Features of a Hammer Drill

Drills are pretty common. Most people have at least used one, and probably a majority of households have at least one drill. One question that I've been asked a few times when I mention that I have a Makita 18V hammer drill (an older model pictured to the right) is "What's the difference between that and a regular cordless drill?"

Multiple Modes
Well, the first difference is that there are multiple modes. A standard drill has just one mode : spin. A few add a clutch for driving screws, but most just turn in circles and don't bother stopping. Hammer drills usually have 3 modes. The first is driving, which engages the clutch for driving screws. Secondly, there is drilling. Lastly, we have hammer drilling. But that still doesn't tell us what hammer drilling means.

Blows Per Minute
Yes, this could sound very bad if you're not thinking about cordless power tools. Ok, it still could sound bad. But it isn't meant that way. Essentially, there is more than just spinning going on with hammer drilling. It also has some impact going on, similar to a jackhammer. The chuck (bit holding device for those geeks who can't tell one end of the drill from the other) has the added motion of towards and away from the material. This isn't useful in all cases, but a few special instances it sure is.

Concrete Drilling
When drilling concrete, the hammering motion is a huge help. It not only allows for some chipping to occur (that makes for much faster drilling), but it also helps to clean out some of the debris from the hole as you drill. This leads to more efficient drilling, longer bit life, and a happier user.

Makes Holes in Wood, Too
By switching off the hammer motion, the hammer drill will act just like a normal drill for drilling normal materials like wood, plastic and steel. By having the option, you can use the same drill for more applications. In my book, that's a good thing. I like it when I can do more without buying additional tools. I guess that's why I like Swiss Army knives.