What exactly is the difference between a hammer drill and a drill? Should I choose an impact drill or a hammer drill? What is the difference between a drill and a hammer drill?

Today in the construction markets you can find a lot of different tools, and therefore, it can sometimes be very difficult to choose the right device for a particular type of work. Particularly necessary power tools, which are extremely difficult to do without when making holes, niches and openings, are rotary hammers and impact drills. Often people do not distinguish them, but they have differences, both in the design of the product itself and in the specifics of working with them.

Main purpose of tools

The main difference between an impact drill and a hammer drill is their functional purpose:

for an impact drill - this is drilling materials of low density(wood, plastic, soft metals, etc.). In addition, the impact functions of the drill allow you to drill even concrete and brick. In conventional models, the working effect produced largely depends on the pressure force of the master. Therefore, to obtain optimal and acceptable impact energy, the pressing force should reach 10-15 kg;
for a hammer drill - this is chiselling. The impact function is inherent in the hammer drill from the very beginning, just like drilling. At the same time, it is not recommended to apply pressure to the hammer drill, as this may lead to breakage of the tool. The maximum limit of pressing force should be no more than 5 kg.

Depending on the general functions, a hammer drill can perform a fairly wide range of work compared to the functionality of an impact drill:

beating work and driving in rods;
chipping concrete walls;
drilling of various surfaces, including wood, concrete and steel;
chipping, chipping bricks, knocking down tiles, removing plaster and making holes;
driving bolts, screws or self-tapping screws

Distinctive characteristics

Like any other construction tool, an impact drill and hammer drill have a number of distinctive features:

Impact mechanism

The instruments have different striking mechanisms:

The hammer drill has an electropneumatic and electromechanical impact mechanism unit. It produces impact force and provides the most effective performance parameters of this type of construction tool. In the electromechanical type, two coils cause the core to move under the influence of electromagnetic influence. The pneumatic mechanism involves transmitting working energy through a rotating rotor driving a piston. Due to the reciprocating amplitude of the drill, the hammer drill does not require additional physical activity or effort, unlike an impact drill;
the drill has a more simplified design of the impact mechanism. It often consists of two ratchets that connect to a rotating chuck and the body of the tool.

The existing differences in the design of the impact mechanisms of a drill and a hammer drill determine their different technical and operational standards.

Operating modes (or functionality)

Modern types of rotary hammers are significantly ahead of the drill, since they have three full operating modes:

single-mode or drilling - the device uses only rotation without using impacts;
three-mode - impacts without rotation (they are also called work in jackhammer mode);
dual-mode (rotations with impacts) - perform drilling in combination with impacts.

Thanks to these three modes, the hammer drill can be used not only for drilling, but also for other types of work - chopping off excess material, gouging out grooves or niches in stone walls.

The drill will not be able to provide a high level of speed, because its impact function is just one of the additions to the main one.

Drills have only two modes and are available in several varieties:

Due to its versatility and with additional tools, an impact drill can perform the functions of a mixer, grinder, hammer drill and screwdriver. Conventional drills allow you to drill holes in wood and metal products. They also have a subtype called “angle drills” - they make holes in hard-to-reach places;
drill mixers – have an elongated additional handle and high torque. Used for preparing a variety of building mixtures;
impact - in their design they can combine the functions of drilling and impact. With their help you can drill brick and concrete;
drills and screwdrivers - in addition to their main function, they can drive or remove screws.

Total weight of the power tool

Depending on their weight, rotary hammers are classified as:

lightweight - the weight of the structure reaches 2-4 kg;
medium – within 5 kg;
heavy – weight exceeds 5 kg.

The average weight of an impact drill can range from 1 kg to 4 kg.

Equipment

A hammer drill and an impact drill differ in the number of parts used and the methods of attaching them:

For drilling in a hammer drill, drills with pobedite surfacing are most often used. The most vulnerable part of the tool is the ratchet. Therefore, when choosing a drill, you should take into account that under heavy loads and severe vibration they wear out very quickly;
In addition to drills, rotary hammers also use drills, which are secured in chucks using a special system of clamps and specially shaped grooves

Having a certain degree of freedom in the movements of the drills in the chuck, the impact load in the hammer is significantly reduced.

The diameter of the chucks determines the possibility of using small or large drills.

Unlike an impact drill, the rotary hammer contains a special adapter that allows you to change cartridges if necessary.

Another positive point when choosing a hammer drill is the impact of a lower level of vibration on the master’s hands due to the softening air cushion located in the pneumatic impact mechanism.

Performance

Determined by the impact energy value. For a rotary hammer it ranges from 1.5-20 J and is always an order of magnitude higher than for an impact drill. This largely depends on the mass of the device and the pressure force of the master. The technical characteristics of rotary hammers may also indicate the frequency of blows per minute: from 4 to 4.5 thousand blows in more powerful models and 2-3 thousand in less powerful ones.

Price

Taking into account the same power of tools, a hammer drill is always significantly more expensive compared to the price of an impact drill. However, we should not forget that a hammer drill belongs to the category of professional tools, so its cost is fully justified - drilling speed and durability.

Remember that when working with a hammer drill you need to apply three times less effort than when using an impact drill

Tool selection criteria

When choosing a power tool, you should pay attention to the following criteria:

Power - the higher the power level, the more comfortable it is to use the tool at work.
Rotation speed adjustment available.
Equipped with additional attachments.
Number of revolutions at idle (rotation speed).
Volume of speeds (one, two, three, etc.).
Possibility of movement (rotation) in both directions (reverse movement). In some cases, this helps remove a stuck drill bit.
Possibility of creating holes of different diameters in different building materials.

What to choose?

A hammer drill and an impact drill can perform each other's functions. However, replacing a hammer drill with a drill can lead to rapid wear.

The choice of tool directly depends on the material with which you will need to work: In such a matter, it is better to proceed from the purposes for which the construction tool is purchased. If you need to do housework around the house, a functional drill will suffice. For long-term, constant and large-scale work, it is better to use a hammer drill.

if the work involves processing concrete structures or objects made of similar materials, then it would be preferable to choose a hammer drill;
A drill is suitable when working with wood or steel products.

Every craftsman who does repairs or just does personal work has in his arsenal a variety of tools: from ordinary types of a hammer or screwdriver, to high-tech sets equipped with an electric motor. The latter include a hammer drill and a drill. It would seem that the scope of application and the mechanism of operation of these products are similar, but this is far from the case; the difference between them is significant. This article discusses the differences between a drill and a hammer drill, and also lists the functions of both tools.

Main differences

What is the difference between a drill and a hammer drill? There are several main differences that can be classified according to two criteria:

According to the tasks to be solved and the purpose of the hammer drill and drill;
According to the impact mechanism and drill rotation speed.

In the first case, it is necessary to analyze in detail the functions of the tools, what they are intended for, and under what conditions their use is permissible.

A drill equipped with an electric motor performs the functions of drilling any type of material, such as metal, wood or concrete. The rotation speed of the nozzle or chuck is very high, so its performance in this capacity will be significantly higher than that of a rotary hammer. There are also additional devices in the drill design that simulate the operation of a chipper due to the impact of the splined part of the disk on the counter gear. In its normal position, with the lock switch turned off, this disc is static, but when the lever is moved to another position, the clamp releases the gears, and they interact freely while the engine rotates. This product is called an impact drill; it has a performance slightly higher than that of a conventional drill, but less than that of a hammer drill. In fact, an impact drill is a transitional tool from a simple tool to a full-fledged chipper.

A rotary hammer, unlike an electric drill, has a more complex device; its design consists of a motor that rotates a spline gear, gears and a pneumatic unit, which is responsible for the impact part of the work. It is the last unit that is the main component that ensures correct chiselling. Depending on the weight and power of the electric motor of the hammer drill, the pistons of the pneumatic mechanism can have different diameters: the larger it is, the higher the performance of the system, since air compression will take place in large volumes. The scope of application of a rotary hammer is much wider than that of a drill: first of all, it is the dismantling of brick or concrete structures. To perform this function, there is a special lock, which, when turned on, secures the rod and prevents its rotation. In this mode, the tool is only capable of chiselling, and the force of its impact is much higher than that of a drill.

The hammer drill is also designed for drilling holes in permanent structures on a concrete base; thanks to the simultaneous rotation of the nozzle and impacts along the axis, the solution crumbles and is removed from the cavity with a fan drill. The result is a niche of the required diameter with smooth edges, into which you can install an anchor bolt or any other fastener. For larger holes, for example, for a socket or pipe, there is a special crown, which is equipped with cutters that work in a similar way to a Pobedit drill. All of the above functions can only be performed with a rotary hammer; neither an impact drill nor a simple drill can cope with such a task, therefore, when choosing a tool for a particular job, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations and take into account the engine power.

What is the difference between an impact drill and a hammer drill, since their design and tasks are generally similar? The main differences between such devices are the power of the impact mechanism and its design. Previously, most full-fledged rotary hammers were equipped with a mechanical hammer, which included discs with high-height teeth. When rotating, the splines jumped out of place, and a shock occurred under the influence of the spring. Later, this design was switched to impact drills, but the height of the teeth decreased significantly, and therefore the power was lost. Modern manufacturers of rotary hammers prefer a pneumatic system, which cannot be integrated into a drill of small size and weight; from an impact, all the fragile parts of the tool will quickly wear out and become unusable. Therefore, it is impossible to say that a rotary hammer and a drill are the same thing, since both their functions and tasks are different.

The tool and its fastening, attachments for work

The difference between an impact drill and a hammer drill also lies in the tips used, which perform a specific function. To make a hole in a concrete base with an electric drill, a drill with a smooth grip and Pobedit coating on the end is most often used; such products come in different diameters and lengths. As the screw rotates, it grinds the stone into sand and throws it out, and small impacts increase productivity and reduce damage to the drill itself.

Tools for a hammer drill have a more complex shape; they come in the form of drills, blades, crowns or sharp peaks. Each of these items is good for a specific job, for example, a spatula is useful for removing old plaster or ceramic tiles, and a hole saw is useful for making holes for an electrical box or outlet. The steel composition of these parts is much more complex than the metal from which drill bits are made; they are both elastic and strong, which allows them to be used for a long time. The main thing is not to get confused about the differences between these items and not to use them for other purposes.

The drill bit is placed on a special clamp that wraps around the smooth end of the axle and clamps it securely. The disadvantage of such a system is that when the drill enters the material, it may be delayed, and all the torque will be directed to the smooth part, thereby causing the drill to rotate inside the chuck, which is negative for both the holding device and the tool itself. In addition, apart from a drill specially designed for an electric drill, it will not be possible to insert another one; no adapter is provided for this.

The tool for the hammer drill is seated in a special chuck, which is equipped with a quick-release system. To remove the drill, you need to press the latch and, holding it in the rear position, remove the tool, and to install a new one, just turn the part with the desired side and forcefully insert it into the socket. Such a system is much better and more reliable than a drill chuck, but the tools for work must also have a special recess on the back, into which the latch hooks.

The design of the hammer drill includes a special adapter, which is made by analogy with a drill part, the upper part has the appearance of a classic clamp, and the lower part is equipped with a special rod with a seating groove for insertion into a standard chuck. Therefore, the hammer drill can operate in rotary chiselling mode, as a jackhammer, and as a conventional drill for any material.

For your information. The torque of a hammer drill is much lower than that of a drill, so if you just need to make a hole, for example, in metal, then it is better to use an electric drill.

terms of Use

It is impossible to say unequivocally which is better: an impact drill or a hammer drill, since each of these tools has its own purpose and special working conditions. For example, for high-quality chiselling of a wall with an electric drill, it is necessary to apply considerable force and put all your weight on the handle. For a hammer drill, this procedure is not necessary, since its mechanism is pneumatic and, regardless of the force applied, the striker strike will always be the same. In this regard, a rotary hammer is superior to an electric drill, and most chippers are equipped with shock-absorbing handles that absorb kinetic energy, taking the brunt of the impact.

Also different are the conditions affecting the operation of the tool. For example, at ambient temperatures, when exposed to cold air, condensation and ice can form inside the pneumatic unit, which has a detrimental effect on the parts of the hammer drill. For a drill, this factor is not so important, since all its mechanisms are metal. On the contrary, high temperatures, sand and dirt negatively affect the operation of an electric drill, since its elements can heat up and the motor brushes become filled with dust particles, which leads to scratches on the rotor. For a rotary hammer, these conditions are quite familiar, since all vulnerable elements, for example, a worn bearing and a connecting rod, are located inside the housing, where dust does not have access.

Tool life

Each of these tools has its own service life and operating conditions. Of course, a lot depends on the owner’s attitude towards his products, so it is necessary to carefully monitor the condition of the hammer drill or drill, change consumables in a timely manner and lubricate the chuck.

A professional tool always costs more, but its service life is much longer; all parts are made of high-quality materials that are resistant to deformation. In this regard, a hammer drill is much more reliable than a drill, since it contains many components that differ from the design of an electric drill, which interact with each other, forming a single mechanism. The structure of the drill is much simpler, but the tasks that the unit performs are somewhat fewer. When choosing a rotary hammer or impact drill, you need to start from the functions that are needed in the tool and what tasks it will solve.

Video

Everyone knows what a drill is, but it’s worth talking about the differences between an impact drill and a hammer drill in more detail. These two power tools have a similar appearance, and their applications overlap. However, design features make these devices not completely interchangeable, imposing certain restrictions on areas of use. What is the difference between a hammer drill and an impact drill, what is better to buy for your home and how to make the right choice - more details below.

Externally, the main difference between an impact drill and a hammer drill is its weight and dimensions. A modern impact drill has the same dimensions as its non-impact counterpart, while a rotary hammer is heavier and larger. Also, most drills have a pistol design, with a horizontal motor. Among rotary hammers, the design with a vertical engine is also very common. This option allows you to shift the center of gravity down, closer to the worker’s hands, thereby making it easier to work with a heavy tool.

Which is better - a hammer drill or an impact drill?

Knowing how a hammer drill and an impact drill work, the difference between them becomes obvious. Due to its design features, the drill has a low impact impulse. When working with very hard materials, the kickback has a significant impact on the ratchet teeth, causing them to heat up and accelerate wear. Due to wear, the impact pulse becomes even weaker over time, until impact drilling becomes completely impossible. The hammer drill is not subject to this, since the pneumatic chuck compensates for recoil, eliminating the destructive effect on the impact mechanism.

Hammer drills have another drawback: their large dimensions make drilling work more difficult and require more strength from the worker. A drill weighing 1.5-2 kg is much more convenient to hold than a 4-5 kg hammer drill. And this tool consumes more electricity (per unit of time).

Even knowing the pros and cons, it is quite difficult to decide which is better - a hammer drill or an impact drill. In fact, the question itself in this form is incorrect and is a classic example of an “elephant versus a whale.” If you have to choose between a hammer drill or an impact drill, which one to prefer depends only on the specific conditions of use. Just as a bus is good for transporting people, and it is more convenient to transport crushed stone on a dump truck, so these tools are each good at what they do.

Impact drill or hammer drill - what to choose

To decide whether you need an impact drill or a hammer drill, it’s worth giving examples for each tool.

When is an impact drill better?

Rare need for drilling. If you rarely need to drill holes, there is no point in overpaying for a hammer drill. To hang a shelf, drill a hole for a bolt in a metal part, etc. - An impact drill is quite enough. A drill also takes up less space in a closet or on the mezzanine than a hammer drill.
Working with wood and metal. Any drill can drill wood, even a Chinese one for 300 hryvnia. In order to make a hole in an aluminum or iron part, a powerful blow is also unnecessary (a high-quality drill is much more important). And when working with cast iron and high-carbon steel, impact is generally contraindicated, since these alloys tend to split from impact.
Tightening screws, bolts, nuts. With a drill with a power of 500-700 W (with the impact mechanism disabled), it is quite possible to screw a self-tapping screw into a board. The installed head turns the tool into a wrench for working with bolts and nuts. The only thing is that it is important to choose the right speed and stop in time (so as not to break the thread or head). With a heavy and powerful hammer drill this is very difficult, and even with proper skill, the percentage of defects will be high.
No need to drill into hard materials. If you live in a house with walls made of foam block (or other soft material), and the need for drilling stone, brick, concrete is unlikely to arise, then a hammer drill will not be useful in the household.

Everyone who is faced with an apartment renovation at some point faces the question of which tool to choose for the job: a drill or a hammer drill? Each of these devices has its own purpose and operating features, although in appearance they differ little from each other, and an uninitiated person can allow them to be used incorrectly, leading to accelerated failure.

The drill is designed for drilling holes in not very hard materials such as wood, plastic, unheated iron, etc. As a working attachment, the drill has a drill with a sharpened end and sharp, cutting materials, edges. For drilling holes in brick and concrete, it is supplemented with an auxiliary impact rotation mode, when a drill with a hard pobedit tip is used as a working attachment, with which it crushes crushed concrete during rapid translational movements combined with rotation. The design of the drill is designed for a short period of shock operation.

The hammer drill is specially designed for punching holes in reinforced concrete products and impact drilling is its main mode of operation. All parts of the tool design are designed for long-term operation under shock pressure. As a working attachment, the hammer drill uses a drill, which is a hard alloy rod with a heavy-duty tip designed for crushing stones, and a spiral-shaped side surface designed for removing broken concrete particles from the hole.

Impact Mechanism Differences

In a hammer drill, the rotational motion of an electric motor rotor is transferred into the translational motion of a drill using a mechanical or pneumatic impact mechanism. The second type is more efficient in terms of performance, so it is used in almost all popular tool models.

The crank assembly or ball bearing converts the rotation of the engine rotor into rapid reciprocating movement of the piston in a sealed cylinder. A massive ram repeats the movements of the piston due to compression in the air space between them and hits the back side of the striker connected to a rotating spindle on which a cartridge with a fixed drill is located.

The return impact energy is insignificant due to the large mass of the tool and the small pressing force applied by the worker, as well as the presence of longitudinal free play of the drill in the chuck. To fasten drills, special chucks of the SDS system are used. In addition, the hammer drill is equipped with various mechanisms that ensure safety and ease of use.

A friction or spring-cam clutch ensures that the chuck stops when the drill jams, protecting the worker from sudden kickback and protecting the engine from overloads. Various vibration damping systems can significantly reduce its level, making the operation of the rotary hammer not only comfortable, but also safe for health. For this purpose, both spring shock absorbers and rubber gaskets - dampers - are used.

The impact mechanism of the drill is simpler. It has two ratchets, one of which is stationary, and the second rotates with the spindle. In simple drilling mode, the ratchets are separated by a stopper and do not interact. The stopper is removed in impact mode and when pressure is applied to the drill, the ratchets are engaged with wedge-shaped teeth. As a result, the spindle and chuck receive additional linear movement of several millimeters due to the slipping of the wedge-shaped ratchet teeth.

This principle of obtaining impact rotation of the drill requires great effort on the part of the worker and is characterized by high impact, which leads to rapid fatigue. At the same time, prolonged use of this mode leads to the wear of ratchet teeth and the operating efficiency is significantly reduced. Therefore, the drill should not be used in hammer mode all the time.

Video: What is the difference between a hammer drill and a drill

Differences in equipment

Drills use regular drills or drills with a pobedit or diamond tip as equipment. To obtain holes with a larger diameter, crowns can be used. Rotary hammers are equipped with drills. The chucks of these tools differ radically. If self-centering three-jaw chucks (one- or two-clutch) are used to clamp equipment in drills, then in rotary hammers quick-release chucks of the SDS type are used in plus, max or top modifications, depending on the size of the equipment.

The tail part of drills differs from drills in that it has longitudinal closed and open grooves, ensuring reliable fixation of the equipment in the chuck with the possibility of longitudinal free movement. To install a simple drill in a hammer drill, you need to replace the chuck or use a special adapter that allows you to attach a three-jaw chuck to an SDS clamp. This results in a complex design for fastening the drill, which does not provide good rigidity and alignment of the equipment.

Three-jaw drill chucks have a maximum mounting diameter of 12mm, and SDS-plus chucks provide gripping drills with a diameter of up to 16mm, SDS-max – up to 40mm. The maximum length of drill bits held in drill chucks does not exceed 400mm, while hammer drill chucks can hold drill bits up to 1000mm in length. A more diverse range of hammer drill accessories allows you to expand the functionality of the tool.

Differences in operating modes

The drill has two operating modes - non-impact and impact drilling, with the first of them being the main one. It works great on metal, wood, ceramics, and plastic. In impact mode it can drill brick, unreinforced concrete, expanded clay, sand block, foam concrete. The rotation speed of the drill can be adjusted by pressing the start button, which helps to obtain precise holes and use the tool as a screwdriver. The reverse mode makes it easier to remove the drill from a deep hole. It is not recommended to drill into hard concrete grades higher than 300 or reinforced concrete.

The hammer drill has 3 operating modes - chiselling, drilling and impact drilling. Each of them can be equally used when using the tool for its intended purpose. This allows you to effectively use a hammer drill when making holes in the wall, gating, removing old concrete screed or tile slabs, and removing asphalt pavement. It makes it possible to quickly drill holes and niches in reinforced concrete slabs for pipes, junction boxes and other communications.

Video: Rotary hammer and impact drill: do they replace each other?

Performance Differences

The performance of tools can be compared in impact drilling of concrete, where a hammer drill achieves several times greater performance compared to a drill. This superiority is ensured due to the impact force, the energy of which in rotary hammers reaches 1.5-20 J, depending on the power of the electric motor. In drills, the impact energy is small and is determined by the force of pressing the tool by the worker. The amplitude of the impact movement of the drill is also small.

In addition, the weight of a rotary hammer significantly exceeds the weight of a drill equipped with a motor of the same power, which increases the force impulse directed towards the material compared to the response with the same impact energy. To compare efficiency, we can take the following example: with the same engine power, the diameter of the hole made with a hammer drill is 1.5 times larger than the diameter of the hole drilled with a drill. When using a crown, the difference becomes even greater.

Differences in conditions and service life

Handling a hammer drill is much easier for a worker than using a drill, despite its heavy weight. If a drill requires a clamping force of 10-15 kg, then a hammer drill requires 5 kg. At the same time, the level of impact and vibration of the rotary hammer is much lower, which is ensured by the pneumatic system of the impact mechanism and special anti-vibration devices.

The service life of the drill is significantly reduced due to the rapid wear of the ratchets and the high level of vibration of parts in impact drilling mode. The hammer drill is more durable, despite intensive work in shock mode and a complex transmission mechanism. However, to ensure a long service life, it requires more careful maintenance, timely cleaning and lubrication of moving components and mechanisms.

When it is necessary to carry out a number of repairs, it is recommended to use a hammer drill or impact drill. The operating principle of the devices is similar, but the number of differences is the same as the general characteristics. Therefore, before starting to solve the problem, you need to decide which is better: or a hammer drill.

Behind the external similarity lies a number of differences that determine the capabilities of each of these tools. The design of the devices does not allow them to be interchangeable. As a result, operating restrictions are imposed. Therefore, we will talk about how these two tools differ from each other below.

Functionality of the devices

The first difference is the functionality of the devices. This directly determines the operation of the tools. Drills have a wide range of applications, in particular:

Drill holes on thin surfaces, including wood and plastic surfaces. Using the switch, the shock option is used.
Making holes on hard surfaces. This is where the impact option comes to the rescue, allowing you to perform work even on brick surfaces.
Tightening and unscrewing self-tapping screws, screws and screws. But such actions must be performed provided that the shock function is turned off.

Rotary hammers have a more complex design, which is made in the form of a unit. The mechanism exists in two variations: electromechanical and electropneumatic. The second is used more often than the first due to better performance characteristics.

The bottom line is that the engine rotates, which occurs due to the KShM (crank-rod) conversion mechanism. A special swinging assembly unit in the form of a sphere is also used. This leads to the fact that the cylindrical rod acquires a reciprocating motion. Between this element and the ram a space is formed in which a certain force is exerted, which leads to increased movement of the latter. As a result, the element transfers energy to the working tool.

In other words, the mechanism is based on mechanics, and hammer drills are based on pneumatics. Due to this, the amplitude and strength indicators differ, respectively. With equal power, the functionality of the former will be lower compared to the latter.

Device performance

If you plan to drill holes in stone surfaces, then it is more advisable to choose a hammer drill. The productivity of these devices is higher in contrast to drills, which is explained by the impact force indicator. For light models the value is 1.4-1.7 J, and for light models it is 19-26 J. When working with drills, the impact is determined by the force of pressing the device to the surface. But even if the indicator is high, the value will be small because the amplitude of the axial element is low. As a rule, the parameter is equal to the height of the gear tooth. The efficiency of the hammer drill is also higher due to the weight of the device. Weight helps increase this parameter.

A hole made with a drill will be 1.5 times smaller than one made with a hammer drill. If a crown is used, the difference becomes even greater. In addition, they help solve the problem much faster. The result also depends on the type of working element used and the power of the device. But the hole made by a hammer drill will always be larger.

Tools used and type of fixation

Another parameter that distinguishes the devices from each other is the working tool and the type of element fixation. Most often used:

crowns;
borax;
chisels;
strobers.

Drills, as a rule, use a working element in the form of a drill, onto which a pobedit alloy is applied. This option is relevant for concrete pavements. It should be noted that the element is fastened to a special clamp in both versions. But their design in the devices is different. Rotary hammers involve the use of a number of systems that allow you to quickly change the working element. These are, in particular, SDS:

plus;

For fixation, special grooves with a special configuration are used. It should also be said about the degree of freedom in relation to the clamp in the direction of the axis. This approach helps reduce the load during work.

Price difference

The cost of the devices, accordingly, also varies, even if their power is the same. Under the same conditions, the price of a hammer drill is 3-4 times higher than a drill. For example, if we consider devices with a power of 700 W, then a drill will be cheaper, while a hammer drill will be more expensive.

Tool models Zenit ZDP-700 and Interskol P-24/700 ER

You need to choose a model based on a number of parameters:

required power;
working material;
working conditions;
the scale of the task;
budget.

If the work is minimal, then buying a hammer drill is irrational.

There is no answer to the question “which is better?” The purchase is determined by the scope of use and relevant conditions. If major repair work is not expected, then it is optimal to choose an impact drill. It is suitable for wooden and metal coatings, tightening fasteners. It is rational to choose a hammer drill when there is a need to drill hard surfaces (stone, concrete, brick), prepare large holes or perform dismantling operations.

Watch the video “Rotary hammer and impact drill: do they replace each other?”