By Dean Bielanowski
Ever tried to drill into concrete or masonry with a regular corded or cordless drill and a masonry bit? Hey, the packet said this was a “masonary” drill bit but it isn’t drilling too well! Sure it may have got the job done, eventually, but no doubt it was a frustrating. You might have even had a hammer drill and used the hammer setting, and hey, it was certainly a lot better, but once an individual uses a rotary hammer for drilling into concrete or heavy masonry block, they rarely go back to those other mundane methods or tools.
A rotary hammer is concrete and masonry’s number one public enemy, because it will drill through it almost like butter, and just as fast. A rotary hammer is like a regular hammer drill, but on steroids, and it can also perform tasks like a mini-jackhammer too. It is so versatile that it can be used for construction and de-construction. With the forceful rotary hammer action it ploughs through concrete with stunning speed, and if you ever have to lift tiles off floors or walls, just attach a wide spade or special tile lifting bit, set the tool to jack hammer mode and the tiles almost jump off the floors or walls! For large fastener fixing a drill chuck can be attached to handle heavy impact driving tasks with relative ease.
With the assortment of specialty bits available for a rotary hammer (usually called SDS, or SDS Plus, or SDS Max bits) the versatility of the tool is further expanded. It is a great tool to have around for most demolition jobs, including ripping up concrete paths or equally as useful for deep boring for concrete fixings for sheds/barns and larger structures.
It is one of the tools any serious renovator or tradesperson who regularly works in demolition or works with concrete or masonry should have and a real secret weapon in just about anyone’s tool arsenal!
