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Many options in this category, including the Makita HR4002 and the Bosch Bulldog, come with a handy depth rod. Look for offerings with features like the Bosch RH328VC – with a handle that rotates 360 degrees to help you find the perfect grip, or the DeWalt D25263K – with a torque-limiting clutch that helps prevent kickback.Īccessories: I won’t insult your intelligence by explaining the merits of a solid carrying case to you, but I will point out how nice the little extras can be on these machines. Are you frequently working on job sites without easy access to electricity? Do you already own an arsenal of compatible batteries and chargers from one of the companies we ranked? All these factors need to be considered when weighing this decision.Įrgonomics and Comfort: Spending the entire day chiseling raceways through some 50-year-old foundation is never going to be the best time, but a well-designed tool can help mitigate your resentment for the job. However, my tendency doesn’t make the question any simpler. Battery Powered: The age-old question that haunts contractor’s dreams: Do I want to be stuck tripping over a power cord, or do I want to be stuck changing batteries intermittently? In this case, while dealing with a tool that’s often tasked with tough jobs like drilling through concrete, I tend to lean toward the former. Metabo is a German company with a strong reputation for producing quality products, and has been in the industry since 1923.Ī few things to keep in mind while you shop the category:Ĭorded vs.
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By this point, most fans of Hitachi will be aware that the company rebranded following a merger with Metabo in 2018, and are likely now looking for the new name. We also eliminated the Hitachi DH38 and replaced it with the Metabo HPT DH38YE2. They’re also well known for backing their power tools with a lifetime warranty. Ridgid’s overall reputation in construction industry has been gradually climbing over the past few years, and today they’re certainly a name worth considering when you’re looking for tough tools. In its place, we ranked the Ridgid R5011. That being said, we did remove the DeWalt DCH133B, since our rankings already included a superior battery-powered option from the company, as well as a corded alternative.
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With this category already being congested with a host of excellent options, there really weren’t too many modifications that needed to be made to our rankings during this round of updates. Rotary hammers tend to produce a lot of dust and debris when used, so always make sure to wear a dust mask or respirator while operating them. Or, if you need more raw power than the rotary hammers here offer, these demolition hammers are heavy-duty enough to chew through even the toughest of materials.
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A big benefit of these tools is that they can also be used as a regular power drill. If you'd prefer a more versatile tool, this collection of hammer drills should provide a good amount of options to choose from. Hammer drills are fine for drilling smaller holes in masonry, but they're usually not designed for that to be their primary job. This durable design makes them much more effective and efficient at tackling heavy-duty masonry projects. Instead of using the ridged, rotating disc that hammer drills use to produce their pounding action, rotary hammers use a piston mechanism instead, creating a lot more power.
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This isn’t a big deal if you already have a collection of Milwaukee tools and have a supply of M18 batteries on hand, but if you don’t, you'll have to purchase one.Įven though rotary hammers and hammer drills are commonly lumped together in the same category, they are actually quite different, and should be used for different tasks. The main drawback of this model is that it’s a “bare tool”, which means that it doesn’t include a battery. We replaced it with the Milwaukee SDS Plus, adding a second battery-powered option to our collection. For this update, we removed the Makita HR4002, a fine option, but one that was similar to several other high-quality options on our list.
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