A cordless SDS drill, properly called a cordless rotary hammer, drills into brick and concrete with a piston mechanism that a normal hammer drill cannot match. This collection holds 18V, 36V, 40V and 80V SDS-Plus and SDS-Max rotary hammers and demolition hammers from Bosch Professional, Makita, Dewalt, Einhell and Hikoki.
Choosing a cordless rotary hammer
- SDS-Plus or SDS-Max. SDS-Plus tools like the Bosch Professional Cordless Rotary Hammer with SDS plus GBH 18V-18 drill anchor holes up to the mid 20s in millimetres. SDS-Max tools such as the Makita 18Vx2 Cordless SDS Max Rotary Hammer Drill DHR400ZK take bigger bits.
- Voltage and platform. 18V suits fixing work: the DEWALT 18V Brushless SDS+ Rotary Hammer DCH133NT and Einhell Professional Cordless SDS Plus Rotary Hammer Solo HEROCCO 18/20 are examples. The Makita 80V Max XGT Cordless 52mm SDS-Max Rotary Hammer HR006GZ replaces a corded machine.
- Drilling only or chiselling too. Combination hammers have a rotation stop for chasing and tile removal. Pure demolition tools like the Makita 40V XGT Cordless SDS-Max Demolition Hammer HM001GZ and Hikoki 36V SDS-MAX Demolition Hammer H3641DAW2Z only break.
- Solo or kit. Solo tools such as the Makita 18v Cordless Rotary Hammer SDS+ DHR202ZK Solo come without a battery.
Hammer drill or rotary hammer
A hammer drill vibrates a normal chuck; it manages plug holes in brick but struggles in concrete. A rotary hammer uses an air-cushioned piston to strike the bit, so it drills concrete quickly with little pressure from you and takes SDS bits that cannot slip in the chuck. If you drill masonry weekly, a rotary hammer like the Bosch Professional Cordless Hammer Drill GBH 185-LI is the right tool.
These rotary hammers are in stock at our Claremont, Cape Town shop and ship nationwide by courier. Our staff use SDS tools daily and can advise on bits and batteries. See cordless drills for lighter work, power tool batteries and the Hikoki range.
