Hammer Drill: Borrow or Buy?
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A hammer drill makes sense to own if you regularly work with concrete, brick, or block. For the occasional lag bolt into a foundation wall or a handful of Tapcon anchors, borrowing one for the day covers it.
The Numbers
Why Borrow
- Most homeowners drill into masonry a few times per decade, not per year
- A regular drill handles 90% of household drilling. The hammer function is for that other 10%.
- If you just need a few Tapcon anchors in a basement wall, one afternoon with a borrowed hammer drill does it
- Cordless models with good batteries are $200+, which buys a lot of one-day borrows
Why Buy
- You do masonry or concrete work regularly (retaining walls, patios, anchoring)
- Your house has brick or block walls and you hang things on them more than once a year
- You install concrete anchors as part of your trade (electrician, plumber, HVAC)
- A good cordless hammer drill doubles as your primary drill for everything else
Check Before You Buy
Someone in your neighborhood probably owns a hammer drill and uses it a few times a year. Borrowing saves money, saves garage space, and keeps tools in use instead of collecting dust.
See How FriendsWithTools WorksCommon Questions
Hammer drill vs rotary hammer: what is the difference?
A hammer drill uses a cam mechanism to vibrate the bit while it spins. Fine for drilling holes in brick and light concrete up to about 1/2" diameter. A rotary hammer uses a piston mechanism and hits much harder. For holes over 1/2" in concrete, or for drilling into reinforced concrete, you want a rotary hammer. For home use, a hammer drill is usually enough.
Can I use a hammer drill as a regular drill?
Yes. Turn off the hammer function and it works like a normal drill. Most cordless hammer drills have three modes: drill, hammer drill, and driver. If you are buying a new drill anyway, getting one with a hammer function adds $30-50 to the price and gives you the option when you need it.