Impact Drill vs Rotary Hammer: A Heavyweight Comparison
When it comes to the really tough DIY jobs, an impact drill or a rotary hammer is your first choice. Which power tool is right for the job and what do you need to know about using them? This tool showdown has the answers!
Rotary Hammer Profile
Name: Rotary Hammer
Speciality: Heavy-duty demolition and renovation work on concrete, natural stone, and masonry
Suitable for: Hard masonry, all materials from stone and wood to metal
Functions: Drilling, impact drilling, chiselling, hammer drilling (with a suitable interchangeable chuck)
Impact Drill Profile
Name: Impact Drill
Speciality: Precise work for a wide range of DIY projects (e.g. putting up shelves)
Suitable for: Soft masonry, natural stone, lightweight concrete, wood, metal, plastic
Functions: Drilling, hammer drilling, chiselling, grooving
Similarities & Differences
When it comes to their basic functions, impact drills and rotary hammers are the same: both can drill into various materials and increase their power with a hammer action. You can get both types of tool as a handy cordless tool or as a corded power tool.
An impact drill is equipped with either a 2-speed gearbox or a speed controller. With the 2-speed gearbox, the first gear is ideal for drilling large holes into tougher materials like sand-lime brick. It provides low speed with high torque. The second gear operates with low torque and a higher speed, allowing you to drill precise holes in wood or plastic.
A rotary hammer can not only drill but also chisel: the drill bit has room to move in its SDS chuck and can vibrate axially. There is also a key difference between an impact drill and a rotary hammer in how power is transferred:
A rotary hammer has an automated striking mechanism. Its power depends on the motor and its performance – in other words, on the tool itself.
With an impact drill, you control the impact force with the pressure you apply to the material – in other words, with your own strength.
If you're trying to work on very hard materials, you'll quickly find a percussion drill has its limits. On the other hand, a hammer drill has too much power to work safely on soft materials or to drill precise holes.
The most important factor is the combination of impact force, rotational speed and impact rate.
Bohrhammer | Schlagbohrer |
|
|---|---|---|
Wirkung | Kraftübertragung | Geschwindigkeit |
Schlagfrequenz | niedrig; ca. 4.000 pro Minute | hoch; ca. 40.000 pro Minute |
Schlagkraft | hoch; bis zu 30 Joule | niedrig; meist unter 1 Joule |
A rotary hammer gets its power from a high impact force, so it only needs a low strike rate. It's the other way around for an impact drill, which works quickly but carefully on more delicate materials.
Summary: Which tool for which job?
A hammer drill is ideal for heavy-duty jobs that require a lot of power. It's often essential for renovating, breaking through a wall, or for masonry work in the garden. The impact drill is the better choice for precision and delicate tasks. It's used far more often for everyday jobs and in the workshop.
Bohrhammer | Schlagbohrer |
|---|---|
Hartes Mauerwerk stemmen + aufbrechen | Weiches Mauerwerk aufbrechen |
Materialien wie Naturstein, Beton, Granit, Vollziegel | Materialien wie Kalksandstein, Leichtbeton, Metall, Holz, Kunststoff |
Bohren großer Durchmesser (Dosensenken) | Bohren kleiner Durchmesser |
Fliesenarbeiten und Meißeln |
