Rotary Hammers & Breakers

Rotary hammers and breakers work concrete and masonry by combining rotation with a piston-driven blow, so the bit chips material away rather than relying on the operator to push. Hammer drills sit at the light end — a drill that adds percussion for anchors and small holes in block and brick, and reverts to ordinary drilling when the material changes. SDS Plus rotary hammers cover most anchor setting and through-drilling up to around 1-1/8", with a chuck that locks the bit while letting it move under the blow. SDS Max takes over for larger diameters, core drilling and sustained chipping, where the heavier blow and the bigger shank are what stop the tool shaking itself apart. Breakers drop rotation entirely and deliver a straight demolition blow for slab and footing work. Dust matters as much as the hole: models with an integrated extractor or a shroud capture silica at the point of drilling instead of putting it in the air. Every one of these depends on the steel in the end, so pair the tool with the chisels and bits in Drill & Hammer Accessories.