Impact or hammerless drill electric screwdriver which is better

Using a drill

A drill, and especially a hammer drill, is an extremely versatile tool, and its versatility is, to a large extent, how a hammer drill differs from a hammer drill. With the help of a drill, changing only the attachments, you can:

  • Drill various materials: wood, metal, ceramic tiles, plastics, glass and many others, almost everything used in construction.
  • Make large holes with core drills.
  • Drill holes in concrete and masonry when the impact function is enabled and using drills with victorious tips.
  • Grind or sand any surface using brushes or grinding wheels as attachments.
  • Work as a mixer for mixing paints or building mixtures.

When choosing a drill, its impact function is not a determining criterion. Simply put, punching holes in concrete is far from its main function. Therefore, it will not be possible to achieve significant results in this matter with the help of a drill. The impact function is more of an auxiliary or additional function, and if you need a tool for making holes by punching, then the impact drill will only partially meet your expectations.

The drill mechanism is designed only for short-term operation in shock mode, for making holes in a brick wall, for example. And then, too intensive drilling of even a relatively soft brick will surely lead to the failure of the entire percussion mechanism, and what can we say about concrete. The entire design of the drill and its technical characteristics, including power and speed, indicate a different purpose of the tool, on different types of which we stopped above. As you can see, the scope of application of an impact drill is quite wide, but what about a hammer drill?

What is the difference between a hammer drill and a hammer drill?

Although the two power tools work in the same way, the fundamental difference lies in the design of the impact system. The drill is equipped with two gear mechanisms or ratchets, which give the drill a translational movement simultaneously with rotation. The percussion system of the hammer drill is designed in a completely different way. It can be electromechanical or electro-pneumatic. In the first case, the energy for the translational movement of the core is created by two electromagnetic coils, and in the second, a pneumatic mechanism with a crank drive or a special piston system with a rolling bearing.

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But this, of course, is not all that distinguishes a drill from a hammer drill. To better understand this, you need to look at the applications of both tools and the attachments they use. This will answer the question. which hammer drill or hammer drill to choose?

Using a punch

The application of this power tool is much narrower and is aimed at breaking various solid materials. Using a puncher, you can:

  • Punch a hole in concrete or brick.
  • Knock down ceramic tiles or plaster.
  • Split a hard surface.
  • Make grooves on a concrete or brick wall.

When working with a hammer drill, drills are not used, as is the case with a drill, although some of their types, for example, crown, are still used, but drills, chisels and peaks. The main Accent in the work of a hammer drill is its impact function. All the capabilities of the instrument are aimed at its high-quality performance. In order to successfully and long enough to hammer concrete and stone, the perforator has a sufficiently large power, more than an impact drill. In addition, the entire construction of the tool is designed to perform one task, namely, chiselling of hard materials. The hammer drill is absolutely unsuitable for drilling holes in wood and metal.

The main differences between a drill and a hammer drill

A drill is a tool for drilling holes and a hammer drill is for punching. This is the main difference between a drill and a hammer drill. But there is one but. Drills are divided into percussion and non-impact drills, and in relation to the former, the answer to this question no longer seems so obvious and for a start it will be useful to find out how the impact drill differs from the usual one.

What does hammer drill mean?

The principle of operation of this power tool is based on the translational movement of the drill chuck while rotating it. Thus, in such a tool, the drill, in addition to spinning, also performs blows, thanks to the built-in eccentric. This is how a hammer drill differs from a hammer drill. In addition, the fundamental difference is the ability to turn off the impact function on almost all modern models of impact drills, That is, it is easy to turn such a drill into a hammerless drill, but a hammerless drill will not be able to transform into a hammer drill in the same way. The question arises, why then make shockless models at all? The answer lies in the scope of such a tool.

The hammerless drill demonstrates the softest possible drill stroke, due to which the holes made with it are characterized by high accuracy. Therefore, hammerless drills are used for delicate work, for example, for drilling holes in pieces of wood that are prone to splitting or in thin metal sheets. Having figured out how an impact drill differs from a hammer drill, it’s time to return to hammer drills.

Drill or hammer drill: which is better?

To pose the question in this way would be categorically wrong. Indeed, despite the seeming at first glance similarity in functions, at least in one, an impact drill and a hammer drill are completely two different tools.

If we talk purely about punching holes in hard materials, then here the hammer drill has an obvious advantage. Firstly, in power, and secondly in functionality, because the hammer drill has two modes of operation: simple drilling and hammer drilling. At the same time, the hammer drill is capable of boasting three: rotation, rotation with a blow and just a blow. But the drill is much superior to the hammer drill in versatility. This is another answer to the question. punch and drill, what’s the difference? And in principle, as already noted, comparing these two power tools is not entirely correct, each of them serves for its own purposes. Even outwardly, an impact drill and a hammer drill are not alike. If the latent power is guessed at first glance in the hammer drill, then the drill, including the percussion drill, is much less aggressive in appearance.

What technical characteristics to pay attention to?

Having studied the main technical parameters, you will know how to choose a drill for home use without overpaying for unnecessary functions.

One of the main characteristics that determine the functionality of a drill is power. The higher this indicator, the wider the range of operations that a particular model can handle.

However, power alone is not always enough. you need to look at the functionality of the device as a whole. Typically 750-900 watts are sufficient for home use. The weight of these drills ranges from 2 kg to 6.5 kg. Models with higher power are heavier and larger, which increases the load on the hands.

Varieties with a power of 300-500 W cope with small amounts of work, they can work for a short time. They can be used to drill small holes in soft materials. It is necessary to take into account the following point: if the model is chosen incorrectly, then the hands will also get tired (not from the weight, but the fact that additional efforts will need to be made when working with the tool).

How different models differ?

Both professional and household drills are available in various designs: one and two speeds.

If you need a tool for intermittent use (make several holes, mix a small amount of putty, or tighten a few screws), a single-speed drill will do just that.

Drills with two speeds have advanced functionality, they can easily withstand serious loads, and you can start complex repairs with them. The two-speed models have a reinforced body and generally more power. Some instruments are electronically controlled, which makes it possible to use the instrument more accurately.

What are the types of drills for the intended purpose?

In addition to impact and hammerless drills, manufacturers produce the following versions:

  • drill-electric screwdriver. lightweight, practical, easy to use, there is a reverse function;
  • cordless drill-electric screwdriver. convenient in that it is not “tied” to an outlet;
  • an angle drill is a highly specialized tool, as a rule, not used in everyday life;
  • drill mixer is a powerful hammerless model that can mix building mixtures of different viscosities.

In professional drills, the power exceeds 900 W (it can reach 1.5 kW and above). Accordingly, the weight and dimensions of the tool increase.

Next, you need to pay attention to the gearbox. a mechanism that transmits power by rotation. The type of gear device determines the reliability of the drill and its practicality. Distinguish between one- and two-speed devices.

Additional links increase torque. an indicator that allows the tool to perform difficult jobs and large volumes without heavy loads. When choosing a household model, you need to pay attention to the material of the gearbox housing. It is desirable that it be made of metal or plastic with good heat dissipation characteristics.

The next important parameter is speed control. The maximum number for unstressed models is 2600-3000 rpm. For professional models, the speed can reach 6000 rpm.

Impact drills generally have a higher RPM than non-impact drills. If you plan to use a drill with different attachments (grinding, polishing), then the number of revolutions in this case will play a decisive role.

Another important characteristic is the type of chuck and the maximum drilling diameter. The last parameter must be taken into account so as not to burn the instrument on the very first day of operation. It is important to adhere to the parameters specified in the instrument passport.

Most often, in drills, a cam or quick-clamping mechanism for securing the drill. In a traditional toothed chuck, the drill is mounted using a special polygon key. In the keyless clamp, the installation of the working part of the drill is done manually by turning the chuck. From the point of view of fixation, jaw chucks are more reliable, but keyless chucks allow you to quickly change nozzles.

Cordless Screwdriver or Cordless Drill?

Keyless chucks, in turn, are divided into one- and two-case. Single-case cartridge is the most convenient.

When choosing a drill, you need to take into account the strength of the impact function (for impact models). This indicator is defined in joules. An impact force of 2 Joules is sufficient to drill holes in a concrete or brick base. If a tool is needed for chipping walls for electrical wiring, you will need a power tool with a higher impact force. In professional models, this indicator can exceed 5 Joules.

The drill can be equipped with additional functions. They make your work more comfortable. These include:

  • reverse. the ability to change the direction of rotation (it will come in handy when using a drill as an electric screwdriver);
  • additional handle. it allows you to more securely fix the tool;
  • depth gauge. allows you to accurately adjust the drilling depth;
  • power button lock. prevents accidental pressing.

How professional models differ from household?

Many tool manufacturers divide their units into professional and household.

In terms of functionality, they are the same, the difference is in the nature of their use. Professional models are designed for frequent or continuous use, they have an ergonomic design and a narrower specialization. You can work with such a tool throughout the day without worrying about its resource.

Another important parameter is performance. It is higher for professional units. Among professional drills, there are models with a reinforced case, designed for intensive use.

To perform various tasks for repairing a house, in a garage, in a country house, it is quite possible to get by with household varieties. If you choose the right model in terms of price-quality ratio, then such a drill will fully justify the cost of purchasing it.

A household drill in terms of power and other parameters may not be inferior to professional counterparts. But it cannot be operated continuously. every 15-20 minutes the instrument must be allowed to cool down. That is, in other words, as long as the drill worked, she needs the same amount of time to “rest”.

If you observe the operating mode of the device, without allowing the motor to overheat, a household drill will last a long time. It is not recommended to use such a tool for more than 3-4 hours a day, otherwise it will fail.

Some manufacturers offer consumers an intermediate group of drills. these are the so-called Hobbi-class (or semi-professional) models. Such drills are superior in price and technical characteristics to household varieties, but inferior to professional ones. Owners of small workshops should pay attention to them. here the need to use a drill arises with a certain regularity, while the unit has time to cool down between work.

The tools of the Hobbi-class group are different:

  • good build quality;
  • advanced functionality;
  • good power parameters.

The power of semi-professional models can reach 1200 W, they can work up to 6 hours a day.

Drill, electric screwdriver or hammer drill?

The listed tools are similar in appearance, but they are designed to solve fundamentally different tasks and often cannot be interchangeable. The main difference lies in their main function:

  • screwdriver is designed for screwing and unscrewing screws, screws, screws, making holes;
  • the drill gives rotary motion to the drill in order to make holes in metal, wood, plastic;
  • in the hammer drill, the working part performs not only rotational, but also shock-translational movements.

Let’s take a closer look at the types of drills. There are unstressed and percussion models. The first ones are small in size and are used to perform precise work, for example, to drill neat holes.

Percussion instruments are larger in size and more powerful. they can be considered a kind of hybrid of hammerless models and hammer drills. The main difference is the hammer drilling mode. Thanks to this, such drills can cope with more complex tasks, for example, drilling holes in dense concrete, brick walls, stone.

A reasonable question arises, how does an impact drill differ from a hammer drill? Technically, both tools can handle most tasks. However, there is a difference. it lies in the functionality of the tools. With a drill, the blow is carried out mechanically, with a perforator. with the help of pneumatics. In addition, the hammer drill is always larger, heavier and more powerful.

You need to understand that the main function of the drill is to drill holes, and the hammer drill is designed to destroy structures, so neat types of work with high precision are “beyond his powers”.

How to choose a drill for home

A drill, without exaggeration, can be called an indispensable tool for both a professional craftsman and an amateur owner. Hanging a picture, assembling and disassembling furniture, attaching a cornice or a shelf. it is almost impossible to perform all these operations without a drill.

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With a quality tool at hand, it’s easy:

  • make holes in concrete, brick walls, in wooden surfaces;
  • screw in and out the screws;
  • drill holes of the required size in metal products;
  • carry out minor furniture repairs.

The modern market for tools designed for construction and repair is saturated with a variety of models. it is not surprising that it is difficult for an average person to understand the intricacies of choosing a suitable model.

The question is which drill to choose? What to look for when buying, so as not to regret the money spent?

Which is better: corded or cordless drill?

It is difficult to say unequivocally which is better. If you are wondering how to choose a drill for your home, first of all decide what you need such a tool for.

Corded drills powered by a 220 V network are reliable and stable. this is their plus. However, if you need a drill indoors without electrical wiring, you will need a battery model. Eliminating the need to carry a carrier significantly reduces turnaround time.

If you want a cordless model, you should look at drills with a replaceable battery. During the work of one, the other will be recharged, which will eliminate downtime.

Which is better: hammer drill or hammer drill?

This question is often asked by inexperienced people who purchase a tool for the home. In principle, professionals do not have such doubts, since they certainly know that behind the external similarity there is a great difference that predetermines the capabilities of these two tools.

The drill is originally intended for drilling holes in materials of low density. in wood, plastic, soft metals. The addition of the percussion function has significantly expanded the capabilities of this tool, making it possible, among other things, to easily drill into brickwork and structures made of low-grade concrete. At the same time, like hammerless drills, with the proper equipment, they are able to work with fasteners. For all their versatility, drills have rather modest dimensions and are much cheaper than perforators. Thus, the main reasons for the popularity of impact drills among domestic consumers include their versatility, compactness and affordability.

Accordingly, rock drills are heavier and more expensive. If you compare tools with identical power, the weight and price advantage of rock drills will be obvious. For example, a thousand-watt two-speed drill Makita HP 2071 weighs 2.4 kg and costs about 5000 rubles. With its help, you can drill holes with a diameter of up to 40 mm in wood, up to 16 mm in steel, and by connecting the impact function, “drill” into concrete with a 20 mm drill.

For an M Akita HR 4010 C perforator of a similar power, you will have to pay three times more and it weighs 6.3 kg. In terms of functionality, a hammer drill is significantly inferior to a drill, since it only hammers or drills with a blow, and these two modes are unacceptable for making holes in wood and metals. But in terms of drilling concrete, the designated perforator is out of competition, since it will “pull” not only a large-diameter drill (up to 40 mm), but also a drill bit (up to 105 mm). In addition, this tool can easily replace a jackhammer and greatly facilitate the work of installing niches and openings, laying communications, chipping off old ceramic tiles, etc. Of course, such a hammer drill is intended exclusively for professionals and is unlikely to come in handy in everyday life.

However, among the hammer drills there are also “lightweights”: for example, the Makita HR 1830 weighs only 1.7 kg, and the price is inferior to the Makita HP 2071 hammer drill. Both of these tools work in the mode of drilling and hammer drilling. over, with the help of a drill, it is possible to arrange technical holes of a much larger diameter in concrete (without taking into account hardness), and in wood, and in steel.

A natural question arises: what is the difference then? First of all, the difference in power consumption: for the compared hammer drill, the power consumption is 440 W, and for the drill. 1010 W. And this is the corresponding load on the network and the cost of paying for electricity on the one hand and an indicator of performance. with another.

But the main difference lies in the purpose, in particular, in the main object of the application of efforts. For a drill, drilling concrete is an additional option, and in the mode of drilling with a blow, the tool works for “self-destruction” (more on that below). A hammer drill that easily breaks a monolith will not provide high precision drilling of holes in steel, wood and plastic. The reason for this is the design features of the percussion mechanisms of drills and perforators and the used cartridges for fixing the equipment.

In impact drills, the impact is generated mechanically. Everything is extremely simple there. Two toothed ratchets in drilling mode without impact rotate interlocking teeth, as a whole. When the impact function is turned on, the internal ratchet (located closer to the engine) moves back, and the external one begins to “recount” its teeth with its own. As a result, impact energy is not generated as such: the impact force is predetermined by the height of the teeth and the pressure exerted on the tool by the user, and the impact frequency is determined by the number of teeth and the rotation speed.

This is where the aforementioned “self-destruction” comes from. No matter how strong and durable the material used for the manufacture of ratchets is, sooner or later the teeth will “come together” and the impact mechanism will finally fail.

The nature of the impact in rock drills is completely different. The crank mechanism converts the rotation from the engine into reciprocating movements imparted to the piston. That, in turn, drives the striker, but not directly, but through an air gap, which reduces the load on the piston, thereby contributing to the durability of the tool as a whole, and reduces recoil. Such a percussion mechanism is three times more effective and, of course, more reliable than a drill “ratchet”. In the presented model range of Makita rotary hammers, the impact energy ranges from 1.3 to 19.7 J (models HR 1830 and HR 5210 C. respectively).

Some conclusions can already be drawn from the above. For example, that if intensive work on concrete drilling is ahead, then the hammer drill will “die” pretty soon, and the “heavy” one will not overcome at all. And it is true. But do not be fascinated also by the versatility of three-mode rotary hammers, which are declared by manufacturers as a jack of all trades. As a rule, these are instruments of light (up to 4 kg) and medium (5-8 kg) class. Such rotary hammers, and “heavy” ones too, are equipped with SDS keyless chucks. plus and SDS. max. designed exclusively for special nozzles. drills, blades, etc whose shanks have a well-defined shape (the presence of grooves and their number). Consumables for rotary hammers are much more expensive than conventional drills, and the use of the latter is not possible due to the specifics of the cartridges. To expand the capabilities of rotary hammers, manufacturers quite often complete their models with additional cam chucks, which are mounted in standard holders of the SDS type using special adapters. At the same time, the tool becomes more cumbersome, and the beating of the chuck increases significantly, which does not benefit the quality. Interchangeable chucks are an alternative for more precise drilling. In this case, the main SDS chuck can be easily dismantled, and in its place, thanks to the adapted tip, a conventional cam chuck is installed. for cylindrical drills. An example is the Makita HR 2811 FT hammer drill with a removable SDS chuck. plus. It should be noted that such an arrangement is not so common so far and significantly affects the price of the instrument.

So, answering the first question, we have already noted its incorrectness. Both drills and rock drills are equally good, but only in the area for which they are intended. The hammer drill is ideal for drilling holes in wood, metals, plastics, masonry and lightweight concrete. In addition, it can be used to work with fasteners, and at low speeds as a mixer. A hammer drill is preferable where you often have to drill and hammer concrete (and reinforced concrete) of varying degrees of density, but it will not provide precision drilling in metals and wood. Rock drills, which are equivalent in power to impact drills, are significantly superior in weight and cost. When working with concrete, rock drills are much more reliable, practical and more durable than impact drills. The versatility of impact drills will come in handy in a domestic environment, and hammer drills are more “professional”. But if you live in a building made of glass and concrete, then in addition to an impact drill, it will be useful to have at hand, if not the most expensive and powerful, but a perforator.

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