Hammer Repair: 5 Great Hammer Drills for Home and Professional Repairs

Universal electrical equipment of the Interskol brand has been known on the east european market for several years. The DU-16/1000ER drill is distinguished by powerful characteristics at a reasonable cost, which makes the tool popular.

The large weight of the drill 2.8 kg is due to the presence of a metal two-speed gearbox, but is compensated by rubberized handles and good body balancing.

In addition to the metal gearbox, the depth limiter and the base of the front handle are also made of metal. In general, the readiness for loads is taken into account as much as possible.

The drill received a 1000-watt motor that provides an impact frequency of up to 42,000 beats / min and a speed of up to 2500 revolutions. The tool is capable of punching holes in concrete, wood, metal, with a diameter of 20 mm, 40 mm and 16 mm, respectively. However, you should not count on high-grade concrete. Here you will already need a rotary hammer. By the way, the drill can work not only for its intended purpose, but also as a mixer or screwdriver. Of the adjustments, there is a reverse mode, a start button lock, a preset number of revolutions. And then there is the illumination of the working area, which lights up at the moment of pulling the trigger, and helps in places with poor lighting.

Another argument in favor of high loads is a key cartridge, the key to which is included and conveniently inserted into a special eye at the base of the cable.

The main advantage of Interskol DU-16/1000ER is its ability to handle high loads at a price of only $50. Yes, there is no case, tangible weight, but the tool has long been deservedly popular and has much more positive reviews than mentions of shortcomings.

The American manufacturer Stanley has been producing convenient and reliable construction tools for more than 150 years. STDH8013C is a powerful, reliable and at the same time relatively inexpensive (about $ 70) impact drill, which is useful both in everyday life and in simple professional repairs.

Despite not the lightest weight of the 2.5 kg model and the absence of rubberized inserts on the handle, it fits well in the hand and does not tyre too much. Actually, the weight is explained by a metal gearbox and high-quality plastic, which increase the reliability of the tool, so it's not a sin to be patient. To facilitate the work, there is an additional handle, and, again, a metal depth limiter, and not plastic, as in less powerful models. The drill comes without a case, but in a thick cardboard box that opens conveniently. Angry, but inexpensive.

The engine power of 800 watts, 3000 rpm and the impact frequency of 54000 beats / min is more than enough for work at home, in the country or infrequent use for professional purposes. The drill handles with holes in wood with a diameter of 32 mm, metal 13 mm, brick and stone up to 16 mm. In everyday life, such opportunities will be quite enough: hang a shelf, a cornice, install communications, equip a garage.

The start button is large enough, it is pressed easily, if necessary, it is fixed in the working position, has a wheel for limiting revolutions, and a reverse lever in the upper part. The controls are intuitive and generally familiar to any master. It is worth noting that the model is available in two versions: with a quick-release or key cartridge, as indicated by the presence or absence of the letter C in the name.

Stanley STDH8013C is an unpretentious and inexpensive impact drill that, with inactive operation, will surely last for several years. In extreme cases, the manufacturer offers a 2-year warranty and a completely high-quality service, which not every brand can boast of.

The construction tool of the American brand DeWalt can rightfully be considered a worthy competitor of Bosch and the DWD024 impact drill is one of the confirmations of this.

The tool is thought out for small things, so that working with it was not only effective, but also comfortable. Light weight 1.82 kg, ergonomic shape, rubberized main handle and auxiliary assembly, metal drilling depth limiter, start button lock — everything is aimed at user convenience. I was also pleased with the cable. It is flexible, does not break, does not oak and does not crack for a long time.

For all its advantages, the drill is low-power (701 watts), but high-speed (up to 2800 rpm). It handles perfectly with holes in wood, soft metals, red brick. But with drilling, chiseling concrete, stone and mixing thick building mixes, adhesives, you should be careful. There is not enough power and overheating is felt, you will not work for a long time.

It is not entirely clear what prevented the tool from being equipped with a quick-release cartridge, given its frankly east european orientation, but DeWalt decided that it was not needed here, as well as manual adjustment of the number of revolutions.

In general, DeWalt DWD024 is a worthy choice for a wide range of household tasks with an eye to long—term use without intensive loads. Considering the cost of $ 80, the model definitely wins from a direct competitor Bosch GSB 16 RE Professional 060114E600 Price from 5 399 up to 6 258 ₴.

Bosch professional line power tools do not need any introduction — they have long and deservedly won recognition all over the world and have not lost it since, despite the expensive cost. Drill GSB 1600 RE Professional 0601218121 costs a little more than $ 100, but for this money it will last for many years, providing its owner with comfort of use and 100% result.

Lightweight (1.9 kg) and compact (295x195 mm), the tool, like the entire professional line of the manufacturer, is also incredibly ergonomic due to excellent balancing, thoughtful form factor and rubberized inserts. Engine cooling is well thought out, and work for any hand. The additional handle and depth limiter, although plastic, are strong enough and light at the same time.

The tool is equipped with a metal quick-release chuck with a tightening function, so the tooling is changed with one hand in a couple of seconds. In addition, the spindle neck has a diameter of the European standard 43 mm, which allows you to work with the rack of the drilling machine. The drill can make holes with a diameter of 12 – 30 mm, depending on the material in shock and shockless mode.

There is only one speed, but this does not prevent you from coping with brickwork, low-strength concrete, ceramics, wood, steel, twisting and unscrewing screws, screws. For more efficient operation, there is a speed preset wheel on the start button, a start lock button and a very flexible 4-metre cable protected from breakage, which does not oak in the cold.

And yet, despite the Professional prefix, Bosch GSB 1600 RE 0601218121 falls a little short of the pro class in terms of engine power (700 watts). But for home needs, the tool is perfect and here it is unlikely to find competitors in terms of ergonomics and longevity.

The Japanese company Makita has been among the TOP manufacturers of power tools for many decades. HP1631K is a compact, powerful, manoeuvrable and relatively inexpensive drill for its characteristics (a little more than $ 100), which is preferred by masters engaged in professional repairs.

The tool is not heavy, weighs only 2 kg, while it has an aluminium gearbox housing. Rubberized inserts on the body dampen vibrations, and the holes contribute to cooling, so working with the tool is comfortable and not tedious. A depth limiter is installed on the additional handle, which can be fixed in several positions.

The 710 W motor provides a spindle rotation speed of up to 3200 rpm. This allows you to easily make holes in wood with a diameter of up to 30 mm, and in various metals, including steel, up to 13 mm, and the impact mode up to 48,000 beats / min to overcome obstacles in stone and brickwork with a diameter of up to 16 mm. There is a reverse in case of jamming the drill or unscrewing the screws, locking the start button for long-term operation.

The drill is equipped with a quick-release chuck and a branded case with a convenient compartment for small things, but it is also offered in the version with a key cartridge Makita HP1630 for those who prefer a more reliable attachment of the snap. So, the only drawback that can be predicted by the model is a short 2-metre cord.

For the rest, it should be summarized that the Makita HP1631 handles with loads perfectly, does not overheat, and works without problems on almost any surfaces, except high-grade concrete. The tool serves, as practice shows, without problems for 3 – 5 years, but if you buy it at home or in the garage, you can safely multiply the period by two.