A Hammer drill is an extremely powerful drill that can produce pounding pressure to blast through concrete and masonry. But it is designed with a complex mechanism and requires some basic knowledge to handle such a powerful drill machine efficiently. So, learning how does a hammer drill works can make the operator aware of its functionality and let him handle the drill and job conveniently.
The hammer drill is the top choice for professional DIYers for drilling lots of holes in decades-old concrete in a short time. It includes different functions and comes with plenty of types to meet the unique demands and challenges.
Today we will discuss the workings and workspace of the hammer drill. Despite the guide including the classification of a hammer drills with some pros and cons.
What is a Hammer Drill?
A hammer drill is a handy power tool used to drill through any surface, including hard and brittle. A combination of hammering thrusts and rotary drilling motion makes the hammer drill conquer tough material.
A wide range of home improvement projects requires drilling through masonry and concrete. For example, drilling through material is required to hang something on the wall. While a typical drill can break or get burned due to applying pressure, a masonry hammer drill can effectively deal with the task.
How does a hammer drill work?
A Hammer drill is specially designed to drill holes in tough surfaces with a hammering action where a typical drill can’t penetrate. It’s a small yet powerful tool that punches the rear of the rotating drill bit continuously forwards. The small hammer strikes the drill bit that offers the power tool the capability to conquer the hard surface.
The features especially make the hammer drill different from other power drills and make the title tag worthwhile. Usually, a regular drill includes a small motor that spins the drill bit at a fast speed. This fast rotating motion offers the drill bit the required power to drill into wood and plastic. Conversely, hammer drills don’t bore through the material. Instead, it pulverizes through a tough surface using a hammering motion.
More importantly, this pulverization doesn’t damage the whole material since it only affects the drilling section.
Working Principle
Hammer drills get power in two different ways, including through percussion and electro-pneumatic power (EP). Firstly, percussion hammer drills work by getting a chain of kits connected together. It contains two ribbed discs that generate a fast hammering movement by tripping over each other. This combined action rotates the drill bit forward while hammering it.
The next method is electro-pneumatic power, which is usually included in rotary hammers. The EP hammer drill is powered by a combination of pressurized air and electricity. Its mechanism is made of a drive piston, a guide cylinder, and a flying piston. This hammer drill needs electric power to spin the crank to move the drive piston. Finally, the compressed air produces a rushed air cushion between the pistons and offers the drill bits the required pulverization power.
Different types of Hammer Drills
The Hammer Drill is mainly of two types: the regular hammer drill and the rotary hammer drill. Apart from these, some other types of hammer drills are available that can be separated based on flexibility.
Regular hammer drills
Most of the regular hammer drills work by getting power from the percussion system, which makes it easy to pulverize hard surfaces. Thus, it can drill through concrete and brick efficiently and quickly. This hammer drill is a common tool among handymen and DIY enthusiasts.
Regular hammer drills are available in two versions, corded and cordless. Each model fits a unique purpose and has its own pros and cons.
Corded hammer drills
The corded hammer drill works by getting power from a power outlet and closing the hammer through the cord. In particular, it’s a more powerful drill compared to the cordless model. The reason is that it has a constant power source once it is plugged in.
The best cordless hammer drill is designed with a powerful motor that offers higher RPM to deal with extremely tough surfaces. More importantly, corded hammer drills are lighter since they don’t have extra battery weight and that’s the reason they are cheaper than their cordless counterparts.
This type of hammer drill doesn’t have a noticeable error side except mobility. So the user will have to either use this hammer drill close to the power outlet or attach an extension cord. Corded hammer drills are mostly suitable for heavy-duty tasks, but aren’t the most recommended option for busy travel enthusiasts.
Cordless hammer drills
Cordless drills work by getting power from their internal batteries. The key advantage of this hammer drill is its portability. It is preferable for a large project where the DIYer needs to work in different places, even in hard-reaching spots. Cordless hammer drills are easy to use and ideal for drilling through overhead without causing fatigue.
But the versatility costs a bit more. The cordless hammer drill runs through better and needs to be charged more often. Despite it doesn’t produce extreme power compared to the corded model, it is a bit heavyweight. Lastly, it needs maintenance.
Rotary Hammers
The rotary hammer drill is a type of dominant corded hammer drill that includes multiple modes. This hammer drill is designed with an EP power system, making it extremely powerful and ideal for the toughest jobs.
A unique feature includes a cordless rotary hammer drill that has hammer-only modes. Despite drilling only and drilling with hammering action, this mode makes the drill compatible with a mini jackhammer and rotary hammer.
Generally, this type of hammer drill is mostly ideal for professional DIYers. So if you need a hammer drill to only handle home improvement tasks, keep away from this item in terms of saving money.
Usages of the Hammer drill
The hammer drill comes with a very specific purpose, drilling through concrete and masonry. While regular power drills will consume more time and make the job tougher, hammer drills will offer quality and user-satisfying service. More importantly, the hammer drill is a top choice for drilling a range of holes in a single day through tough surfaces.
The feature makes this powerful drill suitable for a wide range of home improvement tasks. Many people believe a hammer drill is used for hammering nails, which is a complete misconception. In fact, using it in such a way can damage the ability of a hammer drill.
FAQs on How does a Hammer Drill works
Can I use a hammer drill for common drilling job?
A hammer drill can handle most of the regular drilling tasks. But it’s important to turn off the hammer action during the drilling job. The hammer drill is specially intended to drill holes in masonry, concrete, and brick. It is also used to punch a specific type of drill bit into a hard surface.
Why hammer drill is different from standard drill?
A Hammer drill can produce more power through hammering action. It applies extreme pressure directly to the drill bit. Not only that, the hammer drill is mostly used to drill through concrete, where applying a regular drill can be a tiresome job. Lastly, the hammer drill includes multi-type modes where you can keep the hammering mode asleep and enjoy the drill functionally like a regular drill.
Is a hammer drill really worth the investment?
Hammer drills offer more power and punch compared to other typical drills, even though they are cheaper. You will find this type of drill effective on tough surfaces like concrete, where you need to drill multiple holes within a short time. More importantly, hammer drills are multi-functional and can be used as regular drills, and come in a lightweight and user-friendly design. So, considering its capability, cost, and quality, the hammer drill is definitely worthwhile.
Conclusion
Finally, you have to learn all the information about what a hammer drill is and how does a hammer drill work. Despite we have discussed the classification of a hammer drill and some key usages of this powerful drill.
These are a handy addition to any professional enthusiast’s toolbox to handle a range of applications on hard surfaces. But if you need a hammer drill for a home renovation task, you should buy the best hammer drill for home use.
