Industrial Equipment posted by

Power vs. Hammer: Let’s Compare Drills

Ask any carpenter, construction worker, and handymen to name one indispensable tool for a hard job and their answer will be a drill. The utility and versatility that this tool provides make it a must-have device for professionals and amateurs alike.

Drills are available in different models with the power drill and hammer drill being the most common options. This is how these two differ.

power drills

Power Drill

This tool is an electrical motor that rotates a replaceable drill bit to make a hole in plastic, wood, or metal. The tool consists of a handle, a reversing switch for changing the rotation direction of the drill bit, an on/off trigger with safety latch, a torque adjustment, and a chuck that holds the drill in place. New power drills are cordless, lightweight, compact and versatile enough to perform different tasks such as drilling holes and driving screws.

Hammer Drills

These drills are similar in both design and function to power drills, but they have an additional feature that makes them suitable for heavy-duty work tasks. They come with a hammer-like mechanism that rapidly pulses forward while the drill bit is rotating. While the amount of force applied by this mechanism is quite small, it records thousands of bpm (blows per minute) – some hammer drills can deliver up to 40,000 bpm.

Hammer drills are typically used for occasional drilling of concrete and masonry. The settings on the hammer clutch can be adjusted to suit the type of material and the fastener size in the drill bit. The tool also allows users to toggle the hammer clutch on and off, so it can be used as a regular drill for tasks where added force is unnecessary. Compared to power drills, hammer drills are heavier, louder as well as more expensive. Some models can even come with a vacuum-assisted dust collection mechanisms, which is a great feature for home work.

Which one to choose?

If you are considering to buy one of these tools, you should definitely consider the type of jobs you might need to get done with it. If you are a construction worker, masons or anyone else who may need to bore hole through metal or stone, you should choose a hammer drill. This tool can provide the impact and pressure necessary to go through a very dense material. On the other hand, if you don’t think you would ever need a hammer drill, and you simply want a standard drill that you can use from time to time to get work done around the house, a power drill is your way to go.

Regardless of which drill you choose, it will be a great addition to your tool collection and will make your work much easier.