Just when your financial situation takes a downward spiral and difficulties start befalling you one after the other, another big blow comes in—your farmhouse’s roof goes down. On the onset of such a mishap, stress takes its toll on you, leaving you stranded on where to begin the reconstruction process. Bearing in mind your economic constraints, the situation forces you to channel your inner masonry skills, albeit without prior experience. The urgency of the matter is further fueled by the rainy weather, making it imperative to carry out the repairs almost immediately. For this reason, you promptly delve into your
tool belt, pick up the most relevant tools, and begin the DIY repair job.
A typical renovation would require nails—both roofing and normal—
hammers, different types of saws, iron sheet cutters, and paint, among other equipment. The process can be rather tedious, especially if the apparatus used are entirely manual. However, if you invest in automated tools, such as the hammer drill, an electric screwdriver, and an
electric chainsaw, the effort put in will be reduced by substantial proportions. Moreover, these advanced gadgets also reduce the chances of accidents, as in the case of drills, where the repairer doesn’t come into contact with the nails or screws.
While nobody desires misfortunes, it always serves you well to be adequately prepared to encounter such happenings on the occasion that they arise. Thus, a hammer power drill is fundamental if you are to carry out a number of basic DIY activities, such as boring holes for nails, loosening and tightening up screws, and so on. Also, in addition to being useful in multiple situations, a power drill is far more convenient and hassle-free compared to taking on the tasks with manual tools.
Luckily, manufacturers have made numerous options available to clients looking to acquire electric drills. Nonetheless, this wide availability also has its downside. For greenhorns, identifying the perfect choice for the job at hand may be a difficult task, but after going through our in-depth guide, beginners will be transformed into seasoned pros, fully capable of making their own choices!
Price
Typically, the price of a hammer drill is dictated by the purpose for which it’s intended. Regarding this, drills meant for heavier and more demanding tasks tend to be costlier than those built for easier duties. Besides tenacity, other factors that influence the price include: battery performance, speed of operation, and power rating.
The contemporary market has many players, so prospective owners can be rest assured that the pricing is competitive. Currently, hammer drill prices range from $30 to $350. After much research of several variants, our team vouches for the drills on the upper half of the pricing range, as they represent best value for money.
We also looked at some cheap hammer drills, which were sufficiently up to the task, though we found that the outputs attained were really disappointing. We wouldn’t recommend them even if you’re on the tightest budget.
Features
Besides the cost, another obvious thing to look out for is the specifications of the desired hammer drill. Various manufacturers equip their products with different features, all in a bid to stand out from competitors in this highly competitive niche.
These are what you should look for while purchasing hammer drills:
- Type – The device can be entirely a hammer drill, or incorporate additional features such as a screw driver or rotary capabilities.
- Weight – Heavier drills are meant for demanding tasks and vice versa. Bulkier units also tend to offer superior performance.
- Revolutions Per Minute (RPM) Speed – This directly impacts the performance of the drill, as it is the velocity at which the drill moves.
- Power Supply – Is the drill corded or wireless? If cordless, how long can the battery hold power after a full charge? Is the battery replaceable?
- Add-ons – These vary from brand to brand, ranging from LED lights, dedicated protection mechanisms, trigger locking, and so on.
Once the features are in line with the desires of the buyer, the next task is to assess the usability of the gadget.
Construction and Design
Most owners opt for the cordless drill, as they’re portable. This suits them perfectly, as a majority often use the drills to do easy tasks. However, if the task at hand is demanding, investing in a drill with a durable battery is paramount. Instead of piling up several batteries or juicing up your machine in short intervals, it’s advisable to acquire drills with Lithium-ion batteries as opposed to the cheaper Nickel-Cadmium batteries, which cannot hold power for long periods.
For heavier jobs, corded drills are the ideal choice. With them, you’re guaranteed a continuous supply of power throughout your project, regardless of the time spent. Furthermore, corded drills have higher torque and last longer than their cordless counterparts. Contrariwise, these drills have a limited scope of use, as they depend upon the length of the power cable.
Another consideration is the RPM of the drill. Regarding this aspect, variants that offer a constant RPM have limited capabilities. Models with variable speed tend to be more versatile, capable of working in different scenarios.
Performance and Ease of Use
While operating a drill, its weight should not be overlooked. Heavier drills are usually uncomfortable, making the job cumbersome. Apart from the weight, drills with two handles are more comfortable as compared with single-handed models.
Before buying a drill, you should take into consideration the drill bit capacity and how easy it is to replace them. This is particularly important if you intend to use the device to handle a variety of tasks.
We looked mainly at tried and true power tool brands, since they know what it takes to create a reliable drill. We compared price against power, weight, and other factors that can make a hammer drill easier or harder to use. No matter what you're looking for, one of these top power tool brands is bound to have a suitable tool for your needs.
Consider what you’ll be drilling through, and how often you’ll use your new hammer drill. The higher-end models we chose are built to last under consistent use, even on a professional jobsite. We also chose some models that are better-suited to the jobs and budget of a household handyman. We hope you found just what you were looking for by reading our reviews.
