A hammer drill is superior to a regular drill in two ways. One, it can drill into masonry like concrete, cinder blocks, bricks, mortar, and granite, but a regular drill can’t do that. Also, a hammer drill has three modes, but many regular drills have only one mode. And the regular drill mode is one of the modes offered by a hammer drill.
In other words, a hammer drill performs the function of a regular drill to an extent. Although it may be a good idea to have both tools in your workshop, if you can afford only one, choose the hammer drill.
How Many Watts Does a Hammer Drill Use?
Typically, a hammer drill uses between 450 watts and 1500 watts. You need a formula to deduce the wattage of your power drill because you’ll often see the amperage and the voltage on it. You’ll hardly find its wattage.
The formula is:
Watts = amps x volts.
For example, a hammer drill that consumes 8 amps and 12 volts has the wattage of:
8 amps x 12 volts = 96 watts.
Now, there are other facts to keep in mind. Many hammer drills have power settings. When you’re using the lower power, you’ll be consuming less wattage. As you raise the power, the wattage will increase. You don’t have to use the highest power setting all the time because some tasks require low power to achieve.
For instance, if you use too much wattage to drive in a screw, you may drive it in too deeply and it will become difficult to remove. Besides, chipping may occur. Furthermore, the higher the wattage, the more power you’re consuming. Remember, electricity isn’t free.
Another factor that determines the wattage of a hammer drill is the weight of the drill. Heavier hammer drills tend to consume more wattage. So, you might target lighter ones.
How Many Watts Does a Corded Hammer Drill Use?
Although most corded hammer drills need 800 to 1,200 watts to perform, some hammer drills operate outside the wattage bracket. As explained, corded hammer drills need about 450 watts to 1,500 watts. You’re better off with a hammer drill that has multiple modes and multiple power settings. Both features will give you control over the power consumption of your hammer drill.
How Many Watts Does a Bosch Hammer Drill Use?
Bosch has several models of hammer drills and they operate on different wattages. Models of Bosch hammer drills consume the following wattage.
- 600 Watts
- 720 Watts
- 790 Watts
- 800 Watts
- 830 Watts
- 880 Watts
- 900 Watts
- 1,150 Watts
- 1,500 Watts
- 1,700 Watts
So, you can conclude that Bosch hammer drills use about 600 watts to 1,700 watts. You can find the full list of Bosch hammer drills here.
What Is a Good Hammer Drill for Home Use?
When choosing a hammer drill for home use, you need to consider the one with three modes and several power settings. So, you’ll choose the appropriate mode and setting for different tasks. Most importantly, you should choose cordless hammer drills over corded ones so you can easily take your hammer drill around. Here is the list of great hammer drills for home use.
- Makita HP1641 5/8-Inch Hammer Drill
- Milwaukee 2607-20 Cordless Hammer Drill
- Milwaukee 5376-20 1/2-Inch Hammer Drill
- Bosch 1191VSR 1/2-Inch Hammer Drill
- Dewalt DW511 1/2-Inch Hammer Drill
Buying Guides – How Do I Choose a Hammer Drill?
When choosing a hammer drill, there are several factors to consider. You shouldn’t just pick any brand at random. You may end up with what you don’t like. Here are a few tips to apply.
1. Choose a Popular Brand
Popular brands of hammer drills have been tested and trusted. And that’s why you need to choose any of them. Of course, their prices are higher, but they come with peace of mind. You’ll be sure that you have purchased a high-quality hammer drill. That’s why you should aim for popular brands like Bosch, Milwaukee, Makita, Dewalt, and others.
2. Go For a Cordless Hammer Drill
Generally, cordless hammer drills consume less power than corded ones. So, a cordless drill will save electricity costs for a long time. Besides, a cordless hammer drill is easy to use anywhere as long as its battery is fully charged. It is not restricted to only places where there’s electricity. You might as well purchase an extra battery. That way, you can charge one battery while the other is in use.
3. Check Reviews
Before choosing a hammer drill, check its reviews. The user manual does not have every information about the product. You’ll get a lot of information from reviews. Besides, checking reviews may help you avoid common mistakes users make while using the product. Most importantly, if the hammer drill isn’t durable, you’ll find out among the reviews.
4. Purchase from Amazon
You can get power tools from a long list of online stores, but it is better to purchase yours from Amazon. You’ll get competitive price deals from the platform and every product has a good number of honest reviews that can act as a guide.
Also, Amazon sells tools with a 30-day return window. If you don’t like the hammer drill, you can return it within that 30-day return window and get a full refund or a replacement. This also means that whenever you purchase any device from Amazon, you should test it before the return window closes. In case there’s something wrong with it, you’ll be able to return it.
5. Read User Manuals
People often take user manuals for granted, but they contain tons of useful information about a tool. So, it is a good idea to study the user manual of your hammer drill before you start using it.
Final Words
You may want to consider wattage when choosing your hammer drill. Choose the one with power settings, and make it a habit to use only lower power settings. Use the higher setting only when it becomes necessary. The higher the power consumption, the higher your monthly electricity bill will be.
