammer-only mode, and usually come with an SDS chuck for better hammering.
In terms of internal mechanism, a hammer drill contains two discs with ridges similar to that of a poker chip. As one disc slides past the other, it rises and falls that causes the chuck to slam forward and back. Separating the discs is a clutch that stops the pounding action of the hammer drill.
In contrast, a rotary hammer is built with a piston that’s driven by a crankshaft. The said piston is the one that produces the pounding action of the rotary hammer. The piston rides in a cylinder thereby creating air pressure when it is being driven forward. Then, the created air pressure drives the hammer mechanism.
Rotary hammers are also generally preferred by professionals and intended for heavy-duty tasks because they produce more impact energy compared to hammer drills. Also, rotary hammers typically offer 3 different modes to choose from: drill mode, hammer drill, and hammer mode.
When it comes to bits and attachments, you don’t need to worry about needing to invest much for a hammer drill since it is intended for light masonry applications only.
For rotary hammers, on the other hand, an SDS chuck is usually included. Another common attachment is the SDS-plus and the SDS-max.
Other attachments available for rotary hammer is the clay spade, cold chisel, tile remover, bull point chisel, and scaling chisel. Each one is for a different purpose than the other so you need to study each one before buying to make sure that you have the right attachment for your task.
DeWalt DCD985B Vs DeWalt D25263K
As mentioned above, DCD985B is a hammer drill while the D25263K is a rotary hammer. The first one’s a 20V cordless tool, while the latter is a 115V corded one. Nonetheless, both were built to be sturdy, durable, and to provide as much comfort to its user as possible.
As mentioned, the DCD985B hammer drill expectedly produces less power compared to the D25263K rotary hammer. The DCD985B is still for light masonry tasks while the D25263K can handle the heavy applications. Another difference is that the DCD985B is built with a 3-speed all-metal transmission from which you can control the tool’s speed; while the D25263K has a large variable speed trigger.
Final Thoughts
Although it’s easy to confuse these two tools – hammer drill and rotary hammer, a quick study can enlighten you and will help you easily differentiate one from the other. With this post, we didn’t just give you a quick glimpse. We hope that we were able to clarify with you which tool can do what and how one works differently from the other.
The specified DeWalt tools we have here – DCD985B and D25263K – are also not just some random examples. Rather, they are of premium quality and can surely get the job done without causing much exhaustion on your part.
