Hammerdrill vs demolition hammer questions

[jim_wilson]

I was incorrect - the largest rotary hammer at the Home Depot I stopped at this morning was a Bosch 1 9/16" model. I don't remember the model number. I have been looking off and on at web info and the Hilti website claims that a local Home Depot carries their stuff. I called that Home Depot and got some guy in the tool dept. that I could barely understand who said they did have the stuff in stock. So I am going to take a ride by there tonite and see what if anything they have. The Hilti's definitely look more expensive but I will take a look at them and see how they compare to the Bosch.

I have gone back and forth with the rental vs buy aspect of this and I am pretty sure I am going to buy. The rental place is relatively close but the charge for a tool like this is going to probably be at least $100 for a day. Since I can think of at least 2 or 3 other jobs I could do with this over the next year or so I figure I am talking at least $200 - $300 in rental costs plus doing the work on the whim of the rental center hours. If I finish my work with the tool I can always sell it on Ebay and probably get 50% of my money back. At the worst it is a break even proposition - plus I don't have to work around the rental center if I buy. Plus I just like tools /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Jarrett]

Most Home Depot stores have a tool rental center now. It may be a good idea to check with them and see what their rental prices are.

 

[GaryM]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Plus I just like tools /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif )</font>

Always a good reason for a purchase as far as I'm concerned. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

My wife would disagree. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[jim_wilson]

I checked 3 different Home Depot's today and 1 Lowes. 1 HD had a decent selection of Bosch hammer drills and rotary hammers on display but no Hilti, 1 HD had decent Hilti display - but only 1 low power Bosch hammer drill, and the last HD had only a couple of low power Bosch hammer drills. The Lowes only had a couple of hammer drills and no rotary.
At the moment I am leaning towards one of the Bosch rotary hammers I saw at the 1st HD - I think it was a model 11241EVS - it was a 1 9/16 Combination Hammer that took the SDS Max style bits. Looked like the most power for the money from the stuff I looked at - hopefully they have one in stock.

 

[GaryM]

Good Luck! My 7/8" Bosch is plenty for what I do. I don't think you'd go wrong with either brand.

 

[Birdhunter1]

Wen I was a sheetmetal worker we had a Hilti that we used a 2 1/2" and a 4' core-bit to go through concrete. We had hammer drills too ut if you had somethgin BIG we used the Hilti.
I've used my Dewalt 1/2" hammerdrill several times for 5/8"/ 3/4" or 7/8" ho;les and it worked fine, you just have to realize it takes more time to get it done but it will get it done.

 

[dmccarty]

Jim,

I just got the latest issue of the Journal of Light Construction. JLC WebSite

They have an article on hammerdrills. I think you can buy the article from the website for a few dollars. I'll try to read the article and see if there something interesting for me to tell you. I think this is one of those articles that the person with the job and dollars needs to read to make a decision. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif But I'll see if anything pops out to me.

Later,
Dan

 

[hazmat]

You can download the article as a pdf for free

JLC drills

 

[ScottAR]

The capacity designation is usually what the drill will pull at one time. My little dewalt has a capacity of 1/2" but I have drilled bigger holes by first boring a starter hole. Not fun but it works in a pinch.

I've made 4" holes for dryer ducts by drilling 8-10 holes around the edge and then wailing on the center with a shop hammer.

 

[jim_wilson]

I should have thought about checking the JLC online site. I read thru the article and it looks like they prefer the Hitachi over the rest. Unfortunately I want to get one sooner rather than later - and nobody locally appears to have the Hitachi in stock. The article claimed the Bosch drilled slower than the rest but it has a shock absorbing handle that the rest don't have that I like.