What is the difference between a drill and a hammer drill. Instruction: impact drill or hammer drill

Repair is, first of all, drilling and chiselling of walls and ceilings. Impact drill or hammer drill - which one to choose? After all, it is with the help of these tools, as practice shows, that such work takes place.

The hammer drill, compared to a drill, which is equipped with a percussion function, is much more reliable.

So how does one tool differ from another? By what criteria and principles to choose them, so that later it would not be excruciatingly painful for wasted time, as well as for stupidly spent money? Are there any pitfalls and currents in this case?

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

Basically, these two tools are very similar to each other, which is often the cause of all sorts of misunderstandings and bewilderment: I wanted, they say, to buy a drill for myself, but I bought it - a hammer drill or vice versa. However, these tools differ from each other, and any self-respecting owner should know about such differences.

First of all, the difference between a hammer drill and an impact drill lies in the sense of their own design and purpose. A drill is drilled, and a puncher is drilled. But then an important question arises: how exactly does drilling differ from drilling?

Is there any difference in these repair actions? There is a difference. If the owner, in order to equip his own home, intends to make all kinds of holes in brick walls, in wooden walls, in some metal structures (that is, in all sorts of more or less soft and pliable surfaces and planes), then for these creative purposes he needs a drill. If the owner wishes to make holes in concrete walls for the same purposes, then a puncher is more useful.

Why exactly? It all depends on the principle of operation of these mechanisms. A drill (its full name is “a drill with a blow”) is able to drill only when the one who drills presses on it - and the harder he presses, the better and faster the hole can be drilled with a drill. And let no one here be confused by the term "strike". Yes, the drill is designed in such a way that in order to make it easier to drill, a blow is applied to the drill (hitting a mechanism called a toothed ratchet). However, this very mechanism strikes with a very small amplitude and force, and therefore there is not much use from it.

And in order to drill a lot, successfully and with impact, the driller needs to make an effort - that is, to press the drill against the surface that he wants to drill. And the more efforts are made here, the harder the work. However, there is also a negative point here. When someone tries to drill holes in hard surfaces with a drill, the ratchet mechanism wears out quickly and has to be changed frequently. In addition, the harder you lean on the drill, the more it vibrates. So, among other things, when working with a drill, you need a fair amount of skill, as well as remarkable physical strength.

Another thing is a perforator. The perforator has a slightly different principle of operation. One might even say - fundamentally excellent. If, as already mentioned, it is necessary to press the drill, then the puncher, on the contrary, does not tolerate any pressure. On the contrary, when working with a perforator, physical effort must be avoided in every possible way.

When applying physical impact on the puncher, it breaks down very quickly. And all - because of the design features of the perforator. And its design is as follows: a mechanism called a free-floating drill is built into the puncher. Another mechanism strikes this mechanism with regular equal force - the striker. These blows are strong enough, and thanks to this, the perforator droops into the surface. That is, a hammer drill is a much more powerful mechanism than a drill. And therefore, with its help, they are drilled (you can also say that holes are hollowed out in all sorts of hard surfaces such as concrete).

This is the difference between an impact drill and a hammer drill. That is, if someone needs to drill holes in more or less pliable surfaces, then a drill will do for these purposes. And if someone has to deal with concrete walls, then you can’t do without a perforator.

It would seem: if the very principle of the drill is clear, then you can choose it, as they say, without straining. However, it only seems so. In fact, choosing an impact drill has its own little secrets.

It is very important when choosing a drill to pay attention to the speed. In particular, the ability to adjust this frequency. Those. how much faster the rotation speed of the drill can be if you press it. And, accordingly, with what force will you have to press it? Otherwise, it may happen that you buy a drill, but you don’t have enough strength to work with it. So why did you buy it then? And then it will be excruciatingly painful for the money spent in vain.

The power of the drill also matters. In general, there is no trick in this case. The more powerful the tool, the more holes can be drilled, and the sooner they can be drilled.

You should pay attention to how comfortable the drill will be in work. Otherwise, it may happen that because of its original design features, it will simply fall out of hand regularly. And then, maybe, it also injures the reckless owner. Therefore, before buying a drill, you must at least hold it in your hands. It would be better, of course, to drill something at the same time, but only - who will allow drilling the walls in the store? However, in some stores for such trial purposes, samples of surfaces of varying degrees of hardness are provided.

When choosing a drill, it is very important to know if a structure called a depth gauge is built into it. There are drills in which such a design is present, there are also drills in which it is absent. The depth gauge is a very important tool. In drills of old designs, if anyone remembers, it was necessary to make special marks on the drills in order to know exactly how deep the hole was drilled. It was very inconvenient. Another thing is the depth gauge. There is no need to measure anything. But simply - he determined the desired depth of the future hole, and the smart unit will drill just such a depth - no more and no less.

What else is important to consider?

When choosing a drill, it is very important to take into account how long the cord is.

If the repair requires frequent drilling of concrete walls, then you will need a powerful hammer drill.

Everything is clear here: the longer the cord, the more convenient it is to work. Therefore, it is recommended to choose a tool not just with a long cord, but so that this cord is also with a fair margin. You never know in what remote place you want to drill a hole?

There are such modern tools that are protected by a special mechanism from overloads. It is clear that such varieties cost a lot of money, but it is much more convenient and safer to work with them than any of its more primitive counterparts. After all, in the heat of creative creation of holes, you can earn money, thereby overloading the mechanism until it completely fails. And then - it will be painfully insulting ... And if there is a safety mechanism, the tool will stop working on its own, feeling overloaded.

It is very important to take into account this moment when choosing. It happens that a drill is equipped with a lot of all sorts of devices, improvements, options and mechanisms, and its price is surprisingly low. This is where you need to be concerned. Because it is well known: than if a thing is extremely “fancy”, and its price is somehow low, then such a fact indicates that this is not a thing, but a fake for a real thing. And when someone manages to buy such a fake, and it fails in the third minute of its operation, it will be painfully insulting for the money spent in vain.

This is what regarding the choice of drill. If we talk about the choice of a perforator, then it is mainly selected according to similar principles.

Each master who is engaged in repairs or just personal household has a lot of tools in his arsenal: from the usual ones like a hammer or screwdriver, to high-tech kits equipped with an electric motor. The latter include a puncher and a drill. It would seem that the scope and mechanism of operation of these products are similar, but this is far from being the case, the difference between them is significant. This article discusses the difference between a drill and a hammer drill, and also lists the functions of both tools.

Main differences

What is the difference between a drill and a perforator? There are several main differences that can be classified according to two criteria:

  1. According to the tasks to be solved and the purpose of the perforator and drill;
  2. According to the impact mechanism and the speed of rotation of the drill.

In the first case, it is necessary to analyze in detail the executable functions of the tools, what they are intended for, and under what conditions their use is permissible.

The drill, equipped with an electric motor, performs the functions of drilling any type of material, such as metal, wood or concrete. The speed of rotation of the nozzle or cartridge is very high, therefore, its performance in this capacity will be much higher than that of a perforator. There are also additional devices in the design of the drill, which imitate the operation of the chipper due to the blows of the splined part of the disk against the counter gear. In the normal position, with the stop switch off, this disc is static, but when the lever is moved to another position, the clamp releases the gears, and they freely interact during the rotation of the engine. Such a product is called an impact drill, it has a performance slightly higher than that of a conventional drill, but less than that of a hammer drill. In fact, an impact drill is a transitional tool from a simple tool to a full-fledged chipper.

A hammer drill, unlike an electric drill, has a more complex device, its design consists of a motor that rotates a splined gear, gears and a pneumatic assembly that is responsible for the shock part of the work. It is the last unit that is the main component that ensures proper chiselling. Depending on the weight and power of the electric motor of the perforator, the pistons of the pneumatic mechanism may have a different diameter: the larger it is, the higher the performance of the system, since the air will be compressed in large volumes. The scope of the perforator is much wider than that of the drill: first of all, it is the dismantling of brick or concrete structures. To perform this function, there is a special lock, which, when turned on, ensures the fixation of the stem and prevents its rotation. In this mode, the tool is only capable of chiseling, while the force of its impact is much higher than that of a drill.

Also, the perforator is designed for drilling holes in permanent structures on a concrete basis, due to the simultaneous rotation of the nozzle and impacts on the axis, the solution is crumbled and removed from the cavity with a fan drill. The result is a niche of the desired diameter with smooth edges, in which you can install an anchor bolt or any other fastener. For larger holes, for example, for a socket or a pipe, there is a special crown, which is equipped with cutters that work by analogy with a drill bit. All of the above functions can only be performed by a hammer drill, neither an impact drill nor a simple drill can cope with such a task, therefore, when choosing a tool for a particular job, it is important to follow the manufacturer's recommendations and take into account the engine power.

What is the difference between an impact drill and a hammer drill, because their design and tasks are generally similar? The main differences between such devices are the power of the percussion mechanism and its design. Previously, most full-fledged rotary hammers were equipped with a mechanical hammer, which included disks with high teeth. During rotation, the splines jumped out of place, and under the influence of the spring, a blow occurred. Later, this design was switched to impact drills, but the height of the teeth decreased significantly, therefore, the power disappeared. Modern manufacturers of rotary hammers prefer a pneumatic system that cannot be integrated into a drill of small size and weight; from impact, all fragile parts of the tool will wear out quickly and become unusable. Therefore, it is impossible to say that a hammer drill and a drill are one and the same, since their functions and tasks are different.

Tool and its fastening, nozzles for work

The difference between an impact drill and a hammer drill is also in the tips used, which perform a specific function. To make a hole in a concrete base with an electric drill, a drill with a smooth grip and a victorious coating at the end is most often used; such products come in different diameters and lengths. In the process of rotation, the screw grinds the stone into sand and throws it out, and small blows increase productivity and reduce the damage of the drill itself.

Perforator tools have a more complex shape, they come in the form of drills, blades, crowns or sharp peaks. Each of these items is good for a specific job, for example, it is convenient to remove old plaster or ceramic tiles with a spatula, and to make holes for an electrical box or socket with a crown. The steel composition of these parts is much more complex than the metal from which the drill bits are made, they are both elastic and strong, which allows them to be used for a long time. The main thing is not to get confused in the differences between these items and not to use them for other purposes.

Landing the drill at the drill is carried out on a special clamp that wraps around the smooth end of the axis and securely clamps it. The disadvantage in such a system is that when the drill enters the material, it may be delayed, and all the torque will rush to the smooth part, thereby scrolling the drill inside the chuck, this is negative for both the holding device and the tool itself. In addition, apart from a drill specially designed for an electric drill, it will not be possible to insert another one; no adapter is provided for this.

Landing a tool for a puncher is carried out in a special cartridge, which is equipped with a quick-release system. To remove the drill, you need to press the latch and, holding it in the rear position, remove the tool, and to install a new one, just turn the part with the right side and insert it into the socket with force. Such a system is much better and more reliable than a drill chuck, but the tools for work must also have a special recess on the back, for which the latch is hooked.

The design of the perforator provides a special adapter, which is made by analogy with a drill part, the upper part looks like a classic clamp, and the lower part is equipped with a special rod with a groove for insertion into a standard cartridge. Therefore, the perforator can work both in the rotary chiselling mode, and as a jackhammer, and as a conventional drill for any material.

For your information. The torque of a hammer drill is much lower than that of a drill, so if you just need to make a hole, for example, in metal, then it is better to use an electric drill.

terms of Use

It is impossible to say unequivocally which is better: an impact drill or a hammer drill, since each of these tools has its own purpose and special working conditions. For example, for high-quality chiselling of a wall with an electric drill, it is necessary to apply considerable effort and press on the handle with all your weight. For a perforator, this procedure is not necessary, since its mechanism is pneumatic and, regardless of the applied force, the impact of the striker will always be the same. In this regard, the hammer drill is superior to the electric drill, in addition, most chippers are equipped with shock-absorbing handles that dampen kinetic energy, taking the brunt of the blow.

Also, the difference is the conditions that affect the operation of the tool. For example, at ambient temperatures, when exposed to cold air, condensation and ice can form inside the pneumatic assembly, which adversely affects the parts of the rock drill. For a drill, this factor is not so important, since all of its mechanisms are metal. On the contrary, high temperatures, sand and dirt have a negative effect on the operation of an electric drill, since its elements can heat up, and the motor brushes become filled with dust particles, which leads to the formation of scratches on the rotor. For a hammer drill, these conditions are quite familiar, since all vulnerable elements, for example, a drunken bearing and a connecting rod, are located inside the housing, where dust does not have access.

Tool life

Each of these tools has its own service life and operating conditions. Of course, a lot depends on the attitude of the owner to his products, so you need to carefully monitor the condition of the puncher or drill, change consumables in time and lubricate the cartridge.

A professional tool always costs more, but its life is much longer, all parts are made of high-quality materials that are resistant to deformation. A hammer drill in this respect is much more reliable than a drill, since it has many nodes that differ from the design of an electric drill, which interact with each other, forming a single mechanism. The drill device is much simpler, but the tasks that the unit performs are somewhat less. When choosing a hammer drill or impact drill, it is necessary to build on the functions that are needed in the tool and what tasks it will solve.

Video

The modern descendants of the ancient rotisserie have undergone a long evolution and turned into a reliable, multifunctional electric tool. In addition to drilling holes in various materials, an impact drill is capable of doing the work of a mixer, setting the smallest speed, you can turn it into a screwdriver, and if there is a special need, the tool quickly becomes a grinder.

How the product works- two ratchets located opposite each other are repelled during the rotation of the motor spindle and give the rotating drill also translational motion. The design of the gearbox of an electric impact drill consists of a large gear and two wavy washers (ratchets). When the tool is turned on, the rotation of the motor rotor is transmitted to the spindle, then to a large gear, to which the first ratchet is rigidly attached. Its wavy surface slides along a similar surface of the second ratchet fixed on the gearbox housing. As a result of their collisions, shock effects on the drill occur. Below is a diagram of the impact drill device, where:

  • gearbox gear;
  • two ratchet;
  • spindle;
  • bearing.

For high-quality work and a significant increase in service life, wavy surfaces are lubricated with a special lubricant, such as lithol.


The photographs clearly show what elements it consists of. drill impact mechanism. Left photo: 1 - ratchet, 2 - gearbox housing, 3 - spindle; on the right: 1 - the second ratchet; 2 - a large gear reducer.

Many users purchase such a tool for home use. Using Pobedite drills and turning on the impact mechanism, you can make holes in concrete or masonry, and when repairing, use a drill instead of a powerful mixer to stir wallpaper glue and tile mixes. Is in particular demand cordless impact drill, because it works without a wired connection, it is better to use it as a screwdriver. Even when switched off, it is ready to work if its battery is charged.

Tool varieties

Electric drills are considered the most popular tool because they can be used for various purposes. Experts divide them into two main groups:

  • for home use.
  • professional purpose.

The first option is used for a short time during repairs or one-time interior design work: fixing shelves and baguettes or equipping the kitchen with hanging cabinets. The second - for daily long-term operation on construction sites.

Max power professional tools - 1550 W, for domestic use, drills with a power of up to 600 W are popular. Drills up to 300 W are light tools and do not have an additional second handle, this is how they differ from a two-speed household impact drill. They are used in hard-to-reach places where a more powerful tool cannot be reached due to its size.

The cordless impact drill is lightweight, the maximum torque for soft metals is up to 24 N. m, for hard metals up to 55 N. m, it can drill holes with a diameter of up to 13 mm. Such an autonomous tool belongs to the class of two-speed impact drills.

All models of modern impact drills have speed control, so they are unified: they can drill holes at high speeds or tighten screws and screws with the smallest spindle rotation. Many equipped with reverse for convenient removal of the drill from the hole after drilling, unscrewing screws and screws in the screwdriver mode.

Many people wonder: what is the long metal part sticking out of a special holder on a removable additional handle for? It's a drilling depth control. With it, you can accurately measure the size of the future deepening of the drill, it plays the role of an improvised limiter during the drilling process.

Drill with removable auxiliary handle

Benefits of using

The work of any impact drill differs in certain advantages from simple analogues of an electric tool.

  1. Drilling holes in especially strong materials. For example, concrete drills are used for this, equipped with special victorious nozzles - such a cutting tool is used for an impact drill when rotational and translational movements are used.
  2. If the drill has a reverse and a speed controller, then it is used when loosening screws, self-tapping screws and screws when dismantling various equipment.
  3. Special nozzles turn the drill into a grinder, and with a little refinement and into mini grinder.

Technical nuances of choice

When choosing an impact drill, you need to know exactly for what specific purposes you are purchasing it. A cordless impact drill is considered an indispensable tool for working in a country cottage: it does not need a connection, you can use it in outbuildings where there is no electrical network or in a personal plot. When you buy a product with a cord, then its optimal length should be at least 5 meters - this will allow you to work without fear that the tool will disconnect from the network due to the maximum tension of the cord.

Reversibledrill it is very convenient when using it instead of a screwdriver, and when drilling concrete, brick, the reverse helps to remove the drill from the hole during a break in work so that the cutting tool cools down. Worth paying attention to torque value: the higher it is, the easier it is for the electric motor to work, respectively, drilling will be fast and of high quality.

Many models have additional features available:

  • speed control is carried out by pressing the start button - the stronger it is, the faster the rotation;
  • a processor that allows you to choose the best option for rotation speed;
  • The button is fixed in a certain position so that your hands do not get tired.

All the nuances must be learned at the time of purchase, and not when active operation began - this will allow the user to choose exactly the tool that he needs so much, without overpaying for excess power.

Each user should be aware that for home use it is necessary to buy an impact drill with a metal case: this option will work much longer compared to a similar tool dressed in plastic.

The higher the power, the faster and easier it is to drill a hole with perfect edges in the material of any hardness, but at the same time the weight of the tool and its dimensions increase. An impact drill with a power of up to 400 W has a mass of 1.4 kg, and with a power of 1000 W, its weight almost doubles - this increase in weight is due to an increase in the dimensions of the main gearbox. Some manufacturers leave the compactness of the tool by installing new powerful electric motors, small in size, but with a high torque of the gearbox - in this situation, the price increases quite a lot.

What is the difference between household and professional tools

Sometimes it is quite difficult to make the right choice: there are different models for home and professional activities on the shelves. Hammer drills for home use have a more beautiful design and various improvements that protect the ergonomics of the tool.

It is easy and pleasant to work with such a tool, but many home craftsmen are primarily interested in technical characteristics, and not in appearance.

The main difference between a drill for the home is that it works from time to time, and not in a constant mode. Models for technical applications are characterized by greater power and dimensions, as they are designed for huge and daily loads. Therefore, they are distinguished by a modified design: the gearbox is enclosed in a hardened steel case, better cooling of internal parts is used.

The electric motor has dust protection, because a professional tool is used in any environment: drafty interiors of buildings under construction or dusty basements where it is necessary to make electrical wiring and other improvements.

A professional impact drill is a very powerful, high-quality tool with increased reliability of all parts, it is designed for long-term operation in any, the most adverse conditions.

In order to choose a great and reliable tool for home or professional work, you must adhere to the principle - the best impact drill has the highest technical performance in its class. The main thing - do not forget about a thorough check of the impact drill before paying, you should not save on quality, because you will get a tool for long-term use.

Many buyers, entering the hardware store, do not know what to choose: a drill or a hammer drill. These two tools are different from each other, so they are used in different areas.

A puncher is needed to drill a hole in a brick or concrete wall. Also for this purpose, you can use an impact drill, the work of which is designed in such a way that at the same time the drill, crown or drill rotates and strikes in the axial direction.

But it is worth noting that this is where the similarities between the tools end. The first and main difference between a hammer drill and an impact drill is that a hammer drill is needed for chiselling, and an impact drill is for drilling.

The difference between a perforator and a drill is that the perforator has an impact mechanism, which is a complex assembly, the operation of which is possible in electromechanical and electropneumatic versions. Often, an electro-pneumatic type of perforator is produced, since pneumatics can improve the operating parameters of the tool.

The drill contains an impact mechanism that is simpler in structure. There are two ratchet here. The first ratchet is connected to the body and the other is connected to the rotating chuck. If you turn off the function of the percussion mechanism, then the ratchet stops contacting each other. If you switch the drill from drilling mode to impact mode, the stopper is removed. During operation, the chuck and drill move in axial and translational directions at the same time.

Today, rotary hammers with a full range of functions can work in three modes: drilling without impact, jackhammer mode, drilling with impact.

Impact drills can only work in two modes: the first is drilling without impact, the second is drilling with impact. Moreover, with a perforator, you can make niches and strobes in the wall, remove excess material from the surface.
In terms of performance, an impact drill is much inferior to a hammer drill. The latter has a fairly large impact energy. The impact energy of the drill is very small and depends on the force of pressing the tool to the material being processed. The impact force of the drill will be small, even if it is strongly pressed, since it has a small amplitude of movement of the drill in the axial direction.

For a hammer drill and a drill, various tools and methods for their fastening are used. Drills and drills are mounted in cartridges for both representatives, but the design varies greatly. The hammer has a clamping system for quick tool changes. These include SDS-plus, SDS-max and SDS-top. The tool is fixed by means of grooves of a special shape.

Due to a certain degree of freedom relative to the cartridge in the axial direction, the hammer does not have a large load, like a drill. In order to make a hole with a conventional drill with a puncher, a special adapter or cam chuck is used. Today, manufacturers of rotary hammers equip the kit with special adapters and chucks for a conventional drill.

If you use an adapter, then a structure is formed that does not securely fasten the drill, and, accordingly, the beating during rotation will not work properly.

The difference between a hammer drill and a drill is also that it is much easier to work with a hammer drill. The clamping force for a puncher is 5 kg, for a drill - 10-15 kg. Since the hammer has less clamping force, there is less vibration on the hands. Due to the softening air cushion in pneumatics, the striker and the piston do not collide with each other, which means that the hands will be less tired.

If you use a drill with an impact function often enough, then its service life will be reduced significantly, so it is still better to purchase a hammer drill for chiselling. Its pneumatic mechanism significantly reduces vibration, so that all mechanisms will work in a gentle mode. The hammer drill has a special safety clutch that protects the tool from breakage in some cases, for example, if the drill hits the rebar.

At the drill, the ratchets will work without a gentle mode, so these parts wear out quickly. The cost of tools varies with the same power. The price of a hammer drill is twice the price of a drill.

Many buyers ask consultants the question: which is better - a reel or a perforator. There is no single answer to the question posed. First of all, it is necessary to decide what functions will be performed. If you need to drill or chisel a concrete wall, then naturally, you need a hammer drill. Especially if you need a lot of holes in such walls.

If holes in brick and concrete need to be made quite rarely, then it is easier to buy a cheap option - an impact drill. That is, if you need to make a hole in the wall for a shelf, then the impact drill can perform the intended action. If you need a large number of holes for sockets and switches, then an impact drill is indispensable. Today there is no need to buy a perforator at a time, you can rent it.